MYSTERY OF REDEMPTION

TOPIC: MYSTERY OF REDEMPTION REVEALED

TEXT: Eph. 3.1 21

MEMORY VERSE: ”(God) hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the Kingdom of His dear Son. Colossians 1:13

CENTRAL TRUTH: The gospel reveals the mystery of redemption whereby all may share in the promises of Jesus Christ

INTRODUCTION

Many believers view Gods redemption as a New Testament concept. They fail to recognize that before creation, God had provided a way for fallen humanity to be reconciled to Him. And that way is through Jesus Christ.

After Christ is resurrection, the New Testament believers began to understand the full scope of God’s redemption. It was not just for the Jews, God had intended for the Gentiles to become part of His church as well.

Paul referred to this revelation in the gospel as a :"mystery” this word simply describes something that was once not understood but has become clear. This lesson examines Paul's message concerning the mystery revealed to him by the Spirit. Once he understood it, though, he then had to respond to it.

The gospel always calls for some type of response. Allow the Holy Spirit to speak to you through this lesson and respond to Him in obedience.

1. GRACE FOR ALL -Eph. 3: 2 -6

The Gentiles were important to Paul. He was God’s apostle to them and understood their place in God's plan of relationship to His church. As a result of Paul' s ministry to the Gentiles, he was a prisoner of Jesus Christ (Eph. 3:1 ).

For centuries, the understanding that Jews and Gentiles would together make up the people of God was hidden from human understanding. God kept it hidden until it was time for it to be revealed.

The Old Testament hinted at God’s ultimate purpose for the Gentiles, but those clues were not recognized by the Jews. Jesus more than hinted at this truth when He gave the disciples the Great Commission. They were to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19,20). After being tilled with the Holy Spirit, these same disciples were told that they would become Christ's witnesses not only in Jerusalem, but throughout the world (Acts  1:8). Upon reflection this could only mean that the message of God’s grace would be available to the Gentiles. But the Early Church was slow to understand this.

Religious and social prejudice on the part of the Jews caused these early believers to be slow in accepting the Gentiles into the church. The Jewish people had a unique and wonderful calling as the people of God. But this calling included being a light to the nations (See Isaiah 42. 6; 49. 6; 60. 3; Romans 9. 24-26; 1 Cor. 12. 12, 13; Gal. 3: 28; Eph. 2: 1116). The Gentiles are full partakers in all God's promises. They come to God on the same basis as Jews through faith in Christ.

2. PURPOSE OF THE CHURCH- Eph. 3: 7-12

Paul called himself a servant of this gospel through the grace of God (verse 7). But he did not take credit for the ministry, He realized the ministry because of the “effectual working" of God's power in him. He considered himself “less than the least of all saint” (verse 8).

To this end. Paul serves as our inspiring example. He was the great apostle to the Gentiles who bore in his won body the scars of serving the Christ he loved. He was a servant who suffered hunger, thirst, persecution, imprisonments, beatings, and floggings for the sake of Christ's work (2 Cor. 11 23-27), ultimately giving his life for the cause. In all of this, Paul considered himself to be tremendously privileged.

Thus, God's intent for the church is to reveal His wisdom His plan for redeeming mankind through the church (verse 10). This plan not only escaped the knowledge of the Jews, it also was a mystery to the principalities and powers in the heavenly realms (verse 10).

The phrase “principalities and power ” refers to spiritual rulers and authorities. Paul may have been thinking of either angelic or demonic rulers. Both angels and demons were kept from a knowledge of this mystery. Surely if Satan had known God's plan, he would not have permitted the Roman rulers to crucify Christ (1 Cor. 2:8). Similarly, angels had long desire to fully understand God’s redemption purpose, but were previously unable (1 Peter 1:12)

God’s plan was conceived in eternity (verse 11). God’s plan for salvation is through Jesus. Both Jews and Gentiles can now have “boldness and access with confidence" all that God had done for them (verse 12). Faith in Christ and the pure heart it brings means we can come to God confidently with all our needs.

3. LOVE THAT SURPASSES KNOWLEDGE : Eph. 3:14-18

Paul’s prayer is directed to the “Father of our Lord Jesus Christ" (verse 14). By adding “of whom the whole family in heave and earth is named" (verse 15), Paul indicated that all” believers, both Jews and Gentiles, are now part of God's family.

Paul knew that the answer to his prayer was only going to come through the “riches of his glory” (verse 16). He also knew that God is willing to give graciously without limit, those things that are necessary to the growth of His Church.

Paul's desire for these believers was that they would be “strengthened with might by his spirit in the inner man” . Divine strength was needed in their “inner man” in order for the other items in this prayer to be realized. This strengthening would come from the Holy Spirit.

God loves His Church. It is the reason He sent His Son Jesus, to die on the cross in order to pay the penalty for sin. As Christians experience the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, they are able to do His will in the body of Christ and in the world.

Verse 19 sums up Paul's heart for the church. He prayed that they may “be filled with all the fullness of God”. His desire for the body of Christ is nothing less than the best he can pray for, the rich presence of God himself.

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION

1. Why were the first Christians so slow to comprehend that Gentiles could be saved?

2. How can prejudice keep believers today from sharing the gospel and allowing those from other social and ethnic background to become a part of their church?

3. Read Eph. 3: 11-1 2; What does this age-old plan tell you about God's way of doing things?

4. How do the priorities of Paul's prayer compare with our own?