3^rd Chapter of Ephesians

 

Ephesians 3:1 

For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—

 

PAUL’S MISSIONARY AGENDA

 

Paul is now going into conclusion mode. Now that he laid out the motive – the reason for his encouragement, he is ready to reveal some of the inner workings of his own labor and strife in the Lord. What is the reason again? What is the reason behind Paul’s work and labor for the Gospel? It is because of what he explained in the first two chapters: because of the predetermination of the church as the saving vehicle of all men; and the church being where all barriers are taken down; the church being the body of Christ, through which God will show the universe His unlimited kindness and mercy and goodness; the church, the centerpiece of the Universe for now, the focus of God’s labor and attention.

 

Because of this Paul has been made a prisoner, not because of his own will or because he decided to be anti-establishment; not because he is crazy and has to be locked up. No! It is because the world cannot accept the message of truth, and since there is only one authorized message, Paul is willing to suffer the consequences for being a Gospel messenger, for the sake of the message accomplishing its purpose in the Gentiles. 

 

Many people are willing to suffer for their own personal crusades and causes, and covet to be seen by others as liberators or freedom fighters, all the more if they can show that they are bolder than the system or establishment they are fighting; but Paul is not about all that. All those reasons for being a prisoner are fleshly and only amount to worldly principles that perish. Paul’s reason for being in jail is for the cause of true liberation, for the cause of Jesus, for the Lord God. This is what He will explain now in the following verses.

 

Ephesians 3:2

Surely you have heard about the administration of God's grace that was given to me for you,

 

Administration: (oikonomia) dispensation; stewardship; “economy”.  Paul sees his participation in the Gospel as an apostle as an incredible responsibility given to Him by the grace (unmerited favor) of God. He is telling the Ephesian Gentile Christians that God has eyed them with great love and has purposely included a great plan for their salvation through the ministry of Paul.

 

Ephesians 3:3

that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly.

 

Paul had already shared with them what this plan was all about, that is, the mystery (musterion: secret; to shut the mouth) that was made known (gnorizo: certify, declare, make known, give to understand, do to wit) by revelation (apokalupsis: disclosure:--appearing, coming, lighten, manifestation, revelation) to Paul from God Himself. You see, only divine plans can be revealed (Eph 1:9). They can never be garnered (acquired) through human reasoning or philosophies. God reveals it and God Himself, through the Spirit, makes it known to you, that is, helps you put it together to understand it, not just only accepting it for face value, but deeply taking it in so that you can taste it (Heb 6:4-5; 1Pet 2:2-3).

 

Ephesians 3:4

In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,

 

The mystery of the Gospel of Christ is understood by reading the inspired word of God in the Bible. Paul’s ministry never stopped being effective throughout the ages because the Spirit helped him write it all down to affect and help the millions through the ages to come. Through the Spirit’s power Paul’s insights have been preserved so that all can understand these spiritual insights. As you can see, the only way any one human can know God’s will is by studying the Scriptures.

 

Ephesians 3:5

which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God's holy apostles and prophets.

 

This mystery shows God’s awesome kindness in the present time, since before this generation, no others were given this special dispensation (1Pe 1:12).

 

Those who were the first to know where the apostles and prophets of the fist century. They were the channels God used to reveal the mystery to all generations.

 

Christ, as the foundation, was revealed to Paul and the other apostles through the Spirit. That is why Paul says he is able to lay the foundation as a master builder (Eph 2:20). The foundation of what? What is being built? The church!!

 

The cornerstone, or foundation stone, of the church is the deity of Jesus (Jesus = God) [Isaiah 9:6; Tit 2:11-13]. This is what Jesus Himself told Peter in Mt 16:17-19.

 

Since this is the foundation of the church, only the church of Jesus teaches:

 

1- The right way to be saved

2- The right way to worship

3- The right way to live

 

Paul understood and accepted the impact his teaching would have on the world and accepted the personal cost it would take to carry out God’s dispensation to his generation. Do you accept your part and role in God’s Kingdom with the same attitude, stamina and conviction?

 

Methods of transmitting divine knowledge:

1-      Revelation

2-      Inspiration

3-      Study of Scripture

Richard Bagget, Sunset School of Preaching

 

Ephesians 3:6

This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.

 

The essence of the mystery is the calling of all things to come together under one Head, that is, Christ. The unification of all races and cultures in the Body of Jesus. The participation of all men, regardless of their former way of life, in the inheritance of the saints.

 

Of course, the Gentile believers cannot appreciate the depth of the meaning of Jews and Gentiles together sharing in the inheritance of the sons of Abraham. That is why Paul shared that this mystery (wisdom and knowledge) was foolishness for the Gentiles and a stumbling block for the Jews (1Co 1:21-23). Both cultures could not fully grasp the riches of God’s mercy unless they were willing participants in this plan.

 

Specifically, the mystery is that Gentiles are co-heirs, fellow members and sharers together in the promise of Christ. -- Richard Bagget, Sunset School of Preaching

 

Ephesians 3:7

I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God's grace given me through the working of his power.

 

Paul knows no one could qualify him for this work other than God Himself. There are no human talents or insight that could qualify us or prepare us for this very special work in God’s Kingdom. Only God qualifies (hikanoo: to enable, i.e. qualify:--make able (meet)) us (Col 1:12).

 

Paul never tires of praising God for His grace shown to him and all men through Jesus. The power he is talking about here can be the power of the Gospel (Ro 1:16) and it can also refer to the power of the Holy Spirit who works in us (Rom 15:13; Eph 3:16).

 

Ephesians 3:8

Although I am less than the least of all God's people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,

 

Paul makes it personal: he saw himself as the least of all God’s people. Why is that? Could be because of his past deeds; the fact that he persecuted the church and stood against the very plan of God for a time (1Co 15:9; Gal 1:13). Also, he was the last apostle chosen, and chosen to preach to the Gentiles! In the eyes of the Jews that was the least honorable thing to do, if you were to think about it in cultural terms. But the very fact that he was chosen at all, to be in the Kingdom of God, that is the greatest honor, whether he was the least or not. He was given grace, the ministry of reconciliation to the Gentiles.

 

Despite his past life which could have ridden him with guilt and insecurity in this present life, Paul is able to move forward because he understands that all his past is gone because of God’s grace. He understood to be a chosen instrument of God, despite his former works and attitude. He is a great example of what all Christians need to become in their new life from Christ (2Co 5:17).  Paul specifically recalled what Ananias had told him concerning his new mission (Acts 9:15). And now that he had the insight into the unsearchable riches of Christ, he could share it with the whole Gentile world, which is what has happened through the Spirit’s power in all these letters that have been written.

 

Ephesians 3:9

and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.

 

There is a mistranslation here in the use of the word “administration”. Perhaps the translators thought, in keeping with the rest of the theme of the book of Ephesians, that koinonia (partnership, i.e. (literally) participation, or (social) intercourse, or (pecuniary) benefaction:--(to) communicate(-ation), communion, (contri-)distribution, fellowship) was best rendered as “administration”, with the view towards the dispensation of the mystery of God in Christ as Paul relates in Eph 1:10; 3:2 and Col 1:25. However, I believe, because I also have the Holy Spirit, unlike most of these translators who are only working with intellect, that the word koinonia reflect the essence of the mystery of “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col 1:27). Christ in us, all of us in Christ, is the great mystery that was kept from all until the right time. This is the deepest koinonia ever! The truest fellowship! Holy God and sinful man together! (John 14:23)

 

If we truly exhibit this Koinonia in ourselves, people will see plainly the Gospel we are preaching to them.

 

Any preaching that does not enlighten (make people understand God’s mystery) is not Gospel preaching!

-- Richard Bagget, Sunset School of Preaching (emph mine)

 

Within the next couple of verses and in the next chapters you will see the essence of this fellowship developed in the text as Paul teaches the practical aspects of having koinonia in Jesus.

 

Ephesians 3:10

His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms,

 

GOD’S objective IN THE CHURCH

 

God’s intent, meaning his predetermined purpose and will; His dream; is to make known His multifaceted wisdom to all the powers in the heavenly realms using the church. The church is God’s favorite tool, His secret work of art, His pride, His joy! The church was not an afterthought. It was not something God put in effect to bail us out of a failed plan on Jesus' part. The church IS the plan! It existed in purpose before the world was!

 

It was prophesied in the Old Testament, John the baptizer prepared the way for it, Christ is the only foundation of it, and the apostles are the experienced builders who laid the foundation so that now we can build on it ourselves and continue to grow and make it available to the rest of humanity.

 

In this present age God makes known to all powers and authorities in the heavenly realms the mystery of His many-sided wisdom through the work of the church. The world may not notice, but those who do and are impacted are the rulers of the heavenly realms, whether they are evil or good forces, they see the handiwork of God in the church. Those in the world who notice and see the wisdom and the love of God are drawn to the fellowship with God in Christ and are saved.

 

The church is the institution which is to make God’s will known throughout the entire world.  – Richard Bagget, Sunset School of Preaching

 

Ephesians 3:11

according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

Jesus Himself is where God fulfilled and accomplished the planning of the church since the beginning of time. The incarnation of Jesus, His passion and His resurrection accomplished the divine plan. Jesus death was not accidental, as some ignorant fools claim, and His church is certainly not some human organization to be treated lightly in view of the age to come. It is the body of Christ, the fullness of Him who fills all in every way! As Jesus Himself said, He is the seed of God’s Kingdom (John 12:24) that produced the church. He is the vine and we are the branches (John 15:5). He is the head of the body, the church, and we are His body!

 

Through the church God unites the hostile elements of the human race into One Body, and demonstrates His wisdom to the superhuman orders of heavenly beings, actually summing up all things in Christ. – Halley’s Bible Handbook

 

Ephesians 3:12

In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.

 

When we are part of the body, we are in Christ as He is in us. This is the ultimate koinonia. In this state we have free access to the Godhead, the ultimate power in the universe. There is no higher court you can go to in this age or in the next, there is no higher person to appeal on your behalf, there is no greater relationship you can hope to have, no greater love to know than the love of God expressed in Jesus Christ and the riches of His mercy shown to His body, the church of Christ.

 

There is freedom in the midst of multiform slavery and there is confidence in the midst of this failing and undependable physical world we live in. That is because we know we are halfway to glory in Jesus! He is the door no one can open; He is the secret no one can know! Though people may be looking for answers in this dark world, try as they might they will never, ever find the true answer unless they look to Jesus and unless God the Father enables them (John 6:44, 65).

 

Paul’s Reasons for suffering for the Gospel (His missionary Agenda):

1-      God’s administration of grace given to him personally (ministry of reconciliation – 2Co 5:18-21)

2-      A mystery was personally revealed to him

3-      By his writings more and more people can understand his spiritual insight into Christ

4-      Only he is privy to this, along with a few others for the time being

5-      The mystery has to do with the coming together of the Jews and non-Jews in Christ – to share in one eternal promise

6-      He became a servant of this Gospel by God’s gift of grace and His power

7-      His special mission is to preach to the gentile word

8-      He is to make this mystery clear and plain – that it is the working and will of God that Gentiles be saved and heirs together with the Jews

9-      He is to make plain that the church is God’s chosen vehicle to display His wisdom to all rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms

10-  Paul is to share that in Christ and through faith we can now approach God with freedom and confidence

 

Ephesians 3:13

I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.

 

Therefore… What’s it there for? Because we are so honored and blessed to be a part of such an incredible plan, don’t be discouraged because of suffering, especially if it is suffering on or for your behalf. These sufferings (thlipsis: pressure (literally or figuratively):--afflicted(-tion), anguish, burdened, persecution, tribulation, trouble), whether you have suffered them personally or someone has suffered them for you, are your glory (doxa: glory (as very apparent), in a wide application (literal or figurative, objective or subjective):--dignity, glory(-ious), honour, praise, worship).

 

Suffering justly is the most tangible form of your salvation in Christ (2Tim 3:12; 2Co 4:8-12). Use it to bond with Him and let it remind you of your eternal hope. Take pride in suffering unjustly for Jesus (1Pe 4:16; Acts 5:41)!

 

To sum up the purpose of knowledge, which is in preaching:

1-      It is a grace – vs. 8

2-      It is designed to make men see – vs. 9

3-      It is designed to make known the plan of redemption through the church – vs. 10

4-      It is related to God’s eternal purpose accomplished in Christ – vs. 11-13

a.       That we may confidently approach God with freedom

b.      That we may glorify God through our suffering

-- Richard Bagget, Sunset School of Preaching (modified by Pedro Gelabert)

 

Ephesians 3:14

For this reason I kneel before the Father,

 

PAUL’S SECOND PRAYER FOR THE CHURCH

 

Paul is compelled to kneel before the Father for the reasons we just read, knowing His eternal power and authority, along with His immeasurable grace extended to all of us through Jesus Christ, allowing us to become one with Him through the church. After that kind of realization and inundation of your soul, anyone would drop to their knees to express thankfulness for such a thing being done for the pitiful race of humans!

 

Paul is recognizing and reminding the church that we all stand before the Father and such realizations of His rich grace and mercy toward us should cause us to frequently kneel before Him, recognizing that this revelation given to us is to provide us with strength and confidence in this world!

 

Ephesians 3:15

from whom his whole family {15 Or <whom all fatherhood>} in heaven and on earth derives its name.

 

Our name now, as adoptees into the kingdom of God, is derived from our Heavenly Father. We have taken His name as a foster child who is adopted takes on the new name of his adopted family. No longer are we known for our former life to the heavenly powers and authorities, but as we have been sealed with the Spirit, so we have been given a new name, an extension of divinity as members of God’s family. That being said, Paul prays and encourages us to keep in mind to:

 

Ephesians 3:16

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being,

 

1-      Ask God to strengthen your inner self through the power of the Spirit He gave you.

 

Your outer self (the old man) is wasting away and it will not be renewed (2Co 4:16-17). You will grow old and you will die. Face it! That is why it is not worth investing into this physical life! Put all your energies to work for your eternity! Let your prayers be focus in your eternal investments, not your own self or your physical shell! Ask yourself “where is the power?” The power is working in you, through the Spirit God gave you to strengthen your inner self.  It is not a physical power, it is more than that. The power that it takes to transform the dying physical into the living spiritual. No power on earth can do that, only God. The power of the world is only effective in the temporary realm of the physical, but the power from God given to us serves in this world and in the next one (2Co 10:4; 2Peter 1:3).

 

Ephesians 3:17

so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love,

 

2-      Let Jesus dwell in your heart through faith

3-      Be rooted and established in love

 

How does Jesus dwell in your heart? Only through faith! You must believe He was raised from the dead (Romans 10:9). If you do, then you will be submerged into His death so that God will be able to raise you up to a new life since you now have joined Christ in baptism (Romans 6:3-5). We are united (joined) to Christ when our faith is consummated by our obedience to the Gospel (James 2:26; 2Thes 1:8; 1Pe 4:17).

 

How we are rooted in love is explained in great detail in 1Jo 4:7-21. To be rooted is to dig deep into something and hold fast to it. A plant that is deeply rooted will withstand mighty winds as opposed to one that is shallow (Mat 13:21; Luke 8:13).  If you are rooted in love, then any hate or selfishness or anger or any other antagonist to love will not move you from your position in Jesus, and you will withstand any wave of such antagonists that may flow over you.

 

Being established in love has to do with 1Co 13:4-8. To be established is to be stable, unmoved, and predictable in your outcomes and location. Something that is established cannot go away or be knocked down easily, for it has strong support and is not made to move.  All of love’s qualifiers in 1Co 13 are fruit of established Christians.

 

Ephesians 3:18

may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,

 

4-      Let God’s power be evident in how you display the love of Jesus using your life

 

Established and rooted Christians are displays of the manifold love of God. This is because these Christians grasp (katalambano: to get it intensely, as in comprehend deeply, or beyond the obvious) the multidimensional love of Jesus. They see beyond the obvious, they see themselves as the very tool of love created for this purpose in Christ.  Where others may recognize love on a superficial level, the rooted and established saints lend themselves to be the very ways in which this love is expressed and displayed to the whole universe.

 

Ephesians 3:19

and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-- that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

 

5-      Know that love surpasses knowledge

6-      Let God’s love fill you to His fullness

 

Love is greater than knowledge. That is the conclusion in Christ; the realization; the eternal, as Paul echoes in 1Co 13:8-10, 13. Knowledge is useful for the time being, but in the end, what counts is faith.  Knowledge is good, but what keeps you going in this present life is faith, hope and love. In the end of all things, love is the ultimate reality and love alone remains.  This love is what fills you now to the fullness of God and this love is what will pull you through death into eternity.

 

The result of Faith:

1-      Rooted and grounded in love

2-      Power to grasp the depth of the love of Jesus

3-      Filled to the fullness of God

Richard Bagget, Sunset School of Preaching

 

Ephesians 3:20

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,

 

DOXOLOGY

 

Paul ends his prayer with this famous doxology (from the Gk. doxa: glory (as very apparent), in a wide application (literal or figurative, objective or subjective):--dignity, glory(-ious), honour, praise, worship).

 

An expression of praise to God, especially a short hymn sung as part of a Christian worship service. (Dictionary.com)

 

7- Allow the Spirit to continue the transforming work in you. Don’t let your imagination or thoughts limit you!

 

Whatever you can possibly ask or imagine to have or to do, God can surpass it immeasurable, meaning, you would never ever be able to imagine it or even measure what God is able to do according to His power at work in us. Of course, that power is provided courtesy of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13; Eph 3:16; Col 1:11). God will always surpass anything you ask of Him because His desire is to lavish His grace and love on you (Ephesians 1:7-8; 1John 3:1)!

 

Ephesians 3:21

to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

 

Our confidence and strength in the knowledge of God provided to us by special revelation to God’s people will result in the glory of Jesus through the church for all generations. Amen!