1 / 17

Unlocking A Biblical Mystery Ephesians 3:1-13

Unlocking A Biblical Mystery Ephesians 3:1-13. Do you like mysteries?. We experience mysteries all around us that we often take for granted:. Review: God created a “ new humanity ” Gentiles: being totally alienated from God to being totally reconciled to Him through Christ.

fawzi
Télécharger la présentation

Unlocking A Biblical Mystery Ephesians 3:1-13

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Unlocking A Biblical MysteryEphesians 3:1-13 Do you like mysteries? We experience mysteries all aroundus that we often take for granted:

  2. Review: • God created a “new humanity” • Gentiles: being totally alienated from God to being totally reconciled to Him through Christ. • Gentiles together Jews united together “one body” called “the church” • Two distinct peoples becoming ONE •  united together • That’s God’s design for the Church

  3. Chapter 3: • Paul elaborates on this incredible union that has taken place • He calls it a “mystery” • Ephesians 3: 1 [ESV] - For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles… • The Mystery Revealed • The Mystery Proclaimed • The Mystery Applied

  4. 1. The Mystery Revealed: • Ephesians 3: 2,3 [ESV] – “…assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, how the mystery was made known to me by revelation.” • Ephesians 3: 6 [ESV] - This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

  5. “mystery”  not something unknown. • BUT something that God has revealed • “[This mystery] is a truth that was hidden by God in times past and is now revealed to those who are in His family.” (Wiersbe) • Gentiles and Jews together: • fellow heirs of God’s resources • fellow members of this wonderful body of believers called the church • fellow sharers of the promise that God has given

  6. This was unthinkable to both the Jews and the Gentiles alike! • The mystery: not that Gentiles could be saved • eg. Rahab, Ruth, Nineveh • The mystery: Jews & Gentiles working together as one in the body of Christ • This is how things should look in our church as well. • Unity is required if we are to impact our community for Christ.

  7. Romans 12: 9-11,16,18 [NIV] - Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. … Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. … If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

  8. Unity in the body of Christ depends on YOU. • Are you devoted to your brothers and sisters sitting here with you today? • Are you honoring them above yourself? • Are you striving for harmony in the body of Christ? • Are you doing your part to live in peace with others? • In this view of miraculous togetherness, there is no room at all in the Church of Jesus Christ for divisiveness.

  9. 2. The Mystery Proclaimed: • The importance of delivering this great message for others to hear. • a. the mystery preached to the Gentiles • v. 8 – “… I …preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ” • b. the mystery proclaimed to the world • v.9 – “…to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things.”

  10. 1 Corinthians 1: 23-25 [ESV] – “…we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. • We possess the power and wisdom of God to enrich our lives through Christ. • That should make us want to tell others about the riches they can have through Christ as well.

  11. “A new commandment I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples if you love one another” (John 13:34,35). • It is as we live out the mystery of [the church] that we will win the world for Christ. (Hughes) • c. the mystery declared to heavenly beings • v.10 – “…so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.”

  12. 1 Peter 1: 12 [NLT] – “And now this Good News has been announced to you by those who preached in the power of the Holy Spirit sent from heaven. It is all so wonderful that even the angels are eagerly watching these things happen.” • The importance of unity in the church: • It embodies the gospel message of reconciliation that we preach to the world and it demonstrates the wisdom of God – even to the angels in heaven.

  13. 3. The Mystery Applied • The importance of the church in God’s redemptive plan:John Stott: “God’s New Society” • a. The Church is central to history • The church is facing rising opposition in our 21st century • But in the end, the church will remains standing and survive history • Matthew 16:18 [ESV] – [Jesus said] I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

  14. b. The Church is central to the gospel • The complete message of the gospel includes the preaching of both Christ and the mystery of the Church. • Christ died and rose again to save us but through his death and resurrection He also created this new humanity – the church. • c. The Church is central to Christian living. • Ephesians 3:13 [ESV] - So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.

  15. Paul was willing to suffer – to pay dearly to see the church grow and mature. • It is important to go to church and be involved in the local body of Christ. • As we all know, the Church on earth is imperfect. Nevertheless, we must be committed to the local manifestation of the universal Church. We must be committed to regular worship and should worship with all we have… we must be committed to our church’s fellowship as well.

  16. If we only attend worship, we are robbing the church and ourselves and Christ. We must be involved in a small group or a Bible school class where we interact and minister to others. Also, since Christ and his Church have the only answer for the world, we must be involved in sharing both. Evangelism is not an option. We must reach out to those who are not like us. (Kent Hughes, Ephesians)

  17. Only when we work together… • …is Christ’s name glorified and the message of reconciliation demonstrated to our community and the world around us. • Let’s be committed to working together for His glory through His Church

More Related