For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles--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, as I have written briefly. (Ephesians 3:1-3 ESV)
Paul continues his letter by focusing his words toward the Gentile Christians – those without a Jewish background. Not having a Jewish background myself, my ears perk up and eyes focus on the words.
When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. 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. (Ephesians 3:4-6 ESV)
As I read, I am glad that I paid attention. The Israelites used to be God’s chosen people. They still are. But now, I am a fellow heir – a member of the same body, and a partaker of the promise because of Jesus. That really is good news.
Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God's grace, which was given me by the working of his power. To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 3:7-10 ESV)
Not only that, when we come together (Jews and Gentiles) into one church body, we show the wisdom of God to the “rulers and authorities in heavenly places.” The angels and the saints see the wisdom of God being played out in us. What a powerful responsibility we have as God’s Church.
This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory. (Ephesians 3:11-13 ESV)
It gets better. Jesus gives us access to enter the very presence of God in the heavenly realms. We do not need to be afraid of God’s wrath because of Jesus. Our faith in him can give us confidence to boldly approach God. This is why we can go to God in prayer.
For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith--that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:14-19 ESV)
Look at what Paul prays for us Gentile Christians – that we will be strengthened with the power of God’s Spirit, that Christ will dwell in our hearts, that we will know (understand) the love of Christ, and be filled with the fullness of God. What would our lives be like if we were filled with the fullness of God?
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Ephesians 3:20-21 ESV)
Pause. Let that sink in. Worship.
I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit--just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call--one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. (Ephesians 4:1-6 ESV)
The fullness of God produces unity between us and others who have the power of God dwelling within them. One Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all unites us.
But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift. Therefore it says, "When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men." (In saying, "He ascended," what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) (Ephesians 4:7-10 ESV)
Jesus Christ is the one who gives us His Spirit and His Power. He is the one who gives us spiritual gifts as well.
And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. (Ephesians 4:11-16 ESV)
God’s church is not filled with perfect individuals. God’s church is filled with people who have God’s Spirit, who are pulled together by God, and who build one another up until we reach maturity. This is the manifold wisdom that rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms get to watch.
Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. But that is not the way you learned Christ!--assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. (Ephesians 4:17-24 ESV)
Life without God looks dramatically different from life with God. Life with God is far better than anything we try to live without God. When we come home to the Father through the Son and receive the Holy Spirit, God empowers us to live a life with God. The Church equips itself to live a life together with God. Mature believers encourage one another to walk together with God.
Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. (Ephesians 4:25-30 ESV)
Notice the bad-good pairs here. For each bad alternative there is a good alternative to take its place. Don’t lie – be truthful. When angry, do not sin. Do not steal, but do honest work and share with those in need. Our words should not corrupt others, but build them up – giving them a gift.
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. (Ephesians 4:31 ESV)
When we get rid of bad things in our lives, we replace them with good.
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:31-32 ESV)
How about you? Are you an active part of God’s Church, building other church-members up by speaking the truth in love? Are you showing God’s manifest wisdom to the rulers and authorities of the heavenly realms? Are you empowering one more to walk together with God?
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