161009 The Mystery of God’s Grace

Ephesians 3:1-6 For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— ² assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, ³ how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. ⁴ When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, ⁵ 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. ⁶ 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.

Grace is defined by some as God’s Riches at Christ’s Expense! Certainly that is too narrow a definition for us to truly understand what grace is all about. Part of the mystery of God’s grace is the truth that He gives people innumerable blessings aside from salvation. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus said about His Father, “For He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5:45). The goodness of God is seen in His grace. That common grace for all people is different from “saving grace”. God’s saving grace brings about salvation for those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul wrote to the Ephesians about a “mystery” that God had revealed to him.

It is my hope and prayer that you will grasp the concept of grace that is shaped by God’s love for the people that He has called to Himself. For many generations the grace of God was kept from most people. During that time God developed His relationship to mankind step-by-step. I believe that there has never been a time that God was left without a witness on earth. During the days of Noah it seems that the lineage of belief was thinned to the point that only one man, and his family, were faithful to God. With the worldwide flood God gave mankind a new beginning. God did not spare the ancient world its punishment but he preserved Noah (2 Peter 2:5). Now let’s look at Paul’s testimony regarding the grace of God…

That grace was a stewardship given to Paul. Look with me to Colossians 1:24-27. Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, ²⁵ of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, ²⁶ the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. ²⁷ To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

About 700 years before Christ’s birth God revealed to Isaiah that He intended all nations to come to Him. In Isaiah 49:6 God said, “I will make you as a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.” Later, in Isaiah 66:18 God said, “the time is coming to gather all nations and tongues. And they shall come and shall see my glory,”.

This truth of the grace of God was revealed by Jesus to the apostle Paul on the road to Damascus and in the days immediately after his vision. This truth was hidden away in the Old Testament waiting to be understood at the right time.

The very design of the Temple told of God’s coming grace. As a part of the teaching and worship around the temple there were different courtyards for different people. There was a women’s court, a men’s court and the court of the Gentiles. This latter court was put there so the nations could come to worship God. When Jesus came onto the scene He found that courtyard being used by the moneychangers and the con artists selling sheep, cattle and birds. Matthew tells us that Jesus said to them, “It is written, My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a den of robbers.” (Matthew 21:13)

In the process of God preparing people to hear the gospel…

This mystery was hidden for ages. Let’s look at Acts 17:30-31. The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, ³¹ because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”

The King James Version tells us that God winked at the ignorance of saving grace for many ages. I like the ESV’s translation that it was a time of ignorance that God allowed until he was ready to reveal the mystery. Paul would write to the Galatians telling them that God sent His Son at the right time (Galatians 4:4). Throughout all generations there were some — like Melchizedek (Genesis 14:18-20) — who knew God and worshiped Him. With the coming of Jesus into the world it was time for all people everywhere to repent of their sin and turn to the Christ as Lord and Savior. Jesus Himself will judge the world in righteousness at the end of the age.

At the right time…

This mystery was revealed by the Spirit. Let’s look at the words of Jesus found in John 16:12-14.  “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. ¹³ When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. ¹⁴ He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

The Holy Spirit has always been with the creation and mankind. In the very beginning “the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters” (Genesis 1:2). From that time forward even until today the Holy Spirit has been God with us! Jesus spoke of the situation when He said that the Father “will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, ¹⁷ even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.” (John 14:16-17) During the ministry of Jesus on earth the Spirit of God was with Him because God cannot be divided into parts. The Holy Spirit conceived Christ in Mary’s womb and protected Him throughout His early years and came to visibly settle on Him at His baptism. The Holy Spirit was present wherever Jesus was. In the upper room, after His resurrection, Jesus breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit” (John 20:22). With this action Jesus protected them until the day of Pentecost when the Spirit was poured out on them — and in them! From that point forward the Holy Spirit has been the enlightener and interpreter concerning all the things Jesus’ disciples need to know.

A part of what the Holy Spirit revealed is the fact that…

This mystery relates to the Gentiles. Look at the record in Acts 13:46-47. And Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken first to you. Since you thrust it aside and judge yourselves unworthy of eternal life, behold, we are turning to the Gentiles. ⁴⁷ For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ”

Paul had been invited to speak to the synagogue at Antioch in Pisidia and had been allowed to present the gospel clearly to them. When they returned the next Saturday a huge crowd gathered. When the Jews saw the crowds they were filled with jealousy and begin to argue with Paul. With their rejection of the gospel Paul now announces, “we are turning to the Gentiles.” This was no surprise to Paul because he had been told at the very beginning of his ministry what to expect. Jesus told Ananias to go to Paul and pray for him to be healed because he had been blinded by the light that was Jesus on the road to Damascus. Part of the message Paul would have received from Ananias were the words of Jesus about Paul, “he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.” (Acts 9:15) So Paul knew that he would be going before the Gentiles with a message. But his habit had been to go to the Jews first and then, when rejected by them, to turn to the Gentiles.

The segregation that had been practiced by the Jews over the centuries since they received the Law from Moses and settled in Canaan was now to come to an end in the gospel of Jesus Christ. The mystery that God had held back for generations was…

They are fellow heirs. Look with me at Romans 8:16-17. The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, ¹⁷ and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.

In writing to the mostly Gentile church in Rome Paul wanted the believers there to know that we are children of God! “We” represents all believers — Jew and Gentile — throughout history! Since we are all children of God we are also heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ. This truth brings about an equality in the church that had never been known in the synagogue. Having been born of God…

They are members of the same body. Let’s turn to 1 Corinthians 12:13.  For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—Jews or Greeks, slaves or free—and all were made to drink of one Spirit.

Whether Jews or Greeks? Slaves or free? Yes we are all baptized into one body! And we are all made to drink of one Spirit! This mystery, now unveiled, was amazing to Paul and should be breathtaking to us. Throughout history God has chosen people to represent Him on earth. With the ministry, execution and resurrection of Jesus and the beginning of the church the revealing of God’s mystery is that…

They are partakers of the promise. Look with me at Galatians 3:27-29. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. ²⁸ There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. ²⁹ And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.

Having been baptized into Christ by the Holy Spirit — symbolized in water baptism — believers are dressed up in Jesus! So far as spiritual life is concerned there is equality! Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, emphasizes the fact that there is no class of people or social standing that can claim any special status or privilege in the church. So far as relationship to God is concerned there are no inferior or superior people. We all have equal membership in Christ’s body for all eternity.

Let me quote from Wayne Grudem’s Systematic Theology, page 459. “This equality is an amazing and wonderful element of the Christian faith and sets Christianity apart from almost all religions and societies and cultures. The true dignity of godly manhood and womanhood can be fully realized only in obedience to God’s redeeming wisdom as found in Scripture.”

Spiritually we have equal standing with differences in roles. Just as God the Father speaks creation into being, God the Son carries out the work of creation and the creation is sustained by the presence of the Holy Spirit. In a similar manner the body of Christ has many members and the members do not all have the same function (Romans 12:4). For us today…

This promise was delivered through the gospel. Let’s look at Paul’s writing in Romans 1:16-17. For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. ¹⁷ For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

God’s grace is delivered to all mankind through the gospel, the good news that Jesus took our sins to the cross. Everyone who confesses that Jesus is Lord and believes with all their being that God has raised Him from the dead will be saved. In the gospel Jesus becomes our peace who breaks down the dividing wall of prejudice and hostility.

God shows His righteousness in the gospel and gives that righteousness to us. The way it works is Jesus became our substitute. Since He had no sin of His own He could pay the price for our sin and we could become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21). That is a wonderful exchange since we have no righteousness of our own we can become the righteousness of God.

We now see in the first few verses of Ephesians chapter 3 that God has released the mystery of His grace. I praise God that that mystery includes the possibility of my being saved and made a part of the family of God. Apart from God’s grace there would be no hope for us in this world or the world to come. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God! The wages of sin is death! But God demonstrates His love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us! And therefore, by God’s grace, we are privileged to be able to confess with our mouth that Jesus is Lord, believing in our heart that God raised Him from the dead and therefore we are saved!

All scriptures quotes are from: The Holy Bible: English standard version. 2001. Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

161002 No Longer Strangers

 Ephesians 2:19-22  So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, ²⁰ built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, ²¹ in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. ²² In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

The church in Ephesus was primarily made up of Gentiles. Much of what we know about the church there is contained in Luke’s account in Acts 18-20, with a few references in other places in the New Testament. The great struggle for the early church centered on the divisions caused by race and religion. The non-Jews, called Gentiles, had little or no knowledge of God. They had limited access to the Old Testament writings. Nevertheless, there were a goodly number of Greek speaking believers who flowed into the church from the very beginning.

Paul wanted the new Gentile converts to see themselves as “fellow citizens” with the saints that had gone before. He wanted these Gentile converts to understand that they are no longer separated from Christ. Now the peace of Christ had come to them as it has to us today. We saw last week that Christ Himself becomes peace to both the descendants of Abraham in the flesh and the Gentile nations outside the Jewish family. In Christ God has now broken down the middle wall of partition and has allowed all people everywhere to become part of the household of God. Yet, we have to ask ourselves…

What advantage did the Jews have? Look with me at Romans 3:1-2. Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? ² Much in every way. To begin with, the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God.

The most important advantage that the Jews had was the very fact that they were the protectors of the words of God. That was one of the amazing truths seen by Paul. Not only did Paul see this advantage but Moses spoke his amazement in… Deuteronomy 4:8. And what great nation is there, that has statutes and rules so righteous as all this law that I set before you today?^” The Jews had the wonderful advantage of having been entrusted with statutes and rules beyond any other nation. It is true that other nations had laws and rules of conduct but that just goes to show that the image of God is implanted in all men everywhere. This does not mean that they are saved but that they have consciences and understand that actions have consequences.

When Moses brought the people out of Egypt and into the wilderness he received God’s rules for living based on the Ten Commandments. The law, or rules of God, became a guardian to bring men to Christ (Galatians 3:24). Perfectly keeping the rules found in the law is an impossibility! We are not able to repair the damage done when we sin. One Man did! Jesus had no sin to repair! (1 Peter 2:21-25) That Man is now seated at the right hand of Power in heaven. He is the one Mediator between God and men. He is the God/Man, Christ Jesus (1 Timothy 2:5).

The Jews had the law but could not keep it. They were never intended to be able to keep the law perfectly! Instead, the law was there to show them that they must have Someone who is able to fulfill the law on their behalf. When Jesus did this He became the source of salvation for all men, for all time, everywhere. What we could not do in that our flesh as weak as it is He did for us and the Father credited it to our account. In order to settle this issue…

The first church council was held in Jerusalem. Let’s turn to the historic record. Some men, who were believers in the Lord Jesus Christ, had come from Jerusalem to Antioch and, for the Gentile believers, added to the gospel the teaching that they would have to become Jewish proselytes before they could be Christians. Paul and Barnabas opposed them and the decision was made to send some of the believers in Antioch, along with Paul and Barnabas, to Jerusalem to meet with the apostles and elders there. After considering their testimony James, the Lord’s brother, summarized the decision. Let’s read his summary in Acts 15:19-21. Therefore my judgment is that we should not trouble those of the Gentiles who turn to God, ²⁰ but should write to them to abstain from the things polluted by idols, and from sexual immorality, and from what has been strangled, and from blood. ²¹ For from ancient generations Moses has had in every city those who proclaim him, for he is read every Sabbath in the synagogues.”

The decision made in Jerusalem was very encouraging to the Gentile believers in Antioch. Two believers from Jerusalem brought the letter from the Council. The door now seemed to be open to carry the gospel to everyone, everywhere. However prejudice is very hard to root out. Even with all the encouraging words…

Yet, divisions still occurred. Let’s look at Paul’s account found in Galatians 2:11-12. But when Cephas (Peter) came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. ¹² For before certain men came from James, he was eating with the Gentiles; but when they came he drew back and separated himself, fearing the circumcision party.

Paul had fully surrendered his prejudices to the love and mercy of the Lord Jesus Christ. When ministering to Jews he would respect Jewish tradition. When ministering to Gentiles he would put tradition aside for the sake of the gospel. When Peter came to Antioch he joined with Paul in that same attitude. We do not know exactly how long Peter continued to put aside tradition in order to minister to the Gentiles but it must’ve been for several days — perhaps even weeks. It was absolutely essential that the simple gospel be protected from Jewish legalism. Peter could see that, and had joined with Paul, until some Jewish believers came from Jerusalem. Paul had to confront Peter publicly in order to protect the gospel. Prejudice had raised its ugly head…

And had to be dealt with. Let’s read two more verses Galatians 2:13-14. And the rest of the Jews acted hypocritically along with him, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. ¹⁴ But when I saw that their conduct was not in step with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, “If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you force the Gentiles to live like Jews?”

Peter had mingled with the Gentiles and ate with them. We can safely assume that the food he ate was not kosher. Remember, it was to Peter that a vision came of a sheet being let down from heaven filled with all kinds of unclean animals, reptiles and birds along with a voice that said “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” To which Peter replied “By no means, Lord”. I submit to you that Peter could not say “No” and with the same sentence say “Lord”! If Jesus is Lord then one cannot say “No”, if one can say “No” then the title “Lord” is meaningless!

Immediately after the vision three men arrived at the door to invite Peter to preach to a Roman centurion and his household. Peter later said, “You yourselves know how unlawful it is for a Jew to associate with or to visit anyone of another nation, but God has shown me that I should not call any person common or unclean. (Acts 10)

Rather than seeing the Gentile believers as “no longer strangers” Peter pushed them to the back of the bus so that he could be politically correct. It was absolutely essential that Paul confront him to his face in front of the entire congregation to bring an end to the prejudice against the Gentiles.

We must remember where our true citizenship is at…

We are temporary residents here. Let’s see what Paul said to the Philippians 3:20-21. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, ²¹ who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

I recall a story told by an evangelist about his encounter with a cemetery plot salesman. It went like this: the salesman told the evangelist that he should prepare for the end of his life so as to lift the burden off his family. The evangelist said, “How should I prepare?”

The cemetery plot salesman replied, “You should have made funeral arrangements as well as have a last will and testament. Part of your funeral arrangements should include the purchase of a cemetery plot.” The evangelist and said, “Purchase? Is there any way I can rent a cemetery plot?” The salesman replied, “I have never heard of such a thing. Why would you want to rent a plot?” The evangelist said, “I am not going to be there forever. I have believed on the Lord Jesus Christ and am saved. Therefore, when Christ comes again I am going to rise to meet him in the air along with all those who put their faith and trust in him. So I won’t need that plot after that.” Needless to say there was no possibility of him arranging a rental.

The writer of Hebrews tells about the time when God met with Moses on the mountain. That meeting was so terrifying that Moses said, “I trembled with fear.” However, that is not where we have come to meet God. We have come not to Sinai and the law. We have come to Mount Zion, the city of the living God! We have come to the heavenly Jerusalem and to innumerable angels! We have come to the assembly of the firstborn and to God Himself. We have come to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant (Hebrews 12:18-24).

Heaven is the place where God stores our treasure and has seated us with Christ. Heaven is where our faith comes from and since it has already been accomplished, our salvation cannot be taken away from us. As a result of the work of Christ on the cross…

We now have access to our forever home. Look at Colossians 3:1-4. If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. ² Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. ³ For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. ⁴ When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

When a person believes in Jesus, confessing Him as Lord and Savior, believing completely that God raised Him from the dead that person is born again — that person is saved! Since it is true that we have been raised with Christ (I know the passage says “If then” it is not a matter of guesswork, we have the promise of God). The Greek verb here is past tense. We have been raised with Christ! We have the responsibility to set our minds on things above. We need to put aside the focus on earthly things. Our life is hidden with Christ in God and when He appears we will appear with Him, and we will be like Him. While we remain on earth we must continue in the process of putting on the new self that we have been given by Christ. We should not be afraid that we will lose this glorious relationship because…

In the mind of God we are already there. Look back at Ephesians 2:5-6. (But God) even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— ⁶ and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

The Word of God tells us that our names have been written in the Lamb’s Book of Life from the foundation of the world! We don’t have to wait and wonder. We can accept God’s commitment. By God’s grace, through faith we have been saved (past tense) and raised up with Him (past tense) and seated with Him (past tense) in heavenly places

It is wonderful to know that we who were once far off from God have now been brought near through the death of Christ on the cross. Crucifixion was perhaps the most horrible means of execution and Jesus bore that for us. The prospect of His becoming sin for us and then to be beaten, abandoned and hung on a cross as a public spectacle was horrible enough that Jesus asked the Father for release but only in God’s will. Jesus’ death was necessary to pay the penalty for our sin. And because of that death on the cross all who believe on Christ will be saved. Have you put your faith and trust in Him? If not, today can be your day of salvation.

All scriptures quotes are from: The Holy Bible: English standard version. 2001. Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.