THE MYSTERY OF SALVATION THROUGH FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD
EPHESIANS CHAPTER 3
Ephesians 3
King James Version (KJV)
3 For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.
8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;
9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:
10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,
11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:
12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.
13 Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.
14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
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VS 1 : For this cause I paul the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles.
This is a lesson in humility:
Here, Paul considers himself a prisoner.
He was actually in prison and must have been writing from prison. (Act 28: 16, 20,23,28,30,31)
He address himself as a prisoner. He did not refer to himself as a big person.
Again he called himself a prisoner of Jesus Christ.
This shows that he knows that Jesus Christ is almighty and all Powerful and only what he allows happens for a purpose.
He is not a fair weather Christian. He is willing to be obedient even when it is not convinient or comfortable.
Lesson: Let us follow Jesus Christ at all timesunder all circummstances. Let us be obedient and faithful. His grace is sufficient for us .
Jesus Christ will send you where His grace will keep you safe and sound successfully.
This is also a lesson in Sacrifice:
He was a prisoner of Jesus Christ for the Gentiles.
He sacrificed his freedom for the sake of the Gentiles; (in obedience to Jesus Christ, to preach to them,; by His grace): That they may know Jesus Christ and be saved. (That we may know Him and the Power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His suffering, being made conformable unto His death; if by any means I might attain the resurrection of the dead. We have a righteousness which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith. {Phil3:9,10,11} Notice here that the faith here is that of Christ. and the righteousness is of God by faith hence it is perfect without spot or wrinkle or blemish)
VS 2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward.
There is a dispensation of the grace of God.
This is for all those who are saved by grace not of works least any man or anyone should boast. (It is the gift of God)
Anybody who believes in our Lord Jesus Christ sincerely is under the dispensation of grace.
VS3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words.
Here: God's words and knowledge are by revelation.
Salvation through Jesus Christ is a mystery only understood by those whom Jesus Christ chooses to reveal it to [To as many as believe in our Lord Jesus Christ]
VS4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
Notice here that God gave him a revelation and an understanding of the mystery of Jesus Chriat.
He did not keep this knowledge to himmself.
He chose to share the good news of salvation through believing in the finished work (death on the cross where He paid for my sins and yours) of our Lord Jesus Christ on the cross of Calvary
Any body who believes in our Lord Jesus Christ shall be saved.
VS 5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men; as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the spirit.
This is new. This knowledge was not available in the past to the sons of men.
Now it is revealed by the spirit unto His holy apostles and prophets. The Spirit makes you holy and reveals things about God to you.
Vs 6 That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promises in Christ by the gospel.
This mistery has a purpose:
Purpose: The purpose of this mystery and its revelation is to make the Gentiles fellow heirs with Jesus Christ; and of the same body. [The body of Christ the Church,, with Jesus Christ the head] and partakers of His promises in Christ through the gospel. {The good news that Jesus saves. Jesus Christ came to the world to save sinners of whom I an chief}
Let us benefit from this provision made for us by God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Believe in our Lord Jesus Christ today and you shall be saved.
VS 7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.
The grace of God is a gift. Paul sees himself as a minister[servant], and not just a minister but a minister of God.
He is answerable to God. He works to please God.
Whatever you do, do it as unto God because you are a minister of God.
Do things to please God. Do things to be approved of by God.
Do things to be rewrded by God.
Do things to be assessed and appraised by God.
Do things with respect to God.
God is Powerful and the Power of God is effective. By His Power He gives us His Grace.
Let us trust God today and He will give us the Grace of God through Jesus Christ our Lord. {This is that same Grace of God which passes all understanding which only God can give through Jesus Christ our Lord.}
VS 8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.
The riches of Christ is unsearcheable.
Paul shows humility. He sees himself as least and honoured to have been asked to serve Christ in that he was given the Grace to preach the gospel.
You need the Grace of God to preach the gospel. You will come across many things as Paul did and you need the Grace of God to overcome them.
This same Grace of God also makes it possible for your hearers to accept the gospel and be saved.
VS 9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God who created all things by Jesus Christ.
God created all things by Jesus Christ. There is a fellowship of the mystery.
This mystery was hid in God from the beginning of the world and now God maketh all men to see what is the fellowship of the mystery.
VS 10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the Church, the manifold wisdom of God.
God wants the Church to know the wisdom of God. It is important that the Church may know the manifold wisdom of God.
Vs 11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
There is an eternal purpose in Christ Jesus our Lord.
VS 12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of Him
Benefits of Faith of Jesus Christ.
Notice that this is the Faith OF Jesus Christ that we are benefiting from.
In whom we have :
BOLDNESS -
ACCESS -
with CONFIDENCE -
By the faith OF Him
Children of God who believe in our Lord Jesus Christ are Bold, Have Access and are Confident.
VS 13 Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you which is your glory.
Here Paul is encouraging them, that they faint not at his tribulations for them which is their glory.
Let our tribulations and travails toils and activities bring glory to others for Christ sake. Let us encourage others even when we are in travail or distress or tribulation.
VS 14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
He prayed to God for their salation.
Let us pray for one another.
Let us pray for the salvation of others.
VS 15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named.
Jesus Christ has been given a name above all names . In the name of Jesus Christ every knee shall bow. Of whom the whole family in heaven is named.
VS 16 That he would grant you according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man
God wants to strengthen you with might by His Spirit in the inner man. This He wants to grant you by His riches in glory.
VS 17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye , being rooted and grounded in love,
It is the purpose of God for us all that Christ may dwell in our hearts by faith. so hat we may be rooted and grouned in love.
VS 18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and heigth;
This will make it possible for us to understand with all saints what is the breadth and depth and heigth ;
VS 19 And to know the love of Christ, Which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
And to know the unique love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, so that we might be filled with the fulness of God.
VS 20 Now unto him that is able to do exceedingly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
When we ask God for any thing or think, He does and is able to do much more than we ask Him. The Power of God worketh in us to do exceedingly above all that we ask or think.
This is a mystery. This is the mystery of salvation by faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ lives in our heat when we believe in Him.
VS 21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
Unto the Lord Jesus Christ be the glory great things He has done !!!
