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Book: Ephesians
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Ephesians 3:10
Intro. Paul, who considered himself less than the least of all saints,
received the gift of grace to preach unto the Gentiles the
unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make men understand how
through Jesus Christ they can have fellowship with God.
I. This is a blessed truth of God that was even hid from the Old Testament
saints and from the angels.
A. The truth that was given to Paul.
1. That the church was to be comprised of both Jews and
Gentiles.
2. That the walls that once separated the Gentiles from
the promises of God were broken down by Jesus Christ.
B. Paul declares that this truth was revealed to the holy
apostles.
1. Peter writing about this said,
1PE 1:3 Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which
according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a
lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
1PE 1:4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth
not away, reserved in heaven for you,
1PE 1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation
ready to be revealed in the last time.
1PE 1:6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be,
ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
1PE 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of
gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found
unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
1PE 1:8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see Him
not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of
glory:
1PE 1:9 Receiving the end of your faith, [even] the salvation of [your]
souls.
1PE 1:10 Of which salvation the prophets have inquired and searched
diligently, who prophesied of the grace [that should come] unto
you:
1PE 1:11 Searching what, or what manner of time the Spirit of Christ which
was in them did signify, when it testified beforehand the
sufferings of Christ, and the glory that should follow.
1PE 1:12 Unto whom it was revealed, that not unto themselves, but unto us
they did minister the things, which are now reported unto you by
them that have preached the gospel unto you with the Holy Ghost
sent down from heaven; which things the angels desire to look
into.
C. God's intent is that through the church the principalities in
heavenly places might know the manifold wisdom of God.
1. This aligns with the statement of Peter, "Which things
the angels desired to look into."
2. It was prophesied in the old testament, however the
prophets did not understand the things they wrote,
neither did the angels.
3. Principalities and powers are the rankings of the
angelic beings. Like Colonels and Lieutenants.
a. These angelic beings referred to as
principalities and powers are divided into two
factions, those who remained true to God and
those who joined in Satan's rebellion against
God.
b. In Romans 8 Paul tells us of their inability to
separate us from the love of God which is in
Christ Jesus.
c. In Colossians 2 Paul tells us that Jesus
spoiled the power they had against us, through
His death on the cross.
d. In chapter 6 he tells us that we are in a
spiritual battle against the principalities and
powers of evil.
4. I can imagine that we Christians are a real enigma to
the angels.
a. I think that they must be shocked that we
struggle and fret over a problem rather than
pray.
b. I think that they watch us with dismay when we
venture into some of the areas where we go.
5. Here again is where hindsight is so superior to
foresight.
a. Looking at the Old Testament prophecies
concerning the suffering and death of Jesus,
and of the gospel being given to all the world,
is so much easier to understand now that Jesus
has suffered and died for us, and that the
Gentiles have become the center of world
evangelization.
b. These things remained mysteries until their
fulfillment.
II. These things are a part of God's eternal purposes.
A. Abraham was chosen by God to bring forth the nation through
which the Son of God would be born.
1. God watched over them and preserved them that through
them He might accomplish His eternal purpose of
bringing the Messiah into the world.
2. The Messiah was to be the Savior of the world, and once
He was born, the Jew lost his exclusive position as
God's favored people, and the gospel was taken to all
men, Jew and Gentile alike.
3. Now God's favored people are His church which is made
up of Jew and Gentiles.
B. God's eternal purpose always included all men.
1. God is not willing that any should perish, but that all
should come to salvation.
C. Paul speaks here of the eternal purposes of God.
EPH 1:4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of
the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him
in love:
TIT 1:2 In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised
before the world began;
1PE 1:19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without
blemish and without spot:
1PE 1:20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world,
but was manifest in these last times for you,
LUK 22:22 And truly the Son of man goeth, as it was determined: but woe
unto that man by whom he is betrayed!
ACS 2:23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and
foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have
crucified and slain:
ISA 46:10 Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times
[the things] that are not [yet] done, saying, My counsel shall
stand, and I will do all my pleasure:
ISA 46:11 Calling a ravenous bird from the east, the man that executeth my
counsel from a far country: yea, I have spoken [it], I will also
bring it to pass; I have purposed [it], I will also do it.
ACS 15:18 Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the
world.
III. In Whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of
Him.
A.
JOH 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no
man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
ROM 5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we
stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
EPH 2:18 For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the
Father.
HEB 4:14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed
into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast [our]
profession.
HEB 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the
feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like
as [we are, yet] without sin.
HEB 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we
may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
HEB 10:19 Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest
by the blood of Jesus,
HEB 10:20 By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us,
through the veil, that is to say, his flesh;
HEB 10:21 And [having] an high priest over the house of God;
HEB 10:22 Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith,
having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our
bodies washed with pure water.
B. Through Jesus, I can come boldly to God.
1. There is no other way that I can approach God.
2. The whole ceremony of the law in the approach to God
showed how difficult it was for sinful man to approach
the holy God.
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