Paul the Preacher to the Gentiles
Introduction:
Again, Paul repeats himself quite a bit in this passage.
In this passage, Paul talks about his God given role.
Paul talks a lot about Paul.
When I think of all this …
I, Paul …
God gave me ..
I briefly wrote …
… revealed his mysterious plan to me.
… I have written …
… my insight …
I have been given …
… I am the least …
He graciously gave me …
I was chosen …
How can we apply this passage of scripture to our lives?
(Focus on the role God has given to each of us.)
Ephesians 3:1-12 NLT
God’s Mysterious Plan Revealed
3 When I think of all this, I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus for the benefit of you Gentiles . . . 2 assuming, by the way, that you know God gave me the special responsibility of extending his grace to you Gentiles. 3 As I briefly wrote earlier, God himself revealed his mysterious plan to me. 4 As you read what I have written, you will understand my insight into this plan regarding Christ. 5 God did not reveal it to previous generations, but now by his Spirit he has revealed it to his holy apostles and prophets.
6 And this is God’s plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus. 7 By God’s grace and mighty power, I have been given the privilege of serving him by spreading this Good News.
8 Though I am the least deserving of all God’s people, he graciously gave me the privilege of telling the Gentiles about the endless treasures available to them in Christ. 9 I was chosen to explain to everyone this mysterious plan that God, the Creator of all things, had kept secret from the beginning.
10 God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was his eternal plan, which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord.
12 Because of Christ and our faith in him we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence.
Examine the scriptures:
Ephesians 3:1-12 NLT
God’s Mysterious Plan Revealed
3:1 When I think of all this,
Briefly:
Review Chapter 2
11 Don’t forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders. You were called “uncircumcised heathens” by the Jews, …. 12 In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope. 13 But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ. … (through the end of chapter 2)
This is a good description of each of us before we were saved.
We really were outsiders, lost and without hope, heading straight to hell.
I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus
Repeated:
Ephesians 4:1 Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord …
Ephesians 6:20 I am in chains now …
Paul was a prisoner at the time he wrote this letter. (Likely in Rome)
Paul suffered imprisonment or confinement several times for serving Christ.
2 Timothy 1:11-12 NLT
11 And God chose me to be a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of this Good News.
12 That is why I am suffering here in prison. But I am not ashamed of it, for I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until the day of his return.
for the benefit of you Gentiles . . .
Paul suffered imprisonment for preaching to Gentiles.
- Living a life that is honoring to God can be very challenging.
We are in a spiritual warfare.
2 Corinthians 11:23-27 NLT
23Are they servants of Christ? I know I sound like a madman, but I have served him far more! I have worked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again. 24Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes. 25Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea. 26I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not. 27I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm.
2 assuming, by the way, that you know God gave me the special responsibility of extending his grace to you Gentiles.
Paul’s primary God given role was to proclaim God’s grace to the Gentiles.
- A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.
1 Corinthians 12:7-11 NLT
7 A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other. … 11 It is the one and only Spirit who distributes all these gifts. He alone decides which gift each person should have.
Ephesians 2:10 NLT (Previous chapter)
10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.
3 As I briefly wrote earlier, God himself revealed his mysterious plan to me.
Paul’s understanding of God’s mysterious plan came as God Himself revealed it to him.
Galatians 1:11-12 NLT
Paul’s Message Comes from Christ
11 Dear brothers and sisters, I want you to understand that the gospel message I preach is not based on mere human reasoning. 12 I received my message from no human source, and no one taught me. Instead, I received it by direct revelation from Jesus Christ.
God revealed this mysterious plan to Paul by revelation on the road to Damascus and more fully at other times.
4 As you read what I have written, you will understand my insight into this plan regarding Christ.
- As we spend quality time in the word God gives us (reveals to us) a better understanding of His will for our lives.
Romans 10:17 NLT
17 So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.
5 God did not reveal it (verse 6) to previous generations, but now by his Spirit he has revealed it to his holy apostles and prophets.
“But now …” Paul is referring to NT prophets.
The role of the Holy Spirit is somewhat different in the NT compared to in the OT.
Beginning at Pentecost.
Prophecy here is not so much about predicting the future as it is speaking a special word from God.
6 And this is God’s plan:
This is what is being revealed.
Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus.
Gentiles: anyone who is not Jewish.
Both … Both … both.
Jews and Gentiles, who believe the Good News, together are part of God’s family and heirs of God’s riches.
Jews and Gentiles, who believe the Good News, are part of the same body.
Jews and Gentiles, who believe the Good News, are united with Jesus Christ.
Romans 10:12 NLT
12 Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him.
Galatians 3:28 NLT
28 There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.
- As believers, we are part of God’s family and heirs of God’s riches.
7 By God’s grace and mighty power,
Grace: Undeserved blessing that comes from God.
Mighty power:
Matthew 19:26 NLT
26 Jesus looked at them intently and said, “Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But with God everything is possible.”
- God equips us to serve Him.
I have been given the privilege of serving him by spreading this Good News.
We have the privilege of serving God by sharing the Good News.
This starts at home with our children.
8 Though I am the least deserving of all God’s people,
God did not call Paul because he was a good person.
- God did not call us because we were good people.
he graciously gave me the privilege of telling the Gentiles about the endless treasures available to them in Christ.
Reminder: We are heirs of “endless treasures.”
- We have the privilege of serving God by sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
9 I was chosen to explain to everyone this mysterious plan that God, the Creator of all things, had kept secret from the beginning.
Paul was chosen for a specific task.
We were not all given the same gifts.
(Keep in mind that the “body” has many parts.)
Romans 12:6-8 NLT
6 In his grace, God has given us different gifts for doing certain things well. So if God has given you the ability to prophesy, speak out with as much faith as God has given you. 7 If your gift is serving others, serve them well. If you are a teacher, teach well. 8 If your gift is to encourage others, be encouraging. If it is giving, give generously. If God has given you leadership ability, take the responsibility seriously. And if you have a gift for showing kindness to others, do it gladly.
1 Corinthians 12:7 NLT (repeated)
A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.
10 God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.
The church is meant to be God’s showcase.
The ultimate purpose of the church is to glorify God.
We are the church.
- God uses people (us), His church, to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the world.
11 This was his eternal plan, which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord.
God’s plans existed from the beginning of time.
- God’s plans for each of us existed from the beginning of time.
12 Because of Christ and our faith in him we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence.
Not because of what we have done, but because of what Christ has done for us, we can come boldly to the throne of God.
Hebrews 4:14-16 NLT
Christ Is Our High Priest
14 So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. 15 This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. 16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.
- As believers, we can come boldly to the throne of our gracious God and receive His mercy and grace to help us when we need it most.
