Ephesians 3:1-13

Order of Service

• Sunday School Lesson — Ephesians 3:1-13
• Prayer of Dismissal

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Sermon Title: The Mystery of the Church and the Manifold Wisdom of God

Scripture: Ephesians 3:1-13

I. The Mystery Revealed to Paul (Review)

A. Paul's use of "mystery" differs from modern usage — it refers to something once hidden but now made known B. The mystery defined in Ephesians 3:6: Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus C. This was a radical revelation: it signaled the end of the Israelite theocracy and the creation of a new humanity — the church D. Paul received two gifts of divine grace:

1. The revelation of the mystery (Ephesians 3:2-3)
2. The commission to minister it (Ephesians 3:7-8)

II. The Three Stages of Paul's Ministry Commission (Ephesians 3:7-10)

A. Stage 1 — Preaching Christ's unsearchable riches to the Gentiles (Ephesians 3:8)

1. "Preaching" here is the Greek euangelizo — announcing good news
2. These riches encompass all Paul taught in Ephesians 1-2: reconciliation with God and one another through Christ's cross
3. Paul's zeal was fueled by his own experience — transformed from persecutor to apostle on the Damascus road

B. Stage 2 — Bringing to light the plan of the mystery for all people (Ephesians 3:9)

1. Three differences from Stage 1:
   • Different Greek word: photizo (to enlighten), shifting focus from the message to the condition of the hearers — those in darkness
   • Different emphasis: from Christ (unsearchable riches) to the church (the plan of the mystery — Jews and Gentiles united on equal terms)
   • Different audience: from Gentiles specifically to all people
2. Paul's Damascus road commission confirmed this purpose (Acts 26:14-18): "to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light"
3. Paul personally experienced this illumination, as he describes in 2 Corinthians 4:6

C. Stage 3 — Making known God's manifold wisdom to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places (Ephesians 3:10)

1. The church's existence — Jews and Gentiles united — is a public cosmic demonstration of God's wisdom
2. "Manifold" (Greek: polupoikilos) means many-colored, like Joseph's coat of many colors — the church is multinational, multiracial, and multicultural
3. The heavenly powers observe this as spectators: history is the stage, the saints are the actors, God is the author, director, and producer
4. 1 Peter 1:10-12 confirms that angels long to look into these things
5. God did not directly reveal his full plan to the principalities and powers — they observe it unfolding through history

III. The Eternal Purpose Realized in Christ (Ephesians 3:11-13)

A. This plan was conceived in eternity and realized in Jesus Christ — his death, resurrection, ascension, and gift of the Spirit (Ephesians 3:11) B. Because of Christ, believers have boldness and access with confidence — the priesthood of all believers (Ephesians 3:12) C. God's manifold wisdom confounds all expectations:

1. The fall of man created double alienation — from God and from one another
2. Salvation is not by works but by grace through Christ, eliminating both alienations (Ephesians 2:8-9)
3. Even Satan's rebellion and persistence served to display God's wisdom rather than merely his power D. Paul's suffering is not cause for despair but for glory — he calls the church to take up the same banner (Ephesians 3:13) E. The church today participates in this cosmic drama — the rulers and authorities (Ephesians 6:12) are still watching; the body of Christ is still in play