Paul's letter to the Ephesians concludes with the apostle free whilst within the confines of the prison cell. So often we believe the lie that one day we will serve Christ and live for God, one day when circumstances are more congenial, one day when we are free so to do then we will serve. This denies the experience of Jonah who's spiritual peak was reached within the whale's belly, Paul whose epistles were penned in prison, John who concludes the canon from the Isle of Patmos and Stephen whose greatest sermon is delivered within the circle of his oppressors! Here in prison Paul is as free as anyone can be! Free in the Spirit, free in the gospel and free to serve! In Christ we have freedom to be free!
Spiritual warfare, the whole armour of God and the Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. Here is the final piece of spiritual armour in Ephesians chapter 6. This sword must be used in the power of the Spirit of God! The word is Spirit inspired, Spirit interpreted and Spirit applied! Enjoy the Word of God, as food for your soul, barley bread, as the light to your path and as the trumpet sound of Divine Revelation.
The whole armour of God includes the Helmet of Salvation and the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. The way in which the Christian life commences with the Word of God, the power of the Spirit of God and God's salvation (Ephesians 1:13) is the way the Christian life continues and spiritual battle concludes! God is mindful of the means of Satanic attack on the Christian's mind! He seeks to discourage, distract, deceive, defile and attempts to lead the Christian to despair! The Christian ust be mindful that the battle is the Lord's and He will keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed upon thee!
Dr J Stewart Gillespie
Bridgend Gospel Hall Christian Church
New Cumnock Systematic bible teaching from Ephesians
The whole armour of God beginning with the girdle of truth and the breastplate of righteousness progress onto feet shod with the preparation of the gospel and the shield of faith. Faith has victory in progress protecting from the fiery darts of the wicked one fired from above! Faith turns to prayer, the word of God, our experience of God's faithfulness and ultimately to the triumph of Divine purpose for His own in fulfilling His purpose for every believer, bringing us ver more deeply and fully into an appreciation of His Son Jesus Christ, in whom we have been chosen, to be set apart in holiness to Christ forever. Life begins with nothing but God. Life concludes with nothing but God. In the depths of Jobs suffering he found he had nothing but God and there he worshipped. Dr J Stewart Gillespie New Cumnock
The whole power of God is available to the Christian in Ephesians chapter 6! Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might! Mighty power and Divine strength is there for us, but how do we tap into these vast resources? They are not as far away as we might think! The key to making use of this power lies in the whole armour of God. The inner strengh of God, His ischus power forms the inner protection for the Christian, the first layer of defence in the girdle of truth and the breastplate of righteousness. Herein lies the secret to standing; not to fall! "There is an art to flying, or rather a knack. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss" (Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy)! The secret to standing is not to fall!
From the wedding of Joe Gillespie and Maisie Cronie conducted at the Brig O Doon Hotel, Ayr, on 25th October 2024, Dr J Stewart Gillespie considers the mystery upon which marriage is founded in Ephesians chapter 6, the pattern, and the principles of marriage found in love and submission and the purpose of commitment when these great priniciples are applied in marriage.
Ephesians chapter 6 describes God's provision for the Christian in the daily spiritual battle and warfare with the forces of Satan; the girdle of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God. Each of these items of armour exquisitely crafted for the task of defeating Satanic attack and defending the Christian from the wiles of the Devil.
Ephesians chapter 6 introduces the subject of spiritual warfare. God has made provision with the panoply, the whole armour of God. In Ephesians 6 we see the contrast between the Divine and the Demonic, between the way in which Satan operates and the way in which Christ operates. The Christian has access to the 3 fold power of God; dynamic doing power, intrinsic power and achieving power of God. When we face Satan we face primarily a foe who exploits weakness and usurps the power of the believer against himself. Let us put on the whole armour of God. Dr J Stewart Gillespie Bridgend Gospel Hall Church New Cumnock
Pauls letter to the Ephesians concludes with this chapter on the subject of Spiritual Warfare. Here is a call to put on the whole armour of God! Why conclude this letter to the Ephesians in such a way? Spiritual warfare is: important, we are up against Satan! Spiritual warfare is decisive with victory the end and outcome. Ephesians is not a letter of consolation but of inspiration, inspiring the Christian to fight to victory! This chapter on the panoply of God provides a fitting summary and conclusion to the Ephesian letter as a whole, with each of the parts of the armour; girdle, breastplate, shoes, shield, helmet, and sword related to truths and teachings we find elsewhere in the letter.
The call for fragrant self sacrifice at the beginning of Ephesians chapter 5 echoes not through extraordinary acts of self sacrifice or courage but through the ordinary events of daily life: marriage, family and employment. It is here that the Lord Jesus is glorified in the Christian life.
Paul's letter to the Ephesians presents the church in a three fold fashion; as a building founded upon Christ, as a body united and blessed by Christ and as the bride joined to and part of Christ! It is this pattern of the church as the body, bones and flesh of Christ which paints the most intimate and dramatic of pictures of the relationship between Christ and the church! By the cross of the Lord Jesus, His people are brought into the most intimate relationship with Him!
Be filled with the Spirit, is a command to all Christians in Ephesians chapter 5. It is within this chapter that we discover the secret as to how we may be filled, continually and presently with God's Spirit. Dr J Stewart Gillespie GraceinChrist.org
Rage rage against the dying of the night, to paraphrase Dylan Thomas' famous poem! The night and its unfruitful wickedness dies all around the believer. Chose carefully and chose wisely where you through in your lot and into what you invest your time! Redeeming the time means more than to be busy but rather to be fruitful for God! Our desires reflect our destiny and our belonging. Let us be careful what we are pursuing in time, for the destiny of that pursuit ends in eternity!
Dr J Stewart Gillespie
Bible Teaching
Ephesians chapter 5 Judges chapter 19 - the Levite and his concubine
We may not all have equal opportunities to serve God nor equal gifts nor may we see equal results but we each as believers in the Lord Jesus have equal opportunity to please God. The letter to the Ephesians contains 5 offerings; the ascending offering, the meal offering, the peace offering, the sin offering and the trespass offering. The 3 sweet savour offerings are to be seen in Christ and reflected in His people. The Christian life of service is a life of devotion to Christ, and in His service.
Every Christian life is a fire that is lit, whose flames ascend to heaven with fragrance of a life lived to God's Glory! This Christian walk which becomes worship imputes lasting meaning to our life below. Like Anna who served in the temple for 84 years or Mary who poured out her fragrant sacrifice upon Christ or Enoch who walked with God and who was not because God took him, our lives too can be a fragrance from a flame that burns wholly to the Lord! Ephesians chapter 5 bible teaching from the Bridgend Gospel Hall, New Cumnock, Dr J Stewart Gillespie
Ephesians chapter 4 lies within the practical section of Ephesians, and fits with the wilderness journey of Israel under the discipline of Moses; their apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor and teacher. Challenged to leave the old world and Pharoah behind, Israel, as too the church has a tendency to look back! We have to put off the old and put on the new, walking with Christ, in the power of His Holy Spirit to live in righteousness and true holiness.
Bible teaching from Ephesians chapter 4 verses 17 to 32 - wlak not as other Gentiles walk in the vanity of their mind. In the Christian life or walk God teaches His people many valuable lessons. Like the nation of Israel in the Old Testament we are taught lessons of faith, of faithfulness to God, of dependence and of meaning. The Christian knows where he is going, why he is going and what he is doing. For the Christian, life is infused with meaning, purpose and destiny. By God's Grace we are transformed intellectually, spiritually and morally to reflect the glory of Jesus Christ.
Ephesians follows the pattern of the Exodus, taking us on a journey from redemption (Ephesians chapter 1), through sanctification (Ephesians chapter 2), the construction of a temple or tabernacle (Ephesians chapter 3) through the journey of seperation and the story of Moses (Ephesians 4), the walk in the wilderness (Ephesians 5) and the final battle (Ephesians 6). Here in the church pictured as the body we are enlightened as to the gifts given to perfect and preserve the church. Paralleling the life of Moses we follow the role of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers each contributing to the integrity of the church, the perfecting of God's people and demonstrating the interest of God in bringing His people through.
The letter to the Ephesians contains 3 great pictures of the church:
1 - The Church as a Building (Ephesians chapter 2)
2 - The Church as the Body (Ephesians chapter 4)
3 - The Church as the Bride (Ephesians chapter 5)
Each of these 3 pictures contains the secret of the strength of the church:
1 - The churches foundation in the apostles, prophets and Christ
2 - The church in Her unity of love, a strength in those personal connections 3 - The church in Her relationship with Christ
Each of these 3 pictures also indicates the means by which the church glorifies Christ!
1 - As the place of worship and praise - the temple
2 - In the character of Christ - in the body
3 - In the completion of God's work in sanctification
Here in the church God uses many to perfect the few in His work of Grace by gifts. Self sacrifice and the use of our gifts can at times feel like loss, but as we bless others in self sacrifical love, God so often prepares us to be blessed. The widow of Zarephath gave her very last handful of meal to Elijah only to receive back a blessing multiplied in the riasing of her son from death to life! In the picture of the church as the body of Christ, God demonstrates the uniqueness of His character as displayed in His people to the whole world, as He did in the Old Testament with Israel, a people separated from the world, distinct and holy, a testimony of Gods character to a fallen world.
Ephesians presents 3 pictures of the church; the church the Building, a Temple, the church as a Body and the church as a Bride. In each of these 3 pictures of the church, her strength is pictured against the onslaught of persecution, hatred and martyrdom. Our strength goes down deep in Ephesians chapter 2 in the picture of the building or temple into the foundations of God's Word, His truth as revealed by the apostles and prophets, all pointing us to the Lord Jesus. In the picture of the body in Ephesians chapter 4 the strength goes out, in the unity of the body and in Ephesians chapter 5 with the picture of the Bride our strength looks up, it is our relationship with Christ. If ever our relationship with the foundations, or with one another or with Christ is weakened, this spells disaster for the church. We consider questions such as; is the church essential? Do I need to go to church? Why does God do church? The church is an inevitable extension of the character of God; of His unity and triumph over sin, Satan and the world.
Paul, the anointed apostle to the gentiles, called as a prisoner, but he walked worthy of it!
Whatever God gives you to do – walk worthy of it!
In walking worthy as the servant of Potiphar in his household that was part of the path to greater service over Egypt
In walking worthy as the servant of Moses that was the path to leading the nation onto victory in the promised land
In walking worthy as the servant of Elijah that was Elisha’s path to becoming the man of God for the nation.
In walking worthy as a captive in Babylon that was the path for Daniel to become a prince and a prophet.
The Lord does not entrust as with much if we do not prove faithful in that which is least.
For service in His church 4 key attributes:
Lowliness – Don’t get puffed up
How Paul served at Ephesus:
“Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews” (Acts 20:19)
It was the solution to the divisions at Philippi:
“Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.” (Philippians 2:3)
Lowliness - Don't get puffed up
Meekness – Don’t blow up
Longsuffering – don’t give up
Forbearing – Put up
All 4 of these attitudes to other are the expression of one attribute which is “love” (4:2)
This is a love which has as it’s source the Lord Himself (3:16ff)
A love which comes in back in Ephesians 3:17
Lenski points out that the love in Ephesians 3:17 is our love towards Christ / God, just as the thought continues that it is our understanding or comprehension of God in verse 18 that flows from this love of verse 17 and so it must be our love for God.
Something happens in these verses 16 to 17 that brings out this response of love towards Christ. The only significant event is the answer to that prayer for strength (Ephesians 3:16). In that answer by the Lord to our need we are assured of His love to us, His care, His commitment, and we are able to get over that stumbling block of Adam in Genesis 3 where we harbour the grudge, that just maybe we have a God who holds back on us and who cannot be trusted, who does not always want the very best for us!
Vs 3 – We do not produce the unity, that is already given by the Spirit, rather we keep the unity.
Vs 4 to 6 – 7 fold unity
Verse 7 to 8 – the Grace Christ gives are manifest in His gifts
Gifts given for use amongst His people.
Verse 8 helps me understand the strange phrasing of Ephesians 2:2; the interesting title for Satan in Ephesians 2:2 “the Prince of the Power of the air”
Why not Satan?
Why not the Devil?
What is the significance of the “Prince of the Power of the air”?
Herein is the domain of Satan; above the kings of this earth, below the throne of the God of heaven!
As believers we have been removed from and taken from that domain! Our status is not that of REFUGEE! Our status is that of REDEEMED! We are no like those souls we here of who escape from North Korea, from the concentration camps or the oppression of China or Iran where they escape but the regime stands as powerful as ever! We escaped but it stands as strong as ever! This is not the case with Satan!
The bestowal of spiritual gifts by Christ (4:8) is linked to the ascension of Christ. This is distinct from Hebrews chapter 2 where it is the resurrection of Christ breaking through death and the grave, the gifts here are given subsequent to the ascension of Christ as He ascends (4:8) and leads captivity captive. This is not the grave nor death, the ascension is after the resurrection this is the leading of captivity captive after His death and resurrection as He ascends, through the domain of “the Prince of the power of the air”!
Let me draw an illustration from Israel heading from the Exodus to the promised land! A story through which we can read the whole of the Ephesian epistle! The narrative of Exodus to Joshua is onwards and upwards, pressing forward through the red sea and the wilderness. Yet do something for me! Just for a moment, as you drive inexorably forwards, just for a moment, glance into the rearview mirror! What do you see? Israel are not refugees! Israel are the redeemed of God! Refugees leave their country as it was, intact. Israel has ransacked Egypt and left behind them a scene of total devastation! The grave yards are full of the firstborn of Egypt, the cattle slaughtered, the stink of rotten frogs and polluted rivers and the Red Sea floating with corpses. Egypt has been subdued.
In gifting to His people His gifts of Grace for the up building of His people and the spread of the gospel Christ has removed the enemy and forces that would hinder that work! That means there is nothing left to hinder us as His people!
Literature and history is replete with great journeys and stories of adventure; twenty thousand leagues under the sea, around the world in 80 days or Star Wars in a galaxy far far away! The greatest journey you and I can make is teh journey into the place, presence and person of God! This is a way opened up by the Lord Jesus. In response to your prayerful need, God strengthens us according not to our weakness but according to His Glor, and for His Glory! That love demonstrated deepens my affection and surrender to Christ. From being resident Christ becomes president of my life! God desires that total surrender to Him, the filling of the Christian with all of the fullness of God and a life loved for His Glory. All of this is pictured in the Ark of the Covenant and mercy seat of Exodus chapter 25.
For this cause I bow the knees, introduces Pauls prayer of intercession for the believers at Ephesus. It has taken prison, persecution and affliction to bring him here, on his knees before God. On his knees is the place of prayer. On his knees is the place of power. Paul is bold in prayer and interecedes not that the Ephesians may be strengthened according to their weakness but that they may be strengthened according to God's Glory! It is this strength that turns a shepherd into a giant slayer, that brings Samson his greatest victory and turns Lazarus's death into something glorious!
The apostle goes off topic, caught up with the excitement of the unsearchable riches of Christ
"for this cause" (3:1) is not continued until verse 14
For this cause:
On the basis of 2:11-22, the tremendous blessings and benefits of being a Christian
Peace with God
Privilege of prayer
Place in His church
Presence of God
Almost like a trip to tower of London where there is many a jewel on display
We noted previously the setting of Ephesians chapter 3 is that of the Tower of London! A place once a:
Prison
And now a :
Treasure House
At the centre, a display behind thick glass impenetrable, the regal crown of the United Kingdom, adorned atop by the Koh-I-Nor diamond
Here in Ephesians chapter 3 we find a very similar place!
For Paul this place is both a:
Prison (Ephesians 3:1)
And a:
Treasure Store (Ephesians 3:8) of the unsearchable riches of Christ
Ephesians chapter 3 does differ from the Tower of London:
Ephesians 3 is both a prison cell and a treasure store similtaneously. We have the prison and the riches simultaneously!
Don't need easy jet to reach it!
It is as Paul peers through the bars of the prison cell that in his suffering, in his pain and in his problems and in:
Prison
He sees
Purpose
Through the prison bars he sees purpose!
Men had their PLAN but God has His PURPOSE!
This section (Ephesians 3:1 – 11)
Begins with Prison (3:1)
Ends with Purpose (3:11)- God’s purpose in Christ of which Paul, his life and ministry are now an integral part!
Suffering can be bearable if we perceive purpose:
A man who has a reason why to live can deal with almost any how
Leonid Rogozov – self appendectomy 1961 – the suffering had purpose and was worth it!
When we see the purpose in the pain and problems perhaps we can be encouraged to percevere
From this prison cell Paul will expound to us the unsearchable riches of Christ!
He acknowledges that
Christ is Sovereign over his imprisonment (3:1) – he could have complained about the Roman authorities, the Jewish accusers, Satanic forces (Ephesians 6) but above and beyond them all he recognises the sovereign hand of God. “the prisoner of Christ Jesus” (3:1) note the Greek word order, first “Christ” in His Messianic authority (Psalm 2), with kingly and sovereign power:
Anointed Priest (Psalm 110)
Anointed King (Psalm 110; Psalm 2)
Anointed Prophet
All together in Christ
Not simply a prisoner of Rome, nor even of the forces of Satan but of Christ, and then “Jesus”. God makes even the "wrath of man" to praise Him. Instead of the prison obstructing his ministry the prison has facilitated it!
The Saviour is present with Paul in his imprisonment, so this prison experience is full of an appreciation of Christ. As a "prisoner of Jesus Christ" almost as if Christ, jailor like, holds Paul in that place, solitary confinement was not possible for Paul, it was always with Christ! Like his experience in 2 Timothy “Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.” 2 Timothy 4:17. This is an expeirence not unlike that of Mark 6:31 "come yourselfs apart and rest a while" Sometimes maybe for te busy servant, runing about, pouring Himself out, burning the candle at both ends, sometimes the only thing that will sort it out is "the jail". Here in the prison cell Paul is caught up with the person of Christ!
Christ is:
Sovereign over the imprisonment
Saviour in the imprisonment - present and pervasive
Paul is a “prisoner for you Gentiles” (3:1)
Is this an investment worth making?
Investing in God’s work is worthwhile.
In God’s purpose, God’s people are worthwhile.
CT Studd – gave up a fortune and a career in cricket
Jim Elliot:
‘He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose’
‘He is no fool who parts with that which he cannot keep, when he is sure to be recompensed with that which he cannot lose.’
Paul was investing his life in something worthwhile
‘Life’s but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more, it is a tale told by an idiot full of sound and fury signifying nothing’
Macbeth Act 5 Scene 5
Maybe not too far from the truth, for many a:
Wasted life
Frittered life
Futile life
Squandered on utter triviality
It seems the more trivial the pursuit today, the greater the reward and accolade:
People pretending to be someone else in a story of make believe
Story tellers
Fantasists
Glory of fleeting sporting achievements
Many sacrifice their time and talents in trivial pursuits
By contrast Paul has invested His life and not squandered it (3:1), invested for Glory and not squandered for time.
Paul has invested it in something of lasting value, the work of God.
Paul has taken Christ at His word
‘purchase of me gold tried in the fire’
‘lay up for yourself treasure in heaven’
The Christian life is not a life wasted but a life invested!
This prison becomes a:
Pulpit
Printing Press
School
Sanctuary
This prison becomes a place where:
Christ is experienced
Christ is expounded
A place not only of:
Incarceration
Consecration
To expound Christ I must first needs experience Christ
Not simply as CS Lewis put it:
Fall in love with God
Fall in love with telling about God
Fall in love with the telling
From this imprisonment comes a presentation of the:
Innocense - creation to fall, no law for no need of law
Conscience - fall to the law. Some would also see:
Age of government - "if man shall she blood by man shall his blood be shed". Unconvinced that this represents a significantly distinctive dispensation. Government certainly developes through Genesis and beyond: Babel and Pharoah etc but from the days of Cain, retribution was a reality with the mark of Cain.
Promise to Abraham - definitely not a distinct dispensation, it does not involve the means of Divine administration of this world, selective, although very important but particular to Abraham. If we recognise this as a dispensation I would think you would need another for Melchizedek as well.
On the basis of Romans chapter 5 I would see warrant in a single dispensation from conscience to law.
Law
Grace
Tribulation - withdrawal of the Holy Spirit and the church – the Divine response to the rejection of Christ
Millenial reign of Christ
Eternal state
Not only what God is doing but the why, dispensations have a purpose, for the Glory of His Son. Not only are they distinctive means of Divine Administration but administration with an end in view.
The dispensation of law is our school master leading us to Christ. In the law we have wonderful pictures and patterns of Christ in the sacrifices, offerings and tabernacle.
The dispensation of Grace is all of Christ
The Glory of God revealed in the eternal state with all focused on Christ! The foundations are the apostles of the lamb, the throne is of the lamb and the lamb is the light thereof!
The broad panorama of the unsearchable riches of Christ.
The 14 mysteries
Mysteries of the Kingdom
Mystery of Israel regrafted (Romans 11)
Mystery of the Gospel to all nations (Romans 16)
Mystery of the Cross (1 Corinthians 2)
Mystery of the Rapture (1 Corinthians 15)
Mystery of His Will (Ephesians 1)
Mystery of Christ (Ephesians 3)
Mystery of the Church as the Bride of Christ (Ephesians 6)
Mystery of Christ in us (Colossians 1)
Mystery of Iniquity (2 Thessalonians 2)
Great Mystery of Godliness (1 Timothy 3:16)
Mystery of 7 stars and churches (Revelation 2)
Mystery of God (Revelation 7)
Mystery of Babylon the Great (Revelation 17)
The 2 great mysteries: 1 Timothy 3:16; Ephesians 5
The 1 mystery of a great thing: Revelation 17 - note the disctinction here, not a great mystery sa is Christ and His people but now in dealing with iniquity and evil - the mystery of great thing! A different category all together!
What are these mysteries?
A 'definition' is often given:
Truth once concealed and now revealed.
This is more accurately a feature of some of the mysteries of Christ rather than a definition.
It is a paraphrase of Ephesians 3:5 and is thus a feature of the mystery of Christ.
3 reasons why 'truth once concealed and now revelead is not a definition of the mysteries.
Non specific, too generic - if this is our definition
it would include almost all OT prophecy, given to some degree in obscurity eg "a virgin shall conceive and bring forth a son"! What did that means.
It would include the types and prophecies of the OT eg Genesis 22.
Inaccurate - not all mysteries are now revealed - 2 Thessalonians chp2 - mystery of iniquity, 1 Timothy 3:16 and the mystery of Babylon the great!
Cryptic - it seems an odd way to define a mystery by describing them as not mysteries! Paul, John and the Lord describe them consistently as mysteries, and still in the present tense eg 1 Timothy 3:16. It is a bit of a mystery to me to define a mystery as not a mystery. That is a mystery!
Does a definition of the mysteries really matter?
You should have been a hair dresser, you're so good with split hairs.
A definition / understanding is worth pondering, if we get that wrong we may miss what the mysteries are actually about.
What are the mysteries.
Consider the 3 core mysteries:
2 Great Mysteries
1 Mystery of a Great thing
Great is the mystery of Godliness
Great mystery of Christ and His Church
Redemption of a people
Reconciliation
Relationship with God forever
Mystery of Babylon the Great
Removal of all that opposes Christ, rejects Christ and Rebels against Christ.
If I were to ask you to summarise the message of the bible for me? God's plan as revealed within the pages of this book. How would you do?
An hours ministry
A systematic theology
How about in 3 points?
I don't think you could do much worse that those 3 points! Even if it is my message and I'm quite pleased with it!
God's purpose for this universe from creation to redemption and beyond.
From eternity to eternity!
These mysteries are not simply truths once concealed and now revealed, these mysteries are the answer of God to the question why? how? who?
The mysteries are God's plan for the universe.
This is the 'hidden' knowledge of the Christian faith, the true mysteries!
Maye God had purpose in the prison cell?
It was in the prison that:
Joseph became a prophet
Daniel a type of Christ
Silas established the church at Philippi
Paul unfolded the unsearchable riches of Christ
Onesimus was transformed from sinner and slave to saint.
Makes you think that maybe God has a purpose in the prison cell at times?
Maybe in my:
Loneliness
Isolation
Separation
Despair
Illness
Restriction
In my ‘prison’ type experience, maybe God will have purpose here too!
Like Joseph in Genesis, there was purpose in his problems.
Like Moses in Deuteronomy 8:2ff
“for this cause” (Ephesians 3:1)
Peace with God
Privilege of Prayer
Place in the Church
Presence of God
Paul doesn’t finish this sentence until 3:14 “for this cause I bow my knees”
Paul sees the Power of God – the sovereign hand of Christ in his experience “of Christ Jesus”. Paul lives in the reality of a teaching he will give us later on in Ephesians 6:12; “we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities, against powers against the rulers of the darkness of this world...” Rome was but a pawn in a far bigger game. Neither Rome, Jewish
more clearly that the “excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us” (2 Co 4:7). Here is the church growing and blossoming despite the fact that Paul has been taken out of the equation!
“So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places; And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.” (Phil 1:13-14). There were those who sat on the fence! How do we get them off the fence? Set the fence on fire! No longer able to sit upon the fence.
“All the saints salute you, -- chiefly they that are of Caesar’s household” (Phil 4:22) Even with Paul’s imprisonment, the gospel goes out and souls are being saved!
Is it not interesting that today we read Pauls prison epistles! Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon and 2 Timothy! World population in AD 70 – about 250 million. Up until today about 7 billion bibles printed. The YOU bible version claims to have been installed on approximately 725 million devices! If Paul had never been in prison the maximum reach of his preaching ministry from Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon and 2 Timothy would have been a few thousand!
Perceives the Purpose of his prison cell and problems! We don’t always have that luxury of course, being able to see what our trial is all about! Acknowledging the sovereignty of God of course over our trials gives us the assurance that “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28). In faith we have the assurance of purpose!
Paul shows us a fresh PERSPECTIVE on the service of God (v8). Paul develops and grows in the PEACE and PATIENCE of God! Perhaps if we were an apostle like Paul, with such gift, knowledge, opportunity we would expect unlimited success and blessing, yet we notice Paul’s approach to his ministry (3:8) – God owes him nothing! All that he has he has been given, this ministry is all of God’s grace, with humility he has the perspective that God owes him nothing!
Verse 2:
“Dispensation” : “οἰκονομία” : administration
Paul recognises in this verse ‘dispensations’
The ‘dispensation of the Grace of God’ stands in contrast to something else mentioned earlier; a distinctive way in which God revealed Himself and His plans and purposes in days gone by; “the law” (Ephesians 2:15) which excluded Jew and Gentile from fellowship with Him.
Dispensations are ways by which God operates or administers this world. God remains the same and unchanged but the means by which He operates, or what He does does not remain the same!
God does not perpetually flood the world
God does not continually demand animal sacrifices
God does not constantly plague Egypt
God does not continue to send His Son into the world
At different times God operates by distinctive means.
The word dispensation does not appear that often in the NT, although significantly it does appear 7 X in the NT; Luke 16:2; Luke 16:3; Luke 16:4; 1 Corinthians 9:17; Ephesians 1:10; Ephesians 3:2; Colossians 1:25.
There are different ways of seeing these dispensations in scripture.
I can identify at least 7 (maybe 8) distinct dispensations, administered by God in distinctive ways:
Age of Innocence (Creation to the fall)
Age of Conscience / government from fall to the law, some see government as a distinct dispensation from Noah to the Law with the command to punish murder by death, although I do note that some form of government was already in force pre fall as indicated by the mark on Cain.
Age of Law from Exodus 20 to Christ
Age of Grace from the advent of Christ
Day of Tribulation
Millenial Reign
Eternal state
Verse 3 – The Mystery
Paul references here the Mystery of Christ (3:4) which is a reference to Jews and Gentiles together in one body (3:6)
Why Christ?
Christ or Messiah is the anointed one:
Psalm 2:2 – The anointed King
Psalm 110 – parallels Psalm 2 – the word Christ not mentioned but refers to the Priest and King
Daniel 9:24 – 26
As Messiah Christ incorporates the roles of all of those previously anointed:
Prophet
Priest
King
The believer is being brought into the blessings and benefit of this anointed one, prophet, priest, King and sacrifice for our sins (Daniel 9) we have not been excluded!
A mystery:
Truth once concealed and now revealed?
This is certainly true of the church and this mystery of Christ (3:4-5) but:
Not necessarily a great ‘definition’ of mystery per se!
Perhaps better to understand the idea of mystery within the setting of the time of the NT writings when many of the religions of that day had a core set of ideas or revelations kept for the initiated. These were ideas that were at the core or heart of the religious system but unknown to the uninitiated.
These mysteries then form the back bone, the structure to God’s plan for the universe in Christ. They are in effect the answer as to the reason why / how / what God is doing with this universe.
We could identify perhaps 14 distinct mysteries.
Mystery of the Kingdom (Mark 4)
Mystery of Israel (Romans 11)
Mystery of the Gospel to all nations (Romans 16:25)
Mystery of the Cross (1 Corinthians 1 + 2)
Mystery of the Rapture (1 Corinthians 15)
Mystery of Christ in you (Colossians 1:27)
Mystery of His will (Ephesians chp 1)
Mystery of Christ (Ephesians chp 3)
Mystery of the Bride (Ephesians chp 5)
Mystery of Iniquity (2 Thessalonians 2:7)
Mystery of Godliness (1 Timothy 3:16)
Mystery of the 7 Churches (Revelation chp 1)
Mystery of God in judgment (Revelation 10:7)
Mystery of Babylon the Great (Revelation 17:5)
The 3 greats form the backbone of theses mysteries:
Great mystery of Godliness (1 Timothy 3:16)
The Revelation, Resurrection, Ascension, Exaltation and Glorification of Christ
Great mystery of Christ and His people (Ephesians 5)
The Redemption and reconciliation and relationship of Christ with His people
The mystery of Babylon the Great (Revelation 17)
The Removal, Rejection and Retribution of all that rebels against Christ.
If I were to ask you to give me a summary of the bible, could you do much better?
Not a bad summary of the bible!
A summary of the bible in 3 points!
I doubt you could do any better!
Here is Gods plan for the universe.
Here is the message of the bible
What is God doing?
Why is God doing it?
How is God doing it?
V8“the unsearchable riches of Christ”
Paul is tasked with this great challenge of preaching the unsearchable riches of Christ to the Gentiles.
Notice his perspective on himself as he unfolds these riches!
“unto me who am less than the least of all saints” (3:8)
God owes Paul nothing!
God does not owe him:
An easy life
A smooth passage
Blessings
Prosperity
Popularity
All Paul has, he has by the grace of God!
He is indebted to God, and not God to him!
Prison is acceptable when grace is undeserved (v8)
Perhaps there is a link between Paul’s appreciation of who he is (3:8) and Paul’s appreciation of who Christ is?
A small view of self
A big view of Christ
Do we not need to be empty to then be filled?
Paul – when I am weak then I am strong
Elijah knew God’s power and presence in the famine, drought and persecution by Jezebel
Moses encountered God as a fugitive in the backside of the desert
Let him that lacks wisdom ask of God who gives liberally and upbraideth not (James 1:5)
Was it not:
The blind man who saw the light of the world (John 9)
The dead man who knew the resurrection power of Jesus (John 11)
The hungry crowd who could testify to Christ as the living bread (John 6)
A thirsty woman who drank of the living water (John 4)
Empty water pots that were filled to the brim by Christ with wine. (John 2)
An anxious and fearful upper room of disciples who enjoyed that peace of Christ which goes beyond all understanding!
What is Paul sharing of Christ?
What are these riches?
Are they things which Christ possesses?
Cattle on the 1000 hills (Psalm 50:10)
All that the Father hath are mine (John 16:25)
The whole world belongs to Him (John 1)
All things made by Him (Col 1:16)
I have never heard Paul ‘preach’ but we do have his epistles to read. They do not seem to be filled with the riches Christ possesses or creates but rather the riches of His:
Character
Attributes
Person
Work
ie riches of:
Who Christ is
What Christ has done
Riches are commodities we would attach value to either because of their:
Uniqueness
Outstanding beauty
Scarcity
Complexity
Relative worth - money
Absolute worth
Heb 11:26 – Moses found greater riches in the reproach of Christ than the treasures in Egypt
There is absolute worth in Christ!
Illust: Jews heading to Auschwitz willing to give away all of their material possessions for a drink of water!
“all that a man hath will he give for his life” (Job 2:4)
Jesus is:
In our hunger He is the Bread of life
In my thirst He is the Living water
In my death He is the resurrection and the life
In my wandering He is the good Shepherd
In my sin He is the Saviour
In my weakness He is my helper
In my sorrow He is the comforter
In my emptiness He is the fullness that filleth all in all
In my path He is the Way
In my despair He is our Hope
In my fear He is our peace
The true vine sustaining His people
Possesses the words of Eternal Life
Resurrection and the life
Creator
Judge
Upholds all things by His power
Holds the keys of hell and of death (Rev 1:18)
He is our peace
He is our redeemer
Our substitute
He is our hope
The door into heaven
Our Great High Priest
Our Good Shepherd
Our Great Shepherd
He is our comforter
King of Kings
Lord of Lords
Bright and morning star
In my need of a lamb He is Jehovah Jireh (Genesis 22)
For those who need healing heading out of Egypt He is Jehovah Rapha
For Gideon who saw the angel of the Lord and was afraid to die He is Jehovah Shalom
For David facing Goliath He is the Lord of Hosts (1 Samuel 17:45) Jehovah Sabaoth
For those who need salvation He is Jehovah Tsidkenu
Hebrews 1 – titles of Jehovah
Revelation 17 – title of Jehovah
Everything I need for time and for eternity is found in Him!
Fascinatingly it is Moses who teaches me the true value of these unsearchable riches in Christ!
“By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; 25 Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; 26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward.” (Hebrews 11:24-26)
Moses had in Egypt:
Place
Position
Privilege
Power
Pleasure
Possessions
Here is an encouraging thought; if all I feel that I have of Christ is His reproach:
His tears and sorrow
His rejection and alienation
His pain and suffering
The hatred of men
The contradiction of sinners
The mocking and jeering
Betrayal and unfaithfulness
If the only grasp I feel of His things is His Cross
If the only taste of Christ is the taste of His tears
When you feel you follow with a cross rather than for a crown
The only fragrance of Christ you perceive is the anointing for His burial
The only emotion the tears of His suffering
Heaven and it’s precious jewels seem a long way away
The wiping away of all tears beyond your reach
The streets of gold are somewhere else
River of living water refresh another people in another city in another place
If out of all of His riches I lay hold only of His reproach then compared to all that I could ever have in this world, this far out weighs in value and worth the world in its:
Place
Position
Privilege
Power
Pleasure
Possessions
From the prison cell Paul presents the unserachable riches of Christ, the dispensations of God's grave and the great mysteries of God's plan and purpose for this fallen world. The Divine plan for this universe centres on the revelation of Jesus Christ, the Great Mystery of Godliness, the redemption of a people for Himself and the removal of all that rebels against Him. In Christ we find a Saviour unlike any other, full of unsearchable riches! He is the bread of life, the light of the world, the way the truth and the life, the door into heaven, the Shepherd of the sheep, our great High Priest, a Saviour of Sinners and our comforter.
