A Mystery Revealed

September 27, 2023 at 12:09 pm | Posted in Ephesians | 2 Comments
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For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,

Ephesians 3:1

Paul called himself a prisoner in two senses. He had been set free from bondage to sin, but he had voluntarily placed himself into the captivity of Christ. He was also literally a prisoner of Rome because of his ministry to the gentiles.

This was the beginning of a prayer, which will be continued in Verse 14, but Verses 2 – 13 are a digression – a pause in the prayer in the form of a long sentence (189 words in the Greek) – in which Paul expounded on the ideas in Chapter 2 concerning the relationship of Jews and gentiles in Christ, and in which he addressed his unique position as the recipient of the revelation concerning this relationship which had been a mystery under the Old Testament, but which was now being revealed.

If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:

Ephesians 3:2

Paul was God’s main missionary to the gentiles.

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)

Ephesians 3:3-4

The Book of Ephesians uses the idea of mysteries more than any other book of the Bible. It addresses the revelation of God’s election, the revelation of His predetermined work in Christ and the Cross, the revelation of the true meaning of marriage, and others.

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;

Ephesians 3:5

Paul wasn’t the only one given revelations. Other Apostles and New Testament prophets were used by God to reveal clearly what had been shadowy in the Old Testament, too. The idea is that no one could figure these things out on his own. God had to unilaterally impart this knowledge, but He did not just give it to anyone or everyone. The New Testament Church is built on the foundation first of Christ, and then on Holy Spirit revelation to the capital-A Apostles.

This was the mystery being revealed now:

That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:

Ephesians 3:6

Paul could not have discovered the revelation of this mystery on his own:

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;

Ephesians 3:7-8 (emphasis added)

A recognition of grace makes people humble, joyful, and responsible. A refusal to acknowledge grace makes people proud, grumpy, and complacent.

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,

Ephesians 3:9-10

The revelation of the mystery also educates angels and devils.

According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:

Ephesians 3:11 (emphasis added)

God the Father chose to save sinners; Christ the Son died to accomplish it; and the Holy Spirit applies it.

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.

Ephesians 3:12-13

Here Paul continued the prayer begun back in Verse 1:

For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Ephesians 3:14

God’s Purposes and Our Obligations

September 25, 2023 at 12:39 pm | Posted in Ephesians | 5 Comments
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To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

Ephesians 1:6

God’s gracious purpose in calling us obligates us to walk worthy of that calling:

I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,

Ephesians 4:1

5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 2:5-7

God’s purpose in raising us from spiritual death to spiritual life obligates us to put away our former way of life, and to walk in purity:

22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; 24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. 25 Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.

Ephesians 4:22-25

Be Ye Angry

September 21, 2023 at 11:49 am | Posted in Ephesians | 1 Comment
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Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:

Ephesians 4:26

There are various views as to what this verse is supposed to be teaching us about being angry.

One view says that this verse means we should never stop being angry. When the sun goes down the day is over, so we should never let the “day of our anger” end. I think it’s safe to say – and could probably go without saying – that this view is not correct.

A second view is one that is most commonly applied in the realm of marriage advice: Spouses should not “go to bed angry.” This means that husbands and wives, rather than giving each other the silent treatment, or ending the day with an unresolved conflict, should hash things out and make peace before storming out or sulking off to nurse grudges or allowing unforgiveness to fester. While there is certainly some wisdom in this application, Ephesians 4:26 is not primarily about marital squabbling.

I like the third view best: When, as a Christian, you find yourself angry or irritated in a such a way that you are tempted to express your anger sinfully, you should do an exhaustive investigation into the cause of your anger, and, with the help of the Holy Spirit, try to determine the sorts of triggers or traps that cause you to lose your temper, and then to take steps to defuse them, thereby giving you the victory over repeated lapses in temperance and self-control.

Furthermore, if there are certain landmines scattered about and buried in your life, it is not enough to just map out the minefield so they can be avoided (although that might be a a temporary solution). Instead, you need to dig up the mines and bury them somewhere else where they no longer pose a danger. The Bible warns us to be swift to hear and slow to anger, but it might (contrary to view number two above) be advisable, when our temper starts to kindle and flare, to have a cooling-off (maybe even a sleeping-it-off) period before trying to settle a contentious issue or reconcile with a contentious person.

A fourth view worth considering is to take Ephesians 4:26’s “be ye angry” as an imperative. Get angry at the right things, for the right reasons. But do not sin. Do not get angry at the wrong things, for the wrong reasons.

What are some right things about which to get angry? The next verse in Ephesians 4 suggests Satan as a legitimate object of our anger. The overall context points to the appropriateness of anger over the mistreatment of fellow church members. If somebody kidnapped you on the way to Sunday School and locked you in a supply closet so you couldn’t come to class, I, as the teacher, would have just cause for anger.

Repentance Rescues from Wrath

September 19, 2023 at 9:49 am | Posted in I Chronicles | 1 Comment
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Gad the seer brought news of God’s response to David’s sin – the sin of taking the census – to David. Then the plague began, and tens of thousands of people began to die. David saw the angel of the Lord with his sword drawn, suspended in the sky over Jerusalem, but God stopped the angel at this point. It’s a striking image. How many times in my life has an angel been poised to strike me before God withheld him in His grace and brought about my repentance? It is the goodness of God that leads to repentance, but this goodness is not limited to blessing us with what we perceive as good things. It is also when we recognize His goodness in restraining the wrath we deserve.

David did what we all should do, both for ourselves and for our nation:

17 And David said unto God, Is it not I that commanded the people to be numbered? even I it is that have sinned and done evil indeed; but as for these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, O Lord my God, be on me, and on my father’s house; but not on thy people, that they should be plagued. 18 Then the angel of the Lord commanded Gad to say to David, that David should go up, and set up an altar unto the Lord in the threshingfloor of Ornan the Jebusite. 19 And David went up at the saying of Gad, which he spake in the name of the Lord. 20 And Ornan turned back, and saw the angel; and his four sons with him hid themselves. Now Ornan was threshing wheat.

I Chronicles 21:17-20


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