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God Displays Wisdom in Us (Ephesians 3:1-13)
Series: Ephesians (Your Identity in Christ)Everybody loves a great mystery. There is something exciting about having a handful of seemingly disconnected details that you know point to a solution. Mystery books are great, but when the mystery involves us and questions about our own lives, the anticipation for a solution is ramped up. We compile evidence, ask questions, and speculate to no end. Paul says in Ephesians 3 that God had a mystery and the mystery is about us Gentiles. Though all nations live under the curse of sin, passages in the Law and Prophets anticipate a time when all nations could be blessed in Abraham. Some passages speak of how God’s servant would bring salvation to the world. Others anticipate Gentiles praising God with Israel. But how could the Gentiles receive salvation through Abraham and the Jewish Messiah? How could they praise God with his people when circumcision and the Law divided Jews and Gentiles? Why is God planning to invite more into a covenant with him?
All this is answered in Ephesians 2:11-3:1-13. This text can really be divided up by asking 4 questions. How can we know the mystery (3:1-5)? What is the solution to the mystery (3:6)? What job does Paul have with this mystery (3:7-9)? What is God’s goal in revealing this mystery (3:10-13)? Like this passage, our study today will focus less on the actual mystery and more on how God reveals the mystery and why God reveals this solution. Let’s begin by reading the first five verses.
- How can we know the mystery (3:1-5)? Not by personal revelation, but by reading what the apostles and prophets wrote down.
- What is the solution to the mystery (3:6)? In Christ, Jews and Gentiles are part of the same body - all are on the same playing field!
- What job does Paul have with this mystery (3:7-9)? Despite suffering, Paul saw it as a gift to be tasked with preaching this gospel to all.
- What is God’s goal in revealing this mystery (3:10-13)? Through Christ’s diverse church, God is displaying his manifold wisdom to rulers and authorities in heavenly places.
- What does all this mean for us?
- Earnestly seek God’s revelation in Scripture.
- See it as a gift to share this revelation.
- Do not lose heart in suffering since God displays wisdom in us.
