Awesome Message

Ephesians 3:1-13 is all about the awesome message that Paul is privileged to preach. We considered four aspects of the message:

(1) Mystery. The message was previously hidden (3:2-6). The awesome message is the church, that Gentiles are fellow heirs with God's chosen people (v. 6). Although the Old Testament indicated that the Gentiles would be blessed, no Israelite would have thought that the Gentiles would have an equal status with them. What a privilege is ours! We Gentiles are going to sit with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob to feast in the kingdom (Matthew 8:11).

(2) Grace. The message is something we're unworthy to know and proclaim (3:7-8). Paul, a mature Christian and experienced Christian leader, views himself as "the least deserving Christian there is" (NLT). Do you think he’s exaggerating? Just acting humble? Paul's example teaches us that every Christian should think of himself of herself as the least deserving.

(3) Wisdom. The message makes angels wonder (3:10). Angels are amazed at God’s “manifold wisdom,” God’s beautiful, multi-layered strategy. They're like a crowd at a football game, watching God's team (the church), wondering how the Coach is going to pull off this fourth-quarter win--especially considering the players He's called (1 Cor 1), what His players go through (1 Pet 1), and the game plan He's chosen (Rom 11).

(4) Prison. The message is worth suffering for (3:1, 13). The advance of Jesus’ church is worth living for, suffering for and dying for. This is what God is doing in the world right now: building His church. We are all called to make what’s central in God’s plan the thing that’s central in our lives.