Lesson 8

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Ephesians

September 21, 2015

Lesson 1

January 18, 2010

Lesson 2

January 18, 2010

RETURN TO THE SYLLABUS

EPHESIANS 3:1-13
Lesson #08
THE MYSTERY: JEWS AND GENTILES

• Memory verse: 1Cor 12:13

• In chapter 2 we learned that God reconciled Jews and Gentiles in Jesus Christ.
  • Earlier Paul indicated that reconciliation was a “mystery”.
  • Remember, a Biblical mystery is a part of God’s plan that was not revealed in the Old Testament but is now being revealed in the New Testament.
  • We will now learn more about that “mystery”.

• The mystery: Jews and Gentiles reconciled to God in one body of believers.
  • There are prophecies in the Old Testament that some Gentiles would be saved.
    • Isa 11:10
    • Isa 60:3
    • Isa 42:6
    • Zec 2:11
    • Mal 1:11
  • But there are none that Jews and Gentiles would be one body of believers, and that makes it a “mystery”.

• Read Eph 3:1-5 the “mystery” – the importance of the sacred secret to Paul
  • Why was this sacred secret so important to Paul?
    • Paul was called to be a minister to the Gentiles
    • This caused him a lot of problems. (Act 26:13-18).
      • Orthodox Jews considered the gentiles “dogs”.
      • New Jewish Christians even objected to Gentiles worshiping in the same church with Jews.
      • These prejudices caused Paul to be imprisoned when a riot broke out. (Act 21:30-33)
  • Read Acts 22:22-23
    • Paul did not compromise his message, nor his ministry to the Gentiles for the sake of safety.
    • He considered himself a steward of this sacred secret that must be perpetuated. (2)
    • Paul talks about a dispensation. We need to understand this word in order to understand God’s plan through historical time and the correct division of scripture.
      • The word, “dispensation” = literally means the law of the house.
        • In raising children, you do not have the same rules in your house when your children are toddlers as when they are teenagers.
        • In the same way, the laws from Moses to Jesus Christ are like laws for a toddler. (Gal 3:24) But after the first coming of Christ, the laws are like those for a teenager.
          • You expect the teenager to act responsibly even when the parent is not present.
          • The actions of the teenager come from inner conviction.
      • God has different ways of managing his program from one historic age to another.
        • God’s principles and standards do not change, but the way He deals with people changes from Old Testament times to New Testament times.
        • He establishes the “rules of the household” according to His will and changes them appropriately.
• Read Eph 3:6-8 The importance of the sacred secret to the Gentiles
  • Because God reconciled the Gentiles to himself and to the Jews, there is now a new relationship in fellowship.
    • In the early church in Acts, there was a big problem that almost split the church.
    • Many new Jewish Christians thought the Gentiles should first become Jews and be circumcised before becoming Christians.
      • They wanted to add “works” to grace saying that a person was not saved until he first performed certain ordinances.
      • Acts 15 settled that issue in favor of salvation by grace with no works added.
        • If they had not done that, we Christians would all be Jews today practicing Judaistic legalisms to become Christians.
        • Many churches and religious groups today do the same thing. For example: they say: “You are not a Christian until you are baptized”. “You are not a Christian unless you attend church every week.” “You are not a Christian unless you go to confession.” “You are not a Christian unless you take communion once a week, or once a month, etc.”
  • Because of God’s reconciliation, there is now new power (3:7)
    • The grace of God brings freedom and not the restrictions of legalism.
    • That is powerful! Like Paul, you are free to go anyplace and share Jesus with anyone.
    • Because of God’s reconciliation, Gentiles now partake of God’s unsearchable riches. (3:8)
      • In chapter 2 they were called the “exceeding” riches of Christ (2:7) but here the thought is made broader.
      • “Unsearchable” means = untraceable; so vast you cannot discover their end.

• Read Eph 3:9-10 The importance of the sacred secret to the angels
  • Paul says that not even the angels and demons (principalities and powers) knew about this mystery until it was revealed here by the Holy Spirit through Paul.
    • “Principalities and powers” = angels and demons
    • Why do angels and demons care whether or not Jews and Gentiles belong to one church?
    • Angels of God rejoice when a sinner is saved.
      • 1Pet 1:10-12 tells us that the angels are curious about God’s plan of salvation.
      • Demons who do the will of Satan desire to frustrate God’s plan. Therefore, they are continually trying to discover what God is doing.
  • Believers need to understand correct doctrine in order not to attribute God’s dispensation to Satan’s frustration. (2Tim 2:15)

• Read Eph 3:11-13 The importance of the sacred secret to believers today
  • Throughout church history, many of the basic doctrines of the Bible get lost and buried in church traditions and legalisms.
    • That is what had happened in 1517 when Martin Luther began the reformation against the Catholic Church.
    • He saw that the practices of the church were not true to scripture. His message was that we need to get back to what the Bible says.
  • Like Paul, we need to be good stewards of the mysteries of God.

• Summary:
  • The unity of Gentiles and Jews in the body of Christ is given reality by the peace that God brings through Jesus Christ.
    • He is our peace (2:14-15)
    • He made peace (2:15-16)
    • He preached peace (2:17 Luk 2:10-14)
  • Therefore:
    • Jews are not saved by keeping the Law.
    • Gentiles are not restricted for not keeping the Law.
    • We are made one body of believers by the actions of the Holy Trinity:
      • God, the Father, made us alive (2:1-10)
      • Jesus, the Son, paid the price for unity (2:10-17)
      • The Holy Spirit causes the unity to become a reality (2:18)

HOMEWORK
EPHESIANS 3:14-21
This is a self-study. Please do not send homework answers to the teacher forcorrection.

• Application of Eph 3:1-13
  • How has your doctrine changed by studying Ephesians?

• God says that He is no respecter of persons in Acts 10:34
  • What changes do you need to make regarding your prejudices toward: Jews, Blacks, Orientals, Whites, Latinos, males, and females?

• Preparation for Eph 3:14-21
  • Read Eph 3:14-21 Paul’s prayer
    • Make a list of the things for which Paul prays.

• In this passage, look for an answer to the question: How can I get my hands on the riches of Christ?

• Memory verse: Eph 3:21