Ephesians, Chapter 3
© Copyright 1998 Darroll Evans-all rights reserved
Ephesians 3:1 For this cause I Paul, the
prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,
"For this cause" refers to what has
gone before.
Paul was writing about the Gentiles being brought
into the Family of God.
For the cause of the message of the gospel,
Paul became a "prisoner of Jesus Christ."
What does it mean to be a prisoner of Christ?
It verifies that Jesus is the Lord of your
life. In that context, all who are Christians are prisoners of Jesus Christ.
"Gentiles" is a word that has
various biblical meanings.
There are those who are born into non-Jewish
families.
They are physical Gentiles.
Then, there are those who are not believers
in the one true God.
They also are Gentiles, regardless of being
Jewish by physical birth.
Some Jews are spiritual Gentiles.
Ephesians 3:2 If ye have heard of the
dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:
Here, Paul again refers to the dispensation
of grace.
We are now in the age, or dispensation of
grace.
Paul was the first open exponent of grace.
Peter preached the first sermon to Gentiles
at Cornelius' house, but he did not understand the importance of the message
until Paul came on the scene.
Grace is a unique word and concept.
It may indicate our unmerited favor with God.
Grace may also indicate God's power at work
in our lives.
When Christ told Paul, "my grace is sufficient," he
was speaking of Christ's power to overcome the adversaries who had come against
Paul.
How does that correlate with reality?
We are in the Church Age of Grace.
The Church Age of grace began at Pentecost.
What did Jesus tell His followers about
Pentecost?
Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost
is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in
Without God's grace/power neither you nor I
could be witnesses to the glory of God.
In many cases the words grace and power are
interchangeable.
The grace of God has empowered us to proclaim
the gospel to all nations.
In fact, our Savior and Paul's Savior said
that we are to teach the things that He taught to all ethnic groups.
Christ would not have given the command without
giving us the power to do it.
Let's look at the concept of Christ's power.
In Matthew 28:18-20, Jesus said, "All
power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go, and teach all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Ghost. Teach them to observe all the things I have commanded you, and, I am
always with you, even unto the end of the age. Amen!"
There is only one Gospel.
It is the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Grace and power are at the heart of the
gospel.
Let's examine it.
Jesus told His followers to, "Go ye
therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and
of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." (Matthew 28:19)
"Go ye" literally means, go
on a journey, take a trip, or get out of town.
Christians are never admonished to sit within
4 walls and wait for somebody to show up.
"Therefore" is the subject the main
theological question of the age, "What is 'therefore' there for?"
Before we look at "therefore," let
me tell you three things every seminary student must learn.
1. Wear deodorant!
2. Use breath mints!
3. After those two basics, we finally get to
the subject of the Bible and theology. If you are to study the Bible, you must
learn to ask, "What is 'therefore' there for?" Why is it there?
Therefore means "consequently."
So, "What is 'therefore' there
for?"
The answer is found in Matthew 28:18 Jesus
said, "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth... (Then it goes
into verse 19).
Let me say it in Modern English, going into
verse 19 without the Chapter/verse demarcation.
Jesus said, "All power (authority) is
given unto me in heaven and in earth. Therefore, go and teach all nations.
The Greek word translated "nations"
is eqnh.
It means ethnic groups.
As we go, we are to teach all ethnic groups.
Philippine, Chinese, African, Arab, Jew,
European, and Native American all ethnic groups are to be taught.
Please forgive me if I left out your ethnic
group.
As we go, we are also to baptize, or immerse.
It is my contention that baptism must be with
the Word, a washing of the word (Ephesians 5:26).
I grew up in the Baptist denomination.
We baptize everything we can get our hands
on, men, women, boys, girls, small cars.
However, any Baptist worth his salt will tell
you that baptism is not an end all.
You may be baptized so many times that the
fish know your social security number, and it will l do you no good if it is
not accompanied by a repentant heart.
Too many people start off dry and
unrepentant.
They are then immersed, and end up wet and
unrepentant.
God looks on the heart.
That is the key to salvation.
As we are obedient to Christ's command, the
Father will baptize, immerse them with the Holy Ghost and fire (Matthew 3:11).
As we go, baptize, and teach, Jesus has laid
out what we are to teach to all ethnic groups.
Jesus said that we are to Teach "them to
observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you."
That admonishment narrows the scope of what
is to be taught.
We are to teach only those things Jesus
taught.
The curriculum is already laid out.
There is no provision for teaching anything
other than what Jesus taught.
That may present a problem.
We are in the age of Grace, and Christ never
taught about grace.
Or, did He?
The only place in the KJV Bible that you will
find Jesus Christ quoted as using the English word "Grace" is 2
Corinthians 12:9.
The word "grace" appears only 4
times in the gospels.
It is never used within the four Gospels in a
sentence spoken in the gospels by Jesus Himself.
The English translation "Grace" is
used once in Luke and three times in John to describe Jesus.
In the Greek, "charis/cariV," which is often
translated "grace," is used 8 times in Luke and 4 times is the Gospel
of John in various translations.
“Grace” is not found in Matthew or Mark.
Luke quoted Jesus as using the word
"Charis" 4 times.
In Luke 6 it is used 3 times where it is
translated favour, and Luke 17 where it is translated thank.
As I said, the only time the KJV translators
use the word "grace" as spoken by Jesus is found in 2nd Corinthians
12:9.
Speaking to Paul, Christ said, "My
'grace' is sufficient for thee."
By contrast, Paul used "grace"
approximately 100 times.
Where does that leave the gospel Paul
preached, the Gospel of Grace?
It puts it right in the middle of the
teaching commanded by Christ.
Many times the only teaching that may be
understood is teaching by example.
If I wanted to teach you how to nail 2 boards
together, the best way would be to get 2 boards, a nail, and a hammer and show
you.
Jesus taught by example.
When Jesus called each of the Apostles, grace
was being taught by example.
None was worthy of the calling.
Yet, He called and equipped each for the
journey.
That is grace.
When the woman was caught in adultery, it was
grace by example that prevented Christ from pointing out the man involved, and
having both the man and woman stoned (John 8).
When the blind man received his sight, it was
grace that allowed him to see the Holy One of
It was because of the grace of God that
Lazarus came out of the tomb (John 11).
It was by the grace of God that a Gentile
Roman Centurion's servant was healed (Matthew 8).
It was by the grace of God that the Gentile
Canaanite woman received deliverance for her daughter (Matthew 15).
Jews and Gentiles alike received grace from
Jesus.
It was by the grace of God that a Pharisee
named Saul was allowed to take the gospel of grace to the Gentile nations.
There is only one gospel.
Paul said that if any person comes preaching
another gospel, "let him be accursed" (Galatians 1: 8).
That statement was made to a mixed
Jew/Gentile congregation.
We are to teach want Christ taught.
We are not to teach any old thing we stumble
across.
Jesus ends His instructions with a promise,
"I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen."
He is now with us in Spirit.
In the coming age of peace, and in the age of
ages, He will be with us face to face.
"Amen" means the prayer is over.
It also indicates that what has just been
said is faithful and true.
There is no error in this command or promise.
In Ephesians 2:8, Paul wrote that it is by
grace we are saved through faith; and that not of ourselves: it is the gift of
God.
The power of grace is infinite.
As I wrote the last sentence above, I thought
about infinity. Is God really infinite?
His grace, mercy, and love are all infinite.
They know no boundaries.
However, God Himself is not infinite.
God
is far greater than just infinite.
God created infinity and eternity.
He is greater then either.
Ephesians 3:3 How that by revelation he
made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,
Paul said it was by revelation that the
gospel was made known to him.
It is the same with all who are called to
Christ by the Holy Spirit.
Many do not admit it, but revelation is the
basis for Christian relationship.
The revelation of Jesus as a personal Savior
is at the heart of a proper relationship with God.
Salvation by the grace of God in Christ is
never understood through acquired knowledge.
The realization of grace is always, in each
and every instance, provided to the saints by revelation.
The concept of revelation is a mystery to all
except those to whom Christ Jesus is revealed.
Christianity is a mystery to the
non-believer.
The Greek word translated
"revelation" means disclosure.
The disclosure of the Spirit of Christ is at
the very heart of Christianity.
Paul wrote that all things work together for
good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his
purpose.
Those whom He foreknew, he predestinated to
be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he might be the firstborn among
many brothers.
Moreover, those that He did predestinated, He
also called, and those He called, He justified, and those He justified, He
glorified (Romans 8:28-30).
"As I wrote afore in few words" is
a reference to a previous short letter.
We have no knowledge of that letter. It is
one of the "lost" letters of Paul.
1 Corinthians contains another reference to a
"lost" letter.
In 1 Corinthians 5:9 Paul said that he wrote
a letter to them advising that they not keep company with fornicators.
Several "lost" books are mentioned
in the Hebrew Scripture (OT).
From the human perspective it is amazing that
so many scriptures survived the years.
From a spiritual perspective, it is not
astounding that God would allow only those writings God chose to remain and be
canonized.
Ephesians 3:4 Whereby, when ye read, ye
may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)
The Mystery of Christ may be studied by great
analytical minds, but only understood by simple faith.
Complexity is not a sign of godly theology.
Here is another mystery.
We have the same knowledge available to us that
Paul had. How can that be?
The Holy Spirit reveals the knowledge of
Christ.
The same Holy Spirit lives in every true
believer such as Paul, John, James, Peter, and you.
Ephesians 3:5 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;
The individuals who wrote the OT scriptures
had no idea what they were writing.
Prophets of old longed to understand what we
take as natural course.
The Holy Spirit has revealed Jesus to us in a
manner they did not understand.
When Paul speaks of Apostles and Prophets in
this verse, he was referring to those who lived at that time.
Prophet is a New Testament office.
Ephesians 3:6 That the Gentiles should be
fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by
the gospel:
This is the mystery laid out in very simple
terms that Gentiles should be co-heirs.
We are members of the same body.
We are partakers of God's promise in Christ
by the gospel.
This is the basis for Gentile hope.
We have been grafted into the vine. We are no
longer what we were.
The other Apostles did not have understand
the extent of the gospel until Paul was used by God to reveal its mystery.
Today, the ministry of reconciliation is a mystery
to many Christians.
Read this carefully.
As temples of the Holy Spirit, we have access
to all wisdom in Christ.
That does not mean that we have accessed
all wisdom in Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 3:7 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.
Paul was called by God and ordained to be a
minister of grace.
In that respect, he was the first of his
kind.
The ministry of grace is only accomplished
through God's power working within us.
Ephesians 3:8 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;
Ego is not a fruit of the Spirit.
We should not to think more highly of ourselves
than we are.
To be a saint of God is not a bragging point.
It is a reference to what Jesus has done.
None of the credit belongs to us.
That is not to say that we are not special.
We are so precious in God's sight that He sent
His only begotten Son to die for us. As Dr. Robert Schuller says, "You are
somebody."
Being "somebody" in God's sight is
as high as a human can get.
We were created and called for a purpose.
Our purpose is to serve God, to do that which
He predestined us to do.
"Unsearchable" means that the depth
of God's wisdom in Christ Jesus cannot be explored by human methods.
It is beyond understanding except by
revelation.
As long as there is no revelation of Christ,
the gospel shall remain a mystery.
The Greek indicates a trail that cannot be
explored.
Paul refers to God's plan for us as,
"the unsearchable riches of Christ."
God's plan for the ages is laid out for us in
the life of Jesus Christ.
They are unsearchable by the carnal mind.
Unsearchable (Gr. anexichniaston-anexicniaston) is found in
the Bible only twice.
It is found here and also in…
Romans 11:33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and
knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
In Romans 11:33, the Greek word is translated
"past finding out."
In Romans 11:33 another Greek word is
translated "unsearchable."
In this case, "unsearchable" (Gr.
anexerunetos) means inscrutable, incapable of being investigated.
Ephesians 3:8 needs extreme study.
It gives the impression of being redundant.
Paul places special emphasis on the complex
intertwining of the each individual life's purpose and potential within God's
single plan for the ages.
Ephesians 3:9 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:
Our Job on earth
is not to reveal Christ. We declare Christ so the Holy Spirit may reveal Him.
When people form a partnership, each brings
something special and useable to the table.
As the body of Christ, we each bring a
willingness to serve that God has placed within us.
Past that, God has also given each of us a
gift, talent, or ability in a certain area.
That God-given gift, talent, or ability
strengthens the whole body.
If not used, the lack of our individual
weakens the Church body.
Christ Jesus is the Lamb slain from the
foundation of the world.
Therefore grace has been in effect since the
foundation of the world.
However, being in effect and being known are
two different things.
If I am traveling on one of
If I go too fast the police may issue a
speeding ticket.
The speed limit is in effect whether or not I
know it.
Grace has been in effect throughout human
history.
Christ Jesus brought it to light.
Paul did not understand grace until he met
Christ Jesus.
Until that time, he understood only the Law
pertaining to Jews.
Ephesians 3:10 To the intent that now unto
the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church
the manifold wisdom of God,
Through the Church God is making known to all
creation the wisdom contained within what we call grace.
We are being used to disclose grace to all
creation.
Ephesians 3:11-12
11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our
Lord:
12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.
God's eternal purpose was determined in
Christ Jesus.
Let me challenge you to do an English word
study.
I understand that you are well educated and
know something of the Bible.
If you were not Bible oriented, you would not
be reading this.
The English language is a living language.
That means that, from time to time, word
meanings change.
Do you understand the concept of
"eternal?"
God has an "eternal" plan.
What does that mean?
The word "eternal" is used to
indicate something that has no beginning and no end.
"For ever" and "eternal"
are mathematically different.
"For ever" has a beginning.
"Eternal" does not.
Man is not eternal.
Nothing created is eternal.
The concept of eternal is the exclusive
domain of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
As a living language, the meaning of
"eternal" may have been different when the King James Version was
written.
The Greek word translated eternal does not
indicate a period of time without beginning or end.
It just indicates a very long time.
God's "eternal purpose" that He
predestined in our Lord Christ Jesus was demonstrated in the life, death, resurrection,
and reconciliation of Jesus.
My challenge is for you to thoroughly
understand His reconciliation following His death and resurrection.
When you understand that, you will understand
the power of grace.
How does grace affect us?
It is by grace that we are saved through
faith, and that is not of through our efforts, it is the gift of God
(Ephesians 2:8).
Grace does not originate within us.
Salvation Faith does not originate in us.
Both are gifts of God.
Ephesians 3:13 Wherefore I desire that ye
faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.
Paul called upon the Ephesian Christians not
to be disturbed within their minds about his plight, his tribulations.
He was not telling them to be unconcerned.
There is a big difference in being disturbed
and being concerned.
Dr Manford George Gutzke's definition of
agape love is "a deep abiding concern for the general welfare of
another."
Love is not a deep abiding disturbance for
the general welfare of another.
Paul calls on us not to be disturbed about
certain circumstances.
In addition, we also are not to roll over and
play dead at the slightest appearance of opposition to the gospel.
The
Have you ever wondered what happened to the
some of the men who signed the Declaration of Independence?
Many suffered the loss of life, family,
fortunes, and property.
Some were tortured.
Homes were looted and burned.
Some were hunted as if they were animals.
They stood by their pledge even though it
cost them their lives and the lives of their loved ones.
What kind of men were they?
They were well educated and financially
successful.
Some sold all they had to finance our
freedom.
They were repaid with poverty and rags.
Some died from exhaustion and a broken heart.
Christianity was also built on suffering and
sacrifice.
The founders of America had financial
security, but they valued liberty more.
"For the support of this declaration, with
a firm reliance on the protection of the Divine Providence, we mutually pledge
to each other, our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor."
Do we love the liberty found in Christ Jesus
that much?
Ephesians 3:14-15
14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
Have we truly bowed in honor to our Lord and
King?
Are the Father of Glory, and the Son of His
love paramount in our lives?
Ephesians 3:16-19
16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be
strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and
grounded in love,
18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and
length, and depth, and height;
19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be
filled with all the fulness of God.
This section shows the progression of
Christian life.
It starts with, "He would grant
you."
Christianity does not begin with a Christian.
It begins with Christ.
Whatever it is that you are granted is done
so according to His riches not yours.
His gift is given to strengthen you
"inner man."
It benefits you outer man only as a result of
benefiting the inner man.
As you benefit from, are strengthened by
Christ dwelling in your heart by faith, you become rooted and grounded in love.
As you are rooted and grounded in love you
understand the depth of God's love for you and for all His children.
Ultimately, you will reach the stage where
Christ fills you very being.
This may seem to be a study in
"virtual" religion.
That is something with great looks but no
substance.
Quite to the contrary, the Christian
progression is real.
It is the other that is false.
If you do not now know Christ, don't worry or
fret.
God shall, at His appointed time, reveal His
love to you.
Several years ago, in a small Church, I
simply told a young woman God loved and cherished her.
That simple statement became a revelation to
her.
She is now married to wonderful man, and
serving God.
This section is also a powerful Holy Spirit
inspired prayer.
You may use it in this manner. Insert the
name of a loved one.
“Dearest Father, for (insert name), I pray
that out of Your glorious riches You may strengthen (him/her) with power
through Your Spirit in (his/her) inner being, so that Christ may dwell in
(his/her) heart through faith. I pray that (he/she), being rooted and established
in love, may have power, together with all the saints. That (She/he) may grasp
how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this
love that goes beyond human knowledge. That (he/she) may be filled to the
measure of all Your fullness. In Jesus' name. Amen!”
Ephesians 3:20 Now unto him that is able
to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the
power that worketh in us,
God's capability to do for us is not in
proportion to what we can imagine.
It is in proportion to His riches in glory.
God has already done the unimaginable. God
almighty, the Father of Glory has adopted us as His children, heirs and
joint-heirs with Christ Jesus.
I doubt that any of us understand the full
ramifications of that adoption.
Ephesians 3:21 Unto him be glory in the
church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
This verse is somewhat questionable as to its
translation.
I can only give a poor interpretive
translation of the Greek.
This verse says, "The glory of Jesus
Christ, in the Church, shall be His during all generations, the Age of ages.
Amen."
I hate to end a chapter on a negative note,
but the Greek text does not even hint at "world without end."