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| > Sermon Archive > Sermons by Author > Rev. Steven Swets > The Gift of the Gospel | Previous Next Print |
| Order Of Worship (Liturgy) Song of Adoration: Hymnal #48A: 1, 4-6 “Great Is the Lord Our God” Song of Preparation: Hymnal #287: 1-3 “Lift High the Cross” Scripture: Ephesians 3:1-13 Message: The Gift of the Gospel Song of Preparation: Hymnal #23A “The Lord’s My Shepherd” *Song of Response: Hymnal #351 “How Deep the Father’s Love for Us” *Doxology: Hymnal #248: 5 “All Creatures of Our God and King” |
Beloved Congregation of the Lord Jesus Christ,
When I was a boy, probably 12 years old, my parents told us that we were going to have a guest over for Christmas. We were going to have a boy from Boys Town, Juvenile Correction. Well, I had never met anyone from Juvenile correction, and all I knew about them was that they must have done something pretty naughty to end up there. So, on Christmas morning, we went and picked up Jake, who was about 15 or so. We took him to worship and then he spent the day at our house. Jake ate the same food as we did, he played games with us. When it was time to open presents I remember exactly what I got, and what my brother got, and what Jake got. I got an autographed picture of Frank Thomas my favorite baseball player, my brother got an autographed picture of Michael Jordan, his favorite basketball player, and Jake got an autographed picture of Dan Marino, his favorite football player. At that time, they were all of equal value. I remember thinking that maybe Jake got too nice of a gift, after all, he got the same thing as me and my brother. That was a day for Jake to enjoy a Christmas. As a young boy, it made an impression on me. My parents would inconvenience themselves for someone else, on a day known to be a family day.
Well, that idea, of giving of oneself for others was the apostle Paul’s life. He is writing this letter from house arrest in Rome, waiting for his accusers, the Jews to arrive. What was his original charge? He was charged in Acts 21:28 of bringing gentiles into the temple area, a crime punishable by death in Jewish law. (He actually likely brought the Ephesian Trophimus into the temple area, if it is true) But Paul said, to live is Christ, to die is gain.
Now in our text this morning, we see something of Paul’s call and work in the ministry. In doing so, we can see our role, as members of the church of Christ, as those entrusted with the gospel message. Our theme is Our Lord entrusts his church with the gospel.
- Its Mystery
- Its Means
I. Its Mystery
Paul begins this section of Ephesians explaining his own place in life. He is a prisoner on behalf of gentiles. He had advocated for them and is now paying the price. Paul wasn’t overly focused on self-preservation. From a human perspective, Paul didn’t make very good decisions. He could be holding a prestigious role in Jewish leadership. He could be a wealthy teacher of Israel. Even as a Christian, he didn’t have much of a home, no family that we know of, he worked as a tent-maker to make ends meet when he needed to. He would go into a city and preach the gospel until the people believe or forced him out. He became despised by so many of his own countrymen.
They despised him, because he shared the treasures of God’s covenant mercy with gentiles. Why did he do this? Because he was entrusted with the mystery. The word used in verse 2 is “stewardship of God’s grace.” What that means, isn’t that Paul was forgiving sins and dispensing God’s grace as if he was Jesus. But, that is the message he carried with him….grace was free because of Jesus Christ.
What Paul had to do, was to die to self. This is the call of every child of God. We must die to self in order to live to Christ. Now, that doesn’t mean we have to sell our possessions and become foreign missionaries (though you may). It means that our personal, financial, social, popular, community, family, and church goals must be submitted to God’s purposes.
Any woman who has been asked why she would want to start a family, of if she stays home, why she would do that, if she has more than one or two children, why she would want to ruin her body and cramp her style of freedom, etc. (every godly decision is attackable from the world.). Every couple who has made the sacrifice for Christian school or homeschool, might have had eyebrows raised from their neighbors. They might think you are extremely wealthy to be able to send your kids to a private school. But, that might not be the case. You make the sacrifice. Those are examples in your family. The process of dying to self in Christ, is unto living for others.
When is the last time you asked the question, how can I be a blessing to others? Why would Paul risk death for the sake of gentiles, most of which he hadn’t met. He does this because of the revealed mystery.
The word mystery in our text means something a bit different that what we think of with mystery. The term is used three times in our text. We might think of a mystery as something dark, secretive or puzzling, maybe even incomprehensible. But what our text means by the word is something that was hidden but now seen. The mystery has been opened or revealed. What is it? It is simply this, that the gentiles are now included in the church, the covenant people of God, not by circumcision, but by faith. This is what Paul was getting at in the second half of Ephesians 2. Read vs. 5-6.
That means that gentiles receive the benefits of God’s grace. Three benefits are mentioned in verse 6. First, they are fellow heirs. That means they have a right to the inheritance. That was laid out clearly in chapter 1. Second, they are members of the same body. As Paul tells the Corinthians, no part of the body can say to another, “I don’t need you.” They are important, intricate parts of the one body of Christ. There is an essential unity in that. Third, they are partakers of the same promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel. What is the gospel promise? That your sins are forgiven and we are granted a perfect righteousness in Christ Jesus. We have his death and his life, for us.
II. Its Means
Read verses 7-8. Paul became a preacher of the gospel according to the gift of God’s grace. This became his life’s purpose. He would forever have the motivation to do this because God saved him. On the road to Damascus, God began the process of shaping Paul into a gospel preacher. Jesus had spoken with him; God had miraculously revealed this to him (v. 3) and now he was to take it to the nations. He became the missionary to the gentiles. He loved them enough to give his life in their service.
You might remember a missionary who was kidnapped 10 years ago in the Philippines. He and his wife were held for 376 days by the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group. In that long year Martin worked as a slave and never complained. He viewed his servitude as an opportunity for the gospel. When relief aid came, he shared it with his captors and he spoke to his wife about God’s call to serve with gladness. The evidence of that resolve became seen by his captors as each night no one wanted to chain him up. He used it as an opportunity to share the gospel to his Muslim captors. He had died to self and was living for them and he shared the mysteries of the gospel with those lost souls. How can one love their enemies? Because of what we saw in chapter 2:5 “even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ.”
In verse 10, we see the central theme of the church. We know that in the church the preaching takes place. It is in the life of the church that the highpoint of each week, corporate worship takes place. But, the church’s role is bigger and broader. It is the church’s role to disciple. Let Redeemer be a place of disciples making disciples. We have training for the Chrisitan life and doctrine. Think of Sunday School, catechism, and Bible studies. We have training for sharing your faith and being a welcoming congregation, last week and this morning.
It is a blessing to be a part of a healthy church, with all ages represented, etc. But, beware of the modern danger of viewing the church as focused solely on self. Ask how you might help, serve, bless others in the church.
As we continue to work throughout text, we find the interesting phrase at the end of verse 10. Who are the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places? Is this a reference to angels or demons. It might be. But what is certainly clear is that the message of salvation in Christ is cosmic. God had even used angels is the revelation of truth and redemption. Think even of the angelic appearances at the birth of Christ as the events surrounding that.
This gospel message expands out as well in our approach to God. How can we approach God. Well, he is holy and righteous. In the Old Testament, only the high priest once a year was able to enter into God’s presence in the Holy of Holies. Our text says we have boldness and access with confidence to approach God. How? Through Jesus Christ…this was according to God’s eternal purpose.
Paul is suffering imprisonment because he acted on the revealed mystery. He would not muzzle the gospel. He encourages the Ephesians in verse 13 by reminding them that God’s plan is good. They are to be included because “by grace you have been saved through faith” (v. 2:8). We can apply these truths of our text in dozens of ways, but this morning let me draw out two.
First, we welcome a new family into our fellowship. Maybe you have had a chance to meet them over the last number of months. Receive them as co-heirs of the gospel of Jesus Christ. It has always been humbling to me as I have traveled and met new people, that when you meet a fellow Christian, there is an immediate bond together. This is what we have as fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise. It is through the church that God makes disciples. Let us ask God to continue to prepare, equip, and presently use us for kingdom service.
Second, notice that verse 8 speaks of the unsearchable riches of Christ. How could something be unsearchable? Because it is given. It isn’t like a cave out there to explore. No, is given through the word, by the Spirit, and heard through the preaching. This message was given to Paul and it is given to us. The mystery has been revealed and yet there is still something that is very difficult to grasp.
How could God so love us? As we celebrate the Lord’s supper this morning, we might wonder, how, with all of our faults, and how easily we stray and look around, God might still hold us. If you have an employee who each day costs the company money, ruins machinery, builds things improperly so that other have to fix his mistakes, and who isn’t grateful for your patience as a boss, you aren’t going to hold onto that employee for very long. We are far worse than that. Paul calls himself the worst of the worst, the least in verse 8. Why would God keep us? Because his mercy is eternal, his love is constant and steadfast, his grace is amazing, and he is glorified in saving sinners. He loved us so much, that he even permits us to show forth Christ’s death until he comes again. So this morning, come to the supper, and eat with gratitude and hope in the work of Christ for you. As we eat and drink together this morning, we do so as the church of Jesus Christ. The mystery has been revealed, all are welcome to come to the Savior. Amen.
* As a matter of courtesy please advise Rev. Steven Swets, if you plan to use this sermon in a worship service. Thank-you.
(c) Copyright 2023, Rev. Steven Swets
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