The Mystery of
Christ
Part I
Ephesians 3:1
For this reason thanks, I Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus over you
Gentiles
The word translated "gentiles" is the Greek word "eqnwn" "ethnon" from where we derive ethnic, ethnic background, ethnicity. Other translations of the bible use "people of the nations" instead of gentiles. The Greek word "eqnwn" was used to refer to other groups of people that were not Israel.
Ephesians 3:2
if indeed you have heard of the stewardship of God's grace which was given to me
for you;
Ephesians 3:3
that by revelation there was made known to me the MYSTERY, as I wrote before in
brief.
Ephesians 3:4
By referring to this, when you read, you can understand my insight in the
MYSTERY of Christ,
Ephesians 3:5
which in other generations was NOT made known to the sons of men, as it has NOW
been REVEALED to His holy apostles and prophets in the Spirit;
Paul is saying that this mystery was
unknown in the past and that was revealed to them (the apostles and prophets) at
that time in history.
Ephesians 3:6
that the Gentiles are joint heirs and joint members of
the body, and joint partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the
gospel,
God's purpose is to have everybody partake of the "promise" of eternal life that is given in the gospel.
Ephesians 3:7
of which I became a servant, according to the gift of God's grace which was
given to me according to the working of His power.
Ephesians 3:8
To me, the less than the least of all saints, this grace was given, to declare to the
Gentiles the good news of the unfathomable riches of Christ,
Ephesians 3:9
and to bring to light what the stewardship of the MYSTERY which for ages
has been HIDDEN away in God who created all things;
Paul states that he is going to "bring to
light" a mystery.
Ephesians 3:10
so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known THROUGH THE CHURCH to
the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places
The "wisdom of God" is made known to
the "rulers and authorities" in heaven. Who is making this
known? The church (congregation of saints).
To understand this mystery Paul is talking about,
we must read further down and realize that in heaven there are
"rulers" which rule over populations, and that there is a message for
these rulers. Who are the rulers and who constitute these
populations? Let us see what Paul says.
Ephesians 3:11
in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in
Christ Jesus our Lord,
Ephesians 3:12
in whom we have boldness and confident access through the faith of Him.
Ephesians 3:13
Through which I ask you not to lose heart at my tribulations on your behalf, for
they are your glory.
Ephesians 3:14
For this reason, thanks, I bow my knees before the Father,
Ephesians 3:15
from whom EVERY FAMILY IN HEAVEN and on EARTH derives its name,
The word translated "family" is the Greek word "patria" "patria"
which means "lineage", a line of descendants from a father (pater).
Therefore, the mystery is that there are families in heaven, in the same way as there are families on earth... and these families are a line of descendants from an individual or individuals.
Yeshua's sacrifice is therefore for all the families in the cosmos.
Ephesians 3:16
that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be
strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man,
Ephesians 3:17
so that Christ may dwell through faith in your hearts in love; having been
rooted and having been founded
Ephesians 3:18
in order that you might be strong enough to receive with all the saints what is the breadth and length and
height and depth,
Ephesians 3:19
and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled
up to all the fullness of God.
The love of Christ for His creation is so great that He was willing to give up His eternity when He became a man. If Jesus had not overcome His temptations here on earth, we would have had no redeemer, and we would all perish.
When we are raptured to other "abodes", we must be witnesses to other "peoples and to other rulers" of the great sacrifice that Jesus/Yeshua did for us here on this Earth.
Paul is trying to make us understand how vast
the purpose of God is in bringing all of his creation to the understanding of
the truth.
Ephesians 3:20
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or
think, according to the power that works within us,
Ephesians 3:21
to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations
forever and ever. Amen.
We will proclaim the manifold wisdom of God to
the entire universe.
We pray that all of you reading this message
may be able to do more
abundantly than we ever imagined for the glory of our God
and
of His son Jesus/Yeshua our saviour.