EphesiansLesson 5

Ephesians 3:1-6• Paul: a prisoner for Jesus Christ vs. 1

a steward of God’s grace vs. 2

understood the mystery by revelation vs. 4• The Mystery: Previous generations did not know• Revealed to Christ’s holy apostles and prophets• Paul is called to preach to the Gentiles• Paul brought light to the administration of the

mystery• “Musterion” – once hidden but now revealed. Not

something unknowable, rather it can ONLY be known through revelation because God reveals it

The Mystery• Gentiles: Fellow heirs

Fellow members of the body

Fellow partakers of the promise• Col. 1:24-29 • Christ IN believers• Jewish and Gentile believers IN the same body• Ephesians chapters 1 - 3• Body: The Church with Christ as the head• Jew and Gentiles reconciled in one body – church• God’s manifold wisdom made known to the rulers

and authorities in heavenly places through the church

Ephesians 3:7-13• God’s grace given to Paul• Paul: a minister of this gospel• A preacher to the Gentiles of the unfathomable

riches of Christ• He was to bring to light the hidden mystery• So that the manifold wisdom of God could now be

known through the church• God’s eternal purpose: bold and confident access to

the Father through faith in Jesus Christ• Jew and Gentile alike

Ephesians 3:10• “Wisdom of God might now be made known

through the church TO the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places”

• Who is in the heavenly places? Angels: both good and bad

• “God is educating the angels by means of the church” Warren Wiersbe

• I Pet. 1:10-12 ….things into which angels long to look. The angels were curious about God’s plan of salvation

• I Cor. 4:9 ….we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men. Angels watch!

Ephesians 3:14-21• Paul’s Prayer• Confident access: Paul bows before the Father• The Father is the origin of families• Prays that they be strengthened with power• Eph. 1:19 There is surpassing greatness of His

power toward believers• Eph. 3:20 His power works within us

Christ’s Love• We are to be rooted and grounded in His love• Paul wants us to comprehend what is:• The Breadth• Length• Height• Depth• Surpassing knowledge of His love• So we are filled up!!!• Then: Christ dwells in our hearts• Dwell: katoikeo – to settle down in a dwelling, to be

exactly at home!! Christ: exactly at home in YOU