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Lesson 16—Ephesians 3

Paul – Preacher and Prayer Warrior William Barclay tells the story of the day Sir Christopher Wren went to his construction site and asked three workers what they were doing. The first worker replied, “I am cutting a block with these dimensions for this wall.” The second worker responded, “I am working for so many hours today for my wages.” The third worker responded, “I am helping Sir Christopher Wren build Saint Paul’s Cathedral.”1 Paul, like our third worker, had a divine perspective. While others saw Paul as a prisoner of Rome, arrested on Jewish charges under the jurisdiction of Caesar, Paul saw himself as a prisoner of Jesus Christ for the sake of the Gentiles. On this passage John MacArthur says, “If all we see is our immediate situation then circumstances control us.”2 Paul saw God’s purpose and plan for himself while in prison. If you watch a mystery with any of my family members they will invariably turn to you during the movie and try to guess the ending. Paul explains a mystery with an ending no one could have guessed without a revelation from God. In the New Testament, the word mystery refers to a plan of God, which though started in the Old Testament, has only been fully revealed and become comprehensible in the Church Age. The mystery to which Paul refers in this passage is the union of believing Jews and Gentiles within the body of Christ. In researching the greatest mysteries of all time I came across a website (livescience.com) that had surveyed a number of top scientists in 2007 and asked them for a list of the greatest scientific mysteries. Of the fourteen “greatest scientific mysteries” listed on this website, twelve are answered directly in the pages of our Bible.

1 Barclay, William. The Letters to Galatians and Ephesians. Philadelphia: Westminster 1954. 141.

2 MacArthur, John. New Testament Commentary. Chicago: Moody, 1986. Ephesians. 138

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Following his revelation of the mystery of believing Jews and Gentiles becoming co-heirs of God’s inheritance, Paul launches into his second prayer within this epistle to the Ephesians. In his booklet, “My Heart Christ’s Home,” Robert Boyd Munger uses this passage to describe the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit in allowing Christ to truly be “at home” in our life. The Greek word for dwell in verse 17 means to “settle down and take up permanent residence within our heart.” Munger asks if we have allowed Jesus access to all of the rooms in our life. Are there rooms, such as our library, with Internet, magazines, or books we wouldn’t want Jesus to see, or a closet with hidden sins we don’t want revealed? Munger goes on to write that if we allow Jesus access to all of the areas of our life, we can become a dwelling suitable for His inhabitance through the power described in verse 20.3

Mystery Explained In the middle of this week’s passage, we run headlong into one of the “mysteries of God.” Some confusion exists concerning these mysteries because our definition of the word (musterion in the Greek) is different from its original meaning in the New Testament. Those of us who grew up on a steady diet of Scooby-Doo cartoons regard a mystery as something that is difficult or impossible to understand or explain. When the New Testament was written, a mystery was something that had been concealed in the Old Testament and now was revealed and made clear in the New Testament. It is much like a Sherlock Holmes mystery in which seemingly random events or discourses are actually clues when viewed in hindsight. For example, the words of Psalm 22 made little sense until the events of the cross revealed their predictive nature. This is proof of what God declares in Isaiah 46:10, “I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say, ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please’” (NIV). The chart below is a list of the more important biblical mysteries according to Unger’s Bible Dictionary.4

3 Munger, Robert Boyd. My Heart--Christ’s Home. IL: Inter-Varsity Press, Chicago. 1986. 4 Unger, Merrill. The New Unger’s Bible Dictionary Moody Press: Chicago 1957. 896.

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Mystery Found in Scripture

The mysteries of the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 13:3–50

The mystery of the translation of the living saints at the end of the church age.

1 Corinthians 15:51, 1 Thessalonians 4:14

The mystery of the church as the body of Christ, composed of saved Jews and Gentiles of this age.

Ephesians 3:1–11, Colossians 4:3

The mystery of the church as the bride of Christ. Ephesians 5:28–32

The mystery of “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Galatians 2:20, Colossians 1:26–27

“God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself.” This involves the fullness of the Godhead in bodily form.

Colossians 2:2, 1 Corinthians 2:7

The mystery of lawlessness. 2 Thessalonians 2:7, Matthew 13:33

The mystery of the operation by which man is restored to godliness.

1 Timothy 3:16

The mystery of Israel’s blindness during the gospel age. Romans 11:25

The mystery of the seven stars. Revelation 1:20

The mystery of Babylon, the harlot. Revelation 17:5

Prayer Start by praying over the passage and asking the Holy Spirit to give you fresh insights and wisdom in understanding it. Then read through the entire passage two or three times. Paul starts a thought in verse 1 and interrupts it with a long sidebar or parenthesis for 13 verses, only to return to his original thought in verse 14. Because of the unique construction of this passage and the deep theology, I would advise one of your readings to be in the New Living Translation to better understand the flow of Paul’s message. Scripture Meditation/Memorization One of the most fundamental and rewarding Christian disciplines that pays back in full spiritual dividends is Bible meditation/memorization. It is an absolutely fundamental in the formation of your spiritual development, spiritual walk and faith growth. In Psalm 1:1-2 (NLT), the Psalmist warrior, King David said,

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“Oh, the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers.

But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night.”

Use the suggested verse(s) to meditate on during the course of this week's study.

Memory Verse “[20] Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, [21] to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”—Ephesians 3:20-21 (ESV)

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Ephesians 3:1-4—Paul the Prisoner

Paul was placed under arrest by Roman authorities based upon charges brought against him by the Jewish leadership. At this time he had already spent two years in jail in Caesarea and was nearing the end of his second year of house arrest in Rome. 1. Rather than bemoan his false unjust incarceration, Paul explains his

perspective on his imprisonment. a. Rather than a prisoner of Rome or the Jews, whom does Paul describe as

his jailor (verse 1)? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

b. What additional insights can you glean from Philippians 1:12–14, which was also written from prison? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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c. It has been said that your attitude determines your altitude. Paul’s attitude in the midst of adversity came from viewing all events in his life as filtered through the sovereign will of his heavenly Father. How could such a worldview influence us as 21st century believers? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. Paul saw a purpose for his prison stay. According to what you can glean from verses 1–4: a. What was the purpose for his imprisonment?

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

b. For what ministry was Paul specifically and uniquely commissioned? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

c. How had his unique ministry caused Paul to run afoul of the Jewish leaders and end up in jail (see Acts 22:20–22)? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. What do you think is meant by the mystery of Christ in verse 4? (Romans 16:25 will help, plus we will investigate this further later in our study.) ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Ephesians 3:5-9—Mystery Explained

Despite numerous Old Testament references to God’s universal offer of salvation for all mankind, most Jews in the first century had little to do with Gentiles, calling them dogs. 1. Examine these Old Testament scriptures which from our viewpoint indicate

God’s offer of salvation to Gentiles and try to explain how they are fulfilled using the New Testament reference. a. Genesis 12:3 and Galatians 3:28–29

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

b. Isaiah 49:6 and Acts 13:46–47 ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. That which was concealed is now revealed. How is the understanding of the mystery possible according to the following verses? a. Ephesians 3:5

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

b. 2 Corinthians 3:14–16 ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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3. In verse 6 Paul now explains in greater detail the nature of the mystery. Explain it in your own words (note the word together is used three times in this verse). ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. Paul was called (not self-promoted) to be a minister to the Gentiles. What do we learn about his calling and his humility in the following verses? a. Ephesians 3:8–9

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b. 1 Corinthians 15:9–19

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Ephesians 3:9-13—The Purpose of the Mystery

This section contains some very deep theology which might be easier to understand if you first read over it in the New Living Translation (NLT) before taking a closer look in other translations (all versions available online at biblegateway.com). 1. What is the role/purpose of the church in God’s plan according to vv. 10–11?

____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. Who is the intended audience for the revelation of God’s plan (verse 10 and

see also Luke 15:10 and 1 Peter 1:12)? _________________________________________________________________

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3. God’s plan of salvation was set in place from eternity past according to verse 11; what else do you learn from 1 Peter 1:20? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. When Jesus died upon the cross, the thick veil separating man from the Holy of

Holies (the location symbolizing the very presence of God) was torn apart, signifying a new access into the very presence of God. What do verses 11 and 12 in our passage and Hebrews 4:15–16 teach us about this? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. What do verse 13 and Romans 8:18 teach us about the purpose of pain in Paul’s life? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Ephesians 3:14-19—Paul’s Prayer For the Ephesians

After a long sidebar describing the mystery of God working the Gentiles into His plan of salvation, Paul now begins his second prayer on behalf of the Ephesians. His second prayer is similar to his first in that both seek spiritual wisdom and insights that the Ephesians may comprehend their birthright as adopted sons through faith in Jesus.

1. There is power in the name of Jesus.

a. What do you learn about this in verse 15?

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b. What more do you learn about the name of Jesus in Philippians 2:9–11?

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2. In this short passage we see all three members of the Godhead. What is the

role of the Holy Spirit in Paul’s prayer? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. Paul prays that Jesus may dwell in our hearts. Every believer is indwelt by Christ at the moment of salvation (see Romans 8:9 and 1 Corinthians 12:13). However, the Greek word for dwell implies settling down and making oneself at home. Thomas Munger uses this passage as a springboard for his famous booklet, “My Heart Christ’s Home.” What are some areas of our life that might make Jesus feel less than comfortable living within us? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. St. Augustine said, “It is impossible for a finite man to understand an infinite

God.” How does Paul address that problem in his prayer? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Ephesians 3:20-21—Paul’s Doxology

Those who adhere to a prosperity doctrine, also known as “name it and claim it,” will misuse this passage and others like it to justify their doctrine (see Philippians

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4:19 and John 10:10). Isolating scripture without considering the context around it creates doctrinal errors. The conditions mentioned in verses 14–19 must first be met before we get to verse 20. As one Bible commentator pointed out that it is only when the Holy Spirit has empowered us, Christ has indwelt us, love has mastered us, and God has filled us with His fullness, that He is able to do exceedingly abundantly more than we can imagine. 1. How can meeting the conditions mentioned in verses 14–19 assure that our

requests are aligned with God’s will? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. Another passage that would seem to give carte blanche to God’s bounty is John 15:7 (NKJV), “You will ask what you desire and it will be done for you”. Look at this passage in context, John 15:5–11, and describe what qualifiers must be met to insure that our will is in alignment with God’s will prior to our making requests? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. To describe God’s bounty towards us Paul invents a word. Paul takes the Greek word for super abundant and sticks two prefixes on it so it reads hyper-hyper-super abundantly. The purpose is to bring Him glory within the body of believers (the church). Please share with your group a way in which God has blessed you beyond what you could have imagined. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Lesson 16 Summary/Take Away To avoid walking in circles when lost in the wilderness, survival instructors teach their students to pick out the most prominent point in the distant landscape and walk toward it. In a similar sense we need to pick out the single most important

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truth in this week’s study and apply it in our life as we walk toward Jesus and out of the wilderness. Please share with your group what that truth is for you and how will you apply it this week: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Memory Verse “[20] Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, [21] to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”—Ephesians 3:20-21 (ESV)

Key Words/Phrases Write out the definition of these key words. You can use a regular dictionary or go to one of the Greek sources listed in the Tool Box at the end of the study. You may also use a concordance to see where else and how the word is used in the Bible. How would these phrases instruct or encourage us today? Mystery of Christ (Ephesians 3:4) ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Unsearchable Riches (Ephesians 3:8) ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Dwell in Your Hearts (Ephesians 3:17) ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Tool Box Step 1: The Bible. Read the passage in a couple of different versions. If you are having trouble understanding a passage, choose a more dynamic version such as New Living Translation. To focus in on the exact meaning of a verse, choose a more literal translation such as English Standard Version, New American Standard Bible or New King James Version. Step 2: Study Tools. Use these to help you dig deeper. Background Information: 1) Unger’s Bible Dictionary, 2) Bible Dictionaries online at biblestudytools.com and blueletterbible.com. (recommend both David Guzick and Chuck Smith’s commentaries/study notes); Word Studies: 1) Zodhiates’ The Complete Word Study New Testament, 2) Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary, and 3) Strong’s Dictionary of Bible Words. Step 3: Commentaries. Commentaries should not be used in place of studying God’s Word directly, but they can give you additional insights. Some good commentaries include: Warren Wiersbe, J. Vernon McGee, F.F. Bruce, the Expositors Bible Commentary, NIV Application Commentary, The Bible Knowledge Commentary (edited by Walvoord & Zuck), the Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, and William Barclay (*great for background and culture, but be careful of his spiritual applications). Step 4: Online Assistance. Should you have a specific question about the study please e-mail your inquiry to: mannygwcm@gmail.com

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MESSAGE NOTES Teacher:_________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ © 2015 Mark Newton. All rights reserved.

Express permission granted for use and reproduction by Harvest Christian Fellowship, Riverside, CA. *Added questions by Warehouse Christian Ministries, Sacramento, CA