Grow With Pastor Joe

Secondly, let’s look at the management of the mystery. Eph. 3:2-5 says, “ ² If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: ³ How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, ⁴ Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) 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 key word to understanding how God has not only managed this mystery but manages his theocracy (how God rules His kingdom through man) is the word “dispensation.” The word dispensation is the Greek word “oikonomia.” It means in its basic sense an administration, stewardship or commission generally to manage or oversee affairs. The root word in this also is the Greek word for house (oikos). How fitting is this? Remember that Eph. 2:19-22 says that the unified body of Christ is a unified family or “household of God.” What Paul is doing is reminding them of this dispensation of administration or management that has been given to him. This dispensation is to point us to an idea of the manager of a household. Especially in ancient culture, the manager of the house was not the owner of the house, rather they were a servant who kept the daily operation of the home in order. In Genesis, Joseph is given the dispensation of management over Potipher’s house, the prison, and eventually Egypt itself. Paul has been specifically given stewardship or management of the gospel of grace to the Gentile world. In other words, Paul has been given this divine revelation to not keep it a secret but to declare the secret of being in Christ to all the world. The invitation of the gospel of grace is for all the world as Paul writes in Rom. 1:16. God can do as He pleases, and He is pleased to operate His perfect and providential will through mankind. Since Adam in the garden of Eden, God has worked dispensationally. It is God who gave Adam the management position of the garden of Eden in Gensis 2 but unfortunately Adam failed to be the prophet, priest, and king over God’s perfect creation. In the fall of man in Genesis 3, God would have been just in throwing mankind away. God would have be righteous in leaving mankind out of His plans. Instead, grace is extended, and God gets to declare His glory throughout the ages by dispensing grace to man to be the administrators of His plan, purposes, and power. God providentially performs His plans and purposes in Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit in those that are His. In the Old Testament, God worked through man (See Heb. 11 for numerous chronological examples). In the New Testament, God is working all things in Christ by His Spirit indwelt Church made up of Spirit filled believers. There was a time that only Israel was entrusted with the things of God, but now after all things had been given to Christ and in Christ; God has entrusted the management of His purposes on the earth to the Church. The beauty of it all is that the Church is comprised of both Jew and Gentile believers which is one of the greatest expressions of God’s grace. God is glorified by the response of faith to all that His grace has now revealed in Christ. Rom. 16:25-27 describes what Paul is reminding his audience here in Eph. 3:1-13. Paul knows the privilege of having this revelation of grace. He sees the wonder of God including us (Gentile and Jewish believers) in His plan. His eternal plan was and is the Church of Christ. All of this has now been revealed in Christ the Holy Spirit through the word of God in the men of God. The Lord used the apostles and prophets of the early church to establish these once hidden truths that have reconciled Jew and Gentile together with Christ as seen in Eph. 2:19-22. As we are reminded of this truth, we must see that all things that are revealed by God are done so in His Word by the power of His Holy Spirit. This is so that we would walk in unity together in the unimaginable wealth that we have been given in Christ. The only way that the Church will walk in unity (which Paul will show later in Ephesians) is by being committed to the unifying truths that have now been revealed in Christ. We must understand that by way of being in Christ, we too now share in the management of the gospel of grace to all the world. The world doesn’t need a divided or discouraged Church. The world today needs to see us united in and with Christ while preaching the gospel of grace to all so that they too can be included and infused with Christ. It is the privilege of each believer (and local church) to be given the responsibility of inviting the world to be included and infused together with and in Christ by grace through faith in Christ alone. May we be good stewards of this family secret that is to be told to the world so that they may be saved and included in the Body of Christ.  

The last thing that we must see is the message of the mystery. We have already dealt with it in our study today (and previously in Eph. 1-2) but now will see what Paul gives to us in more detail. Eph. 3:6-7 says, “⁶ That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: 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.” The message of this now revealed mystery in Christ is that the Gentiles are invited, included, and infused by, in, and with Christ together with the Jewish believers in Christ. There is now one people that God is operating through today, and that is the Church (those who are in Christ). Paul gives three specific things that this mystery now reveals to us. First, we are now fellow heirs together in Christ. In Christ, the Church made up of both Jew and Gentile alike, are fellow heirs of the promises and blessings of God. We have obtained the same inheritance together in Christ (See Eph. 1:11-22. This inheritance that we are now fellow heirs of is Christ Himself. It is the infinite riches of His grace that we now are fellow heirs of. We obtained this not by work, merit, or performance. This inheritance that we are now fellow heirs of is only by being brought near by the blood of Christ and being saved by grace through faith. It is not based on being born Jew or Gentile as in times past, but by being born again into the unified family of God in Christ. Secondly, we are now fellow members of the same body. Now that we (both Jew and Gentile believers) are infused with Christ as His body we have several important and impactful truths. We have now been eternally reconciled as individuals to Christ and have been made an eternal member of His Body or Bride, the Church. This means as well that there is only one body and one head. Jesus is not one head with different bodies. Nor is there one body with multiple heads. This shows the now revealed mystery that all things have been reconciled together by, with, and in Christ (See Col. 1:19-29). We have been made Christ’s body together without separation or division based upon our physical birth. Now, we are totally united together with Christ because of the new birth that is available to all. Thirdly, we are now fellow partakers of the promises of God in Christ. In the Old Testament, there were no promises given to the Gentiles, only to the Jews through God’s dispensations (administration of His plan, purpose, and power through man). Eph. 2:13-17 makes it clear that now we by faith enjoy the promises that were once only given to the Jews. Under the Old Testament, specifically the Abrahamic covenant, the promises of God were only to Jews. Only the Jew had the privilege of knowing God’s revealed word and enjoying relationship with Him. Now, under the New Covenant in Christ’s atoning, redeeming, and reconciling blood we too are fellow partakers of these promises. We now have the same rights, privileges, and responsibilities of being in Christ.

We must also understand that Paul is not replacing Israel with the Church but rather showing that the Church is a new man and one body in Christ made up of all believers regardless of nationalistic background. In showing the distinctions, He also shows that the Church of Christ is the most privileged people that have ever existed. The Jew was promised a literal earth land, seed, and blessings; but the Church is their spiritual blessings in Christ in heavenly places. Pastor and author James Knox writes, “The New Testament church is far above and beyond national covenants and promises of land grants. We are joint-heirs with Christ! The Jew exceeded the Gentile in that he had an altar where his representative high priest could meet with the true and living God once each year. The church dwells in Christ and Christ in His church, and we have unbroken access to the throne of grace on a daily basis.” One day, national Israel will be saved, but only after the Tribulation period and return of Christ with His Church. The Church of Christ will enjoy the management of His theocratic kingdom on earth and the Jews will once again enjoy relationship with God in Christ. God is not done with Israel or the Church. It is the Church that brings both Jew and Gentile together in Christ. Notice the reception of the mystery is only “in Christ by the gospel.” No one can be saved or be a member of the true Church of Christ outside of being in Christ and no one can be in Christ without faith in the gospel of Christ. Salvation and participation in God’s plan for His Church is only by grace through faith in Christ. It is the gospel that gives us entrance into Christ, but it is also the gospel that empowers us in Christ. Being in Christ and the gospel message cannot be separated. The Church is only the Church by the power of the gospel. Ultimately, our wealth and walk in Christ is rooted in the gospel. The gospel is our individual and corporate wealth. The gospel is our walk and manner of life which Paul will give in more detail later in Ephesians. All of the blessings and benefits of this mystery are in Christ alone by the gospel. The gospel that has included us and infused us together with Christ is the great blessing of this now revealed mystery. Paul sees himself as a servant of the gospel to the gentiles and we now too are servants of the gospel. It is by God’s grace that we are now entrusted with the gospel and empowered by His “effectual working” to proclaim salvation in Christ to the nations. This is the true meaning of spiritual success. Our wealth and walk in Christ are dependent upon His “effectual working of his power” in us. We are only spiritually successful as we rely upon His power for us, in us, and through us. Only by His power can we walk in the wealth that we have together in Christ. Only by His power can we be redeemed and reconciled or respond to all that He has revealed to us in Christ. It is God’s power in us that has revealed the riches of His grace in Christ and the mystery that there is now one unified body of Christ. This is the revealed mystery of God’s plan, purpose, presence, and power for, in, and through His people unto the praise of His glory.

As Paul reminds us of this truth, you may be wondering, “What does this have to do with me?” The answer is a resounding, “Everything!” God has made a way for you and I who were once completely excluded to be completely embraced in Christ. We have been brought together in one new man and brought near to Christ. We are united with Him and united together in Him. God has also given us this family secret so that we would share it with the world. There are many around us today who are not a part of the family. They have never been born again, redeemed, or adopted into this eternal family. They are outsiders. They are without God, hope, or salvation. God has entrusted us to declare the gospel of Chris to invite others to be infused with Christ by grace through faith in Him alone. Are we being good stewards of the gospel? How about the gifts that God’s grace has specifically given you? Does the world look at us and see the revealed mystery of a unified body of believers? Is there division among us? Simply, are we walking in the wealth of the riches of His grace in Christ? God has given us so much in Christ that it unimaginable and practically indescribable. Eph. 3:1-7 shows us the great family secret that we belong together in Him. Won’t you be a part of God’s family? Won’t you enjoy the relationship, rights, and responsibilities of being in Christ. Let’s not keep the family secret anymore. Let’s spread the news that all can be brought into the family of God in Christ today. Praise God that He has let us in on His family secret in Christ by the power of His Holy Spirit and Word.

Grow with me as we study the believer’s wealth and walk in Christ.

Grow deeper.

Grow higher.

Grow wider.