Ephesians 3:1–13

Ephesians 3:1–13

Here Paul explains powerfully and beautifully the culmination of God’s great plan to bring all nations to Himself. Paul may have been a little ADD, or he may have been very excited about the marvel of what God was doing. He begins and then digresses. Verses 2-13 are sort of a parenthetical statement. Note in verse one and in verse 14 he says, “For this reason I…” What is in between these verses is Paul’s digression into the beauty of God’s plan to redeem all mankind. 

Part of our fallen human nature is to assume that those who are different are in some way inferior. The Jews took this to an extreme. The fact that Paul would believe that God loved non-Jews was nothing short of miraculous. This welcoming of all men to God was only possible by grace. The cross is the focal point of all history. Having received that amazing news, Paul was compelled to share the good news with everyone. Paul did not consider himself a prisoner of Rome or of Nero. Rather, he was captivated by the mystery of Christ. That which captivates us we are bound to share. Which may explain why so many believers never share their faith. They know it well enough to live a semi-good moral life or at least to feel guilty if they don’t. But a shallow knowledge of the gospel will never captivate us or be enough to compel us or excite us enough to share it.

This mystery is not something hard to figure out. But something that has been hidden all along and now has been shown. Like a gift in the box, it was hidden, but now it is seen. Paul describes this mystery in three ways: “fellow heirs,” “fellow members of the body,” and “fellow partakers of the promise.” The term “fellow heirs” is from the word, which at its root means “with lot” or we might say “by dice.” Casting lots was a way to decide who would get what in terms of inheritance. Once the lot was thrown, it was settled ownership once and for all. This means that once and for all, Gentiles are inside of God‘s grace. Next he used the term “fellow members”; literally this means “with” or “together body.” Paul may have coined this word. The best description we might have is the Borg from the Star Trek TV show. The interrelationship between Jews and Gentiles is so extreme that it would be impossible to separate one or the other out of the body. If you did this, it would no longer be the body of Christ. The final description is “fellow partakers.” This is in fact a triple compound word from the words “with,” “change,” and “have.” It means, “the change that has come because of what we have shared.” 

The gospel changes everything; it isn’t just that we go to heaven when we die. That is only a part of the Gospel message. It also means that all that was lost in Eden is regained and Christ and we share, Jew and Gentile alike, in Him.

“Help me Lord to have the passion for the Gospel that is captivating.  AMEN”