EPHESIANS 3:8-13 - CHRIST GIVES US CONFIDENCE TO BE BOLD BEFORE GOD

Ephesians 3:8-13

CHRIST GIVES US CONFIDENCE

TO BE BOLD BEFORE GOD

Ephesians 3:8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;

Paul describes himself as less than the least of the believers. He felt God’s grace in allowing him to preach the good news of Jesus was unmerited favor. However, of all people, he seemed to have the best of pedigrees.

Philippians 3:3-8 For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the Spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh. Though I might also have confidence in the flesh. If any other man thinketh that he hath thereof he might trust in the flesh, I more: circumcised the eighth day of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness that is in the law, blameless. But what things were gain to me, these I counted loss for Christ. Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.

Paul knew that everything we do in our own strength rather than in the power of the Holy Spirit indwelling us, is worthless. He went so far as to call his achievements “dung,” poo-poo! None of us are worthy of the gift of salvation God bestows on us by his grace. Much less are we worthy to be used of Him to share the Good News. But God chooses to use weaklings to demonstrate His strength. In our perfectly complete weakness, He is shown utterly strong. As Stephen Curtis Chapman sings, “His strength is perfect when our strength is gone.”

You can listen to it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGC9KT918Kk

What does Paul mean by “the unsearchable riches of Christ?” Even living forever, there will always be more richness, more wealth of relationship, to be mined out as we increase in knowledge of Jesus. His gifts to us, our inheritance, are like the stars – seemingly without number. The Apostle John describes God’s love as unfathomable. To fathom is to measure the depth of a body of water. We are completely unable to reach the bottom of God’s rich love.

Ephesians 3:9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

Paul’s aim was to help all people understand the mystery of fellowship, familyship, between Jews and non-Jews as they are united in the belief in salvation through Christ Jesus. Redemption of people from every nation was always God’s intention and design from the very beginning. Before the Jewish nation even existed, long before Abraham was born, the Lord told Eve that her Seed would crush the serpent’s head (Gen. 3:15). Eve was not a Jew, but this promise of the Messiah was made to her. Paul, like the Apostle John, identifies Jesus as the Creator of the world (John chapter 1).

Ephesians 3:10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, 11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:

We looked up verse 10 in a couple of different translations to help us unravel what was being said. The Complete Jewish Study Bible expressed the idea well:

Ephesians 3:9b-10 (CJB) This plan, kept hidden for ages by God, the Creator of everything, is for the rulers and authorities in heaven to learn, through the existence of the Messianic Community, how many-sided God’s wisdom is.

The note in the John MacArthur Study Bible made it clear that “principalities and powers in the heavenly places” refers both to angels serving the Lord and fallen angels (demons) and the heavenly places denotes the entire spiritual realm. Observing the church enables spiritual beings to have a better understanding of the multi-faceted wisdom of our God. Imagine that! Angels are learning from observing humans and their interactions with God and others. I love the term “Messianic Community” because this is what we have been trying to describe as a “new man,” not Jew or Gentile. We are united in our belief that Jesus was and is the promised Messiah of the Old Testament scriptures. God’s forever family, His church, the Bride of Christ, the Messianic Community are all synonymous terms describing the unity of believers in Jesus.

Ephesians 3:12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.

Ephesians 3:12 (VOICE) His faithfulness to God has made it possible for us to have the courage we need and the ability to approach the Father confidently.

Jesus’ faith is imparted to us by the Holy Spirit. Because of His faith and our reciprocal faith in Jesus, and His faithfulness to us by redeeming and sanctifying us, we have complete access to the Father and can approach Him boldly. Jesus was faithful to obey God’s plan to redeem His chosen ones, and He continues to be faithful in His current position as our intercessor. He is faithful to advocate on our behalf, to make our case before the Father, that we have been saved by our trust in the Son by God’s grace. When Jesus’ flesh was torn on the cross, the veil was torn in the temple symbolizing our freedom to come with confidence into the presence of God through the blood of Jesus Christ.

Hebrews 10:19-25 (NASB) Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

Ephesians 3:13 Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.

Paul does not want the Ephesians to be distracted and detoured from their pursuit of Christlikeness due to his sufferings in prison. He wants them to understand that even the trials we go through are designed to bring us and others who observe God’s working in our lives closer to Jesus. Our trials are helping to shape us into who we are to be as children of God. In Romans, Paul pointed out that our present trials are nothing compared to the glory we will experience and share in when we are perfected in Heaven. It is not comfortable, but it is comforting, to know that God is molding me into the image of Jesus the Son through all of my difficulties on this journey in my earth-suit.

Romans 8:18 [But what of that?] For I consider that the sufferings of this present time (this present life) are not worth being compared with the glory that is about to be revealed to us and in us and for us and conferred on us!

Application:

1.       None of us are perfect or in any way worthy of God’s grace, but He offered it even when we were His enemies.

2.       Once we receive the gift of salvation, once we have surrendered our right to ourselves, God can use any and all “circumstances” to shape us into who He intends us to be.

3.       God’s wisdom, grace, and love are all things we can never completely understand; but we can enjoy exploring the depths of them forever when we become a part of His family through faith in Jesus Christ.