OUR FATHER WHO MADE THE UNSEARCHABLE RICHES OF CHRIST AVAILABLE TO THE GENTILES

The book of Ephesians chapter 3 verses 8 - 13 says this:

8 To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; 10 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, 11 according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him. 13 Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.

The Apostle Paul, in this passage, marvels at the fact that he, the one who was persecuting the people of God, was the one who was given the grace to take the gospel to the Gentiles and reveal to them the unfathomable depths of the riches of Christ. The multi-dimensional wisdom of God ensured that the gift of Christ was made available to the gentiles and implicated the whole world confounded principalities and powers in the spiritual realm because these matters were hidden in God from before the time began.

 The eternal purposes of God were accomplished through Christ Jesus our Lord whose completed works made it possible for us to have access to God with the confidence of faith in Him.

In light of this deep revelation of God lavish provision for those who believed in Jesus, Paul advises the Ephesians not to lose heart beause of the troubles that he was having for their sake because to him, it was worth it because it was for their glory.

Amen.

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OUR FATHER WHO KEPT THE MYSTERY OF THE PROVISION OF SALVATION FOR THE GENTILES UNTIL CHRIST COMPLETED THE WORK THAT INCLUDED THEM

The Apostle Paul, continuing with the theme of the inclusion of the gentiles into the body of family of God through the universal work of Christ completed on the cross, begins the  book of Ephesians chapter 3 telling the believers in Ephesus, in verses 1 - 7, that this astonishing expansion of those who would be adopted in to the family of God, was the revelation of the ancient mystery that God made known to Him, was why he was called as a minister to Gentiles.

Paul, speaking of the mystery of the gentiles being made co-heirs in the same family, explained how it had been hidden from the people living in the ages past but now, with Christ having secured the the means of salvation for all men, was being made known through the apostle and prophets.

The gift of grace to the the gentiles was the purpose for which Paul became a minister through the deliberate work of God's power in his life.

1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles— 2 if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, 3 how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, 4 by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), 5 which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: 6 that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel, 7 of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power.

Amen.

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OUR FATHER WHOM WE HAVE ACCESS TO THROUGH THE SPIRIT

In the book of Ephesians chapter 2 verses 11 - 22, the Apostle Paul reminded his readers that they had been in a lost and hopeless condition without a road map to even know which direction to turn before being brought near to God by the blood of Christ. 

Christ Himself is our peace where he , by his universal sacrifice of his life, redeemed both the Jews and the Gentiles and they became one people because their enmity was put to death on the cross and both Jews and Gentiles could become one people who have access to the Father through the one Spirit of God.

11 Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands— 12 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. 17 And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near. 18 For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father.

19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, 22 in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

In Christ, the gentiles are no longer far off as aliens or foreigners but rather are members of the family of God and included in His household which was built on the foundation of apostles and prophets with the Lord Jesus Christ Himself as the chief cornerstone and this building, being meticulously constructed using the precious stones who are the saints, is to become the dwelling place of God in the Spirit.

Amen.

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OUR FATHER WHO BEFOREHAND PREPARED GOOD WORKS FOR US TO FULFILL

Having described the exeedingly exalted position of the Lord Jesus Christ over all creation and the incredible advantages that are bestowed on those who believed in HIm, the Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians in chapter 2 verses 1 - 10, describes what condition we were in prior to being redeemed by God through Jesus.

He described us as dead in our trespasses and sins and under the domination of the prince of the power of the air who still controls those who are not yet repentant and obedient to the gospel. Paul graphically illustrates how our behaviour was ruled by our fleshly lusts and the pursuit of bodily desires and desires of the mind and in this state, we were all destined for total ruination under the wrath of God.

1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

However, in His abundant mercy and love for us, even while we were still in rebellion to Him, God provided a method by which we could be restored from death. God, in the act of ressurecting Christ from the dead, ressurected us from death for He, in His kindness towards us, placed us in Christ and we died with Him and when He was raised from the dead, we who believed, were also raised with Him to life. And even further, when God lifted Christ high into heavenly places to a position fitting for Him due to His absolute lrighteousness and obedience even unto death, we, by God's grace, were lifted up with Him and seated us with Him in those elevated places. 

This act of incredible magnanimity toward those who were previously in rebellion against Him will stand in the ages to come as a testament to the vast treasure of His grace in kindness towards us. And no will be able to take credit for their own salvation for it will be plainly evident that it was strictly by the grace of God that anyone was saved and none will be able to point to any effort of merit earned by which they attained the salvation granted them.

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

We who believed in Christ will be saved and we will find ourselves among many others with whom we were all fashioned by God in Christ Jesus to do amazing and wonderful works that were put in place ahead of time for each one of us to fulfill.

Amen.

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OUR FATHER WHO GIVES US THE SPIRIT OF WISDOM AND REVELATION

In the Apostle Paul's letter to the Ephesians chapter 1 verses 15  - 23, he mentions  the good report he had received about the faith and love of the believers in Ephesus and how this news caused him to be grateful for them and he prayed for them that they may be given the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of God and that they would gain spiritual understanding.

Once learning of their faith and love, Paul wanted the Ephesians to know how consequential the calling that they were hoping in actually was and with that, how great the inheritance of glory was bestowed on the saints and the superlative power of God towards those who believed. This immense power was that which raised the Lord Jesus from the dead and elevated Him to be seated in heavenly places imbued with authority and power that placed Him over all lofty spiritual hierachies that are in existence in this dispensation but as well, all the lofty spiritual hierarchies in the dispensation to come.

All things in existence were thus placed under the  feet of Jesus and Jesus is the head of the church which is the vesel in the earth that contains all of Him and is His body through which He exercises His power and authority.

 15 Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, 16 do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, 18 the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power 20 which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.

22 And He put all things under His feet, and gave Him to be head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.

Amen.

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OUR FATHER WHOSE PURPOSE IS ACCORDING TO THE COUNSEL OF HIS WILL

In book of Ephesians chapter 1 verses 7 - 14, the Aposle Paul continues describing the immense benefits that are accrued to us because of the Lord Jesus Christ and his work on the cross.

7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, 9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, 10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him. 11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will, 12 that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.

13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.

Paul itemizes the priceless gifts that are bestowed on us who trusted in the word of truth and believed in the gospel of salvation through Jesus  through the wisdom and prudence of God:

• Being redeemed through Christ's blood
• Being forgiven of sins through His riches of grace
• Gaining the revelation of the mystery of God's will, good pleasure and purposes
• Being joined into the ultimate unity of God's family in heaven and earth
• Obtaining an inheritance having been predestined by God's intention
• Being the praise of God's glory to those who believed in Christ
• Being sealed (preserved) with the promised Holy Spirit
• Being secured by the downpayment of  the Holy Spirit until final purchase

All these immense benefits are received by those who believe in gospel to the praise of the glory of God.

Amen.

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