To whom does Paul desire that we give glory?
(Ephesians 3:1-22; Proverbs 4:18; Acts 2:33) Blog Jul. 30 – Aug. 05, 2023
Prepared by Richard A. Marin: Present Truth PO Box 700, Fallbrook CA 92088-0700 USA
REVIEW: All who accept Jesus as their Substitute and Surety, receive in him all spiritual blessings. These overflow in the gift of the Holy Spirit who works with the Father and the Son to prepare the church as the bride of Christ. She is now made up of Jew and Gentile for Jesus abolished the Law of Moses that separated them. He is God’s Elect and all who enter him by faith are elect in him.
The Mystery of Christ
1. For what reason does Paul return to his chapter 2 unity theme in chapter 3? Paul returns to the concept of Gentiles being fellow citizens with the saints because he will build on that theme in chapter 3 (Eph. 2:19; 3:1).
2. Why does Paul say that he was the prisoner of Jesus Christ? Paul was the bondservant of Jesus for he was commissioned & sent out by God’s sanctifying grace to make known to the Gentiles the mystery of Christ & that proclamation resulted in his imprisonment (Acts 9:3-16; 22:12-15; 26:13-18; 1 Cor. 7:22; Eph. 3:1).
3. How did Paul receive “the mystery of Christ”? The mystery of Christ is always & only received by revelation. The natural man by logic cannot arrive at God’s truth (1 Cor. 2:7-14; Eph 3:3, 5).
4. What direct revelation did Paul receive from Jesus? Besides his encounter with Jesus on the Damascus road, Paul spent three years in Arabia under Jesus’ direct teaching (Acts 22:14; Gal. 1:15-17).
5. Who does Paul say now reveals the mystery of Christ to God’s holy apostles and prophets? Without hesitation, Paul says that “the Spirit” now reveals the mystery (Eph. 3:5).
6. What other truth should we learn from Ephesians 3:5? We should learn that the revelation of truth is progressive & becomes brighter & clearer as we approach the perfect day (Prov. 4:18; Eph. 3:5).
7. What is “the mystery of Christ” about which Paul writes? The mystery of Christ is the amazing news that in Christ God provides eternal life for every human being, be they Jew or Gentile. It is the riches of Christ (Gen. 12:3; Eph. 3:6, 8).
The Gift of Grace
8. To what element briefly mentioned in chapter 1 does Paul return in verse 6 of Ephesians 3? Paul emphasizes the place of the Holy Spirit in Ephesians 3 (Eph. 1:13; 3:5-7).
9. Having established in Ephesians 2 that Jew and Gentile are one body (fellow citizens) in Christ, to what new emphasis does Paul turn in verse six of Ephesians 3? Paul now emphasizes that Jew & Gentile are also fellow heirs of the promise of the Holy Spirit (Isa. 44:3; Eze. 39:29; John 14:16-17; Acts 2:33; Eph. 3:6).
10. When after a repeated vision of a sheet full of unclean animals Peter learned that not only Jews could be saved and join God’s family, what event surprised him and his companions at the house of Cornelius? Peter & his Jewish brethren were amazed that non-Jews also received the Holy Spirit just as they had on Pentecost (Acts 10:45-46).
Strengthened with Might
11. To what kind of grace does Paul refer in Ephesians 3:7 and 8? Here Paul refers to sanctifying grace for it is the gift of the internal power of the Spirit of Wisdom that he receives (Eph. 3:7-8).
12. How does Paul say that the manifold wisdom of God will be made known to angels and the inhabitants of the unfallen worlds? It is by making people understand what they share in common with other believers in Christ (even righteousness, wisdom [the Holy Spirit], sanctification, & redemption) that they ( the church) make known to the onlooking universe the wisdom of God in his plan of salvation. Jesus didn’t come to earth just to save humans. God’s eternal purpose was to demonstrate his love to the universe (1 Cor. 1:30; Eph. 3:9-11).
13. What does Paul pray that God will do for Christians? Paul prays that Christians would be strengthened with might by God’s Spirit in the inner man (2 Cor. 4:16; Eph. 3:16).
14. How does Christ dwell in the hearts of Christians? Christians treasure the thought & doctrine of Christ in their hearts & Christ also dwells there by his Spirit while as a Person he remains in heaven (John 14:17; Eph. 3:17-19).
15. How are we to understand the love of God? God’s love is beyond our comprehension. It encompasses every human being, for all time, even to the lowest wretch in order to translate all who receive it to heavenly places (Eph. 3:18-19).
16. What is the fullness of God? The fulness of God is the climax of the work of the Holy Spirit in us (glorification) (Rom. 8:17; Eph. 3:19; 4:13).
17. To whom does Paul desire that we give glory at the end of Ephesians three? We are to give glory continually & eternally to the Holy Spirit that dwells in all believers, that powerfully works in us, & that Jesus purchased for us (Eph. 3:20-21).