2012-08-19 God’s Manifold Wisdom in Christ | Eph 3:7-13

Eph 3:7-13 ⁷Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power. ⁸ To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, ⁹ and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, ¹⁰ so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. ¹¹ This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, ¹² in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. ¹³ So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.

God’s wisdom is like a many faceted jewel where both beauty and mystery can be found. The mystery and beauty of God’s wisdom is revealed in the creation, and since the fall, the redemption of creation. He has set in motion a mysterious yet beautiful plan to restore all that was lost through the loss of his only Son.

1. The revelation of his wisdom

God – purposed to use the church to reveal or display his wisdom to the unseen rulers and authorities in heavenly places

1. By the church

¹⁰ so that through the church the manifold ^awisdom of God ^bmight now be made known

1. To the angels

^10b to ^cthe rulers and authorities ^din the heavenly places.

1Pe 1:12 It was revealed to them (the OT prophets) that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.

2. The realization of his wisdom – the accomplishment of God’s eternal plan
   1. In Christ

God – planned for eternity to carry this out in X

¹¹ This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord,

3. The result of his wisdom – so what??

1. We have boldness and confident access by faith

We – can come boldly and confidently into God’s presence bc of our faith in X

¹² in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.

1. We find purpose in suffering

We – should not lose heart bc of suffering, rather feel honored

Suffering is the path to glory

¹³ So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory

-lose heart

to be weary in anything, or to lose courage, flag, faint

-your glory

praise or honor coming to someone, Luke 2:32; Eph. 3:13).

Luke 2:32 (ESV) Christ came as a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory/honor to his people Israel.”

Paul found purpose in suffering

2 Cor 1:6-9 (ESV) If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. ⁷ Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort. ⁸ in Asia…we were utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself.  We felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead.

2Ti 2:10 Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

2Co 4:15 For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.

2Co 12:15 I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls

2 Cor 4:16 (ESV)  So we do not lose heart. ¹⁷ For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, ¹⁸ as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

Christ found purpose in suffering

1 Pet 3:18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit

We can find purpose in suffering –glorification, reign, entrance to kingdom

Rom 8:17 if [we are] children, then [we are] heirs, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. 

2Ti 2:12 if we endure, we will also reign with him; if we deny him, he also will deny us;

Paul, after being stoned in Lystra he returned there to

Act 14:22 strengthen the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God. 

Categories: 2012, Ephesians, Ephesians: The Christian's Inheritance, Sermons