Ephesians 3 The Final Revelation Of God’s Mysterious Plan
Ephesians 3 is a powerful chapter of the bible, revealing God’s mysterious plan. I believe the plan goes hand in hand with the great commission as well. (why wouldn’t it?)
God’s great plan that is laid out for us, is a beautiful plan that shows us his love. Jesus came and died for us, when we submit ourselves to Jesus, we became part of his family (Ephesians 2). However, the mysterious plan that Paul speaks about here is monumental.
God not only sent his son Jesus to save us, but Jesus and the Holy Spirit have empowered us to spread the gospel. With the spreading of the gospel, the barrier between Jew & Gentile, Slave, and Freeman is erased.
While their lives in the physical realm don’t change much. It makes financial and social differences meaningless and unifies the body of Christ.
Many people get angry because of temporary physical circumstances. Let me tell you none of that matters. We live down here for an average of 70 years, but we’ll be in eternity for much longer than that. How we live the 70 down here affects how we spend eternity.
If God is trying to teach me something, I pray I learn it down here before I go home to him.
Ephesians 3 is about God’s Mysterious plan for the church, and as such the church needs to be ready to do his will, and accomplish the goals he sets for us. We do this because we love God, and we know that he loves us.
Ephesians 3 is a powerful chapter, and I hope reading this transforms your life.
Ephesians 3 God’s Mysterious Plan Revealed
3 When I think of all this, I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus for the benefit of you Gentiles. 2 assuming, by the way, that you know God gave me the special responsibility of extending his grace to you Gentiles. 3 As I briefly wrote earlier, God himself revealed his mysterious plan to me. 4 As you read what I have written, you will understand my insight into this plan regarding Christ. 5 God did not reveal it to previous generations, but now by his Spirit, he has revealed it to his holy apostles and prophets.
6 And this is God’s plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus. 7 By God’s grace and mighty power, I have been given the privilege of serving him by spreading this Good News.
8 Though I am the least deserving of all God’s people, he graciously gave me the privilege of telling the Gentiles about the endless treasures available to them in Christ. 9 I was chosen to explain to everyone this mysterious plan that God, the Creator of all things, had kept secret from the beginning.
10 God’s purpose in all this was to use the church to display his wisdom in its rich variety to all the unseen rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. 11 This was his eternal plan, which he carried out through Christ Jesus our Lord.
12 Because of Christ and our faith in him, we can now come boldly and confidently into God’s presence. 13 So please don’t lose heart because of my trials here. I am suffering for you, so you should feel honored.
Ehpesians 3:1-13
God’s Mysterious Plan
The great commission told the disciples and followers of Jesus to go throughout the world and spread the gospel to all nations. Paul was called to jump social constructs and share the gospel with the gentiles.
Back in biblical times, the gentiles were divided from the Jews. It was a clean break and nobody broke the line. However, both are people created in the image of God. So God wanted to break down the barriers. He wanted to eliminate racism and prejudice from their minds.
Racism and Prejudice have been in man’s heart since the fall. It’s even found its way into some church teachings. However, I want to state here and now, that Christianity is about loving God and loving your neighbor. That is the standard Jesus set.
Jesus didn’t condone sin, but he loved the sinners. Too often we throw people out of the congregation, and our lives because we can’t condone the sin. Lumping people together is what Satan has done for years to the church. It’s why so many people stand against us.
However, I think Ephesians 3 is about loving the people, hating sin, and unifying the body of Christ. If you read Ephesians 3, there is no other way to decipher it.
I’m going to repeat what I just said. We can’t as Christians accept sin, it separates us from God, but if somebody comes into the body, and they want to know more, why can’t they learn about God?
These are the people who need God the most, and it pains me that they’ve been turned away in the past. I think this is why I’m so interested in people’s stories.
But I can’t stress this enough Ephesians 3 is about unity. But that starts in the heart.
Ephesians 3 Paul’s Prayer for Spiritual Growth
14 When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, 15 the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. 16 I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. 17 Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.
18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
20 Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. 21 Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.
Ephesians 3:14-21
Ephesians 3 also tries to describe the love of God. And I’m sure Paul would agree that he does an abysmal job of doing so. I only say that because words can’t describe the love of Jesus.
Ephesians 3 is about unifying the people of God, Racism, Prejudice, and Hatred have no place in the body of Christ. Jesus stated that he who hates his brother has committed murder in his heart.
I can’t help but notice all of these verses in Ephesians are dealing with perception and heart issues, but once we deal with those we’ll have unity. But it’ll be a unity that comes from God, because he’s the one who has healed us, and he’s the one living within us.
Ephesians 3, is a chapter of the bible that we need to be living by, I want unity in the body of Christ. I want unity in our society and our government.
Unfortunately, we have a lot of sinful people in this world, and a lot of them have choices to make. But Ephesians 3 is a signpost, so we can find our way.
Ephesians 6: Putting on the Whole Armor Of God
Ephesians 5 Living In the Light And Being Righteous
Ephesians 1: Becoming Who God Made You To Be
About Author
E. Sterling
Sterling grew up in the suburbs of Minneapolis. As a kid he loved skateboarding but mostly did street riding. He injured his ankle badly when he dropped into his first half pipe. His skateboarding slowed down after that, but he still loved the sport. While in his 20's he needed to make a change, so he did some world traveling with a motivational speaking group. Through it all, he visited 46 states and 3 continents and eventually lived in Mississippi. In 2005, Hurricane Katrina tore through the state. He jumped into the fray, helping mobilize support for the evacuees of New Orleans & The Gulf Coast. During the aftermath he helped run a shelter and drove food & medical supplies to affected areas by truck. Currently he lives in Minneapolis, runs his snowboard shop, and shreds Vail Whenever he can.