Get Arrested
Ephesians 3:1-2
Today we begin the 3rd chapter of Ephesians. In the 3rd chapter we see the mystery. The mystery has been kept hidden for long ages past and the prophets of long ago had no knowledge of. It has not been revealed until the time of Christ. It was revealed to Paul and to the other Apostles and the Prophets of the early church. It is a mystery that Paul has only so far been touching on without really fully unpacking. It is a mystery that found in Christ and in Him alone. That means that understanding this mystery is all wrapped up in understanding Christ. To understand what this mystery is all about it is necessary to understand Him. To understand Christ is to understand this mystery.
What is this mystery? Paul finally gives a direct disclosure in verse 6 when he says, “This mystery is that through the Gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.”
But in order to get to the 3rd chapter we had to go through chapter 1 and chapter 2. In chapter 1 we saw the incredible new position we have because of Jesus Christ and His work to redeem us.
Then we come to chapter 2 where Paul describes the depth of our sinfulness to exalt the depths of God’s mercy and grace to us as sinners. Now this is all important because he THEN explains how Jews and Gentiles are brought together in unity. The unity is predicated on chapter 1 verse 1 through chapter 2 verse 10.
You see, the truth is that both Jews and Gentiles need redemption. Both Jews and Gentiles need forgiveness – Chapter 1. This is because both Jews and Gentiles are dead in their trespasses and sins – Chapter 2. The common ground between Jews and Gentiles is the common ground in all of humanity: sin that alienates all from God. Romans 3:23 says “For all have sinned and all fall short of God’s glory.” And the only remedy God offers is offered to Jew and Gentile alike: Faith in Jesus Christ. Paul said that now, in this new community called the Church, God is building a holy temple where He dwells by His Spirit, and each brick and each stone is made up of not just Jews, but Jews and Gentiles alike. That is the mystery Paul explains more fully here now in chapter 3.
Point #1: When we follow the Lord He leads us to people we would never choose to go to. Paul says in verse 1 “…for the sake of you Gentiles” Then notice in verse 2 he says “…the administration of God’s grace that was given to me FOR YOU” The Gentiles Paul ministered to knew that Paul was sent specifically to them by God. His special, God-appointed mission was specifically to them as Gentiles. Then notice in verse 8, “this grace was given to me: preach to the Gentiles” In other words, God said to Paul: for the sake of the Gentiles go and preach to them!
Paul, was in prison, and I bet there were times in his ministry he said to himself: “For the life of me I never would have imagined that my life would be devoted to the Gentiles. If you would have told me on the Damascus Road that I was going to spend the rest of my life seeking the salvation of the Gentiles I would have laughed and said you were insane.” But when Paul was met by Christ on that same road only a little while later, what was unthinkable his entire life became true. When he met Jesus Christ and began to follow Christ Jesus Christ led him to people Paul would never have chosen to go.
This must be understood clearly. Jews hated Gentiles. Paul was a Jew. And no Jew hated Gentiles more than a Pharisee. And you might say that the better Pharisee you were the more you hated Gentiles. And Paul was a Pharisee. He was the best of the best. He described himself as a Hebrew of Hebrews but it could be said of him that he was a Pharisee of Pharisees. He hated Gentiles. Let us quickly be reminded of how far this hatred was taken. No Jew would ever allow a Gentile into their home. If a Jew was travelling back to the homeland then upon coming to the borders that Jew would shake the filthy Gentile dust off his sandals and clothes so that it didn’t pollute the holy land. Gentiles were dogs, cut off from God, inferior to Jews. If a young Jewish man or woman married a Gentile the family would hold a funeral service rather than a wedding and consider that child dead. Have you ever hated anyone that much? Do you hate someone that much?
That is who Paul was. Now, that is no longer who he is. He met someone on the Damascus road. He was met by the risen Lord Jesus Christ.
You see, Paul didn’t hold on to old prejudices and hatred. His worldview was completely made new. He saw the Lord Jesus Christ differently, he saw the world differently, he saw himself differently, and he saw his enemies differently. Why? Because he saw what God was doing and now he saw his own life purpose directly related to what God was doing. Paul fought against people coming to Christ, now he fought for people to come to Christ. Paul wanted Jews kept separate from Gentiles, now he created unity between them with the Gospel. Paul no longer hated them, but loved them.
Paul’s suffering was for the benefit of others. This is one of those realities of living the Christian life. Not just suffering. Not just suffering so others can benefit. There are people in this world who we think don’t deserve anything good, especially not from us. But one of the realities of living with Christ and for Him is that we become instruments for Him to bring goodness of Christ into those people’s lives. Let me take it further, it’s one thing to bring good into their life, but it is another to suffer personally in order to make that happen.
I hope your mind is being pricked with application here. There may be people who you can’t imagine doing anything good for. As far as you’re concerned it may be unthinkable that you should be an agent for Christ in this person’s life. But it may very well be that if you are following Christ that He is leading you to do just that. It may also be that the path Christ is leading you is one of suffering for that person. Suffering may not be a prison in Rome, but, it may be the prison of what has happened in your life. You are related to Christ for one reason and one reason only: Forgiveness. He has forgiven you. And it may be that it is time for you to forgive
Point #2: Suffering the prisons of this world come because we are first imprisoned by Christ. Notice the way Paul talks here, “I, Paul, a prisoner OF Christ Jesus”. Then notice chapter 4:1, “As a prisoner of --ROME?” No! He says “As a prisoner of the LORD”! He was at that time in prison by the Roman government. But he doesn’t mention Rome. He says that he is Christ’s prisoner. Why is he talking like this? Because long before he was arrested by Rome he was arrested by Christ. Long before a set of criminal’s shackles were put on his hands his heart was confined by Christ. Paul didn’t belong to Rome. Paul didn’t belong to Paul. Paul belonged to Christ. And because he was arrested, or, imprisoned by Christ he was arrested by Rome. You see, all he had to do, like so many other martyrs after him, was to deny Christ; to renounce his allegiance to Christ; revoke his commitment to the call he personally received from Christ Himself. That’s all. Separate yourself from Christ. Distance yourself from Him. Do what Peter did when Jesus was arrested. Act like Christ isn’t real even though He is. Act like you don’t belong to Him even though you do. In other words instead of acting according to truth act falsely. If you do that Paul you can walk free.
But Paul could not do that! He belonged to Christ. He is no longer a slave to sin but to Christ. He is the bond-servant of the Lord. He is the prisoner of Christ. He understood that the sufferings he was going through were God’s will. Actually God appointed him to a ministry that would never be free from suffering. In Acts 9 God said, “Paul is my chosen instrument to carry my Name to the Gentiles. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.” Oh my. Oh my. Paul’s life would be devoted to the Lord, and in being devoted to the Lord the Lord would direct Paul to people Paul would never ever have gone to. And it would be one of constant suffering. After spending 3 years with the Ephesians he had a meeting with the leaders in Miletus and it was the last time anyone from Ephesus would see Paul alive. Turn with me to Acts 20:22-24….
Let me say something: Paul could have lived very wealthy, very respected, very powerfully …. As a Pharisee. But as a born-again believer in Jesus Christ he was now a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ. He was you might say a prisoner of the Lord’s. The Lord had full rights to Paul. The Lord has full rights to you and I as well. Because of this, Paul lived a life serving the Lord. And a life serving the Lord will lead to suffering. Paul said to young Timothy “Anyone who wants to live a godly life will be persecuted.” Jesus said in John 15, “If the world hated you remember that it hated me first. No servant is greater than his master. If they persecuted me they will persecute you also.”
Point # 3: Grace is not only for Salvation, but, for Service.
Paul speaks of his commission in verse 2. He says it is “the administration of God’s grace that was given to him”. Notice how he talks about his commission in similar language in verse 7, “I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of His power.” Then notice verse 8 he talks again about his commission, “Although I am the least of all God’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ”. Notice something here: Notice how anytime Paul talks about his commission he talks about God’s grace. God’s grace specifically is related to God’s appointment of Paul to preach to the Gentiles.
God’s grace does not operate only for someone’s salvation, but also for their service to Him. God’s call is a call to holiness. God’s call is for us to call others to the Gospel. The only way we can carry that out is with His grace.
Conclusion:
True freedom means becoming a true prisoner. Have you become Christ’s prisoner? You are prisoner to sin and death if not. In order for you to be set free from your sins turn to Christ and put your faith in Him. Become His prisoner. You will see the new life of freedom you never knew of before. That’s why Paul could talk about freedom (v13) even while he was in prison.
Ephesians 3:1-2
Today we begin the 3rd chapter of Ephesians. In the 3rd chapter we see the mystery. The mystery has been kept hidden for long ages past and the prophets of long ago had no knowledge of. It has not been revealed until the time of Christ. It was revealed to Paul and to the other Apostles and the Prophets of the early church. It is a mystery that Paul has only so far been touching on without really fully unpacking. It is a mystery that found in Christ and in Him alone. That means that understanding this mystery is all wrapped up in understanding Christ. To understand what this mystery is all about it is necessary to understand Him. To understand Christ is to understand this mystery.
What is this mystery? Paul finally gives a direct disclosure in verse 6 when he says, “This mystery is that through the Gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.”
But in order to get to the 3rd chapter we had to go through chapter 1 and chapter 2. In chapter 1 we saw the incredible new position we have because of Jesus Christ and His work to redeem us.
Then we come to chapter 2 where Paul describes the depth of our sinfulness to exalt the depths of God’s mercy and grace to us as sinners. Now this is all important because he THEN explains how Jews and Gentiles are brought together in unity. The unity is predicated on chapter 1 verse 1 through chapter 2 verse 10.
You see, the truth is that both Jews and Gentiles need redemption. Both Jews and Gentiles need forgiveness – Chapter 1. This is because both Jews and Gentiles are dead in their trespasses and sins – Chapter 2. The common ground between Jews and Gentiles is the common ground in all of humanity: sin that alienates all from God. Romans 3:23 says “For all have sinned and all fall short of God’s glory.” And the only remedy God offers is offered to Jew and Gentile alike: Faith in Jesus Christ. Paul said that now, in this new community called the Church, God is building a holy temple where He dwells by His Spirit, and each brick and each stone is made up of not just Jews, but Jews and Gentiles alike. That is the mystery Paul explains more fully here now in chapter 3.
Point #1: When we follow the Lord He leads us to people we would never choose to go to. Paul says in verse 1 “…for the sake of you Gentiles” Then notice in verse 2 he says “…the administration of God’s grace that was given to me FOR YOU” The Gentiles Paul ministered to knew that Paul was sent specifically to them by God. His special, God-appointed mission was specifically to them as Gentiles. Then notice in verse 8, “this grace was given to me: preach to the Gentiles” In other words, God said to Paul: for the sake of the Gentiles go and preach to them!
Paul, was in prison, and I bet there were times in his ministry he said to himself: “For the life of me I never would have imagined that my life would be devoted to the Gentiles. If you would have told me on the Damascus Road that I was going to spend the rest of my life seeking the salvation of the Gentiles I would have laughed and said you were insane.” But when Paul was met by Christ on that same road only a little while later, what was unthinkable his entire life became true. When he met Jesus Christ and began to follow Christ Jesus Christ led him to people Paul would never have chosen to go.
This must be understood clearly. Jews hated Gentiles. Paul was a Jew. And no Jew hated Gentiles more than a Pharisee. And you might say that the better Pharisee you were the more you hated Gentiles. And Paul was a Pharisee. He was the best of the best. He described himself as a Hebrew of Hebrews but it could be said of him that he was a Pharisee of Pharisees. He hated Gentiles. Let us quickly be reminded of how far this hatred was taken. No Jew would ever allow a Gentile into their home. If a Jew was travelling back to the homeland then upon coming to the borders that Jew would shake the filthy Gentile dust off his sandals and clothes so that it didn’t pollute the holy land. Gentiles were dogs, cut off from God, inferior to Jews. If a young Jewish man or woman married a Gentile the family would hold a funeral service rather than a wedding and consider that child dead. Have you ever hated anyone that much? Do you hate someone that much?
That is who Paul was. Now, that is no longer who he is. He met someone on the Damascus road. He was met by the risen Lord Jesus Christ.
You see, Paul didn’t hold on to old prejudices and hatred. His worldview was completely made new. He saw the Lord Jesus Christ differently, he saw the world differently, he saw himself differently, and he saw his enemies differently. Why? Because he saw what God was doing and now he saw his own life purpose directly related to what God was doing. Paul fought against people coming to Christ, now he fought for people to come to Christ. Paul wanted Jews kept separate from Gentiles, now he created unity between them with the Gospel. Paul no longer hated them, but loved them.
Paul’s suffering was for the benefit of others. This is one of those realities of living the Christian life. Not just suffering. Not just suffering so others can benefit. There are people in this world who we think don’t deserve anything good, especially not from us. But one of the realities of living with Christ and for Him is that we become instruments for Him to bring goodness of Christ into those people’s lives. Let me take it further, it’s one thing to bring good into their life, but it is another to suffer personally in order to make that happen.
I hope your mind is being pricked with application here. There may be people who you can’t imagine doing anything good for. As far as you’re concerned it may be unthinkable that you should be an agent for Christ in this person’s life. But it may very well be that if you are following Christ that He is leading you to do just that. It may also be that the path Christ is leading you is one of suffering for that person. Suffering may not be a prison in Rome, but, it may be the prison of what has happened in your life. You are related to Christ for one reason and one reason only: Forgiveness. He has forgiven you. And it may be that it is time for you to forgive
Point #2: Suffering the prisons of this world come because we are first imprisoned by Christ. Notice the way Paul talks here, “I, Paul, a prisoner OF Christ Jesus”. Then notice chapter 4:1, “As a prisoner of --ROME?” No! He says “As a prisoner of the LORD”! He was at that time in prison by the Roman government. But he doesn’t mention Rome. He says that he is Christ’s prisoner. Why is he talking like this? Because long before he was arrested by Rome he was arrested by Christ. Long before a set of criminal’s shackles were put on his hands his heart was confined by Christ. Paul didn’t belong to Rome. Paul didn’t belong to Paul. Paul belonged to Christ. And because he was arrested, or, imprisoned by Christ he was arrested by Rome. You see, all he had to do, like so many other martyrs after him, was to deny Christ; to renounce his allegiance to Christ; revoke his commitment to the call he personally received from Christ Himself. That’s all. Separate yourself from Christ. Distance yourself from Him. Do what Peter did when Jesus was arrested. Act like Christ isn’t real even though He is. Act like you don’t belong to Him even though you do. In other words instead of acting according to truth act falsely. If you do that Paul you can walk free.
But Paul could not do that! He belonged to Christ. He is no longer a slave to sin but to Christ. He is the bond-servant of the Lord. He is the prisoner of Christ. He understood that the sufferings he was going through were God’s will. Actually God appointed him to a ministry that would never be free from suffering. In Acts 9 God said, “Paul is my chosen instrument to carry my Name to the Gentiles. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.” Oh my. Oh my. Paul’s life would be devoted to the Lord, and in being devoted to the Lord the Lord would direct Paul to people Paul would never ever have gone to. And it would be one of constant suffering. After spending 3 years with the Ephesians he had a meeting with the leaders in Miletus and it was the last time anyone from Ephesus would see Paul alive. Turn with me to Acts 20:22-24….
Let me say something: Paul could have lived very wealthy, very respected, very powerfully …. As a Pharisee. But as a born-again believer in Jesus Christ he was now a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ. He was you might say a prisoner of the Lord’s. The Lord had full rights to Paul. The Lord has full rights to you and I as well. Because of this, Paul lived a life serving the Lord. And a life serving the Lord will lead to suffering. Paul said to young Timothy “Anyone who wants to live a godly life will be persecuted.” Jesus said in John 15, “If the world hated you remember that it hated me first. No servant is greater than his master. If they persecuted me they will persecute you also.”
Point # 3: Grace is not only for Salvation, but, for Service.
Paul speaks of his commission in verse 2. He says it is “the administration of God’s grace that was given to him”. Notice how he talks about his commission in similar language in verse 7, “I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of His power.” Then notice verse 8 he talks again about his commission, “Although I am the least of all God’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ”. Notice something here: Notice how anytime Paul talks about his commission he talks about God’s grace. God’s grace specifically is related to God’s appointment of Paul to preach to the Gentiles.
God’s grace does not operate only for someone’s salvation, but also for their service to Him. God’s call is a call to holiness. God’s call is for us to call others to the Gospel. The only way we can carry that out is with His grace.
Conclusion:
True freedom means becoming a true prisoner. Have you become Christ’s prisoner? You are prisoner to sin and death if not. In order for you to be set free from your sins turn to Christ and put your faith in Him. Become His prisoner. You will see the new life of freedom you never knew of before. That’s why Paul could talk about freedom (v13) even while he was in prison.
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