A Mystery, a Purpose, and a Paradox

A Mystery, a Purpose, and a Paradox

Ephesians 3:1-13


Paul’s main point: The Church is the most important thing happening in the world right now.
Two Bold Theological Claims about the Church

1. The Church is the crowning achievement of Christ’s purposes in the World. (Eph 3:1-6)

The Church is the “mystery” now revealed and confirmed in Christ. The culmination of everything the Scriptures foretold about the Messiah blessing all the nations of the earth.

  • The Church is the Inheritance promised by the Father to the Son. (Ps 2:7-9)

  • The Church is the Prize that Jesus purchased with His own blood. (Acts 20:28)

  • The Church is the Gathering being carried out by the Spirit, through the proclaimed gospel. (Eph 2:22)

  • The Church is that general assembly of the First Born, the writer of Hebrews mentions and that John saw in Revelation.

2. The Church is the crowning achievement of Christ’s preeminence  in the Heavenly Places. (Eph 3:7-12)

The Church is “the eternal purpose” that “God who created all things” “realized in Christ Jesus our Lord,” the means by which His manifold wisdom is made known to “rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.”  It is the definitive proof point of Jesus’ triumph over “all the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” (Eph 6:12)

  • The Church is the means by which His manifold wisdom is made known to “rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.” 

  • It is the definitive proof point of Jesus’ triumph over all the efforts of organized Evil.

  • Paul and the Ephesians were among “the first to hope in Christ” with the end result that they “might be to the praise of his glory.” (Eph 1:12)

  • Like us, they “were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,  who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.” (Eph 1:13)

One Paradoxical Risk for members of the Church right now: “Losing heart” by becoming more focused on our current situation than on our ultimate reality. (Eph 3:13)

At the time Paul is writing and right up to today, the full and complete story of the Church in the world is still unfolding. 

Equally obvious, the marvel of King Jesus enthroned in the heavenly places is hidden from our eyes. For now. 

This is the paradox. One would like to think that in the glare of such glory as Paul has just described, it would be virtually impossible to lose heart. But it is not.