Conclusion for Ephesians Chapter Three!

Ten Minute Talks - Everything in Christ Pt3.

Point 1 - V.1a – For this reason...

Paul spent the first two chapters explaining what Christ had done, and is doing in relationship with creation, man, and “the heavenly realms”. Christ brought grace and redemption and enabled the sinner to become a dwelling place for God’s Holy Spirit. It was for these reasons that Saul became Paul. He became a new man, totally reborn; actually a brand new creation, just as new as Adam when God first created him. His new being also came along with a new commission; no longer a child of wrath, but a righteous, holy, blameless person equipped by Christ to share that same life.

Point 2 - V.6 – To the Gentiles

 ⁶ 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.

The Gentiles were aware of the Jews, they were aware of how the Jews were a separate people; separate in their lives, separate in their practices, in their God. But this God of the Jews sent his son Christ to remove that separation, and involve the Gentiles not in the rule bound life of the Jews, but in the freedom giving God of the Jews. The Gentiles, for the most part did not know of this God Creator, they even had an Idol to the unknown God, just in case everything else they believed was wrong.

So Saul now Paul, knowing the regenerative power of a life in the service of Christ, knew the Gentiles needed someone to reveal this life to them. He knew this because he was Chosen by Christ, as we are for the same reason. Gentiles are no longer “non Jews,” they are “non Christians.”

Point 3 - V.14 – The Family

¹⁴ For this reason I kneel before the Father, ¹⁵ from whom every family^[a] in heaven and on earth derives its name.

Paul knew that he was not alone in carrying this message to the rest of the world. He knew the Holy Spirit was revealing Christ to others daily, and in this they were also becoming regenerated beings like himself. He recognized their value. Paul knew they all had been made ambassadors of the Gospel like he did. So along the way he did not want to forget the other members on team Jesus. He dedicated his life to not only spreading the Gospel, but enabling others to do so, like Christ had enabled him. In this same way, Christ has enabled us.

Conclusion - ¹⁶ I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷ so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, ¹⁸ may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, ¹⁹ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

 ²⁰ Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.