Passage: Ephesians 3:1-13 Speaker: Pastor Lukus Counterman Series: Identity in Christ
Speaker: Lukus Counterman - Although arrested on Jewish charges and shackled by Roman authorities, Paul had a different perspective on his imprisonment. He was a prisoner because of Christ Jesus for the sake of the Gentiles. His special mission was to preach the gospel and make known the mystery of God’s plan, the church. The mystery was something that in ages past was hidden in God, and was unable to be unraveled or understood by human ingenuity or study. But now, through the work of Christ, the grace of God that brings salvation appeared to all men, not just one nation. Both Jews and Gentiles could have Christ in them, the hope of glory. The mystery was not that Gentiles could be saved, but rather that they could be united with Jews in one new body, the church. Paul served as a minister of Christ to make the church known and thereby display God’s manifold wisdom. May the wisdom of God in the church fill our hearts with encouragement and praise together.