Ephesians 3: The Power and Love of Christ

Now in this chapter, the Apostle Paul unfolds the great secret that had been held in the heart of God from eternity past, but in the glorious gift of grace had now been revealed to this converted believer to allow him to give it to the world. This concept of the body of Christ revealed to Paul is found nowhere else in the New Testament. There are other clues on this matter given but it was left to Paul to extend the full explanation of the matter to all believers then and to come.

Jesus had mentioned that He had "other folds" of sheep to which He must attend. Peter had been granted a vision by God of the lowering of the heavenly sheet to assure Peter that he had been truly called to go and witness to the Gentile Cornelius, who was saved with all his family at Peter's visit. The granting to Paul of this plan to include Gentiles into the kingdom was a powerfully humbling thing. We see how Paul begins his explanation by telling his readers"

"Unto me, who am less that the least of all saints, is this grace given ... ".

Paul sends two prayers in this letter. In chapter one we have the prayer for knowledge, and now in chapter three we study his prayer for love.

Chapter two had assured us that those who trust in Jesus alone will show a life of discipleship as they are knit together with other believers and made God's holy dwelling. Now Paul gives us a view of his ministry in verses 1-13 and then we see his prayer as verse 14 begins.

Paul describes himself as a prisoner of Christ Jesus for the Gentiles. We must remember that Jews of his time found the gospel itself offensive as it taught that a messiah had come and died on a cross. They also strongly felt that for a Gentile to come to God, he must first become a Jew and only then could he enjoy the covenant relationship with Yahweh. These thoughts were the basis of the arrest of Paul described in Acts 21 as he spread what they perceived to be false teaching.

Paul defends himself in verse 3 by saying that the mystery given him to share was by revelation from God. Acts 9 testifies to this truth when the Lord send Ananias to attend to Paul, saying Paul was a chosen vessel to declare the gospel to all nations.

God, and God alone had chosen Paul for this service and the Holy Spirit had come to Paul to open his eyes and heart to accept the grace of the mystery and understand it. This same work is done in every convert who is chosen and whose eyes and hearts are opened for understanding and service. Paul says in verse 4 that this mystery given him is the mystery of Christ. This mystery is a larger view of the gospel, the good news of salvation, that it is to include all those who believe, Jews and Gentiles. We know there was grace extended in the Old Testament as Noah was said to have found grace in the eye of the Lord and Abraham was considered righteous as he was called and believed. But this understanding was slight when compared to the gospel message brought by the appearance of the Lord himself in the person of Jesus under a new covenant. They saw in part, but now the Lord's plan could be seen in full.

Gentiles are now to be considered on equal footing with Jews and all who are chosen come under faith, gifted by grace, with no part of the salvation caused by them. Chapter two was very clear on this matter: " ... not of yourselves ... " Gentiles are full heirs and are not required to become Jews to be Christian. Paul is teaching that not only is salvation by grace, but his position and his knowledge was given by grace, granted by the power of the Lord. His own conversion may have been the finest example of irresistible grace in all of scripture. This grace is given not only for conversion but also for equipping those converted for specific tasks to expand the kingdom on earth.

We also were once enemies of God (like Paul) and each ofus was chosen and equipped to serve.

Paul now tells in verses 11-12 that he realizes this mystery was according to the eternal purpose of God and it was realized and made clear through Jesus Christ. In verse 13 Paul teaches that he is suffering but his suffering in prison is for their glory, just as the horrible suffering of Jesus was for the glory of all who would later come in faith, with sins erased on the cross.

Now Paul begins the prayer as Paul intercedes with God for the believers in the church at Ephesus and first makes known the fact that every family in both heaven and earth are named for the Savior.

He appeals to the riches of divine glory to assist his readers. Paul knows the storehouse of grace is never empty and always remains in rich measure to grant those in need. (John later confirms this teaching in 3:34 by teaching that the Father" ... gives the Spirit without measure ... "). Paul asks for strength for these believers so that they may grow in faith and in holiness. There is never a time in the life of faith where such a request is not needed.

So the true message is that the perfect work of Jesus destroys the hostility that once existed between Jews and Gentiles, enabling God's plan to make one family of people from all nations. Here was the fulfilling of the Lord's plan noted in Genesis 12, where the first three verses said so. But ancient Israel failed to serve its God given role in the plan. Instead of living according to the law of God, as a light to draw all nations most of the first chosen people lived pridefully and used the law sinfully such that others could never find acceptance by them into the Old Covenant.

Jesus atoned for this sin and broke the power of divisiveness showing Jewish believers that they must come to full unity under the Lord's Messiah in the New Covenant Jesus initiated, which is His church.

Although Jesus broke the power of sin to compel us to set up divisions among believers, sin remains present among us. Only the practice of Christian love, which Paul is praying for in chapter 3 can prevent us making the same mistake the Jews made. Jesus reconciled all under faith given in grace but it is up to us to practice this love to properly show we are His.

How did Jesus teach us this most important fact?

John 13:34-35:

"A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another".