GOD’S MARVELOUS PLAN
You may have noticed this familiar
scripture on a traditional Christian Wedding Card invitation. Psalm 118 23, “This
the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes.” When God brings a man and woman
together in marriage, we will rejoice with the bridal couple and celebrate.
But there is something even more
marvelous to behold and rejoice: When God reconciles his enemies to Himself. Or
when He brings his estranged sons and daughters home. There will be great
rejoicing in heaven when one sinner turns his life to God. It is beautiful to
see Jews and Gentiles living in one BIG family of God and sharing everything in
common.
For several weeks now, we have been
working through the letter of Paul to the Church in Ephesus. We learned three critical
definitions of Church: God’s Family, God’s house, and His dwelling place.
Chapter three begins with the unfolding of God’s Marvelous plan. Ephesians
3:1-13. We will break it into three sections. Firstly, what is God’s marvelous
plan for the Gentiles? Secondly, What does God’s plan entail? Thirdly, who
would carry out God’s plan today in this world?
I.
God’s marvelous plan for the Gentiles.
Vs. 1-3, “For this reason,
I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles, assuming that
you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, how
the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly.”
Who were the Gentiles that Paul was
referring to? The Word Gentile is an English translation of the Hebrew Word
goyim (“people, nations”) and the Greek Word ethne (“nations, people groups,
people”). Those words are translated in English as “Gentile.” The term refers
to a person who is not a Jew. From the Jewish perspective, Gentiles were often
seen as pagans who did not know the true God. Many Jews took such pride in
their heritage that they considered Gentiles “unclean.” The half-Gentile
Samaritans were viewed as enemies to be shunned.
To bring to our context, one who is
not a Jew is a Gentile, which puts all of us and the rest of the non-Jewish
world in that category. The third chapter begins with Paul saying he became a
prisoner of Jesus Christ for the sake of the Gentiles to reveal to them the
mystery of God’s plan. He says he wrote them earlier but didn’t explain here
what the plan was.
Ephesians 1:11-12 unfolds a part of
God’s marvelous plan, “Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles
by birth and called “uncircumcised” by those who call themselves “the
circumcision” (which is done in the body by human hands), remember that at that
time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and
foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the
world. But now in Christ Jesus, you who once were far away have been brought
near by the blood of Christ.”
These verses talked about you and
me, who were once lost without hope and God in this world. We were separated
from Christ and excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the
covenants of the promise. But thank God, because of his marvelous plan through
Christ, we found hope and became part of God’s one BIG family, along with the
Jews.
God’s marvelous plan for Jews,
Gentiles, and the whole world is that, through His Son Jesus Christ, He would
reconcile them back to Himself. That was what Jesus came to offer: salvation
first to the Jews and the Gentiles. That was what was predicted by Isaiah a
long time ago. Isaiah 42:1, “Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one
in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring justice to
the nations.”
The Good News is that Christ came to
seek and save sinners and reconcile all people to God. Paul became a prisoner
of Christ to take that message of reconciliation and redemption to mostly
Gentiles. He took that responsibility very seriously, for which He was beaten,
stoned to the point of death, endured hardships, and misunderstood to save a
few Jews and Gentiles.
II.
What does God’s marvelous plan entail?
Vs. 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.”
God’s plan entails that both Gentiles and Jews who believe in the Good News
share equally the inheritance. Both are part of one body and enjoy the promise
of blessings in Christ Jesus.
We equally share the inheritance
with Israel, but that doesn’t mean we share their land. Generally, this
inheritance refers to salvation. Earlier, Paul talked about it in Ephesians
4:13-14, “And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of
truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him
with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our
inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession to the
praise of his glory.”
All believers are part of one body,
God’s family or household. This talks about belonging. No believer is alone by
themselves. They belong to God and one another; that is how we grow together.
God’s plan also entails sharing God’s promises in Jesus Christ together. To
understand how to share God’s promises with Israel, go back to Abraham’s call
in Genesis 12:1-3
“I will make you into a great
nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a
blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you, I will
curse, and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” This call
included a promise and a responsibility. The blessing to Abraham and his
descendants was not for their sake only.
It was intended ultimately to bring
redemption to the whole world. Prophet Isaiah reminds Israel of God’s promise
and their responsibility. Isaiah 42:6, “I will keep you and will make you to be
a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles.” What is our
responsibility if we are joint heirs with Israel, belong to one big family, and
share the promises in Christ?
III.
Who will carry out God’s marvelous plan today?
Vs. 10-12, “His intent was that now, through the Church, the manifold
wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly
realms, according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus
our Lord. In him and through faith in him, we may approach God with freedom and
confidence.”
Not all descendants of Abraham, but
many have failed to be a blessing. Many more have failed to be a light to the
Gentiles. Many have rejected the great light that came into the world. But
those who believed in the Word that became flesh have become the children of
God. One of God’s children was Paul, who persecuted the Church earlier.
But when Christ changed his life, he
became the servant of God’s marvelous plan of redemption. Now, that plan is to
be carried out by the Church. God wants none to perish but everyone to come to
repentance. (II Pet 3:9) The scripture says, “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded;
and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.”
Luke 12:48. Through the Church, that is you and me, God wants to save the
world. Think of how you and I have been blessed as we surrendered our lives to
God.
God
saved us by His grace and gave us the fruit of the Holy Spirit: love, joy,
peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and
self-control. God has blessed us with the fruit of the Holy Spirit. (Gal 5:22),
Not to mention all the material blessings. As much as we enjoy these blessings,
let us also share with others by sharing the Good News of the gospel. Be generous toward the poor. Welcome
the immigrants and foreigners whom God might bring to our country so they might
come to know Jesus as their savior. (Acts 17:26-28). Love those who hate us. Be
kind towards those who are hurting. Let us do all the good we can to as many
people as possible and as long as possible and pray for the salvation of all
people.
