ANOTHER MYSTERY IS REVEALED (Outline)

January 5, 2020 - Christmas 2 - EPHESIANS 3:2-12

INTRO.: Our text today uses the word mystery six (6) times. Scriptures define a mystery as some-
thing that was once unknown which and is now revealed. Revealing unknown divine things in-
volves a “revelation” from the Holy Spirit. By faith through grace the Lord God reveals to us the
clear meaning of divine things once not know. These are often simple mysteries. Profound truths.
"Undeniably, great is the mystery of godliness: He was revealed in flesh, was justified in spirit, was seen by mes-
sengers, was preached among the nations, was believed on in the world, was taken up in glory” (1 TIMOTHY
3:16). In love Jesus took on human flesh. Died. Rose again. Returned to heaven. For us. For all
sins. Mysteries of God at work are revealed. ANOTHER MYSTERY IS REVEALED.
I. Christ Jesus is revealed for all nations. II. Christ Jesus to be shared with all nations.

I. CHRIST JESUS IS REVEALED FOR ALL NATIONS.

A. Verse 2. God’s grace called Saul out of his darkness. Saul became the Apostle Paul.
1. God’s grace was given to Paul not just for his own benefit but also to benefit others.
2. Verse 3. The Lord revealed his mystery to him. Paul was saved by God’s grace.
B. Verse 4. As God’s people continued reading in this letter they would understand God’s mystery.
1. Verse 5. Mystery = once unknown now revealed. God’s good news was not unknown.
2. Old Testament people looked ahead to fulfillment of God’s promises.
3. Virgin give birth, Immanuel (OT). Virgin Mary’s son is Jesus (NT). Clearly known.
C. Verse 6. Another mystery revealed was that Gentiles were included in God’s great promises.
1. Israel thought themselves as God’s chosen nation. Salvation included all nations.
2. All nations are fellow heirs, members of God’s family, and sharers in God’s promises.

D. Our loving, heavenly Father made many promises to his people in the Old Testament. God’s
people learned to look ahead to the Lord’s fulfillment of his words. From the beginning mankind
was blessed with God’s great love. God created a perfect world. Created man and woman. Adam
and Eve sinned. God reacted by promising a Savior. “I will put hostility between you and the woman,
and between your seed and her seed. He will crush your head, and you will crush his heel" (GENESIS 3:15).
Satan and humans would no long have such a cozy relationship. The Seed of the woman (Jesus)
would crush Satan’s head. God’s first Messianic promise included all nations. Adam and Eve were
the parents of all people. Sin demanded a high price. The Lord God provided Jesus for all nations.

E. It was true that Israel was God’s chosen people. His nation. But they were also to be witnesses
to God’s great love for all nations. All nations needed forgiveness. All people have sinned. Still sin.
We need to hear that our sins are forgiven. We need to know that Jesus lived, died, and rose again
for our sins. For sins of the world. By God’s grace through faith the amazing mystery of salvation is
revealed. "I am the LORD. I have called you in righteousness. I will hold on to your hand, and I will guard
you. I will appoint you to be a covenant for the people, to be a light for the nations…" (ISAIAH 42:6).

F. Daily we sin much. We often commit the same sins over and over again and again. In spite of
our wickedness, rebellion, and sin our loving, heavenly Father freely forgives. This is a mystery.
Even earthly parents sometimes give up on a rebellious child. The Lord God of Armies holds us
close to him with tender care. Christ lived on earth in human flesh. Jesus willing endured death for
us. What an amazing mystery that Christ would do all this for us. “Oh, the depth of the riches and wis-
dom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how untraceable his ways! For who has
known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his Adviser?" (ROMANS 11:33, 34). Love revealed!

ANOTHER MYSTERY IS REVEALED. Christ Jesus is revealed for all nations.

II. CHRIST JESUS TO BE SHARED WITH NATIONS.
A. Verse 7. Paul was filled with wonder and awe that God give him grace to be God’s servant.
1. The power of God’s Word was the “dynamite” changing his heart of stone into flesh.
2. Verse 8a. “To me—even though I am the least…-- was given this grace.” Awesome mystery.
B. Verse 8b. “…given this grace: to preach to the Gentiles”. God’s riches to be shared with all nations.
1. Verse 9. All nations included everyone: Jews, Gentiles, believers, and unbelievers.
2. What was once not so clearly known is now clearly revealed. Jesus’s birth, life, death.
C. Verse 10. God’s wisdom of revealing mysteries even had meaning for heavenly beings.
1. Angels have not sinned want to know more about God’s forgiveness. Great love mystery.
2. Verse 11. God’s purpose carried out completely in Christ. God’s promises yes in Christ.
3. Verse 12. Only in Christ approach God. Only in through faith in Christ have confidence.

D. Paul understood that the Lord God of Armies called him as his servant. Paul became a servant
of the Lord to preach the Word to all nations. What an amazing calling. Privilege. Blessing. Do
we look at our Christian calling in the same way? In our individual lives God has called us to be his
children. We who are Gentiles are now grafted in to the Vine. We gather together in worship to
grow in our understanding of God’s mysteries. We join together as believers united together in a na-
tional church body. Our Synod (means walking together) sends out missionaries to the ends of the
earth. “This gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations,
and then the end will come" (MATTHEW 24:14). Last Day comes when Gospel reaches all people.

E. Our text reminds us that it is through the church “the multifaceted wisdom of God might be made
known”. The Apostle Paul lived and died. As did Peter. John. God’s Word did not stop with them.
God’s Word is living. God’s Word powerfully works through his church. The message of the life,
death, and resurrection has not changed. Will not change. Must not change. “…but we preach Christ
crucified—which is offensive to Jews and foolishness to Greeks, but to those who are called, both Jews and
Greeks, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God” (1 CORINTHIANS 1:23, 24). Notice that
some found the message offensive and foolish. Sadly, some churches feel the same way today. BUT
“CHRIST CRUCIFIED” is God’s power. God’s wisdom. A message to be shared with all nations.

F. We can be glad that God’s message of salvation is not a mystery. What is the mystery is that
any would be saved at all. Our sinful nature opposes the Lord and his will. Our sinful nature does
seek to know God or to love God. Only the power of God’s grace through faith changes our willful
disobedience. We know and believe and confess: Christ was born. Lived. Died. Rose again. All
for my sins. And the sins of the world. Simple, saving, powerful truth. “Since we have that same spirit
of faith, which corresponds to what is written: ‘I believed; therefore, I have spoken,’ we also believe, and therefore
we speak” (2 CORINTHIANS 4:13). But this message is still a mystery to some. We share the truth.

CONC.: We can be very excited about the mysteries the Lord God has graciously revealed to each
one of us. Our loving, heavenly Father has adopted each one of us into the family of God. We are
part of the nations that Christ Jesus came to save. We now have the joy of sharing Christ Jesus with
many others from many other nations. "God wanted to make known to them what is the wealth of the glory
of this mystery among the Gentiles—this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (COLOSSIANS
1:27). ANOTHER MYSTERY IS REVEALED. What an amazing mystery that Christ lives in us.
What an amazing mystery that we can share Christ with nations – the hope of glory. Amen.
Pastor Timm O. Meyer

CHRISTMAS 2 rdgs.: ISA. 61:10-62:3; EPH. 1:3-6, 15-18; JOHN 1:14-18; (PSALM 148)
SERVICES: 7:45am @ McCook (SUN) / 10:00am @ Redeemer (SUN) / NCF 1:00 Min. (SAT) & 12:00 Med. (SUN)
BIBLE STUDIES: 11:15am @ Redeemer (SUN) / 5:45pm (Med) + 7:30pm (Min) @ NCF (TUES.)
/ Sunday radio broadcast @ 9:00am on KQNK 106.7FM or 1530AM