by Lloyd T. Anderson Biola Hour Teacher
STUDIES IN EPHESIANS
Christ. The word Paul uses for pris oner carries the idea of being held in a spell, bewitched by someone. It speaks of a horse with a halter on it, a boat safely moored to a dock. This was the Apostle’s unique relation to God. In verse 2 we find the word dis pensation. This literally means law of the house. It is used in Luke 12: 42 and I Corinthians 4:1, 2 where it is translated steward. This speaks of the faithfulness required in a servant. Paul conveys the idea that he’s been entrusted with the stew ardship of God’s mystery. The word translated minister (v. 7) refers to one who serves for the benefit of an other. This shows Paul’s role in mak ing known this wonderful, eternal, master plan of the Lord. He knew what a high honor it was to be so entrusted with a Divine secret. Before Christ, the Gentiles de pended on the Jews for spiritual blessing. After the Saviour’s resur rection, Gentile believers became fel low-heirs with the Jews as both be lieved in the Lord Jesus Christ for personal salvation. The content of the mystery was not that the Gen tiles would be saved, but that they would be co-heirs with the Jewish people who believed in Jesus Christ, both of them comprising His Body. Christ’s death on Calvary was not a limited atonement. His invitation is for “whosoever will.” His salvation is sufficient for and available to all who hear and will accept God’s gift of eternal life. It was Paul’s respon sibility to make all men see this wonderful stewardship or mystery. He desired to impart spiritual illu mination to all men.
C hapter N ine I N E phesians Paul, as God’s master servant, presents to us not only personal salvation but also the strat egy of the Body of Christ which is the Church. Occasionally one has the exciting thrill of watching some thing really tremendous take place. It may be a multi-million-dollar highway system linking vital parts of the nation, construction of a gi gantic hydro-electric plant that will provide electricity for many areas of the country, the erection of a huge skyscraper, the sending into space a gigantic rocket. Behind each of these man-made achievements are hours of study and untold dollars in resources. None of these scientific marvels come about by happenstance. There is always a careful plan and studied preparation. In Ephesians 3:1-13 we have a picture of God’s strategic program and plan in building His Church, the Body of Christ. Paul speaks of a mystery in connection with the creation and design of the Church. God’s sacred secret was kept hidden from men throughout all the ages until in His master plan it was re vealed in Christ. Paul, writing under the direction of the Holy Spirit, is showing us the mighty working pow er of the Lord. The mystery, once hidden, is now revealed in Christ. The hidden truth is that in Christ both Jew and Gentile are fellowheirs. This had never been known before (Col. 3:10, 11). Paul declares that he is called to preach this truth, hidden in past generations of men. His imprisonment was directly due to his calling. Paul considered him self incarcerated for the sake of 24
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