2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:

3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,

4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)

Q1--What is the mystery Paul is again referring to?

In Ephesians 1:9-10 we discussed the mystery that Paul keeps referring to in many of his writings. It is that all believers, whether Jew or gentile, whether bond or free, whether rich or poor, from every nation. race, and tribe are all part of God’s family. There is no distinction in God’s sight. All who have accepted Christ as their personal Savior are part of the heavenly kingdom. Paul speaks futher on this in verses 5-6.

Martin comments,

"Paul quietly reminds his Gentile readers that his imprisonment, which was at the instigation of Jewish hostility, was due to his advocacy of the full rights and freedom of the Gentiles in the Christian Church. ...Paul now unfolds the substance of the mystery more fully than he had yet done. It is, not simply that the Gentiles might have part in the common salvation, but specifically ‘that the Gentiles are fellow-heirs, and fellow-members of the body, and fellow-partakers of the promise in Chirst Jesus through the gospel.’ "

5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;

6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:

7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.

Q2--Of what are we heirs and partakers together? What kind of power do we have as Christians?

We are fellow heirs and partakers of the kingdom of God through Christ.

Comment on verse 7

Paul said he was made a minister. He was given power or the ability to perform this task. We are all made ministers of Christ. So where did Paul receive his ability? He says it’s according to the gift of the grace of God. If we want to be an effective worker for Christ, we must realize that we cannot do the work in our own strength. We need the help of God’s grace. It is a gift to us. We cannot gain this ability by ourselves. Paul also says it is given to him. We do not learn how to minister in ourselves, nor do we demand anything from God by our good works or our prayers. Whatever ability we have has been given to us, and whatever successes we have will be due to God’s gracious help. Finally Paul states that his ability to minister was given to him by the gift of the effectual working of God’s power in his life. If we want to minister for the Lord, we must allow him to work his power in our life. We cannot do it in our own strength. We must depend on him and his power. Only then will we be an effective worker for God’s kingdom.

8 Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;

9 And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ:

10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,

Q3--What is made known? How do we see the powers in heavenly places in the church today?

Although the Greek gives rise to different interpretations of this verse, I think this verse is telling us the manifold wisdom of God will be made known to the church. But it is only revealed to us by heavenly power.

11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:

12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.

Q4--What does verse 12 mean to you?

Comment on verse 12

To me, this verse speaks volumes. It is telling me that because of the work of Christ I have boldness and access to God. I do not have to enter God’s presence as one fearful or unworthy. Although, in actuality I have reason to be fearful, and I am certainly unworthy. But God has granted us an access into his presence because of what Christ has done for us. So we may at any time come to our heavenly Father with confidence. We will always receive a hearing; we will never be ignored. As Hebrews 4:16 tells us, "Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need."

13 Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.

14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,

16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;

Q5--How are we strengthened?

We are strengthened by God’s Spirit. The phrase "in the inner man" indicates this is talking about spiritual strength.

The New Bible Commentary states,

"This indwelling is to be expressed in the life of Christians by love which is an essential correlative of faith. They are both elements in the strength needed to comprehend the revealed truth of God, and without the strength which the Spirit supplies through them the mind of man, even of the believer, must fail to grasp the revelation that God has given. Even when endowed with the fulness of spiritual strength, no single saint can by himslef hope to grasp the fulness of divine truth...."

17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;

19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

Q6--Who dwells in our heart? With what are we filled?

Verse 17 tells us that Christ dwells within our heart and verse 19 says that we are filled with the fullness of God.

1 Corinthians 3:16, "Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?"

20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,

21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

Q7--What is God able to do for us?

Comment on verse 20

What do you need from God? Do you think it’s too hard for him to do? Can you never imagining him doing something for you? Verse 20 tell us God will do above what we can ask or even think. We can’t even imagine all that he can do for us. And then notice that this verse says he will do it "exceeding abundantly." God does not withhold blessings from his children. We need to believe his word and trust in him. Paul says that God will do this "according to the power that works in us." The power of the Holy Spirit is living within us, and his power is working in us. Is there anything too hard for God to do in your life? We need to learn to believe the impossible. He "is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think."

Footnotes:

This study on Ephesians 3:1-21 © 1997 by David Humpal. All Rights Reserved.

All scriptures from the King James Version. Questions based on both the King James Version and the New International Version

Martin: New Bible Commentary pg. 1022, 1954 edition, William B. Eerdman’s Publishing Company

Hebrews 4:16 from the New King James Version © 1984, Thomas Nelson Publishers

The New Bible Commentary pg. 1023, 1954 edition, William B. Eerdman’s Publishing Company