This is the message apostle Paul was delivering in Ephesians. He wanted us to do more than just learn of (or about ) the dispensation of the grace of God, but to know the Author and Finisher of our faith personally. Remember, before coming to Jesus, he -- as Saul diligently persecuted Christians with a vengeance. He was witness and an overseer to the death of Stephen, one of the seven chosen to devote themselves to the Word, and to the ministry. (Acts 6:1-7) Even on the way to Damascus (whereby the Lord Jesus met him) Saul/Paul was looking to imprison any Christians he found. If anyone needed grace, it would be Saul. (I often joke that neither Saul or Paul would pass the criminal check in the modern day church, but I digress).
Still, what was Paul saying? For this cause, I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles. (Note: Gentiles are you and I that are not Jewish, or God's chosen people in the old covenant.) He is writing -- "If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward, how that by revelation He made known unto me the mystery (as I wrote afore in few words, whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) 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, that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs and of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ by the gospel. (Ephesians 3:1-6)
Unto him, Paul writes, was grace given, "that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 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." (Ephesians 3:7-9)
Unto Paul, who declared himself to be "less than the least of all saints." (Ephesians 3:8)
But because of grace of God given unto him by the effectual work of His power, Paul had a message to preach, and he wasn't going to be sidetracked by his past, or by the judgments of those around him. He wanted all me to see (and understand) what is the fellowship of the mystery -- as he did.
"To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord. In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of Him." (Ephesians 3:10-12)
Yes, the same God who created us in the beginning already had decided what He must do in order that we might experience His love. His goodness. His grace. In the garden, before Adam and Eve were tempted and transgressed against the Lord, Adam would walk in the cool of the day with the Lord. That desire of our Lord for His beloved creation to walk and talk with Him has never changed. He still desires for us to love Him and to get to know Him as our Lord and Saviour. Our friend!
But as we know from the scriptures, the law in the old covenant only served, in many instances, to produce religious zealots like Saul -- obeying the very letter of the law while ignoring God's true purpose and intent. Instead of the ten commandments serving as a schoolmaster to bring us back into a relationship with Him (whereby we are filled with the fullness of Christ Jesus our Lord, guided by His abundant grace and mercy), our obedience to the law made us self-righteous in our hearts -- making salvation about us rather than the hefty price that our Lord Himself paid when He shed His precious blood on the cross. The Word made flesh.
"He was in the world and the world was made by Him and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own and His own received Him not." (John 1:10-11)
Still, in spite of Saul's continued persecution of those who professed Jesus, the Lord looked beyond his sins and saw his heart. "For this cause," Paul writes, "I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith ... that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height, and. to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God." (Ephesians 3:15-19)
The miracle of all time, when the totality of our inner man is transformed and renewed by the Lord of glory. Not because of our doings or good works but solely because of His sacrifice on the cross, whereby He Himself who knew no sin, willingly said, "It is finished." The price for our transgressions has been paid once and for all -- our sins though red as crimson can be made white as snow. Because of His love, we can be clothed in His garment of righteousness.
And all that He asks is that we make Him Lord God in our life. Not just knowing Jesus from simply a knowledge perspective, or having heard "about" Jesus, but digging deeper into His Word so that we too, like Paul, can by revelation from the Most High understand the mystery that was beheld in His bosom from the beginning.
For God so loved the world!
Never before has there been this moment in history whereby we can be saved because of His love and mercy and grace for you and I. Know that His love for us has never changed. Therefore, don't let the cares and burdens of this world sidetrack you from the very purpose that He placed in your heart whilst you were still in your mother's womb. Repent of your sin today. Be water baptized/buried in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, whereby you get to know Jesus as both Lord and Christ, so that you can be resurrected in Him. (Acts 2:36-47; Romans 6:3-4)
In other words, decide to know Jesus in the same way that apostle Paul did so that He can fill you too with all the fullness of God.
"Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen." (Ephesians 3:19-20)
Stand in the offering plate.
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