THE MYSTERY OF GOD UNVEILED
A good mystery is one that has a compelling plot with well-defined characters. A great mystery also has elements that put within us a desire to review the plot again and again in an attempt to unravel the unknown. So, is it with the mystery of God?
In these past 13 weeks, we have studied the Book of Ephesians. This week, we focus on Paul’s central theme for this book: God’s mystery. Paul, using metaphors, symbols, and imagery, reveals that mystery to us in his letter to the Ephesians. What is the mystery?
You may view our past and present videos at SabbathSchoolDaily.com.
You may obtain the study guide for this series at Sabbath.School or ssnet.org, all of which are at no cost to you.
Youtube: Sabbath School by Dr. Brenda Ware Davis
Let Us Inviting God’s Presence:
God Almighty, thank you for revealing your mystery to us through your word, the bible. Give us a mind to review the plots again and again so that we may fully understand the mystery of salvation. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
A good mystery also contains a satisfying resolution. All loose ends are tied together, and the central theme is the resolved. Adding to the complexity of the mystery’s central theme are other issues, such as morality, justice, human nature, and social and societal issues.
In Ephesians, we discover that Paul’s letter to the Ephesians is a letter meant for all believers everywhere. Thus, Paul’s focus is not on mere issues of local concerns. As a matter of fact, Paul’s letter to the Ephesians addresses all believers, present and future.
Paul’s letters are relevant to every generation.
Therefore, as we read each chapter, let us keep this question before us: What important Bible truths in Ephesians should continue to change our lives as believers today? What spiritual, societal, moral, judicial, or social issues does he address that are relevant to our generation?
The book Son and Daughters of God is an eye-opener; it says:
In every soul two powers are struggling earnestly for the victory. Unbelief marshals its forces, led by Satan, to cut us off from the Source of our strength. Faith marshals its forces, led by Christ, the author and finisher of our faith. Hour by hour, in the sight of the heavenly universe, the conflict goes forward. This is a hand-to-hand fight, and the great question is, Which shall obtain the mastery? This question each must decide for himself. In this warfare all must take a part, fighting on one side or the other. From the conflict there is no release. We are urged to prepare for this conflict. Sons and Daughters of God, p. 328.
Thus, Paul encourages us to “Be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” (Ephesians 6:10, 11)
Ephesians reveals the mystery of God’s will for us. What is that mystery? Read Ephesian 1 and continue to Part 2: We are Blessed in Christ.
Ephesians
(Lesson 14)
Ephesians in the Heart
Part 2: We Are Blessed in Christ
After reading Ephesians 1, what in this mystery touched your heart?
Ephesians 1 tells us all about God’s plan to save us before He created this world. This chapter unveiled before us God’s love, mercy, and grace. It addresses eternity past and eternity future. It shows us God’s plan to save us and the action He took to accomplish it “before the foundation of the world,” as Paul expresses in Ephesians 1:4.
These plans God made to save us before the foundation of the world are now happening in our lives. In other words, God’s mystery of salvation is happening before our very eyes. Paul makes this clear in Ephesians 1:7-8 and 13-14).
Ephesians 1:7-8 says.
7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace
8 which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, (Ephesians 1:7-8)
And Ephesians 1:13-14
13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, (Split)
14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory. (Ephesians 1:13-14)
When will God’s plan to save us be finished?
Paul tells us in Ephesians 1:9-10 that God’s saving plan will be finished totally when Jesus comes back.
9 having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself,
10 that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him. (Ephesians 1:9-10)
What will happen then?
Then, what Paul says in Ephesians 1:10 that He will “gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him. Will be fulfilled.
God will join in unity all things in heaven and earth. God will put Jesus in charge of everything. At this point, we will fully experience God’s mysterious plan to save all humanity who accept Jesus Christ, for it is in him that all things are united.
God’s mystery plan to save us is found in Jesus. He is the central part of the great mystery to redeem “all things.” It is in Christ that God makes everything new and better in the future.
An important spiritual issue in Ephesians 1 is Thanksgiving. In Ephesians 1:15–19, Paul gives thanks to God, and he prays that all believers will experience the joy and the salvation God has planned for them.
As a matter of fact, Paul’s desire is that all believers help to draw the attention away from self and direct it to Jesus, the one who was crucified (executed on the cross) but is now alive. This same Jesus went to heaven, where God placed Him over every power, leader, and government for all time, according to Ephesians 1:20–23.
Thus, in Jesus, God’s Son, who died for our sins, by faith, we are assured of eternal life!
In Ephesians 1:4, Paul tells us that God “chose us in Him (Jesus) before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love, (Ephesians 1:4).
God choosing us before the world was created shows us just how much He loves us and desires us to spend eternity with him.
In Ephesians 2, Paul continues to unveil the mystery of God’s salvation plans. What have God and Jesus done for us, and What is God and Jesus’ plan for us? Read Ephesians 2, then continue to part 3 of this video: We Are Redeemed for Community
Ephesians
(Lesson 14)
Ephesians in the Heart
Part 3: We Are Redeemed for Community
What has God, through Jesus, done for us?
In Ephesians 2:1–10, Paul talks about the awful lives that we have lived in the past before we met Jesus. As sinners, we were in rebellion against God. Our lives, according to Ephesians 2:1–3, were dominated and controlled by Satan.
How did we get out of this bondage? What did God do for us sinners?
- God made us alive with Christ. Jesus’ resurrection, in which he woke up from the dead, is God’s promise to us of new spiritual life now and everlasting life in heaven.
- He raised us up with Christ—Christ’s ascension is our own. Thus, the honor Jesus got when He went to heaven belongs to us, as well.
- In heaven, we are seated with Christ. Jesus was crowned King of kings. His crown is our crown (Ephesians 2:4–7).
Therefore, we aren’t just bystanders standing by looking at the great and marvelous things that happened to Jesus. God wants us, through Jesus, to have this same experience.
Why does He do these things for us?
Of Course, we do not deserve to be treated as Jesus deserves. Nor can we claim our good behavior. The point is that we have done nothing to claim the same rights as Jesus.
Therefore, God doesn’t include us in Jesus’ experiences because of our own good behavior. God includes us in Jesus’ glorious experiences because of His love and mercy.
It is as Paul says in Ephesians 2:8-10 because of God’s grace.
For instance, in Ephesians 2:8-10, he reminds all generations that we are saved by grace.
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,
9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. (Ephesians 2:8-10)
You see, God wants us united in Jesus. He desires that as believers, we live sharing the same aims as Jesus and practicing “good works” (Ephesians 2:10).
Not because “good works” save us but because we love Jesus and we are united with Him in our aim and purpose.
While Ephesians 2:1–10 emphasizes that we live in agreement with Jesus, Ephesians 2:11–22 expresses the need for us as believers to live in fellowship with other believers in God’s house, his church.
This fellowship with believers is God’s plan for his people. Moreover, Jesus’ death makes it possible for God to show us his grace. Because of Jesus, we are adopted into his family as His sons and daughters. Therefore, Jesus becomes our brother (Ephesians 2:1–10). Thus, our relationship with Jesus cements our relationship with God and one another.
The great news is that because of the Cross, Jesus destroys everything that divides the Gentile believers (non-Jewish believers) from the Jewish believers. This union is one in which we are united in Christ; thus, as followers of Christ, we are called Christians.
Jesus is so powerful that He can correct our misunderstanding of His law that Satan has used to create separation between the Jews, called “Circumcision,” and the Gentiles, called “Uncircumcision,” as Paul expresses in Ephesians 2:11–18.
Interestingly, Jesus built a new temple composed of believers (believers of Jesus Christ). Therefore, non-Jews who weren’t allowed to worship in the temple in the past can now join Jewish Christians in worship, becoming one in heart, mind, and purpose. Thus, we become part of God’s church, which is the same as a holy temple in the Lord that Paul talks about in Ephesians 2:19–22.
This is the point the Book Desire of Ages makes when it says: There can be no union between our souls and God except through Christ. The union and love between brother and brother must be cemented and rendered eternal by the love of Jesus. And nothing less than the death of Christ could make His love efficacious for us. It is only because of His death that we can look with joy to His second coming. His sacrifice is the center of our hope. Upon this we must fix our faith.—The Desire of Ages, pp. 659, 660.
Because of God’s mercy, we have the joy and blessing today of joining in fellowship with Jesus and one another as believers in Christ. Why is it important to be a part of God’s Church? Find out in Part 4: We Are the Church of the Living God
—————————————————–
Thank you for watching this video. To be notified when our next video comes out, Subscribe to my YouTube Channel Sabbath School, by Dr. Brenda Ware Davis.
If you enjoyed this video and believe it could benefit others, click Share. Thank you for Sharing and Subscribing.
Hebron Seventh-day Adventist Church
7902 Wheatly Street
Houston, TX 77088
Watch Past and Present Lessons at SabbathSchoolDaily.com
YouTube: Sabbath School by Dr. Brenda Ware Davis
