Paul continues in chapter 3 of Ephesians to reveal both the eternal purpose of Almighty God and its consequence for us grace believers.  God worked it out according to his eternal plan, settled in eternity past.  But it is being worked out today in and through us called out ones.  And we have a ministry as his children: to know the depth of his love and grace, and then to reveal it to all, even to those spirit beings in the heavenlies.  Amen. 

• Paul’s Testimony to the Ephesians — The Eternal Purpose of God, Its Revelation (chapter 3 verses 8-12)
• Paul’s Testimony to the Ephesians — The Eternal Purpose of God, Its Consequence (chapter 3 verses 13-21)

Paul continued in his letter to the Ephesians to reveal what Christ had been teaching him during those years while he was imprisoned, first by Roman deputies in Israel and then finally in Rome under probably Emperor Claudius initially.  These doctrines are so necessary for us to know, and the most central teachings are the main focus here such as the Body of Christ and then the many other dimensions of the Sacred Secret revealed to Paul for us Gentiles.  We find these truths taught with clarity and power in chapters 2 & 3 of this marvelous letter:

Chapter 2:

• Satan is presented as the Prince of this world: 2:1
• The depths of sin in our old nature and his pending wrath towards the unsaved: 2:3
• The heavenly blessings of being in Christ Jesus: 2:5-7
• Salvation by grace through faith not of works: 2:8-10
• Access to God and blessing for Gentiles was provided through Christ’s shed blood: 2:13-17
• And, both Jew and Gentile are “one” in Christ in his Body: 2:18-19

Chapter 3:

• The dispensation of the grace of God: 3:1-2
• The dispensation of the mystery the Christ: 3:3-4
• The nature of this sacred secret and its essence for Gentiles in particular: 3:5-6
• Paul, administrator of grace and conveyor of grace truth to the Gentiles: 3:7
• The eternal purpose of God — to make all see the dispensation - 3:8-11

Paul revealed so much more it seems in this letter than what is recorded by Luke in Acts 20.  Christ had been teaching him very much during those years while he was constrained by Roman deputies in Israel and then finally in Rome.  These doctrines are for our maturing.  This is all in his introductory chapter.  Enjoy!

• Our positional blessings in Christ Jesus: 1:3ff
• Our election and calling: 1:4
• Predestination: 1:5
• Full acceptance in Christ: 1:6
• Redemption through Christ’s shed blood: 1:7 
• The mystery of his will: 1:9
• The dispensation of the fullness of times:  1:10
• The granting of an inheritance to us Gentiles (independently of Israel’s ministry): 1:11, 14 & 18

Paul Completes His Third Journey Meeting the Ephesian Elders: 

“Blessings Untold for the Ephesians But As Always, Grace Rules — Part 2”

• Paul’s Testimony to the Ephesians — Israel’s Spirituals Given to Gentiles
• Paul’s Testimony to the Ephesians — To and Through Elders in Acts 20

Paul left Athens after a time of unimpeded ministry there according to the end of chapter 17 and the first verses of chapter 18.  But only a few had been saved and no church was founded.  He traveled then to Corinth where he immediately made the acquaintance of a couple, Jewish tentmakers from Rome recently come as immigrants having been expelled from Rome by Emperor Claudius.  As it turned out for them, God’s work though all of that led to their eternal salvation and that of many more through their ongoing ministries.  Paul testified then in the synagogue to Jews and Greeks but few seemed interested.  However, upon leaving the synagogue and having pronounced judgment upon them, he announced that he was going to the Gentiles.  Amazingly, at that point a leading Gentile and also the ruler of the synagogue believed.  Later, the new ruler of the synagogue also believed and many other Jews and Gentiles as well.  Thus the Corinthian church was established and it was time for Paul to go elsewhere.  God’s work in Corinth was a great blessing indeed for so many.

Today we will focus on what Paul preached in Athens and how that was at the heart of his preaching to the Gentiles, whether we look at the record in the Acts or in his letters.  Interestingly, his letter to the Romans, both in chapters 1 & 2 and in chapter 10 reflect and build on the fact that the Lord God revealed himself to sinful mankind through his creation, both in the heavenly realm and on earth.  In every way it is revealed, Paul affirms, that all are “without excuse” as Romans 1:20 states so boldly.  In our lesson for today, we will go back to the foundations of this teaching in the Old Testament, to Genesis 1, to Job, and to the Psalms, especially the great Psalm 19, where Paul also goes as he applies that teaching of the ages to his current day in Rom. 10:18: “But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.”  In the Psalm David poetically describes God’s revelation of his eternal power and glory in 19:1: “The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.”  So, there is a revelation given and described in terms of human language and knowledge.  The bottom line is this:  No one has an excuse before God the Creator and Sustainer.  His revelation of himself is sufficient to at least render all men accountable and therefore in need of redemption.  The gospel of grace is God’s message of Redemption for our current dispensation.  But as with all dispensational plans, anyone rejecting that fundamental revelation of God as Creator would normally reject the other as well.  For unless one knows he is in need of a Redeemer, he cannot be saved.  Amen.

Paul’s speech on Mar’s Hill before the Aeropagus or Greek High Court was brilliantly crafted.  It was launched as we saw last time from his observation that there was in Athens a monument “to the unknown god”.  Paul in his speech directly addressed that by stating simply and clearly that he would reveal the one true but “knowable” God in contrast.  He had an objective in all of this. The reference to Greek poets underscored how even the ancient Greeks knew something about God through his creation and sustenance of all things.  So he uses this as the basis of what he considers foundational, that all are without excuse as Romans 1 indicates.  For God has established a day for the judgment and the implications of this are astounding.  And this is the central point he now wished to make, that our Lord Jesus Christ has been raised from the dead proving that he is that judge indeed.  At this point, his presentation was terminated, however, and the session before the high court ended.  Though he did not preach the whole gospel here, some however cleaved to him and followed him out became believers.  Praise God for always sufficient grace!

Our subtitle today, “Paul in Athens, Pagan Capitol of the Gentiles” was chosen from the content of Acts chapter 17 where we read that the apostle Paul was “delivered” by the Berea believers to this leading ancient city, the capital of the pagan religions of the west.  Athens was named after the presumed goddess Athena where the greatest monument to her was located. That monument, one of the greatest architectural and engineering achievments of ancient man, named the Parthenon, was visible to all in the city.  In Paul’s day it must have been quite a sight with its grand architecture and artistry.  But Athens was also the West’s center of human learning or philosophy.  Because the leading philosophers of the day heard of Paul’s preaching in the synagogue, they demanded he explain these presumed “new gods” that he spoke of everywhere he went, named “Jesus” and “Anastasia” (or “Resurrection”, as the word means in the Greek language).  The Athenian “Supreme Court” on Mar’s Hill was the location for this formal review by the elite governmental leaders of that land.  What is preserved here though is his presentation to those listening regarding Jesus and his glorious resurrection and how his resurrection certifies our Lord Jesus and him alone as the coming judge of all mankind.  Needless to say, the response to his words was not too positive with only a few believing his good news and following after him for more teaching.  But God’s will for Athens that day was fulfilled nevertheless, of that we can be sure.

Our subtitle today, “A Time of Remembrances”, was chosen in the light of what Paul wrote to the assembly he had founded in Thessalonica.  In that letter (his first to this church body) he often reminded the believers of what he had already taught them while with them for only about three or four weeks during his Second Missionary Journey.  He had taught them both practically and doctrinally and his teaching was highly dispensational in character.  In particular, his teaching had included the doctrine of election, how God’s word is the vehicle for spiritual living and growth under grace, why fellowship among believers is so critically important, why the trials of life, even the loss of loved ones, are opportunities for victory as we hope for God’s final fulfillment of his many wonderful promises.  The pre-tribulational rapture of the church which is his body is also a major subject in that letter.  So, in summary, Paul’s teaching as simply summarized in Acts 17 by a few verses was in fact foundational and sufficient for their lives though they were to suffer much as Paul himself also did.  God’s grace is always sufficient!  What a blessing, to have this transforming word of truth and of grace.  Amen.