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The Mystery Revealed

Ephesians 3

Paul gave no glory to the sinful men who imprisoned him.

Eph 3:1  For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,

The apostle took pleasure in these afflictions for the sake of Christ. We are reminded of his thorn in the flesh where Paul gave no glory to “the messenger of Satan” whom God allowed to afflict him …

2Co 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 2Co 12:10  Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

Ruth Paxson notes:

“There is no smell of prison in Ephesians, for Paul is not bound in spirit. He is there as the prisoner of Rome, but this he will not admit, and claims to be the prisoner of Jesus Christ. What is the secret of such victorious other-worldliness? Paul’s spirit is with Christ in the heavenlies, though his body languishes in prison.”

“His (Paul’s) imprisonment was definitely on behalf of the Gentiles. Throughout his ministry he ran into opposition for teaching that believing Gentiles now enjoyed equal rights and privileges with believing Jews in the Christian church…….  William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary, p. 1925

Paul proclaims that he was given a special mission to the Gentiles – to proclaim the mystery of Christ.

“3:3 He has not learned the mystery from anyone else, nor had he discovered it through his own intelligence. It was made known to him by direct revelation from God. We are not told where this happened, or how; all we know is that in some miraculous way God showed Paul His plan for a church composed of converted Jews and converted Gentiles. We have already mentioned that a mystery is a sacred secret hitherto unknown, humanly unknowable, and now divinely revealed.” William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary, p. 1925

Several times in his writings, Paul mentions that he did not contrive, had no input into his message: God put it into him! It had been a mystery to Paul, but God graciously gave Paul complete understanding by revelation.

“Mystery” appears 6 times in Ephesians which is more than any other book in the Bible.

Eph_1:9  Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:

Eph_3:3  How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words,

Eph_3:4  Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)

Eph_3:9  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:

Eph_5:32  This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.

Eph_6:19  And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel,

3 Marvels of the Mystery

Eph 3:6  That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:

  • First, looking to the future hope, Gentile believers are joint heirs with Jewish believers.
  • Second looking to the present, Gentiles and Jews are united in one joint body, one “church”. Ephesians 2
  • Third, Looking to the past, Gentiles share equally with Jews in the promise made to Abraham that “And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.” (Genesis 22:18 cf Galatians 3:16).

Ephesians 3:1-13

GENTILES SHARE THE “UNSEARCHABLE RICHES”

Dispensation means “stewardship.” We are God’s trustees for men. To each of us is given some special phase of truth which we must pass on to others by the force of our character or by the teaching of our lips. It was given to Paul to make known the great truth that Gentiles might enter the Church of God on equal terms with Jews. During the earlier stages of human education this secret had been withheld; but with the advent of the Son of man, the doors into the Church had been thrown open to all. Paul’s insistence on this truth was the main cause of the hatred and opposition which checkered his life. Fellow-heirs, fellow-members, and fellow-partakers! This truth was not the result of logical argument, but had been communicated by direct revelation, as was so much else in Paul’s teaching. See Gal_1:11, etc.

The history of the Church-its genesis, growth, and development-is the subject of angelic study, Eph_3:10. In the story of redemption there are presented and illustrated aspects of the divine nature which are to be learned nowhere else, and therefore heavenly intelligences bend with eager interest over human history from the viewpoint of the Church of Christ.

“the unsearchable riches of Christ” – “unsearchable” simply means there’s no way to exhaust all resources in studying the divine magnificence of Christ.

Eph 3:8  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;

Eph 3:9  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:

Eph 3:10  To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God,

Eph 3:11  According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:

Eph 3:12  In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.

Eph 3:13  Wherefore I desire that ye faint not at my tribulations for you, which is your glory.

The unsearchable riches of Christ reveals that this mystery is great riches for the Gentiles. They can now come before God in a standing they could only dream of before. From the outside looking in, Christ, in His perfect sacrifice, has now brought all men, namely Gentiles/non-Jews nigh to Himself.

Eph_2:13  But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh (close) by the blood of Christ.

The great apostle to the Gentiles claims that the Gospel he preaches makes known the mystery as never before. His gospel embraces the heathen nations and offers them full unity and fellowship with God’s holy people.

ALL “BY HIMSELF” – Jesus needed no help: He alone was sufficient to propitiate, expiate, atone for the sins of mankind.

“Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had BY HIMSELF purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;” Hebrews 1:3

Of “the unsearchable riches of Christ,” in Ephesians 3:8, Blaikie captures the essence when he wrote:

“Two attractive words, riches and unsearchable, conveying the idea of the things that are most precious being infinitely abundant. Usually precious things are rare; their very rarity increases their price; but here that which is most precious is also boundless – riches of compassion and love, and merit, of sanctifying, comforting and transforming power, all without limit, and capable of satisfying every want, craving and yearning of the heart, now and evermore.”

Ephesians 3:9-10

“The eternal glory of God and Father will be made visible throughout all ages in the Church and in Christ Jesus. Amazing statement! Christ and the Church as One Body will be the vehicle of that eternal demonstration.” Williams

The essence of Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 3, captured by Newton in this poem:

“Thou art coming to a King,

Large petitions with thee bring,

For His grace and power are such,

None can ever ask too much.”

~John Newton

“Riches” appears 5 times in Ephesians: 
Mining the “Riches” of Ephesians

Eph_1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the RICHES of his grace;

Eph_1:18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the RICHES of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

Eph_2:7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding RICHES of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

Eph_3:8 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;

Eph_3:16 That he would grant you, according to the RICHES of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;

Ephesians

ALL cults, heretical systems, and false prophets have a common denominator: Jesus Christ is not elevated as God, Creator of all that is, the only Savior, the Almighty, the supreme HEAD of His one church. Colossians 1-2 is paramount to our walk with Heaven’s coming KING.

Colossians

If you will be planted deep into Christ, your Christology, your study of, your personal knowledge of Christ must be ever-deepening, not shallow (Colossians 2:6-10).

The modern church is too busy to study Christ Himself because they’re too busy trying to use Him to get what they want. Let that soak in as you remember how long it’s been since you’ve heard a message specifically about Heaven’s King. Most modern “pastors” probably don’t even know what the word Christology means.

Christology = the study of Christ.

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Articles

Hell’s Menu

What’s being Served Up in the Domain of the Damned?

What’s going on below us, in the bowels of the earth?

The Bible’s Vivid Description of the Domain of the Damned

Violent flames rage like endless waves that roar in a fierce ocean tossed to and fro by hurricane winds. Deafening voices shriek, hopelessly tormented in the turbulent fire that dominates their defenseless souls. One million years have passed and yet there is not a trace of relief from the horrifying torment that has enveloped their helpless souls. Vivid memories of their earthly life, when they had precious opportunity to escape this horrible fate, torment their bitter and remorseful beings. Welcome to the world of departed souls who died after refusing to apply the only cure to their deadly curse of sin. Behind the thin veil of life on earth lies a real world – a forever world. Welcome to a profile of the after life.

Details about hell revealed in God’s Word, the Bible:

  • A place of complete consciousness (all feelings)…..Lk. 16:25
  • Torment with fire and brimstone…………………………Rev. 14:10
  • Weeping and gnashing of teeth……………………….…..Matt. 8:12
  • A place of eternal remorse (devastating regret)…..Luke 16:25
  • A place of torments…………………………………………..…Luke 16:23
  • No rest day or night forever (eternal misery)……….Rev. 14:11
  • A furnace of fire with wailing…………………………..….Matt. 13:42
  • A place of everlasting burnings…………….…………..Isaiah 33:14
  • Hell will be cast into the lake (ocean) of fire ..…Rev. 20:11-15
  • Unquenchable fire (ferocious flames)………..…….……Mark 9:45
  • Outer darkness (blinding loneliness)………………….Matt. 22:13
  • No 2nd chance to escape (utter hopelessness)……Luke 16:26
  • A place of sorrows (seething remorse and despair)….Ps. 18:5
  • A place of everlasting destruction……………………..2 Thess. 1:9

The LORD Jesus told us that this place described above was “prepared for the devil and his angels.” (Matthew 25:41) Ignoring this truth is not going to make this place go away. Dealing with this honestly is in your eternal best interest. If you are not born again, here is why you are going to spend eternity in the place described above. According to God’s Word, you have sinned against Him and He is “Holy, holy, holy.” (Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 4:8) Here’s a few of the ways you have sinned against your Creator:

CURSING, LYING, ADULTERY, LUST, HATRED, DRUNKENNESS, SLANDER, STRIFE, IDOLATRY, DISHONORING YOUR PARENTS, MURDEROUS THOUGHTS TOWARDS OTHERS, STEALING, FORNICATION, UNFORGIVENESS, TAKING GOD’S NAME IN VAIN

GOD misses nothing, no-thing. He sees it all (Psalm 33:13-14; Proverbs 15:3). He’s keeping perfect records on all people, their thoughts, intentions, motives, acts, and deeds. It’s all on record, from every angle. The record, the tapes are going to be played in your Supreme Court of the Universe trial. It’s ALL on record. No one escapes. No one is getting away with anything. It may appear that way for now but be sure that no deed, thought, motive, or action is unseen, unknown by the Almighty whose earth we all now dwell in (Psalms 24:1). God sees all sin.

“be sure your sin will find you out.” Numbers 32:23

Judgment Before the Great White Throne

The books your Maker is keeping, the record, will be opened in the Supreme Court of the Universe for each and every person.

NO surfing in this lake …

“And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. 13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” Revelation 20:11-15

NEVER EVER DEFINE HELL AS ANYTHING EXCEPT EXACTLY HOW GOD DEFINES IT IN HIS WORD. PERIOD! THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS “HELL ON EARTH” OR ANY SUCH FABLE. CEASE TAKING THE NAME OF THE LORD IN VAIN BY CEASING TO WALK AFTER, AGREE WITH, OR SPEAK ANYTHING ABOUT ANYTHING (INCLUDING HELL) EXCEPT IT BE IN GOD’S WORDS – IN HIS HOLY, WRITTEN WORD. “WHAT SAITH THE SCRIPTURES?” – “SHUN PROFANE AND VAIN BABBLINGS … STUDY TO SHEW THYSELF APPROVED UNTO GOD A WORKMAN THAT NEEDETH NOT TO BE ASHAMED, RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE WORD OF TRUTH.” (2 TIMOTHY 2:15-16)  ALSO, ANY SUPPOSED “CHRISTIAN” LEADER WHO REFUSES TO PREACH ON HELL REGULARLY, IS A WOLF! PERIOD.

“Come unto me” says Jesus (Matthew 11:28-30) .

If you wish to miss eternity in this horrid place called hell, which will later be cast into the lake of fire, it’s time to make peace with your Maker and Judge. Find out more here at Making Peace with God.

Soul-Damning Sins | Much More about Hell

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Apostasy

The FORGOTTEN Sins of Sodom [podcast]


What were the Real and Root Sins of Sodom?

Explosive!
DO YOU KNOW WHAT SINS THE BIBLE CITES OF THE PEOPLE OF SODOM WHICH CAUSED DIVINE JUDGMENT TO FALL ON THEM? THIS LIST OF SINS MIGHT SHOCK YOU.

EXPOSING THE GATEWAY SINS TO SODOM’S DESTRUCTION

Sodom’s sins were pride, gluttony, and laziness, while the poor and needy suffered outside her door.

According to Romans 1 it seems that sexual deviance, namely homosexuality, is the sin, the final manifestation of evil before destruction transpires. The LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah for this sin and others and will or is destroying America for rejecting Him (Matthew 10:26-28). WHAT were the specific sins of Sodom and Gomorrah that preceded the ultimate “abomination” of homosexuality? (Leviticus 18:22) Does the Bible reveal these sins? Yes!

Homosexuality always has been and always will be an “abomination” in the eyes of our Holy God (Leviticus 18:22). Repent now and follow Jesus.

DID GOD LIST SODOM’S SINS? WHAT WERE THEY?
THIS SHOCKING LIST OF SINS AND MESSAGE WILL KEEP YOU OUT OF HELL!

Little known sins that led up to the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. Check this out.

“The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.” Ecclesiastes 1:9

Sodomy/homosexuality is usually the only sin attributed to the sins of Sodom and yet the Bible lists several sins that came before the ultimate turning over to homosexuality and further judgment (hell). See also Romans 1 and Ezekiel 16:49-51.

Jesus used this very example of Sodom to warn all under New Testament:

“Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; 29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. 30 Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed. 31 In that day, he which shall be upon the housetop, and his stuff in the house, let him not come down to take it away: and he that is in the field, let him likewise not return back. 32 Remember Lot’s wife. 33 Whosoever shall seek to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life shall preserve it.” Luke 17:28-33

Impending Judgment for Sin

In Ezekiel 16 we read of the judgment coming on the LORD’s people for their sins.

The very sins committed by the people of Sodom before God destroyed that city, were being committed by the LORD’s professing people in Ezekiel’s day, and are today being committed by those claiming to know the LORD in our day.

“Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. 50 And they were haughty, and committed abomination before me: therefore I took them away as I saw good. 51 Neither hath Samaria committed half of thy sins; but thou hast multiplied thine abominations more than they, and hast justified thy sisters in all thine abominations which thou hast done.” Ezekiel 16:49-51 

This list of sins in the above passage begins with these 3:

PFA = Pride, Fulness of Bread, and Abundance of idleness.

The Sins of Sodom:

Sins Jerusalem cited for in Ezekiel 16:49-51:

  • Pride (arrogance),
  • Fulness of Bread (gluttony, hoarding),
  • Abundance of Idleness (idle, lazy),
  • did not help those in need due to preoccupation with self-worship (not generous in spreading God’s wealth to His people and work)
  • haughty
  • committed abomination (fornication)

In the bulleted sins listed above from this revealing Ezekiel 16 passage, did you notice the progression?

Though it culminated in sodomy, yet not one sex sin is even specifically mentioned in this list of Sodom’s sins in Ezekiel 16. Does this not align perfectly with the judgment we see in Romans 1, how “when they knew God, they glorified him not as God” and were unthankful, further enriching themselves while they ignored others?

“Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful (they were ungrateful); but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.” Romans 1:21

A fresh reading of Romans 1 reveals the root sins that preceded the sexual sins which immediately go before divine judgment. See Romans 1:18-32.

The sins that darken the hearts of those who once “knew God” and lead to the ultimate abomination of sodomy/homosexuality are pride, gluttony, idleness, and refusing to be generous givers to believers in need, etc.

Let’s Look Again at the Root, the Gateway Sins of the People of Sodom and Gomorrah:

PFA listed in Ezekiel 16:49-51:

  • Pride (arrogance),
  • Fulness of Bread (gluttony),
  • Abundance of Idleness (idle, lazy),
  • Like the fake religionists priest and Levite of Jesus’ Good Samaritan teaching, they did not help those in need due to preoccupation with self-worship (not generous in spreading God’s wealth to His people and work)

“And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged (weighed down) with surfeiting (gluttony), and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. 35 For as a snare (trap) shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.” Luke 21:34-36

“There is that maketh himself rich, yet hath nothing: there is that maketh himself poor, yet hath great riches.” Proverbs 13:7

Spiritual “Leanness”

“And he gave them their request; but sent leanness into their soul.” Psalms 106:15

“And this is exactly why there is a famine in the land. A famine ‘of hearing the words of the Lord’. Amos 8:11-13. This is the consequence of neglecting the Word of God. This famine is sent by God. To serve judgment because they have disregarded His Word and so their longings remain unsatisfied. It is a spiritual starvation, an emptiness. This is caused by disobedience and complacency. They shall ‘faint for thirst’. This implies an intense suffering. God has withdrawn His Word. As we see in these last days. People literally have contempt for God’s word. When you give them the pure unadulterated words of the Lord it angers them. So God will allow them to suffer an intense hunger because of their refusal of His words. This is why they are so prone to believe false prophets. Because they are weak and not ‘nourished up in the words of faith and good doctrine, whereunto thou has attained’ 1 Timothy 4:6” Karen Cochran

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Articles

“That Ye all Speak the Same Thing” [podcast]


Yes some abandon the sound doctrine which is the Holy Scriptures (2 Timothy 3:15-17). Let such cease.

“That ye all speak the same thing” right?

“Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” 1 Corinthians 1:10

Satan is introducing doubting, casting doubt upon what God has said, His Word, when he said to the woman in the temptation, “Hath God said?” See Genesis 3:1. And Satan in this exchange, changed, altered what God said, God’s Word. See Genesis 2:17 and 3:4. Game changer! The enemy has not changed and we are not be ignorant of his devices, right? (2 Corinthians 2:11).

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” Colossians 3:16

We stand with both feet and every ounce of our weight on God’s Word with utter impunity to Satan and his kingdom of evil.

“God forbid: yea, let God be true, but every man a liar; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.”  Romans 3:4

The final blow of death is coming to him, soon.

“And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.” Romans 16:20

“But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:” Titus 2:1

“If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” 1 Peter 4:11

Support | STORE | Podcasts | Jail/Prison MinistryMexico Mission here | All Ministry Updates | Because You Care Page | The Greatest of these is CharityBe Ready in the Morning [podcast]The Sure Mercies of David [podcast]That Repentance and Remission of Sins should be Preached [podcast]At His Feet | Prepared to be Used of God Walking with Jesus on His Stated Terms – the Cross | Fasting and PrayerThe Old Man Must be Put Down [podcast]The 5 Sins That Keep God’s People Out of Their Promised Land [podcast]What Did Paul Mean by “I Keep Under My Body”? [podcast]“Jesus the Author and Finisher of our Faith” [podcast]A Living Sacrifice unto God [podcast]Departing from Hell BeneathPrayer

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