The Sixteenth Sermon, the First on the Third Chapter - Ephesians 3: 1-6

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 fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel." - Ephesians 3: 1-6

Although all of us confess that the Gospel's doctrine always brings trouble and persecution because the world despises it, and even though we should not be discouraged or back away, it is still difficult to endure the very thing we acknowledge. There is hardly anyone among us who is not troubled and shaken when God's enemies unleash their cruel attacks on the faithful. Nevertheless, we must remember that such adversity should strengthen our faith. When we witness frail humans fearlessly risking their lives to bear witness to God's truth, it should remind us of the evident power of God's Spirit. Unfortunately, our ingratitude often blinds us to this reality. We need encouragement, as Paul provides in this passage.

When we see the devil inciting his followers to commit tyranny against God's children, we should not let our faith waver. This is especially true when the faithful endure suffering patiently for the sake of maintaining God's truth, knowing it and holding fast to it without wavering. Their steadfastness should not be in vain. In other places, Paul states that he suffered for the benefit of the Church. His suffering did not purchase forgiveness of sins or any grace through his death. It was because the Gospel is God's mighty power for the salvation of all who believe. The more we advance in it, the closer it brings us to God and everlasting life.

Paul suffered as an example to those he taught personally. Through his suffering, they knew that his teaching was earnest and sincere. His spirit, not his blood or life, sealed and confirmed the doctrine he delivered to them. In this passage, he describes himself as an ambassador to the Gentiles, even though he was a prisoner of Jesus Christ. These two descriptions might seem contradictory, but Paul did not hesitate to glory in his imprisonment and chains. He was kept in custody as if he were a wrongdoer, but he maintained his testimony before God and men, suffering wrongfully for faithfully serving God.

Therefore, we should not find it strange that he referred to himself both as a prisoner and as an ambassador or messenger of the living God, representing Jesus Christ. He added the name of Jesus Christ to make it clear that his imprisonment did not diminish his authority. Imprisonment might have tarnished his reputation in the eyes of some because it is typically associated with wrongdoers. However, Paul made it known that there was a distinction between evildoers and witnesses of God and our Lord Jesus Christ. This is why he described himself not only as a prisoner but also as someone whom Jesus Christ held as if in hostage or pledge.

So, when we hear of St. Paul and the numerous trials he endured, we should not consider it excessive. Instead, we should view it as a more certain confirmation of the doctrine he proclaimed. He did not merely carry out his commission to preach but also performed miracles, endured countless troubles and obstacles, and ultimately suffered imprisonment and death. When we witness his unwavering commitment to overcome all the assaults from Satan and the wicked world, we gain greater confidence in the doctrine he delivered. Therefore, when we hear of St. Paul and the many challenges he faced, we should not think it excessive; rather, it serves as a strong confirmation of the doctrine, showing that it is not mere human doctrine but the doctrine of the living God, supported by His Holy Spirit. This applies not only to St. Paul but also to the other apostles, as God ordained that they too would endure suffering.

St. Peter is mentioned that when he grew old, he would experience a different kind of life than what he was accustomed to. He would be bound in straight bonds and led where he wouldn't want to go, at least in terms of his physical frailty, although his spiritual disposition was still inclined to obey God. This illustrates how God's servants suffered, not just a few of them, but many, like a great and thick cloud of witnesses, as mentioned in Hebrews 12. Therefore, we should consider the significance of such testimonies. God intended to support our weaknesses by providing these testimonies alongside His Word, which should have sufficient authority by itself, so there would be no doubts or questioning.

Hence, it's important to remember that the blood of the apostles and martyrs has been shed to confirm the gospel's doctrine, like a seal of approval. It's as if there were a hundred seals, or even a million, verifying all the gospel's contents. While our faith should be grounded in the authority of the Holy Spirit, the testimonies of the martyrs further affirm the gospel's truth. Even if God had not given us martyrs to confirm the truth, the authority of the Holy Spirit in our hearts should be enough. He is like an earnest penny, guaranteeing the inheritance we hope for, based on the promise bought at a great price—the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ.

However, in our present times, martyrs continue to shed their blood. God could restrain the wicked and change their hearts, but He allows Satan to drive them to rage against the faithful and grants them permission to trouble believers. This is for us to understand the power of His Holy Spirit when He governs and guides us. The weakness of humans is such that they are easily alarmed, even by a falling leaf from a tree. Death itself is frightening. Therefore, when martyrs persevere with such constancy, even in the face of tyrannical torments, it's a sign that God's hand is at work.

When we hear of martyrs enduring cruel treatment for God's Word, it should not be in vain. While preaching alone should sufficiently instruct us, the sealing of God's Word through the suffering of His servants adds great strength. It leaves no room for doubt or dispute, as they have been granted the grace to suffer for the truth and become faithful witnesses. Their testimonies provide a full seal of God's Word, reassuring us and solidifying our faith.

This is what we need to understand. Even though the enemies of the Gospel may boast and cause a great uproar, we must never cease to glorify God. In fact, all the battles that Satan plans against the faithful are turned by God into victories and triumphs. He enables them to overcome all obstacles that seem to lead to their downfall and destruction. Therefore, we should not be discouraged when we see the wicked and the godless mocking our simplicity, or when our fellow believers suffer persecution. We must remember that the prisons where they are held and the fires of reproach are of far greater worth and significance than the seats of those judges who serve as Satan's agents and accomplices, even more valuable than the thrones of kings and princes, no matter how grand they may appear.

Now, I have also explained to you the grace of God that has been entrusted to me, as I have briefly written, revealing the mystery to you as it was revealed to me. You may thus better understand the knowledge I possess about the mystery of Jesus Christ. I wish to establish that I was ordained as an apostle, not by my own presumption or foolishness, nor by the favour of men, nor by mere chance, but by the free goodness of God. This point is crucial because it not only concerns my own calling as an apostle, but it has implications for the certainty of faith among the believers. When we hear the gospel preached, we must be fully persuaded that the preachers are indeed sent by God and are instruments of His Holy Spirit. Otherwise, even if someone were well-versed and sound in doctrine, they would not be able to assure us of the forgiveness of our sins. The atonement with God is a matter too high and great for us to rely on human judgment alone. The angels of heaven, speaking in unison, could not assure us unless they were authorised by God. Therefore, it is crucial to understand that Paul's emphasis on not presumptuously taking on the role of an apostle but being chosen and sent by God is not without reason in this passage.

Furthermore, Paul asserts that the Ephesians should have been aware of the mystery or secret that was revealed to him. This awareness was important so that they could be certain that he was ordained and appointed by God to impart His grace and preach eternal salvation to their souls. This message was crucial, especially for those who had been cut off and estranged from the kingdom of heaven. Here, we need to grasp that merely hearing and understanding the preached message of the gospel is not enough. We must ascend higher in our understanding, recognising that God intends us to be assured of His goodwill through the testimony of men. The preaching of the gospel and our gathering together for instruction is not a humanly devised policy or order, nor is it a human invention. It is an ordinance of God, an enduring law. Therefore, when we attend God's school and not a human one, we must do so with sobriety and thoughtfulness, recognising that this is God's design, not man's, and that our gathering to hear the preaching is not to be taken lightly.

True, it is that we ought to examine the doctrine, and we must not accept everything indifferently that is preached. We should not be like brute beasts, as the Papists derogatively term it, lacking all understanding. However, we must hold God's name in honour. When the doctrine of the Holy Scripture is presented to us, we should detach ourselves from the world and set aside our own reason. Instead, we should submit with true obedience and humility to that which we know comes from God. If we come together with such a prepared mindset, God will not leave us in doubt. He will guide us by His Holy Spirit, assuring us that our faith comes from Him and is grounded upon His power. It will also come with the endorsement of those who serve as His messengers.

Now, when St. Paul mentions the calling of the Gentiles to the knowledge of the gospel, so that they may be joined with those who were already near, it is termed a mystery or secret. We should note that God intended to humble the world and keep it under control, so that we would learn to honour His providence, even though the reasons behind His actions may be unknown to us and the means may be hidden. God could have proclaimed the gospel immediately after the creation of the world or soon after Adam's fall. However, He delayed it for nearly 2,000 years. After that, when 400 more years had passed, the law was given. Even though it applied to Abraham's descendants, the Gentiles, who were far more numerous, were still excluded. This might seem peculiar, and David might have wished to have God restrained to a different will. But this is how things were. They could have called the whole world, without exception, but they did not. The law was given, but a long time passed before Jesus Christ came into the world. In summary, nearly 4,000 years went by, with countless people wandering blindly and living in spiritual darkness. God allowed them to continue in their ways. Suddenly, the trumpet sounded, the walls were broken down, and God gathered together those who had strayed from Him. He accepted them in His favour through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom God's sovereign dominion extends over the entire world. These are things that could not have been conceived, as I mentioned earlier. Therefore, it is not without reason that St. Paul calls this course of events a mystery, unknown to all previous ages but revealed in his time.

However, we must first address a question that may arise. While the patriarchs were not completely ignorant of what would come to pass, and the prophets bore witness to it, with Moses foretelling and declaring that strangers would come to worship God, this knowledge was not entirely revealed at the time, as St. Paul claims. Nevertheless, let us understand that all these prophecies remained obscure because the means to their fulfilment were hidden. Certainly, the faithful hoped that God would one day gather the world that had been scattered in such a terrible manner, as we have seen.

But regarding the specifics of when circumcision and the ceremonial aspects of the law would be abolished, when God would be worshipped in a different and better manner, when Jesus Christ would shine as the Sun of Righteousness, when people would find contentment in Him, and when only baptism and the Lord's Supper would serve as visible signs confirming our spiritual blessings – all of this was unknown. Even the apostles themselves continued in this profound ignorance. When Jesus Christ sent them out into the land of Judea, He instructed them not to speak to the Gentiles. This was because the opportune time had not yet come. As He approached His death, He spoke of "other sheep" not of the same fold, which must be gathered. This indicated that many chosen by God the Father were not part of the Jewish nation. After His resurrection, He commanded them to "preach the Gospel to all creatures." Thus, their first directive was to preach the hope of salvation to those who had been previously estranged from it. When Peter was informed that God would send him to a Gentile, he was so astonished that the hairs on his head stood on end. He thought it impossible until God sent him a vision from Heaven to make him go to a man he considered unclean. Therefore, it is not without reason that St. Paul refers to this as such a high and profound secret, saying that it was unknown to the Patriarchs and Prophets. They had some inkling of it according to their own limited understanding and under the veil of shadows and figures.

There was not any certain knowledge until God had revealed the matter that He had kept in His own counsel. And so, St. Paul thought it good to repeat the word "mystery" or "secret" to prevent any of us from provoking one another to stubborn opinions, as we often tend to do. People might say, "This surpasses human understanding," while others might dismiss it entirely. This leads people away from obeying God and places a stumbling block in their path, blocking their way to God's truth, which would be clear if they would only listen. However, due to our preconceived notions that it is too profound and beyond us, we think that God is not speaking to us, causing us to despise His Word and consider it irrelevant to us. Moreover, the audacity and recklessness of people are such that they condemn everything they dislike.

Here, it is important to acknowledge that even what is unknown to us is still filled with majesty before God. We should not attempt to measure God's secrets with our imagination. Such presumption is unwarranted. God's judgments and actions are so deep that they can swallow us up a hundred thousand times. Therefore, we must magnify God's wisdom and, even when His intentions seem obscure to us, approach them with humility. Indeed, even the seemingly mundane matters should be received in a way that recognises God gives us only a taste of them, and we do not possess complete knowledge. This applies to the entire doctrine of the gospel, as there is no aspect of it that does not surpass our understanding. In some matters, God reserves the reason for Himself, which is intended to make us acknowledge the righteousness of His actions, even if we cannot comprehend them with our natural understanding.

Now, if there were ever a time when this doctrine needed to be emphasised, it is today. We witness how many unbelievers isolate themselves from God by shutting themselves out. Why do these unfortunate souls, including those deceived by the Pope, remain entrenched in their ignorance? They claim that God's word is too profound. Yet, does that mean we have just cause to reject it? Instead, we should consider that God's wisdom is apprehended only by humility. Since God condescends to teach the humble and the little ones, all pride should be cast down in us. Thus, we should recognise that God's wisdom is beyond our comprehension. When we see that many people today find the Gospel unpalatable because it is like a foreign language to them, we should receive with modesty whatever God tells us, even if it seems too high for us. We must pray to Him, the source of all light, to grant us understanding according to His will. Just as God's word enters our ears, He works inwardly in our hearts through His Holy Spirit. Therefore, let us submit ourselves to Him and be willing to accept whatever is truly beneficial for us in His name. This is what we should bear in mind when we encounter something in the Gospel that seems difficult and unpalatable. Instead of rejecting it, as many people do, simply because it does not align with their preferences, let us receive it with humility and an open heart.

As I mentioned earlier, let us revere the things that are currently hidden from us, waiting until God brings them closer and increases our faith. When reading the Holy Scripture, we must have the humility to admit, "I do not understand this particular text, but it is not for me to abandon it, for that would be pointless. Instead, I will pray to God, asking Him to bear with my ignorance and open my understanding when the time is right. He, who holds the key to all knowledge and understanding, will reveal as much as He deems fitting and beneficial for me." Similarly, when listening to a sermon, if we do not understand everything that is being taught, we should pause and, in the meantime, continue to honour and reverence God, especially in matters that surpass our comprehension.

Yet, we see how those who aim to silence all of God's true servants from speaking on topics that seem beyond human grasp are, in essence, embodiments of evil. It is sheer madness that, because we do not understand why God has chosen some and forsaken others, some individuals have taken it upon themselves to declare that certain aspects of God's Word should be disregarded. This Word, not only revealed by the Holy Spirit but also sealed with the blood of God's Son, should not be questioned or disregarded. Those who attempt to do so are, in a way, entirely possessed by the devil, and we should pray that God intervenes and reveals their insignificance. They are no better than lice, fleas, ticks, and other vile and despised creatures of the world when they act with tyrannical and barbaric rage against God's Word. For our part, we must acknowledge that the honour we owe to our God entails patiently waiting for Him to increase the knowledge He has granted us.

Moreover, when one person possesses a greater measure of faith and understanding than others, he should humbly accommodate those with lesser knowledge and work to further their understanding. Conversely, those with less understanding should remain within their limits and not overstep their bounds. They should remember the words of St. Paul: "If you think otherwise, wait until God reveals it to you, and in the meantime, live in harmony and avoid division." This is what we should learn from this.

Additionally, we must recognise that through this approach, God intended to magnify His mercy. When He finally proclaimed the doctrine of the Gospel, He revealed the infinite richness of His goodness towards us. While we may not fully understand the reasons God had in mind when He delayed the proclamation of the Gospel for so long, it is evident that He intended to open our eyes and awaken our minds, so that each of us would better comprehend our indebtedness to Him. Were we better than our forefathers? Or when the Gospel was proclaimed throughout the world, were the Gentiles more receptive than before? No, it appeared that wickedness had reached its peak, and contempt for God was widespread. It was precisely in this state of profound wickedness that Jesus Christ came, bringing the message of salvation to all. Even when St. Paul addressed the Corinthians, listing murderers, fornicators, drunkards, thieves, and more as those who would not inherit the kingdom of heaven, he added, "Such were some of you," to emphasize that the Gospel was not proclaimed in Corinth due to any inherent virtue or merit of its inhabitants. Instead, it was solely an act of God's free grace.

Therefore, we must understand that this secret, as spoken of by St. Paul, applies in the following manner: it was God's will that all people, without exception, should be sinful. However, He provided a remedy through His grace. In our own time, we cannot claim to be better than our forefathers, as I mentioned previously. In terms of the general state of things, there was greater faithfulness among people fifty years ago. Their conduct was more modest, and there was less excess and extravagance. In short, people did not behave as recklessly as they do today. True, they still exhibited the flaws inherent to human nature, which are of little worth. Yet, it seemed that Satan was then more restrained in his influence.

But within these thirty years, things have deteriorated to such an extent that it is horrifying to witness. God's grace is now preached, forgiveness of sins is proclaimed, and God calls those who were previously estranged countless times. What can be said of this except that God intended to magnify His grace and mercy through such a profound transformation? Therefore, let us recognise that the way to benefit from God's wondrous secrets is to revere what we do not know, receive what God has revealed to us, and accept without dispute that which we know comes from Him. Above all, we should ensure that our faith is strengthened and consider whether we ought not to be more inflamed with love for God.

God has deigned to send forth the gospel in our time, seemingly emerging from a deep dungeon. After we had wandered aimlessly like wretched beasts and been steeped in superstition and idolatry to the point where we hardly understood religion, God has revealed it to us once again, not in person but through His doctrine preached to us today, which had been completely buried. Let us take heed of this and, even though the world may not comprehend why God worked in such a mysterious manner, let us not cease to profit from it. Let us not be discouraged by our past state, but rather turn to our Lord Jesus Christ, for through the gospel, we are united to Him, and God acknowledges us as His children.

Despite having been among the wealthiest in the world and still being worthy of exclusion from His house and separation from His church, we should not lose hope that He will call us to the promised inheritance. It should suffice for us that God will gather us into His body, despite our previous scattering, and that He will fulfil His purpose for us if we allow ourselves to be guided by our Lord Jesus Christ, who is ordained to be our king. Let us willingly submit ourselves to Him in true obedience of faith, without doubt that He will reveal to us the things that we long for.

Thus, we can understand why St. Paul said in his second letter to the Corinthians that even though God has His secret purposes that we cannot fully grasp, He has revealed certain incomprehensible things to us through His Gospel, disclosing His heart and will to us. Through this revelation, we can come closer to fully enjoying the things we hope for.

Now, let us humble ourselves before the majesty of our good God, acknowledging our sins and praying that He enables us to gain more and more from His Holy Word. May His Word not inflate us with presumption and arrogance but instead draw us towards true humility, forsaking our own human wisdom and desires to seek only what He teaches us through His Word. Let us obediently and simply submit ourselves to the Gospel, so that Jesus Christ may be glorified and heard among us without hindrance. May we be so humbled that we never seek exaltation except by His hand. May He grant this grace not only to us but to all people.