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Ephesians 3:1-12 - For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles, 2 If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: 3 How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, 4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) 5 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; 6 That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: 7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. 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; 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: 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, 11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: 12 In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.

I. The Jewish people did not see the truth about the local church which Christ would establish during his personal ministry. They used scripture to understand and believe they were to continue as a nation forever. Some of these scriptures are as follows:

A. Exodus 32:13 states, Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, thy servants, to whom thou swarest by thine own self, and saidst unto them, I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they shall inherit it for ever.

1. Moses is here speaking to God, reminding him of his promises to the patriarchs.

2. It is true that Israel will continue forever, but Moses, and the rest of Israel, does not see God’s eternal plan of bringing the Gentiles into the kingdom of God.

3. They did not see their rebellion would cause God to implement his plan.

4. They did not see that they would be scattered throughout the entire world for 2,000 years, and that God would graciously bring them back to their homeland.

B. Numbers 19:10 speaks of the red heifer offering, which reveals Christ. And he that gathereth the ashes of the heifer shall wash his clothes, and be unclean until the even: and it shall be unto the children of Israel, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among them, for a statute for ever.

1. The words "for ever" was understood by the Jews to mean they would have perfect red heifers to offer continually, forever, but they cannot breed even one red heifer.

2. There is always something wrong with the animal, therefore it is unfit for sacrifice.

3. But the red heifer offering does not speak of an actual animal, it speaks of Jesus Christ, the perfect son of God, who would die that they might live.

4. Christ will soon reveal himself to the Jews as the perfect one, then they will understand what the red heifer offering is about, and they will rejoice that they have the perfect one – the eternal one – in their midst – forever.

C. I Samuel 2:30 speaks of the judgment of God against the house of Eli. Wherefore the LORD God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the LORD saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.

1. The Jews would understand certain rebellious families and persons in Israel would be judged and overthrown by God, even removed from the nation.

2. But they did not understand, nor believe that their rebellion as a nation would cause God to remove them from his presence, and from the land he has promised to them.

3. It must be remembered that God has warned Israel time and time again of his coming wrath, but they refused to believe they would ever be under that condemnation.

D. In I Kings 9:5 God repeats his promise to Solomon when the temple is completed and dedicated. Then I will establish the throne of thy kingdom upon Israel for ever, as I promised to David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man upon the throne of Israel.

1. Israel understood from passages such as this that they would remain a nation forever in the sight of God and in the sight of all the other nations of this earth.

2. They failed to see their not being a nation because of their continued rebellion against a most holy God.

3. Passages such as this convinced the Jews there would always be a king upon their throne.

4. They believed in a coming messiah, who would usher in an everlasting kingdom, but failed to understand their responsibility of remaining true to the commands of God, or face the judgment of God because of their sins and rebellion against God.

a. Matthew 1:12 reveals that Jechonias begat Salathiel while in Babylon. Jechonias was made as a eunuch in Babylon, but the Jews did not see God’s perseveration of their line of kings.

b. II Kings 25:27-30 reveals God’s grace and mercy to keep his promise to Israel: And it came to pass in the seven and thirtieth year of the captivity of Jehoiachin king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the seven and twentieth day of the month, that Evilmerodach king of Babylon in the year that he began to reign did lift up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah out of prison; 28 And he spake kindly to him, and set his throne above the throne of the kings that were with him in Babylon; 29 And changed his prison garments: and he did eat bread continually before him all the days of his life. 30 And his allowance was a continual allowance given him of the king, a daily rate for every day, all the days of his life.

c. It was during this revival of Jehoiachin (Jechonias of Matthew 1:12) that Salathiel was born.

d. I Chronicles 3:17 states, And the sons of Jeconiah; Assir, Salathiel his son, Matthew 1:12 states, And after they were brought to Babylon, Jechonias begat Salathiel; and Salathiel begat Zorobabel;

e. These verses make it abundantly clear that God will keep his promises to Israel, even in their rebellion.

f. This is an entirely different idea than what Israel thought.

5. Jeremiah 22:30 states, Thus saith the LORD, Write ye this man childless, a man that shall not prosper in his days: for no man of his seed shall prosper, sitting upon the throne of David, and ruling any more in Judah.

a. Here is a verse the nation of Israel did not accept, mainly because they did not accept Jeremiah, who continually prophesied against them and informed them of the soon coming judgment of God.

b. God did not say Coniah (Jehoiachin) would not have children, but that they would not sit upon the throne of Israel.

II. Israel did not understand the scriptures that spoke of the Gentiles being included in the kingdom of God.

A. Isaiah 11:10 states, And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.

1. Isaiah 11:1-3 very clearly speaks of the coming Messiah.

2. Israel would read verses 4-9 with complete understanding of the peace that shall be in the coming kingdom on this earth, of which Israel shall be the center.

3. Israel would read verse 10 as the Gentiles coming into the kingdom only during that time.

4. They failed to see, because God did not give them vision, their rebellion against the leadership of God, their being cast out of their land, and their wandering on this earth for 2,000 years.

5. They failed to see that that during their wandering, God would grant grace and mercy to the Gentiles to enter into the kingdom, and that Jesus Christ would establish his own church during his personal ministry.

6. Acts 1:6 reveals the ignorance of God’s eternal purpose when they asked if he would at that time restore the kingdom to Israel.

a. Israel, like us, are often ignorant of God’s eternal purpose, seeing only what we want to see from the scripture.

b. Jesus Christ informs his disciples of their next step, telling them it is not of them to know the times or seasons which the Father hath put into his own power.

B. Isaiah 42:1-3 declares, Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. 2 He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street. 3 A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth.

1. These scriptures are very apparently speaking of Christ, whom the Gentiles shall seek.

2. The Jews however, did not see this great truth.

3. They failed to remember Ruth the Moabites or Rahab the harlot, (both Gentiles) whom God blessed, added to the nation of Israel and included in the genealogy of Jesus Christ.

C. Isaiah 42:6-7 states, I the LORD have called thee in righteousness, and will hold thine hand, and will keep thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles; 7 To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.

1. God intends for his everlasting son to be a light to both Jew and Gentiles, but pride filled the Jewish heart and they could not believe the lowly Jews could be included in the precious promise of God.

2. It behooves us Gentiles to understand that God included us because of grace and mercy, and that God will return to his chosen people.

3. We must be faithful to God, and glorify his precious name because of his great grace upon all people, because he has every right to destroy us all in eternal flames.

D. Isaiah 49:6 states, And he said, It is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved of Israel: I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles, that thou mayest be my salvation unto the end of the earth.

1. Beginning in verse 1, Isaiah prophesies to the Isles concerning how God would bless them, opening their eyes to the everlasting gospel of Christ at a time when Israel is not gathered.

2. The Jews never related to their scattering throughout all this world, therefore could not understand these verses.

3. Many times today, church members cannot relate to Christ judging individual churches because of Matthew 16:18, which states, And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.

4. Many church members believe they will never suffer the judgment of God because of this promise, but this scripture is not a guarantee that individual churches will not fail and face the judgment of God.

5. It is a promise of God that there will always be true local church upon this earth – even if there is only one.

6. Isaiah 49:22 continues to instruct the Jews that God will bring the Gentiles into the kingdom by stating, Thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I will lift up mine hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people: and they shall bring thy sons in their arms, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders.

7. Jeremiah’s very clear proclamation of God bringing Gentiles into the kingdom was rejected by the nation of Israel because they did not like Jeremiah’s preaching, which continually spoke of the soon coming judgment of God against them. Israel did not like to see their rebellion, but thought they were just before God.

E. Isaiah 60:1-5 states, Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. 2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. 3 And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising. 4 Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: all they gather themselves together, they come to thee: thy sons shall come from far, and thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side. 5 Then thou shalt see, and flow together, and thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, the forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee.

1. These verses speak of the coming judgment upon Israel and how God’s glory will be revealed by God’s righteous judgment of his chosen people, and his turning to the Gentiles, bringing them into the kingdom.

2. Notice the order of these prophetic statements.

3. There will be darkness over the entire world (as far as the Jews are concerned).

4. The Gentiles will come to the light of God.

5. Then Israel will lift up their eyes and see the grace of God upon undeserving Gentiles.

6. After Israel sees the grace of God, they will understand and shall flow together, then the Gentiles will come to Israel, during the millennium.

III. Romans 11:11-21 declares, I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. 12 Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness? 13 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: 14 If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them. 15 For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead? 16 For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches. 17 And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree; 18 Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee. 19 Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in. 20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: 21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee. 22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.

A. Paul explains to the Gentiles at Rome concerning the severity of God in judging the Jews because of their rebellion and the goodness of God in granting grace and mercy to the undeserving Gentiles.

B. None of us have anything to brag about, except about Christ who has included us in his everlasting kingdom.