Well, once more, as God may be
pleased to bless us together, we'll meditate in the third chapter
of Paul's epistle to the Ephesians, and this evening we'll read verses
nine, 10, and 11. That's the third chapter in the
epistle of Paul to the Ephesians, and read in verses nine, 10,
and 11. 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,
to the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in
heavenly places might be known by the Church the manifold wisdom
of God, according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in
Christ Jesus our Lord. The Apostle Paul continues in
these verses by proclaiming the greatness and the might and power
of Almighty God and directs us very clearly to the Lord and
Saviour Jesus Christ. Last time we were considering
the earlier verse 8, where we're told that the Apostle Paul considered
himself to be less than the least of all saints, but he was given
that grace that he should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable
riches of Christ. And then he comes on now and
says, and to make all men see what is the fellowship of that
mystery. And of course he is joining together
here the Jews and the Gentiles, specifically writing to the Ephesians,
who of course were Gentiles, and directing them to this great
blessing, the fellowship of the mystery. And it is really, it's
a communication, this mystery, a communication of God's grace
and In so doing, it's a participation in the truths of the Gospel. Those things which were really
largely hidden in the Old Testament. And the Gentiles were not really
amongst those who were privileged to enjoy the wonderful favours
of God. But now these words are spoken
that all men, that means all men, Gentiles and Jews as well,
might see what is the fellowship of this mystery. And you see
it really directs us to the unity of the Spirit which is to be
found in Christ Jesus. And what a, if we try and imagine
it, what a wonderful consideration it was for these people who had
never really heard the gospel, never understood the gospel,
and realized, of course, it was a great mystery and they were
outside of the secret. And now by the grace of God,
the apostle has been sent to declare the great truths of the
Lord Jesus Christ. And he goes on to say this mystery,
which from the beginning of the world have been hid in God who
created all things by Jesus Christ. And it's a good thing to realise
these truths that the Lord Jesus Christ was the one who did create
all things. All power was indeed given to
him. And it was a wonderful blessing
then that it was so. But here we have this statement,
these things have been hid in God, who created things all things
by Jesus Christ. And so the Apostle has been given
this wonderful privilege to declare these mysteries, to declare the
unsearchable riches of Christ, and how wonderful it must have
been in those days, how wonderful it is still today, when our spiritual
eyes are opened to understand, to perceive and to believe the
great truths which are contained in the doctrines of God. And to know then the communion,
the communion with the Father and with the Son and with the
Holy Spirit. It's a mystery what a blessing
it is when our hearts and our minds are opened to understand
this glorious fellowship between lost, undone, ruined sinners,
and the great God in the position of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. So the Apostle then says, to
the intent that now, unto the principalities and powers in
heavenly places, might be known by the Church the manifold wisdom
of God. And of course the wisdom of God
is beyond our natural understanding to think that in eternity past
the manifold wisdom of God was to choose, was to elect a people
that in the fullness of time those people would come, would
be called by the grace of God. And how wonderful it is to think
that They were to be called by grace and they would be called
by grace. That none of these great and
glorious plans of Almighty God would be ever frustrated. It was indeed the powers, the
principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known
by the Church. It doesn't say known by everyone,
but it says might be known by the Church. the manifold wisdom
of God. And it's a good thing when we
don't find ourselves arguing with what God has done, in what
God has said, but bowing down under his sovereign will and
purpose, bowing down in his sovereign grace, and realising what an
amazing favour it is that we as unworthy sinners of the earth,
who in and of ourselves can never claim any virtue, any merit,
to obtain the blessing, the gift of eternal life, but to realise
that in the wisdom of God, in eternity past, it was ordained
that the Blessed Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, should come into
this world and take on himself the form, our form, the human
form, and in that form to pay the price required to redeem
the souls of all his people. None would be left out. Everyone
whom God had determined to call would receive that gracious and
glorious blessing and be found among the sheep of Christ. And it is a wonderful thing to
think that this manifold wisdom. It's a great statement, isn't
it? Manifold wisdom. It's not just
a little wisdom. It's a great wisdom. It's a tremendous
wisdom, utterly beyond our comprehension. And we should never be left to
argue with the plan that God has for us individually, collectively,
and indeed as a world, to realise that God has ordained these wonderful
blessings of grace according indeed to the eternal purpose
which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord. It is an eternal purpose,
something which we cannot really appreciate the greatness of it.
To think that eternity passed when there was no universe, when
there was only God, God the Father, God the Son,
and God the Holy Spirit. And in that mysterious situation,
it was the eternal purpose of God to bless a people in Christ
Jesus our Lord. And so tonight, what a blessing
for us if we have that good hope that we do have an interest in
Christ Jesus our Lord. And he did come into this world
for that specific purpose, to redeem our souls. And to think
the great cost it was. He shed his most precious and
valuable blood on that cross at Calvary. He gave his life
that you and I might possess the gift of eternal life. It was the eternal purpose. It's hard for us to appreciate,
isn't it? that this great God had an eternal
purpose of love toward us. Over eons of time, beyond our
comprehension, and yet to think, in God's time, it came to pass,
the blessed work of the Holy Spirit entered into the hearts
of all his people, to move them to believe in the great and glorious
plan of salvation. It was God's purpose that this
should be fulfilled in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Well, may we
have cause tonight and indeed every day to bless God for all
that he's done and to bow down and worship him.