Ephesians 3 reminds me of having backstage passes. I have some family members who are in the music industry. We have had the pleasure of seeing them perform and hanging out in the dressing room. It was initially scary flashing the “All-Access” badges to security. After the first time, it becomes very normal. Today’s lesson is about knowing the right people. In the prior chapters, Paul explained that life can get messy, but God is rich in mercy. He created a way for all of mankind to receive healing and hope. The Lamb of God paid the penalty for our sin. Forgiveness is a gift that we can only receive by faith. While writing from a Roman prison, Paul knows he is “the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles.” Paul had been accused of blasphemy for teaching that “the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.” These Gentiles could not read Hebrew, nor understand the traditions. The Jewish leadership was horrified that Paul would even associate with the uncircumcised. Paul writes that he was given a mission: “to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ.” He adds: “to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden.” Access to the written Word and holy Temple was exclusively reserved for the Jews.
For 1500 years, the Law of Moses separated Jew from Gentile. No one could receive atonement without rigorous study and conversion. It was a private and haughty club. Paul had been the premier persecutor of the Christian sect until his own encounter with Christ. He then became a missionary to the Gentiles, but only after being rejected by Jewish leaders in each town he visited. Paul continues: “now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known… according to His eternal purpose that He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.” When Jesus gave up His spirit on the cross, the veil separating man from God in the temple was torn from top to bottom. Jesus became our “once and for all time” sacrifice, paying the penalty for our sin. Paul boldly proclaims: “Through faith in Him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.” How can sinful man approach a holy God? This was inconceivable to the Jew. The gospel of salvation was extended to all who believe Jesus is Messiah, and that He died for our sins, and He was resurrected in victory.
The chapter continues: “I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace.” It is a gift because we cannot be righteous on our own. We are given access that we cannot earn and forgiveness we do not deserve. Paul closes with a prayer for the Ephesians, and for all believers today: “That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith… rooted and established in love… to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ.” Paul writes that this love “surpasses knowledge.” It is beyond our understanding that the God of creation could care for us. It is even harder to accept that He endured the agony of the Roman crucifixion to give us access to fellowship with God Almighty. Our time in prayer allows our spirit to commune with God, by His Spirit. We enter this fellowship through the sacrifice of Christ. He paid the price for our admission. We can now approach God with gladness, and gratitude. It blesses Him that we desire closeness. I believe God knows our heart before we even ask. Paul writes that He “is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.” As great as it is being part of the crowd shouting praise to God, there is a greater, more personal intimacy with God. We can enter the Holy Place by the righteousness of Christ. Jesus is our all-access pass to The Father. Friend, you can have peace with God right now by calling on the name of Jesus. Will you spend time with Him today?