Captive To The Call Series

Ephesians 3:1 (HCSB)

For this reason, I Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles -

Prisoner of Christ

 Paul was fully captive to the call of Christ

 His only choice was obedience

 His call to the Gentiles

 We are all captive to something

 Sin – Acts 8:23

Acts 8:23 (NLT)

for I can see that you are full of bitterness and held captive by sin."

Prisoner of Christ

 Paul was fully captive to the call of Christ

 His only choice was obedience

 His call to the Gentiles

 We are all captive to something

 Sin – Acts 8:23

 We’ve been set free

 Christ broke the bondage of sin and the condemnation of the law – Romans 7:6

 We become a prisoner of Christ by choice

Romans 7:6 (HCSB)

But now we have been released from the law, since we have died to what held us, so that we may serve in the new of the Spirit and not in the old letter of the law.

Ephesians 3:2-3 (HCSB)

You have heard, haven’t you, about the administration of God’s grace that He gave to me for you? The mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have briefly written above

Not Information…

but REVELATION

 God had revealed His plan for all men

 Jew and Gentile are both recipients of God’s favor

 Ephesians 2:13-14

Ephesians 2:13-14 (NLT)

But now you belong to Christ Jesus. Though you once were far away from God, now you have been brought near to him because of the blood of Christ.

[14] For Christ himself has made peace between us Jews and you Gentiles by making us all one people. He has broken down the wall of hostility that used to separate us.

Not Information…

but REVELATION

 God had revealed His plan for all men

 Jew and Gentile are both recipients of God’s favor

 Ephesians 2:13-14

 God seeks to reveal Himself to us

 Not just facts about Himself

 But to reveal Himself personally

 Psalm 98:2

 Psalm 103:7

Psalm 98:2 (NLT)

The Lord has announced his victory and has revealed his righteousness to every nation!

Psalm 103:7 (NLT)

He revealed his character to Moses and his deeds to the people of Israel.

Ephesians 3:4-5 (HCSB)

By reading this you are able to understand my insight about the mystery of the Messiah. This was not made known to people in other generations as it is now revealed to His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit:

Spiritual Sight

 The Holy Spirit reveals spiritual truth

 About God

 About the lordship of Jesus Christ

 About Salvation

 Matthew 16:16-17

 1 Corinthians 2:10

Matthew 16:16-17 (NLT)

Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God."

[17] Jesus replied, "You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being.

1 Corinthians 2:10 (NLT)

But we know these things because God has revealed them to us by his Spirit, and his Spirit searches out everything and shows us even God’s deep secrets.

Spiritual Sight

 The Holy Spirit reveals spiritual truth

 About God

 About the lordship of Jesus Christ

 About Salvation

 Matthew 16:16-17

 1 Corinthians 2:10

 The revealed truth was passed on by Paul

 Letters and writings

 Spoken word

 Are you passing on the revealed truth of God?

Ephesians 3:6 (HCSB)

The Gentiles are co-heirs, members of the same body and partners of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

Partners of the Promise

 God has always intended for the Jew and the Gentile to be joint heirs.

 Isaiah 49:6

Isaiah 49:6 (NLT)

He says, "You will do more than restore the people of Israel to me. I will make you a light to the Gentiles, and you will bring my salvation to the ends of the earth."

Partners of the Promise

 God has always intended for the Jew and the Gentile to be joint heirs.

 Isaiah 49:6

 God’s gift of salvation is available to anyone

 John 3:16

 Romans 10:13

John 3:16 (HCSB)

For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.

Romans 10:13 (NLT)

For "Anyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."

Ephesians 3:7 (HCSB)

I was made a servant of this [gospel] by the gift of God’s grace that was given to me by the working of His power.

Saved to Serve

 We are indebted to God’s grace