Title: THE CHRIST, THE CHURCH, THE CREATION
Focus: The gospel of Christ leads to the formation of the church, which concerns all of creation.
Function: To encourage the people to live out of Christ, to affirm the centrality of the church, and to embrace and care for the creation.
Text: Ephesians 3:1-21
“Give me Jesus! Only Jesus!” many say. “That’s enough for me!” I hear this mantra quite frequently. And there is truth in it: All God’s riches of salvation find their center in Jesus Christ, the Son of God. So much so, that the apostle John can say: (I John 5:12) “He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” So, many will argue that what really matters is a personal relationship with Jesus. Who will argue against that?
“Being truly spiritual,” some say, “is a matter of personal devotions, meditations, and disciplines such as fasting and prayer.” In fact, for many Christians to be truly spiritual means to be unconcerned with the cares of the world, the politics of the nations, and the riches or wealth of the community in which we live. For them, to be spiritual is to emphasize the heavenly and minimize the earthly. “After all, they argue, “someday God will take us to heaven, where we will live in eternity. And getting to heaven is what the spiritual life is really all about!” But does the Bible really teach us such a world-view of things?
“The church is for the birds,” lots of people say. “I can dig this Jesus, but I can’t stand the church,” some will surmise. “I admire Jesus Christ as a great teacher and humanist, but I despise Christians; they are all hypocrites,” others will chip in.
All these different voices sing praises to Jesus, but they tend to diminish the importance of creation and the centrality of the church in God’s plan of salvation.
The Scriptures, however, teach us that the gospel of Christ leads to the formation of the church, which concerns all of creation. Therefore, Christians must live with Christ at the core of their being, care for the creation, and affirm the centrality of the church. This is the message that comes to us from Paul’s teaching in Ephesians 3:1-21.
The apostle Paul has just spoken of God’s grace in Christ, bringing new life to sinners who were dead in sins and trespasses. Ephesians chapter two is full of insights as to God’s saving power—a power that involves calling a people out of all the nations of the world, bringing them into one fold called the “people of God,” or “the church.”
Once, only the circumcised offspring of Abraham made up that covenant community of faith. But since Jesus’ death and resurrection, the people of God include believers from all the nations of the world. That is the good news that Paul proclaims to the church in Ephesians chapter two.
Now Ephesians 3 consists of 21 verses. The first part makes up a digression of thought; the second part forms a powerful prayer of intercession and praise. In verse 1, Paul is ready to pray, but then he breaks off his prayer and follows through in verses 2-13 with a digression of thought. In verses 14-21 Paul picks up his prayer again.
But I will not spend time reflecting on Paul’s prayer in verses 14-21. Rather, I want to reflect together with you upon Paul’s digression. The digression of thought, you see, is about the Christ, the church, and the creation. And we need to hear anew the importance of living with Christ at the core of our being, affirming the centrality of the church, and caring for the creation.
We must challenge the voices that diminish the church or creation and help them speak more biblically and more balanced in their view of Christ, the church and the creation.
In the passage, we notice that Paul refers to himself as “the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles….” You see, Paul wrote this letter while being confined by a Roman guard. On account of his preaching, the Romans arrested Paul in Jerusalem. In fact, it was Paul’s preaching of the mystery of God (or the good news of Jesus) that led Paul to his chains. Paul’s message offended the Jewish religious establishment, who then tried to get rid of Paul by attempting to kill him.
Paul’s preaching, and subsequently his imprisonment was “for the sake of you Gentiles” (vs. 1). And Paul does not mind his plight in prison, because God revealed to him the mystery of salvation and commissioned Paul to preach that mystery to the entire world. In fact, as he thinks about it, Paul stops in the track of his prayers and says: By the way, this is what you need to know about the mystery or good news of God:
· God revealed this mystery to me. In v. 3 we learn that the mystery “was made known” to Paul by “revelation.” In other words, the good news of salvation is not a fable, a myth or some illusion dreamt up by Paul. God’s Spirit revealed the mystery of salvation to Paul. Also, be aware:
· The plan of God’s salvation was not revealed in clarity or fullness as it is now. Listen: (vs. 5) “…the mystery of Christ…was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets.” In other words, the people in the O.T. era did not have the clarity of God’s plan of salvation as we do today.
They had glimpses of that mystery in the Law of Moses, in their liturgy or rituals of worship in the temple and synagogues, and in the words of the prophets. It is only hindsight through the lens of Christ’s work that we see in the O.T. era the mystery of God’s plan of salvation at work. It becomes clearer, however, as we listen to the good news declared by the apostles.
· What is that mystery, that good news? (vs. 6) “This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.” At the heart of the gospel (which was a mystery in the eyes of O.T. Israel) stands the reconciliation of God.
By sending his Son, the Lord Jesus, to seek and save the lost, to die and rise from death, to rule over the powers of the universe, God the Father is bringing his people (Jews and Gentiles alike) into one family or fold—the church.
And then Paul goes on and talks about God’s commission of him. In vs. 8 we learn that God gave him the grace to “preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.” And in vs. 9 we learn that God made Paul not only a preacher but also a teacher “…to make plain to everyone” how God’s secret plan of salvation is to be put into effect.
In fact, it was God’s intent from before the creation of the world that (vs. 10,11) “…now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
The striking thing in God’s revealed mystery is this: God’s plan of salvation comes to reality in Jesus Christ, the Son of God; it leads to the formation of the church—the people of God. And it embraces all of the universe and creation.
The powers and authorities in the heavenly places, as well as the dust and the trees and the animals on this earth—these all are included in God’s mystery of reconciling the world to himself. Having their hope and salvation in Christ Jesus, heaven and earth along with the church, long for the day when God will make all things new.
This is why we live with Christ at the core of our being. And this is why we affirm the centrality of the church, and care for God’s creation.
APPLICATION
(Using the insights from Dr. John Stott in his commentary on Ephesians) Let me emphasize
· The Centrality of the Church: If you find yourself speaking negatively about the church, I ask you to listen carefully. If you find yourself minimizing the importance of the church, I ask you to rethink your action. If you have little concern for the church, I ask you to reflect upon the Scriptures anew. Here’s why: the church (called the people of God, the body of Christ) is central to history, central to the gospel, and central to Christian living.
The church is the new humanity. Throughout the ages, the Holy Spirit brings new life to sinners by giving them rebirth and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and his saving work. The Holy Spirit gathers us from all directions and from all nations into one community called the church. And the church is to be a light in the world, reflecting the love and the grace of God in Jesus Christ.
The church, then, is the apple of God’s eye. God loves the church. God works out his mystery or plan of salvation for the church. And God intends to dwell in the midst of his people forever and ever on the renewed creation.
John Stott says it so well: (p. 127) God’s eternal purpose, his divine plan which belongs to both history and eternity “…concerns the church, the creating of a new and reconciled humanity in union with Jesus Christ. This is the ‘mystery’, hidden for ages but now revealed.”
In the context of unfolding history, the church is central. And God values the church. So must we.
The church is also central to the good news of salvation. We see that centrality in Paul’s letter to the church in Ephesus, as well as to the church in Rome. In Romans 8: 19 Paul says: “The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed.” The apostle Peter writes in a similar vein when he says: (I Peter 1:3b, 4) “In his great mercy (God) has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade….” That inheritance is the restored new heavens and earth. It is the creation. And central to that good news of the restoration of the earth is the church of Jesus Christ.
One more thing: the church is also central to Christian living. For example, The Holy Spirit shapes the church (as a community or organization anchored in Christ). Through regular acts of worship, we encounter the living God in prayer, songs, and proclamation; we meet the risen, ascended Lord Jesus Christ in the sacraments of the Lord’s Supper and baptism. Through the reading and teaching of the Scriptures, we learn to carve a pathway through life.
It is in and from the church that we get encouragement as pilgrims of faith; that we get spiritual energy to carry on in the midst of difficulties; It is the church that nurtures faith, that calls to faithfulness, and that submits to Christ’s Lordship.
Take away the church, and you have no gospel, no Savior, no direction, no hope, no future. For God has mandated his people, the church, to go to the nations of the world, making disciples, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and teaching them all that what Jesus has said and done.
Clearly, the good news of Christ leads to the formation of the church, which concerns all of creation. Therefore, the Christ, the church, and the creation belong together. Live with Christ, then, at the core of your being; affirm the centrality of the church; and embrace and care for the creation!
In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.