Title: THE CENTRALITY OF THE CHURCH

Focus: God’s gift and commission to Paul concerns the church, which is central to God’s purpose and plan of salvation.

Function: To encourage the people to develop a high view of the church by joining and making it a community deeply indwelt by Christ’s Spirit, rooted and grounded in love, and permeated by the riches of Christ and the fullness of God.

Text: Ephesians 3:1-21

When you travel to Europe and visit centuries-old cities and towns, you’ll observe a striking feature: at the center of these cities and towns, you’ll find a huge or very old church building. And when you study the lay-out of these cities and towns, you’ll notice that people used to develop their towns around the church building. Things have changed, however.

That geographical and architectural observation makes clear that at one time in European history, the Church—as a community marked by its gathering place—was central in the minds and hearts of the people. No doubt, we could make similar observations about many American small towns and some major American cities. The church, as a gathering place for worship and ministry in the community played a central role in American history. Things have changed, however.

In conversations with many Dutch immigrants in Canada—people who emigrated in the late 40’s and early 50’s—it was clear that the church stood at the core of the immigrant community. The church was the place for worship and prayer, for fellowship and socializing, for finding a network of support in a new cultural environment and strange land. The church was the place where each spoke a common language—the language of faith, as well as the language of the “old country.”

Baptisms, weddings, funerals, picnics, anniversaries, social outings—for many immigrants the church had it all. Those days are over. Today, the church—as a gathering place and mission station in the world—is in constant competition with the gods of this world. No, I will not suggest that we should go back to the old ways of doing things. Times have changed.

But I will ask us to evaluate our view of the church. And in light of the Scriptures, I will encourage us to develop a high view of the church by joining and making it a community deeply indwelt by Christ’s Spirit, rooted and grounded in love, and permeated by the riches of Christ and the fullness of God. For Scripture makes it clear that God’s gift and commission to the apostle Paul concerns the church, which is central to God’s purpose and plan of salvation.

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There is a lot of food for thought in chapter 3 of Paul’s letter to the church in Ephesus. Its structure is a bit convoluted and follows Paul’s observation in chapter two that the church is God’s project. There we learned that God has reconciled both—Jews and Gentiles—into one body, one “new man,” or “building,” or “temple”—also called “the church.” God did so through his Son, the Lord Jesus.

Having pondered God’s work in Christ Jesus, Paul is moved to offer a prayer for God’s church. And he is ready to do so, as we can see from the opening verse in chapter three. But then Paul stops in his tracks and he tells us something about himself in relationship to God’s project, the church.

Listen: “For this reason (that relates back to God’s project in chapter two), I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles----.” Then Paul stops and in the following verses (vs. 2-13) he digresses. In vs. 14, however, Paul picks up the thread of prayer again, and he says, “For this reason I kneel before the Father….”

This is why I say that the structure of this passage is a bit convoluted. Yet, once you see how Paul’s thoughts flow, you can make sense out of the passage. You could say that Paul, in this chapter, digresses and prays.

And when you follow his digression in verses 2-13, you’ll notice that he looks at his role in terms of God’s project. And Paul points out to us that God has given Paul a gift and a commission.

Paul refers to that gift in vs. 2 where he says: “Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you….” And Paul refers to that gift of God again in vs. 7 where he says: “I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given to me by the working of his power.” From these two verses it’s clear that God’s gift to Paul centers on God’s grace.

The other thing that Paul received from God is a commission. God gave Paul a mandate to go to you and me—the Gentile world and declare the good news of God having reconciled the Jews and Gentiles into one body, the church. Listen (vs. 7-9) “I became a servant of this gospel…Although I am less than the least of all God’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery….” So, Paul tells us about God’s gift of divine mystery and God’s commission of divine ministry.

First a few words about God’s gift of grace. In verse 3 Paul explains that this administration of God’s grace is “the mystery made known to me by revelation.” The word “mystery,” however, is not something that is only for a few special people to know. Uh, uh, Paul is talking about an “open-book” mystery, something that can be known with the eyes and ears of faith and by searching the Scriptures.

Paul clarifies the mystery that God revealed to him. The mystery centers on the person and work of Christ, and it has to do with the reconciliation of Jews and Gentiles, and with the formation of the church. Paul talked about that already in chapter 2 and now he says in vs. 4-6: “…you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit of God’s holy apostles and prophets. 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.”

In other words, God’s gift to Paul (the mystery of Christ, or the administration of God’s grace) concerns the church, which is central to God’s purpose and plan of salvation. That is the good news in Christ Jesus. And God gave Paul insight into that gospel or good news.

And that leads us to say a few words about God’s commission to Paul. For having given Paul insights into the gospel, the Lord God now gives Paul the task of making this divine mystery known. For example, in vs. 8 Paul says that “…this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.”

And this preaching or commission to make known the riches of Christ or the gospel concerns not only the Gentiles but “everyone.” Or as Paul says: “…to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery.” God’s commission to Paul concerns not only the Gentiles but also the Jews (everyone), for the church is made up of Jews and Gentiles. Thus the church is central to God’s plan of salvation.

But here is one more insight. God’s formation of the church, and God’s commission to Paul to preach the gospel to Jews and Gentiles alike, is also with a view to mock or silence or inform the angels and spiritual beings in heaven. Or as Paul says: (vs. 10) “(God’s) intent was that now, through the church (there you have the centrality of the church again), 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.”

So we see that God’s gift and commission to Paul centers on the church, and Paul must make known this gospel, this “mystery”—through the church—to the Gentiles, to the Jews (all people), and also the spiritual beings and forces and powers in the heavenly places. The gospel mystery and the gospel ministry—they belong together, and they lead to the formation of the church, which is central.

“Central to what?” you say. The church is central to history, to the gospel, and to Christian living (cf. John Stott) To history—in that God works out his eternal purposes in history, in our daily lives. You could say that all historical events are like scaffolds surrounding the formation of God’s church, God’s people.

To the gospel—in that God’s plan of salvation concerns Jews and Gentiles being reconciled into one body called “the church.” The gospel is not just about “me and Jesus,” or about “me and Jesus and going to heaven someday.” Rather, the gospel is much deeper and wider. It’s about God reconciling Jews and Gentiles to himself and to one another; it’s about God creating a new humanity. And it’s about God restoring all of creation. That’s all part of the gospel. And that’s why the church is central to the gospel.

The church is also central to Christian living. We’ll learn more about that in chapters 4-6. But already we see a glimpse of that in chapter 3 where Paul tells his readers “not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.” Paul recognizes that his work and life have meaning, and play a significant role in the formation and centrality of the church or people of God.

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Thus we see that God’s gift and commission to Paul concerns the church, which is central to God’s plan of salvation. “So what?” you say. “Where do we go from here today?” Well, in his prayer that follows in vs. 14-21, Paul gives us a few clues. These clues are a stimulant or encouragement for us today to develop a high view of and a deep appreciation for the church by joining and making it a community deeply indwelt by the Christ’s Spirit, rooted and grounded in love, and permeated by the riches of Christ and the fullness of God.

For example, in his prayer Paul leads us by way of four steps to develop a passion for the church and its centrality in God’s plan of salvation:

Step one: (Vs. 16-17a) Paul prays that God may strengthen us with power through his Spirit in our inner being and that Christ may dwell in our hearts through faith. A Christian’s strength comes from God’s Spirit, is worked in our hearts, and develops and increases as Christ takes center place in our lives.

Step two: (vs. 17b) We honor and build the church and let the light of the gospel shine in our world as we are “rooted and established in love.” Like a tree, rooted in the riches of Christ (who indwells us) and watered by the promptings and workings of God’s Spirit, we learn to love God and one another. Surely, God’s strength and God’s love are key to the health of the church and key to its central role in the world. “See, how they love each other!” “See how they persevere in the midst of life’s struggles,” the world is to observe.

Step three: (vs. 17b-18) Loving each other is vital. But that mutual love and love for neighbor can only grow and increase and withstand the tests of temptations when we ponder and know the love of Christ. Thus Paul prays that Christians “…being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ….” Jesus’ self-sacrificial love is the impetus and model for us to follow.

Step four: (vs. 19) When we join and participate in the life of the church and in its mission and ministry to the world, we also discover a fullness—the fullness of God. Paul prays that we may “be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” That fullness of God most likely refers to God’s grace, strength, love and presence growing, increasing and overflowing in us as we participate in the life of the church, the body of Christ, the temple of God, the new community that will inherit the heavens and the earth.

Christ and the church! They go together. They are one ‘body.’ The church is central to God’s purpose and plan of salvation. Do you still have any doubts about that?

Listen to Paul’s doxology:

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory (where?) in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.