Ephesians Devotionals
Bob Morris
Heirs, Members and Sharers Together (Ephesians 3:4-6)
In reading this, then you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to 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.
Seeing Gentiles as brothers and sisters in Christ was, for Paul, an epiphany. As was said earlier (see notes on Eph. 1:9), “mystery” in Paul’s usage refers to divine reality that is known only through God’s revelation. Here the Spirit has revealed the mystery to God’s holy prophets and apostles, among whom Paul counts himself.
The inclusion of the Gentiles in God’s purposes for Israel is a subject that totally absorbs Paul and is the recurring theme of Ephesians. Between Ephesians 2:11 and 3:6 alone, I count 11 different ways Paul expresses virtually the same thing.
In case we miss the point, Paul uses a succession of “together’s” to describe the new realities governing Jews and Gentiles: heirs together, members together, and sharers together. What is all the excitement about? Try for a minute to get into Paul’s mind and heart. He was proud of his Jewish heritage, as he says in his letter to the Philippians:
“…circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless” (Phil. 3: 5-6)
As a Jew, he firmly believed that he was one of God’s chosen people, with special privileges and position in God’s purposes. His encounter with Jesus on the road to Damascus turned his theology inside out. Jesus was no longer a peripheral obstacle to God’s purposes but the very centre of them. Another visceral Jew, Peter, had to be figuratively hit on the head three times by a heavenly vision before he could say to Gentile Cornelius,
“I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts those from every nation who fear him and do what is right” (Acts 10: 34-5).
This is a radical new understanding for Jewish believers who had a 5000-year history telling them they were God’s exclusive possession and chosen people. It is something like an adopted person living their life thinking they were an only child and one day happily discovering they are really part of a vast family.
We must get even more excited about the fact that it is not just the privileged church in the West that God wants to bless, but every nation and ethnic people on earth. The prophet Zechariah told exiled Israel, “Many nations will be joined with the Lord in that day and will become my people” (Zech. 2: 11). Many, many millions who have yet to encounter Jesus are heirs together with us, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus. Let’s get on with telling them about it!
Loving Father, we’re so glad to be your children, and part of your ever-expanding family. May we be faithful in telling the good news to our brothers and sisters you have already adopted along with us, but who don’t know it yet.
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