The Summation of All Things in Christ

Studies in Ephesians with a Local Church Emphasis

Lesson 49 : God’s Mystery Hidden in the Old Testament  (3:8-9)

Paul once more reminds us churches are suppose to be a picture of eternal truths  –  One purpose of our churches is to illuminate, to dispense light  –  This is for all mankind  –  Error: ‘God’s work was confined to the Jews in the OT but now is global’; God’s work has always been global!  –  Either ‘the plan of God in relation to the mystery’ or ‘the outworking of God’s plan to put in effect the mystery’  –  This ‘mystery’ Paul has been discussing was hidden until the NT era  –  God is the Creator of all that exists and has a sovereign right over all His creation  –  Who is man to question his Creator?  –  Appendix: The Great Commission in the Old Testament by Walter C. Kaiser, Jr.