MAY 18 / MAY 25, 2014
THE NATURE AND DESIGN OF PAUL’S COMMISSION
INTRODUCTION:
1. Paul had in the previous passage shown how God had brought these Gentiles from the place of alienation from God and the church into union and fellowship with God and the church. They had been strangers to the covenants of promise, being without God and without hope in the world. But in Christ they had been brought nigh by the blood of His sacrifice. He had broken down the middle wall of partition, the wall of religious separation between Jews and Gentiles, and had given them both access to God by one Spirit. Gentile believers were now joined together with Jewish believers as living stones in God’s true temple, the church, which is built upon the sure foundation of Jesus Christ and His word. Together they make up the house of God, and are all members of the household of God.
2. Having established that believing Gentiles are accepted along with believing Jews in the household of faith, he now shares with them how that it was “for this cause” that Christ had called him to be the Apostle to the Gentiles. He proceeds to explain to them the nature and design of his commission.
I. HE ACQUAINTS THEM WITH THE TRIBULATIONS AND SUFFERINGS WHICH HE HAD ENDURED IN THE DISCHARGE OF THAT OFFICE. (VERSE 1)
A. THE CAUSE OF PAUL’S INCARCERATION WAS THAT HE CONTINUED TO PREACH THE DOCTRINE CONTAINED IN THE PRECEDING CHAPTER. “For this cause” refers to the things written just before this, particularly that there is no difference between Jews and Gentiles respecting their access to God, and that both have the same standing in Christ.
1. Paul’s imprisonment was largely due to the Jew’s hatred of him over that doctrine. (See Acts 22:21, 22)
2. For the sake of his calling by Jesus Christ to be an apostle to the uncircumcision, he is now “the prisoner of Jesus Christ.” (See Acts 9:15, 16; Gal. 2:7-9)
3. It is comforting to know that Christ’s servants, if they come to be prisoners are his prisoners, and He does not disown or leave them.
B. THE CAUSE OF PAUL’S PRAYERS FOR THEM WAS THAT THEY WERE NOW UNITED TO CHRIST AND ADMITTED INTO THE CHURCH. “For this cause.” What he began to say in Verse 1 he, after a lengthy digression, proceeds with in Verse 14. Where we have the phrase, “for this cause,” repeated. Almost all good commentators agree that Verses 2-13, in which Paul talks about his special appointment and how he was employed in that office, and to what end he had performed his office, etc., is actually a parenthesis which he was more or less compelled by his opening remarks in Verse 1 to insert. We are grateful that he was so moved by the Spirit, seeing what marvelous things are recorded in these parenthetical verses.
II. HE INFORMS THEM OF GOD’S APPOINTMENT OF HIM TO THIS SPECIAL OFFICE AND HOW HE FITTED AND QUALIFIED HIM FOR IT. (VERSES 2-7)
A. GOD APPOINTED HIM TO THE OFFICE. (VERSE 2; SEE ALSO VERSE 7) “If (since) ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God given me to you-ward.”
1. He refers to the Gospel as “the grace of God.” He does this in other places as well, because it is the gift of divine grace to sinful man. All of the glad tidings and gracious invitations proceed from the grace of God.
2. He speaks of the “dispensation of the grace of God” that was given to him. He was commissioned and authorized by God to dispense the doctrine of the Gospel.
3. “…to you-ward.” This commission and authority was given to him especially for the Gentiles.
4. Again in Verse 7, speaking of the Gospel he says, “Whereof I am made a minister.”
a) He was made a minister; he did not make himself a minister. (Gal. 1:15, 16)
b) He was made such according to the gift of the grace of God unto him. God always furnishes the gifts and graces necessary for His calling, both ordinary and extraordinary. (Rom. 11:29)
c) God did this in Paul by the effectual working of His power. God worked effectually in Paul, and through him He would work effectually in countless others. (I Thess. 2:13)
B. GOD ALSO EMINENTLY QUALIFIED HIM FOR THE OFFICE. (VERSE 3-6)
1. He speaks of the mystery that was revealed to him by divine revelation. (Verse 3)
2. The mystery of which he speaks is the Gospel, in fact the whole plan of redemption, of which he “wrote before in a few words.”
a) This parenthetical note (Verse 3b) is referring to what he had written in the beginning of this epistle.
b) All of this God had revealed to Paul, and then gifted him in an extraordinary way to make it known.
3. The particular aspect of the mystery revealed to and by Paul was that the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of God’s promise in Christ, by the Gospel. (Verse 6)
a) In other words, all that he sets forth in Ch. 2:11-22 is fulfilled.
b) All of this they have as partakers of God’s promise in Christ, being united to Christ, in whom all the promises are yea and amen.
c) This they have by the Gospel. The Gospel is the great instrumental means by which God works faith in Christ.
4. Of the revelation of this truth the Apostle speaks. (Verses 3-5)
a) Note, the coalition of Jews and Gentiles in the church of God was a mystery, a great mystery, which was designed in the eternal counsel of God before all worlds, but could not be fully known for many ages, until the accomplishment of what had been expounded by the prophets of old.
b) It is called a mystery because the circumstances of it (time, manner, means, etc.) Were concealed until by revelation God made it known to His servant. (See Acts 26:16-18)
c) It is called the mystery of Christ because it was revealed by Him, (Gal. 1:12) and also because it relates so very much to Him.
d) Of this, he had written already in the preceding chapters, which all who read will realize the knowledge which he had been given by revelation regarding this great mystery. (Versus 3b, 4)
e) This was not so fully known to previous generations as it is now made known in this gospel age. (Verse 5) even the holy prophets did not understand much of what they were given to write. (See I Pet. 1:10-12)
f) This is not to say that they did not have the Gospel, or that they were not saved by believing the Gospel, the same as we are. (Compare Rom. 4:3; Gal. 3;18; Rom. 10:6-8, 16; Heb. 4:2; 11:13; II Pet. 1:19)
g) The conversion of the Gentile world to Christ was a great mystery, and we ought to bless God for the revelation of it in the Gospel. Yet, Gentile conversions did not wait for the coming of Christ, or for the calling of the Apostle Paul. (Heb. 11:31)
III. HE TELLS THEM HOW HE WAS EMPLOYED IN THIS OFFICE WITH RESPECT NOT ONLY TO THE GENTILES, BUT TO ALL MEN. (VERSES 8-13)
A. TO THE GENTILES HE PREACHED THE UNSEARCHABLE RICHES OF CHRIST. (VERSE 8)
1. Notice how humbly he speaks of himself. “Unto me,” he says, was given this gift of God’s grace, “who am less than the least of the saints.”
a) Paul was the chiefest of the apostles, and perhaps gifted above all the rest, yet he thought of himself as unworthy, because of his past behavior against Christ.
b) Those whom God uses greatly, he humbles mightily.
c) The Apostle does not debase his office, that, he magnifies, but himself, he debases.
2. Notice how highly he speaks of Jesus Christ. “The unsearchable riches of Christ.”
a) There is a mighty treasury of mercy, grace, and love laid up in Christ.
b) All of the riches of the Gospel are the riches of Christ. These riches He has purchased for us, and He bestows them upon all believers.
c) The riches of Christ in the Gospel are unsearchable. They will be displayed and admired for ever and ever, but never fully comprehended. (Ch. 2:7)
d) It was Paul’s particular calling and joy to preach these unsearchable riches among the Gentiles.
B. TO ALL MEN HE WOULD PUBLISH AND MAKE KNOWN FOR ALL THE WORLD TO SEE WHAT IS THE FELLOWSHIP OF THIS MYSTERY. (VERSE 9)
1. The Gentiles who were foreigners and strangers to the church are admitted into communion with it.
2. This from the beginning of the world had been hid in God, i.e. kept secret in His purpose.
3. It should not be a wonder that Christ’s mercies should be extended to the Gentiles as well as Jews, since He is the common creator of them both. “Who created all things by Christ Jesus.” (John 1:3; Heb. 1:2)
C. TO THE HOLY ANGELS WOULD BE MADE KNOWN THE MANIFOLD WISDOM OF GOD. (VRS. 10, 11)
1. Notice, it is “by the church” made up of all peoples, kindred, and tongues wherein angels see, as never before, the manifold wisdom of God.
2. This was one thing that God had desired to do in the revelation of this mystery. After all, they are ministers unto the heirs of salvation. (Heb. 1:14) How longingly they desire to look into these things. (I Pet. 1:12c)
3. In nothing which they had experienced or observed had they seen the manifold wisdom of God so displayed.
4. This display of God’s wisdom, which the angels behold in the Gospel, and in the amazing work of the Gospel, is according to the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Verse 11)
D. TO THE SAINTS THERE IS BOLDNESS OF ACCESS TO GOD IN JESUS CHRIST. (VERSE 12)
1. It is to the amazement of the holy angels, that fallen mankind is born up to the very throne of God.
2. Let it be to our eternal wonderment as well, that we are restored to fellowship and communion with God in Christ Jesus.
3. Seeing that we may have this confidence and boldness of access to God, let us exercise it to the fullest. (Heb. 4:15, 16)
E. THE APOSTLE TAKES THEM BACK TO WHERE HE BEGAN, WHERE HE ACQUAINTED THEM WITH HIS TRIBULATION. (VERSE 13)
1. Although it was on their account that he was in prison, yet he would not have them discouraged or dismayed, seeing God had done such great things for them by his ministry.
2. His ministry, for which he suffered, had worked for their glory. Not only did Paul glory in tribulation (Rom. 5:3), but it was endured for sake of the Gospel in which they could glory.
3. What an example Paul is to us! Whatever tribulation we may be called upon to suffer for sake of the Gospel, may we count it all joy.
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