Ephesians 6:19-24
Audio can be found HERE
Grace and
Peace, Peace and Grace
1/25/2015
Lynchburg,
Virginia
EXORDIUM
This
is the last sermon on Ephesians, a sermon of victory in a letter of victory.
The Apostle began his greeting to the
Ephesians and to us with Grace and Peace. He now ends with Peace and Grace.
These are the wonderful bookends of a life of victory over the world, the flesh
and the devil.
There truly is no weapon formed against
us that will stand. If anyone is in need of assurance, you have it here in
spades.
EXEGESIS
19 And for me, that
utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known
the mystery of the gospel,
Paul
asks for prayer that he utterance would be given to him by the Holy Spirit and
that he would speak those utterances boldly. This is a very important statement
for the modern church. Many preachers open their mouth so timidly that the
mystery of the gospel is barely revealed.
Paul
has spoken boldly in this letter but he reminds himself and the Ephesians that
it is easier to speak in letters than in person. To proclaim the glory that is
in Christ through the forgiveness of sins requires great boldness.
First,
in order to be candidate for grace, one needs to understand that our sins are
an offense to the Holy God. In the opening verses of Ephesians, he calls the
Ephesians to holiness. But no man can be holy without the forgiveness of sins.
Thus,
it is right and fitting for preachers to remind the people of their sins.
Certainly it is right to remind those who are outside of Christ, Gentiles by
nature, without God and without hope. But it is also fitting to remind those
who are in Christ, if indeed you have tasted of the goodness of the Lord. For
without grace there is no peace.
The
Lord is faithful and just to forgive men their sins when they confess them. But
for those who resist the will of the Lord, there is only a certain expectation
of judgment. So, confess that you might receive grace and peace.
There
are multiple levels of the ‘mystery’ of the gospel. He uses that phrase in the
opening chapter to declare how God has united to men, Jew and Gentile, into one
new man. But the way God did this is through His Son, Jesus Christ.
Here,
his emphasis is the gospel itself. The gospel is a great mystery. Why and how
did God enter His creation? Why did Jesus need to die for sinners? What is the
significance of the Resurrection and the Ascension? What does it mean to be in
Christ and in His Spirit. These are all revealed in the gospel such that it is
no longer a hidden mystery. It is now revealed.
20 For which I am an
ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.
Paul
was quite literally a messenger of Christ in chains. He was a prisoner of the
Romans but he considered himself a prisoner of Christ. Paul had some reason to
fear man and the consequences of his words. His words had already caused
conflict with the Jews in such a way that they pushed a charge against him
which ended up in a Roman court. Now, he was at the mercy of the court.
But
we see that when he testified before rulers and kings, he was faithful and bold
to speak the truth. At that point, he realized that his ambassadorship was from
Jesus Christ. He is not merely a man commissioned by the church to gain
converts but rather a man commissioned by Jesus Christ to proclaim the glory of
the gospel. Thus, he was not his own. He did not have the right to speak his
own words but only those words for which he was commissioned.
Paul
is calling for prayer. He knows that he is an ambassador for Jesus and that he
ought to speak boldly.
A
preacher ought to speak boldly. That ought has moral content. If a preacher does
not speak boldly, then he is not being obedient to the Lord.
21 But that ye also may
know my affairs, and how I do, Tychicus, a beloved brother and faithful
minister in the Lord, shall make known to you all things:
Here
is a simple aside that teaches us. Tychicus was a faithful minister with Paul.
Paul trusted him to deliver various letters for him. Thus, we see that
Tychicus’s work is an extension of Paul’s work.
When
Paul says that Tychicus will make all things known to them, he is affirming
that Tychicus will teach them exactly what Paul would teach them, exactly what
Jesus would teach them.
This
little aside also speaks to us about the need for personal contact. Obviously,
in our modern era, we have a greater ability to communicate at a distance. But
in Paul’s day, he still could have sent letters back and forth through
couriers. But he needed more than a courier, he needed an ambassador, one whom
he could trust to speak his words after him.
Paul is an ambassador of Christ and
Tychicus is an ambassador both to Paul and to Christ. Paul wanted him there,
face to face, with the Ephesians.
We should keep this in mind as we
support various works. Right now, we support the work in Poland. It is one
thing to send letters of encouragement or to send financial support. But face
to face extended time is invaluable.
22 Whom I have sent unto
you for the same purpose, that ye might know our affairs, and that he
might comfort your hearts.
Tychicus
was not there merely for information. The need for bodily ministry in the body
is apparent. Ministers are to comfort the hearts of the saints.
What
comfort might he afford them?
1.
That
Paul, who is in chains, is doing well.
2.
That
Paul’s chains do not imprison the gospel.
3.
That
they, themselves, are overwhelming victors in Christ Jesus.
4.
That
God’s grace and peace abides with them.
We
see in Tychicus the need for the extension of the ministry through other
faithful ministers.
23 Peace be to
the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus
Christ.
Paul
speaks a wonderful benediction to the saints, peace. He sends God’s peace and
his own love and the love of the Father and the Son.
EXHORTATION
24 Grace be with
all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.
To the Ephesians
written from Rome, by Tychicus.
Paul ends with grace to those that love our Lord Jesus
Christ in sincerity. What would this sincerity consist of?
1.
Honesty- the need for
grace. This means that you must admit not only that you are a sinner in need of
grace but that you sin and are in need of grace.
A. A sinner- We are part of the fallen Adam. All men need
grace. We are born into sin and are guilty before God as sure as we are men.
B. One who sins- We need ongoing grace because we continue to
sin. We do not continue in sin that grace may abound. But we do continue to
sin. In order to continue to receive grace, we must continue to walk honestly
before the Lord admitting our need for grace.
This
is one reason why a holiness doctrine is so dangerous to saints. If you think
that you can sin less and less until you are sinless, you will likely confess
less and less until you are confessless.
2.
A radically changed
life-
Although we are sinners and we do sin, Paul makes it clear that we are no
longer under the direct sway of the principalities and powers. We have been set
free and seated with Christ and so we should act like free men.
3.
Love for All Saints- This radically changed
life is manifested in the ordinary life of the saints. We love one another and
are means of grace within His church. Thus, Tychicus and we are means to
comfort the hearts of the saints. We are His body, the extension of Christ on
the Earth.
4.
The power of His might- We do this not in our
strength, never claiming the victory in our own name but rather in the power
and might of the risen Lord Jesus. We live this way according to the present
work of the Holy Spirit.
So, be sincere in your
love for Jesus. Rely upon His grace. Walk in newness of life. Cultivate a love
for all saints that we might be mutually benefitted in our walk in Christ.
Embrace responsibility and accountability in Christ’s church. Be glad about
bold preachers who remind you of the need for grace that leads to peace.
Finally, do not grow
bold in your own strength but be bold in the power of His might. Thus, you will
walk in the peace of Christ.
