For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, Ephesians 3:1-3

Charles Spurgeon has a quote “While others are congratulating themselves, I have to sit humbly at the foot of the cross and marvel that I’m saved at all.”

Notice how the Apostle Paul addresses himself here, “I , Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ” Alot of people today in ministry love to puff themselves up and brag about all the things they accomplished, and I’m sure the Apostle Paul could overshadow their accomplishments, but Paul kept a humble mindset. He calls himself a Prisoner of Christ! How many people would gladly take this title? 

The original Greek word is “desmios” meaning captive or bound. Does this describe you and your ministry? Are you a prisoner of Christ? Are you bound to The Lord? I can predict many people would be offended by this, however as Jesus said “Anyone who wants to be my disciple, must deny themselves, carry their cross, and follow me” (Matthew 16:24)

Paul, a prisoner of Christ, to share the gospel to the Gentiles, about the dispensation of Gods grace. Through Christ we can now be reconciled back to God and become his children. We become “Spiritual Jews” through Christ, this is the mystery Paul revealed, that we are saved because of Jesus Christ and not our nationality, race or creed

Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: Ephesians 3:4-6

People often ask “How can I trust the Bible”? Or “How do I know the Bible is the Word of God”? Paul reveals here “as it is now revealed unto his Holy Apostles and prophets by the Spirit” The Word of God was revealed to men by the Holy Spirit. You can trust the Bible because its source is God Almighty!

The Gentiles should be fellow heirs and of the same body and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel. This is a summary of the New Covenant, Jew and Gentile are all one in Christ our Lord Amen!

And came and preached peace to you which were afar off, and to them that were nigh. For through him we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father. Ephesians 2:17-18

People who deny the Trinity of God, I want to you read this scripture carefully, “Through Him (Christ) we both have access by One Spirit (Holy Spirit) unto the Father (God) We see the Father, Son , and Holy Spirit all mentioned in this scripture, all working together in the Triunity of the Godhead. 

Through Jesus Christ, we are reconciled back to our Heavenly Father and baptized and filled by the Holy Spirit. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are all essential to your salvation, to deny one of them is to deny all of them. Holy, Holy, Holy Lord God Almighty, the blessed Trinity

Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. Ephesians 2:19-22

Before we became Born Again in Christ, we were strangers to God, why? Because even though we are made in the image of God, we were separated from God due to our sin. It’s a false teaching to tell everyone they are automatically a Child of God. You can only be reconciled back to God if you become Born Again through Christ and be filled with the Holy Spirit

Jesus is the Chief Cornerstone, as prophesied throughout the Old Testament. Christ is the Rock, we build the foundation of our faith on. Christ is the foundation of our entire life, without Christ there is no foundation and we will crumble from building on the sand. 

Notice again the Triune language used by Paul, “Unto a Holy Temple in The Lord (Jesus), in whom you also are builded together for an habitation of God (Father) through the Spirit (Holy Spirit)” We see the Triune Godhead working together for our salvation

How do we become saved? It’s only through Jesus Christ the Son of God. How do we become reconciled back to God our Father? It’s only through Jesus Christ the Son of God. How do we get baptized by the Holy Spirit? It’s only through Jesus Christ, the Son of God, Amen!

Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. Ephesians 2:11-13

We need to remember that we are all saints with a past, we need to remember that we were all unsaved sinners just like the world. When you’re Born Again and filled with the Holy Spirit, its easy to get disgusted with this world. It’s easy to feel remorse , even anger towards unsaved people, however we must remember we were once just like them! And we can use our past and our testimonies, to share people the good news of Jesus Christ!

We must remember that at one time we were without Christ! Hopefully this seems impossible to comprehend, but at one time we were prodigal children. We were the lost sheep without a Shepherd. When your reconciled back to God through Christ, it makes you realize how great our God is. Because there is no hope without Christ! There is no possibility of eternal life without Jesus, all our hope is in our great Lord and Savior!

We were once far away from God, we were dead in our sins, unable to stand in the presence of our Holy Father. However because of the price Christ paid on the cross, The Lord has reconciled us back to God. This is why its called Amazing Grace!

For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us;  Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: Ephesians 2:14-16

Jesus is the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6) and we can’t have peace without Christ, why? Because without Christ, you are at war with God, you are at war with the Holy Spirit, living in the flesh , dead in your sins. But Christ paid the ransom for your sins on the cross, and made you a new man by the Holy Spirit. You are at peace with God through Jesus Christ, because The Lord paid it all!

There is no other way to peace and reconciliation without Jesus Christ! If your looking for peace today, look for Jesus Christ, and look at the cross and what Christ accomplished for you there! We are Born Again through Jesus Christ our Lord and the Holy Spirit, Amen!

But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:4-7

Why did Jesus die for us? The answer is simple, because Christ loves us. When you understand the price Jesus Christ paid for our souls, and the only reason this was performed was because God loves us, you understand how deep our relationship with God is and should be. 

You might ask “how do I know God loves me”? All you have to do is look at the cross, God demonstrated his love towards us, even though we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8) Imagine the Creator dying for his creation, even when his creation didn’t deserve it. That’s why God is “rich in mercy”, Gods grace and love, is so much deeper than our human minds can comprehend. 

How did we get saved? It’s very simple, by grace you are saved! We didn’t do anything to “earn” our salvation or “work” our way into Heaven. It’s impossible for us to be able to save ourselves, it’s only by the grace of God that we are saved. As the scripture says “even though we were dead in our sins” even though we were depraved godless sinners, Christ saved us. We became Born Again by the blood of Christ and the baptism of the Holy Spirit. It’s only by grace that any of us are saved, period

And one day, we will be raised up, meaning we will be resurrected, with an immortal perfect body, and we will reign with Christ in the Heavenly realm. Think about that, before you were dead in your sins, you were separated from God because of our transgressions, however not only were you forgiven, but you were made a new creature. You were reborn and reconciled back to God as his child, hallelujah to the Lamb of God!

Did we deserve this grace and mercy? Absolutely not, again it’s only because God loves us, that we received his grace and mercy. Can we comprehend this deep love of Gods grace? No, because human love will always fail us, humans will always let us down, but Christ has already redeemed your soul, Jesus will never leave or forsake you, because you were bought by the price of his own blood, Amen!

And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. Ephesians 2:1-3

Is it possible to be saved without Christ? The world will tell you there are many religions or paths to God, this is false. There is only one way to be saved, only one way to be reconciled back to God , and that’s through Jesus Christ. Why? Because we were all dead in our sins and trespasses. You are either Born Again in Christ or your dead in your sins, there is no other option. 

Jesus said “Unless you are Born Again, you will not see the Kingdom of Heaven” (John 3:3) Why? Because you are dead in your sins, you are the Dry Bones in the valley of death, there is no spiritual life inside you. You live for the flesh like an animal, not living by the Holy Spirit as a Child of God. Until your soul has been regenerated, you could never see the Kingdom of Heaven or stand in the presence of God

Before you were Born Again, you used to walk according to the course of this world. Everything about this world is in opposition to Christ. That’s why Paul said “Don’t conform to the ways of the world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Romans 12:2) This world is completely Anti-Christ, that’s why everything this world does is blaspheme The Lord’s name. You hear it on a daily basis, over and over again, because the world hates Jesus Christ, because Jesus is the truth, the life, and the way (John 14:6)

Who is leading this rebellion? According to the prince of the power of the air, Satan. You either worship Christ or Satan, there is no other option. You might say well I’m an Atheist or a New Age, they all bow down to Satan. Anyone who rejects Jesus Christ is an Anti-Christ and worships Satan. There is no in-between, you’re either Born Again or dead in your sins. You are either a Child of God or a Child of disobedience. It’s very simple, the narrow path or the broad road to Hell. The path of life or the path of death, which way will you choose?

JC Ryle said “You are either Born Again or wish you were never born at all” The point is if you are not Born Again, you are dead in your sins, then the penalty of your sins will fall upon you. Its a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God, repent and put your faith in The Lord Jesus Christ before it’s too late! Amen!