The unsearchable riches of Christ to man

Ephesians 3:8-9

That which Christ did for man on the cross was out of Love. It was God’s plan for man even before the foundation of the world but many did not know about it. God revealed this to man in the later years (Eph 3:3)

What is this plan which God revealed to man?

-          Even though man disobeyed God, it was not a surprise to God. God is all knowing and so He knew man will fall one day. So God made a redemption plan to make our holiness possible again because He had chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy (Eph 1:4)

-          This plan was hidden but revealed to man these last times. It was revealed to you who by grace believed in God and what the blood of Christ did for you (1 Pet 1:19-20)

-          When Adam and Eve sinned God revealed this plan but it was manifested when the Diety came in form of man – Christ. God said to the old-serpent “I’ll put enmity between you and the woman , your seed and her seed” (Gen 3:15)

-          God wanted those who believe to have life again (Jn 3:16). He did this out of love

-          Man did not love God. Man showed hatred because he disobeyed God but God still loved man and paid for our sins.

-          He sent His son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins (1Jn 4:10)

-          Jesus took your sins and by His stripes you are healed (Isa 53:5-6). It does not say you were healed but that you are healed. Now! It is actual not a thing of the past. It applies to you and me now.

-          Rom 8:22 says humanity groans under the pain and curse of sin. We are cursed because of sin but because of God’s love He did not intend this to continue. God redeemed us from the curse, by becoming a curse for us. He was hanged on a tree for your sins and mine so that we could be saved. Today in Cameroon when someone hangs on a tree, it is considered an abomination and a curse. The body is buried in the bush like in most parts of the grassfields of Cameroon. This is the kind of shame our Lord took for us (Gal 3:13 read)

-          That is the mysteries of the unsearchable riches of Christ given to man. It is the gospel.

God’s love was manifested in the love of Christ

-          He gave His life for His friends (Jn 15:13).We are His friends if we love and obey Him. He was there in creation and was there before the foundation of the world. He was present when the God head made the rescue plan for man.

-          His love surpasses knowledge, so that we are filled by the fullness of God (Eph 3:19). We gain the attributes of God since God indwells us through the Spirit. This can only be possible through the transformation of our minds (Ro 12:1-2). Christ’s love is beyond knowledge.

-          Christ is the only Door to salvation (Jn 10:7-9)

-          He says you’ll have rest from your problems, from your worries, because He paid it all on the cross of Calvary. Is your soul troubled? Is life unfair to you? Came to Jesus and He’ll give you rest (Matt 11:29)

-          He’ll never leave you. Christ the prince of peace, the king of kings, the Lord of Lords. He says He’ll never leave you or abandon you. Just come to Him and He’ll give you peace in your soul and your mind.

What does the unsearchable riches of Christ mean to you as a believer?

-          God revealed these mysteries of the unsearchable riches of Christ to man through His Spirit. For the things of God, no one knows except the Spirit of God.

-          We have received the Spirit from God, not of the world so that we might know the things freely given to us by God (1 Cor 2:10-13).

-          Col 1:27 says God has revealed this mystery to His Saints, the believers including the Gentiles. What are the riches? “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Him we preach!

-          The full knowledge of the mystery of God is Christ (Col 2:2). All the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden in Christ. In Him alone, so do not be deceived with any persuasive words that does not have the word of Christ.

-          Eph 3:9 reminds us who have accepted and obeyed the gospel to be stewards of this mystery. We are now members of the fellowship of God’s children and His kingdom. We need to fellowship with others in the faith and preach this gospel. A disciple is a steward of that which he has received in order to deliver it to others.

-          The redemption plan was hidden in God. Reason why the two apostles could not understand that the Christ was to die and be resurrected the third day (Lk 24:21) even though the prophets had prophesied.

-          The same prophets did not understand what they wrote (1 Pet 1:10-12). Angels sought to understand this mystery, but it was not revealed to them, including Satan.

-          Eph 3:10 says principalities and powers in heavenly places did not know about the mystery.

Though Satan knew that God had a plan for man in Gen 3:15 when God said his head will be bruised by the seed of the woman, he did not know the full story until Jesus was resurrected from the dead. If he knew about the plan he would not have surely deceived the religious leaders in Jerusalem to crucify Jesus. He thought he was winning when Jesus Christ was going to the cross, but when it happened he knew he had lost again. When you and I were caught up in sin, doing the things of the world, Satan knew he was winning until the day we accepted Jesus as our personal Lord and savior. Then Satan and his agents cried the lost while the angels in heaven rejoiced. That is what Jesus gives to those who accept Him and obey His word.