THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO PAUL: PART FIVE

Unlike the Church at Galatia, where false teachers had convinced the leadership that Gentiles needed to become Jews (be circumcised) in order to be saved (Gal. 2, 5, 6), in Paul's letter to the Church at Ephesus, he was dealing with their rejection of the Gentiles even becoming members of the Body of Christ. He wrote:

"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: whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power" (Eph. 3:5-7).

Paul had said something similar in his letter to the Galatians:

"But contrariwise, when they saw that the Gospel of the uncircumcision was committed unto me, as the Gospel of the circumcision was unto Peter; for he that wrought effectually in Peter to the apostleship of the circumcision, the same was mighty in me toward the Gentiles: and when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision" (Gal. 2:7-9).

Later in his letter to the Church at Ephesus, Paul made mention of the "Gospel of peace" being part of "the whole armour of God" (6:11). He added, "And your feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace" (6:15). Isn't it strange that when a born again believer is being attacked by God's enemies, he is to be prepared to advance with a message of peace, that is, an offer of peace from God Himself? While Satan's forces seek "to steal, and to kill, and to destroy" (Jn. 10:10), God's children are to be ready to proclaim the Gospel of peace! Peter said it this way: "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear" (1 Pet. 3:15).

Paul's final mention of the Gospel in Ephesians is his request for them to pray that God would give him boldness "to make known the mystery of the Gospel" (6:19). I explained why the Gospel is called a mystery in Part Three, so I would refer you to that post. The fact that Paul was asking for prayer indicates two things: first, Paul was also under attack by Satanic forces, and in addition, Paul needed God to "open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ" (Col. 4:3). If the man who wrote half of the New Testament, the man who had the power to work miracles, the man who had been victorious in facing every sort of opposition needed prayer, it is certain that you and I need it. Pray for one another!

It is my desire to continue this study tomorrow, if it be the will of our Lord. God bless you.