Daily Devotions
Ephesians
"If indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you."
Text: Ephesians 3:2
NOT ALL HAD HEARD AND UNDERSTOOD
Paul was painfully conscious of the fact that not all had understood his special ministry of the Gentiles. There were many who struggled with the idea of the Gentiles being accepted by God. This was particularly true of the Jewish quarter.
PAUL’S OPEN DECLARATION OF HIS MINISTRY TO THE GENTILES
It was at Antioch, Pisidia that Paul openly declared his ministry to the Gentiles. It was so poignant and significant a moment, that the historian Luke preserved his declaration. (This declaration was made with full agreement from Barnabas, his co-labourer).
“It was necessary that the Word of God should
be spoken to you first; But since you reject it,
and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life,
behold, we turn to the Gentiles.”
ACTS 13:46
1) The context: Rejection of the Gospel by the Jews
The significance of the rejection of the Gospel must not be missed. God in His great and tender love sent His servants to minister to the Jews. Instead of embracing the message of the Gospel, they rejected it. They thus adjudged themselves unworthy of receiving eternal life.
2) A bold, public declaration of the ministry to the Gentiles
The Jews having rejected the Gospel, could not deny Paul’s right to proclaim the Gospel to the Gentiles. They did not own the message of the Gospel. Neither could they claim “patent rights” to the Scriptures. Paul could therefore publicly declare that he was going “to turn to the Gentiles”.
A SECOND DECLARATION OF THE MINISTRY TO THE GENTILES
Paul made a second declaration of his ministry to the Gentiles at Corinth.
“But when they opposed him and blasphemed,
he shook his garments and said to them,
‘Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean.
From now on I will go to the Gentiles.”
ACTS 18:6
1) A similar context: Rejection of the Gospel by the Jews
Again, the Jews opposed the gospel message Paul proclaimed. They could not overcome their deep-seated prejudice against Gentiles being given the Scriptures. It was hard to accept that Gentiles could actually speak of having the same faith as the Jews through the atoning work of the Lord Jesus Christ,
2) Another bold and consistent declaration of the ministry to the Gentiles
Paul’s declaration of devoting time “to go to the Gentiles” was made with great strength. He wanted all to bear witness that he had done his part and more, to proclaim the message of salvation to the Jews. He was therefore “clean” from blood-guiltiness (Cf. Ezekiel 3:18-21). If he were now to devote his life to reaching the Gentiles, he could not be blamed at all. He could give his whole attention to the Gentiles with a very clear conscience.
UNBOWED AND UNDETERRED
Paul did not allow anything to deter him from fulfilling the ministry God had entrusted to him. He was not only prepared to be a prisoner of the Lord Jesus Christ but also to lay down his life for Him.