Unsearchable Riches

This year we plan to visit friends on the mission field in Southern Asia. Each week as I pray for these friends and other friends in full-time ministry, I am reminded of several things. First, they have sacrificed much. They are willing to live far away from family, and live in diverse cultures with a standard of living less than many in the States who work in a non-ministry job. Even those serving in ministry in the States make similar sacrifices. We know there can be feelings of isolation living in another country, away from family, friends, and familiar things. There is usually more awareness of depending on God daily for bread in terms of necessary visas and paperwork. There are different languages and cultures to which to adjust or more people and ministry opportunities than they can physically, mentally, and spiritually handle. The reality of hurting and lost people weighs heavy.

Why make so many sacrifices? You may know the story of Jim Elliot, Nate Saint, Ed McCully, Roger Youderian, and Pete Fleming (if not, I encourage you to look it up). They committed to reaching a hostile tribe in the jungles of Ecuador with the Gospel. They were all murdered in their endeavor. Jim’s wife Elisabeth returned two years later with her daughter and Nate Saint’s sister, forgiving, loving, and serving the people who had murdered her husband and the four other missionaries. Jim Elliot himself summed up the “why” of sacrificial service for the Gospel: “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.” In Christ, are unsearchable riches that infinitely surpass anything the world has to offer. Jim and Elisabeth Elliott, our friends in Southern Asia, and others serving God faithfully understand the unsearchable riches of Christ. They are burdened for others to know, understand, believe, and receive the Gospel even if it means sacrificing earthly things.

Paul expresses further amazement at the Gospel stewardship God in grace gave him.

For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— ² assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, ³ how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. ⁴ When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, ⁵ which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit. ⁶ This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

⁷ Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power. ⁸ To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, ⁹ and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, ¹⁰ so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. ¹¹ This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, ¹² in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him. ¹³ So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory. ^[1]

Ephesians 3:1-13 (emphasis added)

In verses 8 and 9, Paul continues to share his role but always returning to the surpassing role of God’s grace.

“To me” – Can you hear the amazement in these two words? Paul has not ceased to be humbled that God would choose him to be a minister of the Gospel. He amplifies his amazement with the words “though I am the very least of all the saints.” This is a comparative statement that could also be understood as “less than the least.” Paul knew he had zero merit of his own to be chosen as a minister of the Gospel. He was keenly aware of his past in persecuting believers and Christ Himself (Acts 9:1-4). He understood his own unrighteousness, but Paul also grasped God’s righteousness and grace, making him a living example of the Gospel to those to whom he preached that same Gospel. We see this in the next phrase. In 1 Corinthians 15:9, Paul referred to himself as the least of the apostles. Here, as in 1 Timothy 1:15, Paul broadens his statement from the apostles to all the saints. Despite the divine revelations he received (2 Corinthians 12:7-10), and the calling he’d been given, Paul remained humble.

“this grace was given – Paul brings his readers back again to the truth that every aspect of his ministry is by God’s grace not Paul’s efforts or merit. This grace was given for two purposes.

First, God gave Paul grace “to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ” (vs 8b). Grace that transformed Paul from thinking of Gentiles as unclean and unworthy of worshiping in the temple to joyfully, willingly, determinedly preaching the Gospel to them. Paul endured every kind of hardship (2 Corinthians 11:23-29) and was ready to die for the sake of preaching the Gospel.

Paul preached “the unsearchable riches of Christ.” Merkle gives a helpful understanding of unsearchable: “The word translated ‘unsearchable’ could also be rendered ‘inscrutable’ or incomprehensible’ and refers to something ‘impossible to understand on the basis of careful examination or investigation.’”^[2] Unsearchablecan also be understood as “without footprint” which presents a paradox with God’s love displayed visibly on the cross. The same Greek word is used in Romans 11:33 to describe God’s ways: “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways” (emphasis added). We can never fully understand the riches of Christ this side of eternity, but we can be grateful for all that God, in His grace, does allow us to comprehend.

What are the “riches of Christ” or Christ’s boundless wealth? There are several answers we glean from Scripture. In Paul’s letter to the Colossian church he taught: “in whom [Christ] are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3) Peter wrote: “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence” (2 Peter 1:3, emphasis added).

We can also look back to Ephesians 1:3-14 for riches of Christ – every spiritual blessing, chosen to be holy and blameless, predestined for adoption through Christ to be sons and daughters of God, redeemed, forgiven, God’s grace lavished upon us, God’s will made known to us to unite all things in Christ.

John MacArthur comprised a partial list as well: “Among the unfathomable riches with which Christ has blessed us are “His kindness and forbearance and patience” (Rom. 2:4), His “wisdom and knowledge” (Rom. 11:33), His mercy and great love (Eph. 2:4), “His glory” (3:16), His supplying us with “all things to enjoy” (1 Tim. 6:17), His assurance (Col. 2:2), His word (3:16), and even our being reproached for His sake (Heb. 11:26). Little wonder that Paul triumphantly reminds us that “in Him you have been made complete” (Col. 2:10).^[3]

These lists are just the tip of the iceberg because the riches of Christ are unsearchable, but we must note that Paul preached the unsearchable riches of Christ. Faith in Jesus, – His atoning death in our place, His resurrection, and ascension (the Gospel message) – is what flings wide the doors to the unsearchable riches of Christ. It is only in Christ that we can know His unsearchable riches.

The second purpose in God giving Paul grace was “to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things” (vs 9). “To bring to light” is a verb meaning “to light up.” The Gospel which is being brought to light is for everyone – Jew and Gentile (vs 2:15).

God had a plan or strategy. This is the same Greek word, oikonomia, translated stewardship in verse 2. God was going to unite believing Jews and Gentiles into one new man, the church (vs 10) through Christ.

This mystery was hidden in God. Only God knew the plan, the mystery. This makes it all the more astounding to Paul that God would choose him to receive the mystery and preach it. Paul who once persecuted those who believed the Gospel, now is preaching the Gospel to Jews and Gentiles.

The mystery was hidden in God who created all things – With these words, Paul reminds us of our sovereign, creator God who is more than able to guarantee that His plan is accomplished. Like last week, we see Paul pointing to God’s grace from beginning to end and everything in between.

Reflection

1.    In what ways are you prideful of gifts, knowledge, or abilities that God has given you? Following Paul’s example, how can you cultivate a humble heart that gives glory to God alone?

2.    Describe someone you have witnessed sacrificing for the sake of the Gospel? What have you been unwilling to sacrifice for the sake of sharing the Gospel or being an ambassador for Christ in your words and actions?

3.    What riches of the world capture your heart more than the unsearchable riches of Christ? Choose one or two of the riches in Christ from above on which to meditate and for which to thank God.

^[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Eph 3:1–13.

^[2] J.P. Louw and Eugene Nida. Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains (New York: United Bible Societies, 1989) cited in Merkle, Benjamin L. Expository Commentary, Vol. XI: Ephesians – Philemon. Wheaton, Crossway, 2018.

^[3] John F. MacArthur Jr., Ephesians, MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chicago: Moody Press, 1986), 95.