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The Mystery of Christ and the Church: Ephesians 5:32-33

October 4, 2020 Preacher: Bob DeWaay Series: Ephesians

Scripture: Ephesians 5:32-33

This sermon focuses on the Biblical meaning of “mystery” and contrasts it with the mythological ideas of the pagans. First we deal with Paul’s use of Genesis 2:24 to not only teach about marriage, but about Christ and the church. As an apostle, Paul reveals that the passage not only tells us about human marriage, but about Christ and the church. We only know this because God chose to reveal it through His prophets and apostles. We examine the term “mystery” as used in Daniel 2 when Daniel interpreted the Babylonian king’s dream as revealing future world empires. Mystery is not some mystical secret that diviners might have impressions about, but something that would remain unknown had God not chosen to reveal it. The pagan shamans of Daniel’s day knew they could not know the meaning. Daniel was God’s prophet and did. Likewise, the New Covenant reality of Christ and the church was revealed to Christ’s apostles and prophets.

The sermon also covers Paul’s teaching on husbands loving their wives and wives respecting their husbands. “Respect” is literally “fear” and finishes bracketed material that goes back to Ephesians 5:21 where we are to “be subject to one another in the fear of Christ.”

The rest of the sermon explores the infatuation the pagan world has with romantically mysterious myths. Those who do not listen to the authoritative words of the Creator are seduced by nature myths. Their “insatiable curiosity” leads them into the deceptive world of the spirits. The Bible contains rational, sober-minded truth. Nature is seductive, but fallen and deceptive. We show how this is happening in our culture today. Romans 1:18-20 describes the results of people worshipping the creation rather than the Creator. We point people to the hope of the gospel which is known because the Creator has spoken clear, binding words. We can have the hope of glory!