God Opens His Treasure Chest For All To See

Ephesians 3:2-12

Epiphany

1/5/23; 1/6/23; 1/8/23

St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church—Beaver Dam, WI

In the movie “National Treasure” a group of treasure hunters seeks a hidden riches. Contrary to the legendary map with the “x” marks the spot, this group had to piece together clues of a different nature in order to find the treasure. All of the clues to the buried treasure dealt with American historical facts. They raced around the cities of Philadelphia and Washington D.C. finding clues in top secret places. They even got in trouble for “borrowing” the Constitution. Once they solved all the clues, it led them to the treasure. Even though the temptation must of have been great to keep the treasure for themselves, they resisted. The group of treasure hunters divided the treasure to various museums around the world for all people to enjoy.

What is our greatest treasure? The answer can vary from person to person. It might not even be something worth huge sums of money to the outside world, but to us it is priceless. Today, God shares a treasure with us. This treasure reveals great riches meant for all.

God Opens His Treasure Chest For All To See

1. A treasure revealed through the gospel.
2. A treasure making us one.

Paul served as a missionary to the Gentiles. If we go back far enough, this was not always the case. A man named Saul persecuted the Christians. He lived his life as a zealot Pharisee. Saul arrested, even gave his approval to killing, Christians. In his mind Saul thought he was doing God a favor. The tables would soon turn on him.

One day God stopped Saul in his tracks. With a blinding light Saul’s life changed forever. Saul lived with a new focus. He went from persecutor to proclaimer. The former Saul, now known as Paul, was called by God to go to the Gentiles.

“Surely you have heard of the administration of God’s grace given to me for you, namely, that the mystery was made known to me by revelation” (Ephesians 3:2-3). Paul was once blinded to the truth. God opened Paul’s eyes to the truth. Jesus came not to create a cult following but to save the world from their sins by his death on the cross. The very thing Paul once thought was a conspiracy turned out to change his life forever.

Paul shared this wonderful news with all people. The message shared with him though a revelation he revealed to all. He could not keep this treasure to himself. God commanded Paul to reveal this mystery to all the Gentiles.

When we hear the word “mystery”, what comes to mind? Do we think of a crime novel? We follow a detective gathering all the clues to figure out who committed the crime. Do we think of a spy thriller? The spy chases down a master criminal. His arrest saves national security.

Paul uses the word mystery as something that needs to be revealed. People do not have access to this mystery by themselves. A lifetime of searching could never uncover the truth behind this mystery. It does not come naturally to our natural sinful self. The enlightenment had to come from somewhere else.

Paul revealed this mystery to the Gentiles. He proclaimed to them the gospel message. “To me-even though I am the very least of all the saints-was given this grace: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ and to enlighten everyone about the administration of this mystery” (Ephesians 3:8-9). The message was simple. Jesus came into the world. He came not for a single race. He came for all people. The Gentiles needed to hear how God’s treasure was revealed for all people through the gospel message.

Our eyes needed to be opened. We come into this world blind to the truth of the good news of Jesus. The treasure of the gospel remains hidden. Like Paul, we fight against God. Our sinful ears do not want to hear the sweet message of the gospel. God calls us back. God opens our eyes through the proclamation of the gospel message in the church. We see the great treasure God gives to us revealed in the gospel message.

Paul emphasized the fact that this amazing treasure from God makes all Christians one. Paul summed up it beautifully, “This mystery is that in Christ Jesus the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and people who also share in the promise through the gospel” (Ephesians 3:6). For a long time, Jews and Gentiles were divided. God handpicked the Jews as his own chosen nation. He hedged in the Jews with the Old Testament Laws.

However, even in those days God’s purpose was seen. The gospel message brought Gentiles to faith. Rahab and Ruth were just some of the examples of Gentiles brought to faith. Yet, in the mind of so many they were still separate. It led to a great misunderstanding. Some thought only the Jews could have God’s promises. Some wanted this separation to remain. Even the Apostle Peter fell victim to keeping the two separate from each other.

The Holy Spirit showed how these two groups would be one. Paul proclaimed the very same treasure to the Gentiles. They both worshiped the same God. The blood of Jesus covered over the sins of all people. The good news of forgiveness through faith reached out to all people.

Those words of oneness picture for us the great treasure the gospel is for all people. We are fellow heirs. We do not have to fight over whether God’s gifts are enough for all people. Faith unites all people into God’s family. We are heirs together of God’s promises. This gift only comes to us because of Jesus’ death upon the cross. The certainty of the resurrection gives peace and comfort to all people. We are heirs of God’s promises with all the faithful.

We all make up one body of Christ. When one part of the body suffers, it all suffers. When one part of the body enjoys success, the whole body feels the same exhilaration. All believers join together in one body. We build ourselves upon the firm foundation of Christ and his Word. We work together for the good of one another. We are not separate. We stand as one.

All believers also enjoy the same promises of Christ. The Magi came to worship Jesus because they believed those promises. They did not follow the star to the house where Jesus lived with Mary and Joseph on the whim of some empty promise. They studied the promises of Jesus. They wanted to come and worship the Savior and present their costly gifts to him.

We know the promises of Jesus. Those promises fill our hearts with joy. We share in all those promises God revealed for the Jews. Jesus was born for us. Jesus lived for us. Jesus died for us. Jesus rose for us.

We do not need to run around piecing together all the clues to find the treasure. It is all there revealed for us in the gospel message. The gospel reveals our Savior who came to die for the sins of the whole world. He makes us one with all believers. We enjoy the unity with our Savior with people from every nation, tribe, and language. We look forward to the time when we will live before our Savior for all eternity. That is the mystery revealed for us to behold. God Opens His Treasure Chest For All To See. Amen.