July 2026
God's Amazing Plan, 5 July 2026
06 07 26
God’s Amazing Plan
Ephesians: Finding Our True Identity
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
July 5, 2026
Ephesians 3:1-13
Series Big Idea: For followers of Jesus, we find our true identity in Christ.
Big Idea: Paul wants his readers to understand the mystery of God’s amazing plan of salvation for Jews and Gentiles alike.
There are two types of people in this world—those who plan and those who…don’t! Which are you?
I like the old adage if you fail to plan, you plan to fail! We’ve all made plans, whether it was a vacation, a business, or something as simple as an outfit.
God has a plan. It’s an amazing plan which includes you, and we’re going to look at it today as we continue our series on the book of Ephesians, a letter written about two thousand years ago which remains relevant to this day.
For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—(Ephesians 3:1)
Let’s stop right there! For this reason. For what reason? Last week Brent Sleasman looked at the end of chapter two, what Markus Barth called “The key and high point of the whole epistle.” Ephesians is an epistle, a short letter. Paul was talking about Jesus and Gentiles coming together to become God’s people. This was radical! Imagine someone tried to bring Republicans and Democrats together in our day. Incredible! Yet Jesus died for Jews and Gentiles alike. Last week’s text ends,
And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. (Ephesians 2:22)
Amazing!
Back to verse one of chapter three:
For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—(Ephesians 3:1)
One more thing—Paul’s writing from prison, but he doesn’t say he’s a prisoner of Rome, but rather the prisoner of Christ Jesus…for the sake of the Gentiles. He’s doesn’t see himself as a victim of Roman injustice, but rather imprisoned for a cause…for Christ. Jesus is everything to Paul, and he endured seemingly constant suffering to accomplish the mission of making disciples, making followers of Jesus. In fact, he also wrote Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon from prison.
Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you, 3 that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. (Ephesians 3:2-3)
We take it for granted today, but nobody in the ancient world imagined God’s grace was for all people. The Jews were God’s chosen people…and sometimes let it be known! As a Jew, here Paul is called to the Gentiles, non-Jewish people.
In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. (Ephesians 3:4-5)
What is the mystery of Christ?
This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 3:6)
Paul sees God’s grace through the bringing together of Jews and Gentiles as God’s children. He says “together” three times in this verse! This was a very big deal because, again, many believed salvation was only for Israel, not the entire world. It’s an understatement to say the two groups didn’t always get along. But God revealed to Paul the mystery of together. All are invited to the party! All are welcome to follow Jesus!
I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. (Ephesians 3:7)
Paul calls himself a servant, a diakonos in the Greek, the term we call “deacon.” People often like the idea of being a servant…until they are treated like one! Are you a servant? He’s not merely serving people, but a servant of this gospel, a minister of good news, a proclaimer of truth…of the way, the truth, and the life, Jesus the Messiah.
Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, 9 and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. (Ephesians 3:8-9)
It seems hard to imagine the writer of much of the New Testament being less than the least of all the Lord’s people, but Paul had persecuted the Church before encountering the risen Jesus. God used him greatly, but he lived every day with the memory of his life before Christ. Can you imagine the guilt and shame…and forgiveness he experienced?
What does this tell us about God? His grace is amazing. His riches are boundless. He created all things.
His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, 11 according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Ephesians 3:10-11)
Let’s unpack this.
God works through the church, the people of God, Jews and Gentiles revealing God’s plan of salvation together.
Rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms refer to spiritual beings over which the Church has power to declare, and God’s purposes are eternal. We have authority given to us by Christ and we need to use it for his glory. Also, Paul says Jesus’ work and mission have eternal consequences. When you give, serve, love, volunteer, promote, share, disciple, equip, it will pay dividends for eternity! Try that with your 401(k)!
In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. (Ephesians 3:12)
I love that we can approach God…with freedom…and confidence. Our Father loves us and wants to hear from us, no matter what’s on our mind.
What’s on your mind today? What have you hesitated to tell God? What request seems selfish, insignificant, or simply too big for God to handle?
I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory. (Ephesians 3:13)
Pauls’ suffering in prison, yet it is an investment in their future, the age to come.
In a letter to a church in modern day Greece, he said,
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)
In our culture, we will do just about anything to avoid suffering. Paul seems to almost like it! His eyes are not on today’s trouble, but eternity’s rewards. Instead of asking God, “Why?” he is asking, “What are you up to, LORD?” It’s all about perspective.
I was present for the birth of three babies. Standing around for hours and supporting my wife took a lot out of me! Ha! I detected she had a little discomfort during natural, drug-free childbirth! Yet during hours of labor, she kept thinking about the purpose…the why. She knew it would be worth it. The pain was temporary. The payoff would last a lifetime.
Have you ever been persecuted for your faith? We are blessed with many freedoms in this nation, but today many of our brothers and sisters are suffering deeply for the gospel, the good news we proclaim and embrace. According to the 2026 World Watch List from Open Doors and Global Christian Relief, approximately 388 million Christians today are experiencing persecution and discrimination for their faith, rising 8 million in one year. That means about 1 in 7 Christians today is suffering for their religious identity. There are now 15 countries experiencing extreme persecution, led by North Korea, Somalia, Yemen, Sudan, and Eritrea.
So What?
Paul wants his readers to understand the mystery of God’s amazing plan of salvation for Jews and Gentiles alike. Here’s a simple summary of the story:
God created a perfect world (Genesis 1-2).
Adam and Eve sinned and messed up everything (Genesis 3).
God chose Abraham to be the recipient of a special covenant, leading to the formation of the nation of Israel, the Jews (Genesis 12).
Jesus came to die not only for the Jews but also Gentiles. “For God so loved the world!”
Jesus rose from the dead, ascended into heaven, and is coming back soon.
We are on a mission from God to make sure everyone has a chance to hear the good news—the gospel—that Jesus is LORD, that reconciliation with God was made possible by the cross and empty tomb. We do this through prayer, telling our story, sending missionaries, and the Internet. As an example of that last one, our Outreach & Missions Commission invested $500 earlier this year in an Easter outreach with Jesus Online Ministries. The $500 was matched by a generous donor in Pittsburgh and as a result, 52,632 people heard the gospel, 1599 rededicated their lives to Jesus, 1441 accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior, and 914 new Jesus Online App users accessed spiritual growth resources. Praise the LORD!
Today, whether you’re in prison or a palace, God sees you, He knows you, He loves you, and He wants every person on this planet to know, love, and serve Him. Let’s go follow His plan to love, equip, and send, making disciples of all nations…for His glory!
Ephesians: Finding Our True Identity
Kirk Schneemann
College First Church of God
July 5, 2026
Ephesians 3:1-13
Series Big Idea: For followers of Jesus, we find our true identity in Christ.
Big Idea: Paul wants his readers to understand the mystery of God’s amazing plan of salvation for Jews and Gentiles alike.
There are two types of people in this world—those who plan and those who…don’t! Which are you?
I like the old adage if you fail to plan, you plan to fail! We’ve all made plans, whether it was a vacation, a business, or something as simple as an outfit.
God has a plan. It’s an amazing plan which includes you, and we’re going to look at it today as we continue our series on the book of Ephesians, a letter written about two thousand years ago which remains relevant to this day.
For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—(Ephesians 3:1)
Let’s stop right there! For this reason. For what reason? Last week Brent Sleasman looked at the end of chapter two, what Markus Barth called “The key and high point of the whole epistle.” Ephesians is an epistle, a short letter. Paul was talking about Jesus and Gentiles coming together to become God’s people. This was radical! Imagine someone tried to bring Republicans and Democrats together in our day. Incredible! Yet Jesus died for Jews and Gentiles alike. Last week’s text ends,
And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit. (Ephesians 2:22)
Amazing!
Back to verse one of chapter three:
For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles—(Ephesians 3:1)
One more thing—Paul’s writing from prison, but he doesn’t say he’s a prisoner of Rome, but rather the prisoner of Christ Jesus…for the sake of the Gentiles. He’s doesn’t see himself as a victim of Roman injustice, but rather imprisoned for a cause…for Christ. Jesus is everything to Paul, and he endured seemingly constant suffering to accomplish the mission of making disciples, making followers of Jesus. In fact, he also wrote Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon from prison.
Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you, 3 that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. (Ephesians 3:2-3)
We take it for granted today, but nobody in the ancient world imagined God’s grace was for all people. The Jews were God’s chosen people…and sometimes let it be known! As a Jew, here Paul is called to the Gentiles, non-Jewish people.
In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. (Ephesians 3:4-5)
What is the mystery of Christ?
This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 3:6)
Paul sees God’s grace through the bringing together of Jews and Gentiles as God’s children. He says “together” three times in this verse! This was a very big deal because, again, many believed salvation was only for Israel, not the entire world. It’s an understatement to say the two groups didn’t always get along. But God revealed to Paul the mystery of together. All are invited to the party! All are welcome to follow Jesus!
I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. (Ephesians 3:7)
Paul calls himself a servant, a diakonos in the Greek, the term we call “deacon.” People often like the idea of being a servant…until they are treated like one! Are you a servant? He’s not merely serving people, but a servant of this gospel, a minister of good news, a proclaimer of truth…of the way, the truth, and the life, Jesus the Messiah.
Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, 9 and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. (Ephesians 3:8-9)
It seems hard to imagine the writer of much of the New Testament being less than the least of all the Lord’s people, but Paul had persecuted the Church before encountering the risen Jesus. God used him greatly, but he lived every day with the memory of his life before Christ. Can you imagine the guilt and shame…and forgiveness he experienced?
What does this tell us about God? His grace is amazing. His riches are boundless. He created all things.
His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, 11 according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Ephesians 3:10-11)
Let’s unpack this.
God works through the church, the people of God, Jews and Gentiles revealing God’s plan of salvation together.
Rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms refer to spiritual beings over which the Church has power to declare, and God’s purposes are eternal. We have authority given to us by Christ and we need to use it for his glory. Also, Paul says Jesus’ work and mission have eternal consequences. When you give, serve, love, volunteer, promote, share, disciple, equip, it will pay dividends for eternity! Try that with your 401(k)!
In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. (Ephesians 3:12)
I love that we can approach God…with freedom…and confidence. Our Father loves us and wants to hear from us, no matter what’s on our mind.
What’s on your mind today? What have you hesitated to tell God? What request seems selfish, insignificant, or simply too big for God to handle?
I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory. (Ephesians 3:13)
Pauls’ suffering in prison, yet it is an investment in their future, the age to come.
In a letter to a church in modern day Greece, he said,
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:16-18)
In our culture, we will do just about anything to avoid suffering. Paul seems to almost like it! His eyes are not on today’s trouble, but eternity’s rewards. Instead of asking God, “Why?” he is asking, “What are you up to, LORD?” It’s all about perspective.
I was present for the birth of three babies. Standing around for hours and supporting my wife took a lot out of me! Ha! I detected she had a little discomfort during natural, drug-free childbirth! Yet during hours of labor, she kept thinking about the purpose…the why. She knew it would be worth it. The pain was temporary. The payoff would last a lifetime.
Have you ever been persecuted for your faith? We are blessed with many freedoms in this nation, but today many of our brothers and sisters are suffering deeply for the gospel, the good news we proclaim and embrace. According to the 2026 World Watch List from Open Doors and Global Christian Relief, approximately 388 million Christians today are experiencing persecution and discrimination for their faith, rising 8 million in one year. That means about 1 in 7 Christians today is suffering for their religious identity. There are now 15 countries experiencing extreme persecution, led by North Korea, Somalia, Yemen, Sudan, and Eritrea.
So What?
Paul wants his readers to understand the mystery of God’s amazing plan of salvation for Jews and Gentiles alike. Here’s a simple summary of the story:
God created a perfect world (Genesis 1-2).
Adam and Eve sinned and messed up everything (Genesis 3).
God chose Abraham to be the recipient of a special covenant, leading to the formation of the nation of Israel, the Jews (Genesis 12).
Jesus came to die not only for the Jews but also Gentiles. “For God so loved the world!”
Jesus rose from the dead, ascended into heaven, and is coming back soon.
We are on a mission from God to make sure everyone has a chance to hear the good news—the gospel—that Jesus is LORD, that reconciliation with God was made possible by the cross and empty tomb. We do this through prayer, telling our story, sending missionaries, and the Internet. As an example of that last one, our Outreach & Missions Commission invested $500 earlier this year in an Easter outreach with Jesus Online Ministries. The $500 was matched by a generous donor in Pittsburgh and as a result, 52,632 people heard the gospel, 1599 rededicated their lives to Jesus, 1441 accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior, and 914 new Jesus Online App users accessed spiritual growth resources. Praise the LORD!
Today, whether you’re in prison or a palace, God sees you, He knows you, He loves you, and He wants every person on this planet to know, love, and serve Him. Let’s go follow His plan to love, equip, and send, making disciples of all nations…for His glory!