Preaching of the Cross
Eph 3:7 I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace, given me through the working of His power. BSB
Significantly, it was to Paul, not Peter, that “the secret of the gospel” was first revealed. (See Eph. 3:1-3; 6:19). It was he who was first sent forth to proclaim the doctrine of salvation, and to reveal all that had been accomplished at Calvary.
The Old Testament Scriptures had predicted that the sins of others would be laid upon Christ, but they had not explained how Christ’s death would be the basis for the sinner’s justification.
Many a criminal has gone free because his crimes have been “pinned on” another, but this has by no means justified the criminal! Some sincere Christians seem to think that substitution is the very acme of Bible truth, when in fact it is but the beginning, for substitution in itself does not imply the sinner’s justification.
It is also true that salvation had been offered before Paul. Men were told what to do to be saved — though the terms varied from time to time — and were even instructed, upon Christ’s arrival, to believe in Him for salvation. At that time sacrifices, circumcision, water baptism, etc., were still required for the remission of sins — and any believer would approach God in His way. This is why these religious rites were observed throughout our Lord’s earthly ministry and even through Pentecost.
The Apostle Paul, however, was later raised up to make known “the secret of the gospel,” and to proclaim the glorious accomplishments of Christ at Calvary. All the rich blessings so thrillingly set forth in Paul’s epistles flow to us from Calvary. Ours is a heavenly position because He came to earth to die for our sins. Ours is “the hope of glory,” because He suffered our shame. Ours is the blessing of “peace with God” because He bore God’s wrath upon sin. Ours is relief from the load of sin because He bore that load. Every one of our “all spiritual blessings” comes to us from Calvary. Paul’s “secret of the gospel” centers in Calvary. Little wonder St. Paul calls his preaching “the preaching of the cross.”
by Pastor Cornelius R. Stam / Berean Bible Society
Scripture
Eph 3:1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles...
Eph 3:2 Surely you have heard about the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you,
Eph 3:3 that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly.
Eph 3:4 In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ,
Eph 3:5 which was not made known to men in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets.
Eph 3:6 This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are fellow heirs, fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus.
Eph 3:7 I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace, given me through the working of His power.
Eph 3:8 Though I am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,
Eph 3:9 and to illuminate for everyone the stewardship of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.
Eph 3:10 His purpose was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms,
Eph 3:11 according to the eternal purpose that He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Eph 3:12 In Him and through faith in Him we may enter God’s presence with boldness and confidence.
Eph 3:13 So I ask you not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.
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