All Really Does Mean All
(Ephesians 3: 1-12)
As a species we’ve always had a problem with acceptance and inclusivity going back to the birth of man with warring tribes of cavemen battling it out over territory, water, and the roaming food supply resulting in the survival of the fittest. And, as we evolved into a more civilized society, we’ve put institutions in place meant to divide and separate one another based upon perceived differences and beliefs that one group or race of people is inherently better than the other, or others as the case may be. And religion, those who profess to be followers of the way of Jesus Christ were not immune to such beliefs and our own Methodist Church was no exception. When Methodism arrived in America in the 18th century it began to spread rapidly as John Wesley’s message delivered through circuit riders like Francis Asbury resonated with those who had fled state-sponsored and state approved denominations such as the Church of England. The problem for the Methodist Church was that they were opposed to the institution of slavery but many of their wealthier members in southern Methodist churches were slaveholders and the slaves really gravitated to the inclusive teachings of Jesus Christ. In an attempt to allow the slaves to worship as one, the Methodists established churches for the black worshipers and even encouraged black preachers to lead services. It was well-intended but over the decades, with the abolishment of slavery, it grew into the “separate but equal” way of doing things and the Methodist Church even had a separate conference for the black churches. Fortunately, that all changed with the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Methodist Church got on board and eliminated the separate conference for black churches in the United States.
But white Christians had a hard time warming up to the idea that it was a part of God’s plan to have “these” people worship equally right alongside of them. You’d think that over sixty years later we would have moved past that, but you’d be wrong as White Christian Nationalism has raised its ugly head once again in America. They are of the belief that God didn’t really intend all to mean all when it came to worshiping Jesus Christ. And believe it or not, it’s that same exclusive attitude that the Apostle Paul was addressing in his letter to the Ephesian churches in our scripture reading for today.
As I failed to mention last week, Paul was writing this letter while he was being held captive in Rome under house arrest. He had openly preached about Jesus Christ being the Messiah, the one sent to unite God’s people, and it was getting under the skin of the Jewish leaders in Jerusalem who felt threatened by these teachings and movement that did not die with Jesus on the cross. They refused to believe Jesus was the Messiah, pressuring Rome to arrest Paul charging him with treason and causing rebellion among the Jews. He was speaking an inconvenient truth to power that would not be tolerated. The Pharisees and Sadducees wanted to be the official state recognized religion under the Roman Empire and there was no room for a conflicting or competing view. Truth scares power. The problem the Jews were having was that it was known in the Old Testament that the Gentiles would receive salvation. Isaiah 49: 6 says: It is not enough, since you are my servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the survivors of Israel. Hence, I will also appoint you as light to the nations so that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth. You would think that would be problematic, but they reasoned that such may be the case because nowhere is it said that Gentiles and Jewish believers would become equal in the body of Christ. Sure, they get salvation, but they are still separate and not equal to the actual descendants of Abraham.
Paul begins by reminding his Ephesian readers that he is a prisoner of Christ for them, the Gentiles, and of the responsibility to distribute God’s grace which was given to them. I think that’s a not-so-subtle reminder to them that they are not direct descendants of Abraham but have graciously been adopted as coheirs with Jesus Christ. He references back to the secret plan that was revealed to him, that he briefly mentioned at the beginning of his letter and that as they read on it will become more and more clear. He tells them that earlier generations did not know of this hidden plan that has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets through the Spirit. He says: This plan is that the Gentiles would be coheirs and parts of the same body, and that they would share with the Jews in the promises of God in Christ Jesus through the gospel. This is quite an impactful statement when you think back to where Paul came from and who he was. He was a Jew’s Jew, a rising star amongst the Pharisees, and a great persecutor of the followers of Jesus Christ, but by the grace of God the scales were removed from his eyes, and he saw and understood the Truth. He acknowledges that he became a servant of the gospel because of the grace that God showed him through the exercise of his power. He says: God gave his grace to me, the least of all God’s people, to preach the good news about the immeasurable riches of Christ to the Gentiles. It was God who was sending him to reveal this secret plan that had been hidden, even from the Jews, since the beginning of time. And, he says: God’s purpose is now to show the rulers and powers in the heavens the many different varieties of his wisdom through the church. Yeah, he’s talking about diversity, equality, and inclusion, he’s talking about all of what different people bring to the table in preaching, teaching, living, and spreading God’s word. It takes a diverse bunch of people to take the Word of God everywhere and to everyone. All really does mean all. Paul says that this was consistent with the plan he had from the beginning of time that he accomplished through Christ Jesus our Lord. In Christ, he says, we have bold and confident access to God through faith in him.
Well, that had to have gotten their attention. This part of the Master’s Plan had been hidden in the past but is now revealed. This mystery is God’s plan to overcome the powers and principalities that divide human beings and unite Jew and Gentile in Christ. He’s showing the world the many different varieties of his wisdom through the church whether it’s a church in Israel, Kenya, Panama, China, Moscow, New Delhi, Little Rock, Charlottsville, New York City, Minneapolis, Neah Bay, or anywhere else where two or more people meet in Jesus’ name. We’re everywhere! We’re not separate. We’re equal. By referring back to creation Paul is saying that this long-hidden plan that is now revealed stretches across time to demonstrate that in God’s unified people God is working to restore wholeness to a broken creation, a creation broken through sin and rebellion to God. God’s plan is to bring others, those different from us, into a relationship with God as we have been blessed by his grace and that together we can do his work and his will as one unified people, one body, the church with Christ as the head.
What the Apostle is telling us is that it is an awesome privilege to be able to approach God with freedom and confidence, even if you are under house arrest for preaching the Good News, even if you are ostracized by friends and family who are made uncomfortable by the Truth you represent. Most of us would be apprehensive in the presence of a powerful ruler, one who had the power to determine our fate, to upend our lives, to take what we have, but thanks to Christ, by faith we can enter directly into God’s presence through prayer knowing that God is there to protect and guide us. And we know that one day we’ll be welcomed with open arms because we are God’s children through our union with Christ. All really does mean all.
Let us pray.
Gracious and loving God how blessed we are that you have given us, freely given us, through your unmerited grace your love and forgiveness. We praise you in all things because you see us as your unblemished children through the sacrifice of your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. And as your children you love us unconditionally and, in turn, you expect us to show the same all-inclusive love to others in all that we do and say in your name. We pray that you will continually move us by your Holy Spirit to treat all people regardless of who we think they are with the same love, mercy, and compassion as you have shown us. May we live our lives in a way that shows to all who observe our actions that all really does mean all. In Jesus name, we pray, Amen.
To view service, click link below:
1/11/26
All Really Does Mean All
It takes a diverse bunch of people to take the Word of God everywhere and to everyone.
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1BK2b33Mtf/