Title: Wisdom of God (Ephesians 3:10-13)
Today, the church has lost its sense of mystery. Originally, the church was a gathering with a mystery that could not be understood by the world. However, people who are bound by the world came into the church and made the church a thing of the world. Because he led the church according to the standards of the world. As a result, believers have also lost the true blessings and privileges of the church. By evaluating the church by how big it is, how gorgeous the church building is, what kind of programs it has, how much donations it has, and how many people it has helped, the essence of the church as a church is hidden. Interest in how spiritual the church is, how universal the church is, how the church is in the power of God, and how the church is in the rich love of Christ has disappeared, and there is only an attempt to evaluate it with worldly value, if any.
Let's look at 1 Peter 1:12. Here again, if anyone wants to see Jesus' work of redemption, it is said that the angels want to see it too. What the church has to do on this earth is that it is not just how to collect, build, and expand a lot. You have to show the angels the wisdom of God. So? The church is a tool that shows the wisdom of God. Then, what is the wisdom of God? Verse 11 says, “From eternity, according to the purpose foreordained in Christ Jesus our Lord. In other words, the wisdom of God is speaking of the cross. In other words, we are talking about the redemptive work of Jesus. 1 Corinthians 1:24 says that Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. But in verse 18 it says, "The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who believe in salvation it is the power of God." God's wisdom is foolishness and foolishness in the eyes of the world. This is what we need to tell the angels.
This wonderful mystery of saving us by dying on the cross was foolish. But this was God's wisdom and power. That is how the church was established. Therefore, what the church has to show is this very method of the cross, that is, the foolish method. So how is that wisdom manifested? Verse 12 says, “In him, through faith in him, we have confidence and access to God.” It means that coming to God leads to walking by faith. This is the wisdom of God. The fact that Gentiles and Jews alike had faith in God and moved forward was the wisdom of God that even the angels wondered about. However, in the eyes of the world, this wisdom seems too foolish. Also, in verse 13 of the text, we discover the reality of this wisdom more and more. "Therefore, I beg you, do not lose heart over my tribulation for you, for this is your glory." Can you understand these words?
Now Paul said that there is a church to make wisdom known to the angels. And what are you talking about when you clearly say "therefore"? Paul tells us not to be discouraged by this tribulation. You can see the wisdom of God here. How does God let the gospel be preached through Paul? He makes us preach the gospel through the tribulations and sufferings he suffered. This is the wisdom of the church. How can I make people more like you if you want them to believe the gospel? You have to be fashionable. However, Paul allows us to preach in the midst of tribulation. Also, if Paul was in prison during the tribulation, would it help to preach the gospel? would it be detrimental? It would obviously be detrimental. But what does Paul say? I say don't be discouraged.
From the point of view of the Ephesians, how difficult is it for Paul to be imprisoned? It is a hindrance to preaching the gospel and it is a concern because of not receiving Paul's guidance. But don't be discouraged. Because it is the wisdom of God. It is the wisdom that even the angels are curious about and want to know. And Paul says, "This is your glory." This suffering and tribulation that Paul is experiencing is called glory to the Ephesians. How is this an honor? Isn't that tarnishing the face of the church? What Paul is looking at now is teaching that this is the true image of the Church of God. So, what the church has to show right now is the wisdom of God, and Paul is showing that wisdom in his body. As if he saved us by carrying the cross and showed God's wisdom, he is saying that he is showing us the same way.
Here, we cannot help asking the question of what the church should really be. Do you really think that what the churches are pursuing today and what the text says today is in line with God's wisdom? Today, the church is concerned with developing their strength on this earth, regardless of the wisdom of God. They don't even think about what to show the angels. To advertise to people that the church can give what the world has to give is what the church looks like today. Why should the church exist? It exists to show the wisdom of God. What is that wisdom? It was the way of the cross that looked foolish and foolish in the eyes of the world. Paul showed the wisdom of God through his sufferings and showed what the essence of the church is.
What should our church show on this earth today? You need to know how great the church is. You have to know how amazing it is. You should know that angels are such beings to admire. What is our problem today? This is a problem because they ignore the wisdom of God and try to live on this earth and move the church with human wisdom. That is why we are easily discouraged, discouraged, despairing, complaining and resentful. Why are we nervous and angry? Because they do not know too much about the wisdom of God. It was because he knew the wisdom of God that Paul was able to rejoice and give thanks in prison. Our church should be such a church in the wisdom of God.