Have you ever had a moment where you find yourself in a place and think, “I can’t believe I’m here”? Maybe it’s a dream vacation you’ve been saving up for. Maybe it’s a concert or performance you’ve always wanted to go to. Or maybe it’s time with friends or family that you don’t get to see often. Whatever it may be, it’s one of those moments that seem too surreal to be true.
This is similar to what Paul is communicating about the mystery of the gospel here in Ephesians 3. Paul is reminding the people of Ephesus, specifically Gentiles, of their access to the gospel and the life of maturity believers are called to.
In chapter 2, Paul states that because of Jesus, Gentiles can now be brought into the family of God. The gospel is not a message reserved for just the Jewish people but all people who are saved by grace through faith.
In chapter 3, Paul takes a moment to sit in awe of his position as an Apostle and the Gentiles’ new-found position before God. It’s his own “I can’t believe I’m here” moment.
There are three profound truths that are true for people who are in Christ. He lists them in verse 6 that we are “fellow heirs, fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus.” Why do these truths matter? How do they change the daily reality of a believer to the point that we can live in awe of our position before God?
Fellow Heirs
The first reality Paul points to is that we who have been saved by faith are fellow heirs. In Romans 8, Paul writes that believers are no longer slaves to sin but adopted children of God. If we are children of God, then we get to experience all the benefits and positions of such a title. We are deemed to be co-heirs with Christ.
In the time of the Roman rule when Paul was writing, adoption was not as we experience today. It did not occur at a child’s birth or early years. Instead, a person would not be adopted until adulthood until he or she could be proven worthy enough to be part of a particular family.
That’s not the case here. God did not wait to adopt us as His daughters until we had it all together or achieved a specific level of being a Christian. No, Christ saved us while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8).
Salvation is a gift of grace, which is unmerited favor. We don’t earn this favor—instead, we humbly receive it by placing our trust in the saving work of Christ. In granting us this unmerited favor, God brings us into His family as one of His own. And, it’s a title that never goes away.
This is why Paul could sit in awe of the truth that the Gentiles have been brought near to God. He wants the people of Ephesus to know the truth of their identity. They are no longer strangers to the family of God, but they are placed in the middle of the family gathering.
The same is true for you, too, if you have trusted in Jesus. You are a fellow heir. You are a daughter of God. Your identity is not something you have to earn or maintain. It is securely established because of Jesus. Let’s sit in awe of this truth today.
Fellow Members
As if the truth of our identity wasn’t enough, Paul also writes that believers are fellow members of the body. If you remember in chapter 1, Paul states that Christ has been given all authority and power as the head of the church, the body of Christ.
Oftentimes today, people view the church as a building. Scripture tells us that the church is not a building but a people. It is all people who have been saved through faith. The goal of the church is to grow and mature together in our understanding and love of Jesus through our gatherings, to make disciples of all nations, and to proclaim the gospel to the ends of the earth.
When we become a Christian, we don’t merely enter into a “me and Jesus” relationship. Rather, we become part of the Church. We are not meant to do this life alone but in the fellowship of other believers. This is why it is so vitally important to be plugged into a local church where you can be known, cared for, and encouraged to grow.
Additionally, as fellow members of the body, we also have a role to play to contribute to the life of the church. We are not merely spectators but active participants. In using the body metaphor, we are each like a specific body part. Each body part of a human plays a role for the development and flourishing of the person. Paul likens this metaphor in 1 Corinthians 12 to the use of spiritual gifts within the church.
We have each been given a spiritual gift to use to build up the church (Ephesians 4:16). God has given each person a specific role to serve in the church, and each person’s gift is useful and beneficial. You have been specifically chosen by the God of the universe to be on mission to proclaim the gospel and build up Christ’s church. What a privilege we have!
Fellow Partakers
The final truth Paul writes is that believers are now fellow partakers of the promise of Christ. What Paul is saying is that Gentile believers can now equally participate in God’s plan of redemption.
Salvation has always been by grace through faith, no matter a person’s background or ethnicity. However, during Old Testament times, the Jewish people were the recipients of God’s special promises as His chosen people. The Gentiles were viewed to be outside of God’s people.
This is no longer the case. When Jesus came, He inaugurated the New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ezekiel 36:26-27) for all people, including Gentiles. This covenant states that those who trust in the coming Savior will be given a new heart and the indwelling Holy Spirit.
God’s plan of redemption is now open wide for all people because of Jesus.
More than simply being brought near, we have the Holy Spirit at work in our hearts and lives each and every day to convict, guide, encourage, and equip. We don’t have to wonder how to live in a way that trusts and follows Christ. The Holy Spirit is continually making us more into the image of Christ.
The realities of a life in Christ is one that should lead us to sit in awe daily. Believers are children of God who are participants of God’s mission and part of the global body of Christ. These truths change the way we live as we seek to glorify Christ in our words, thoughts, and actions each day.
Have you sat in awe of your Savior and reality today?
