Many people worry about the Earth running out of natural resources. No one knows for sure how long these resources will last, but one day, at least, they’ll be gone. Earth’s mines will run out of gold. Its oil reserves will disappear. Some entrepreneurs are trying to figure out how to mine asteroids to give our species hope.
But when Christians go to dig for the treasures of God’s grace in Jesus Christ, do you know what they find in that mine? “Unsearchable riches” (Eph. 3:8). The grace of God in that mine is immeasurable, and the deeper you dig, the more precious the discoveries will be. You won’t ever need to mine asteroids. You’ll never need a new source of God’s grace.
Paul has been telling the Ephesians about the mystery revealed to him: that the gentiles are heirs to the promises of God (Eph. 3:6). That’s what the gospel does. It creates one new people of God.
Now he talks about what the gospel is: “the unsearchable riches of Christ” (Eph. 3:8). This immeasurable and inexhaustible cavern is so full of riches that it makes his imprisonment something not worth worrying about.
Christ’s Prisoner
Paul doesn’t say he’s a prisoner of Rome. He says that he’s a “prisoner of Christ Jesus” (Eph. 3:1). It’s his Lord, and not Caesar, who holds him captive. That’s because he’s received a privilege. He says that he’s receiving a gift he didn’t deserve: “To me, though I am the least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ” (Eph. 3:8). That’s why he doesn’t want the Ephesians to be upset. His imprisonment is part of the calling he’s received to preach the gospel. It shows God’s grace to Paul.
Does that sound crazy? In Acts 5:41, some disciples express a similar sentiment. After being beaten, they celebrated: “Then they left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name of Christ.” They responded to this beating in the most unnatural way possible. Why? How could Paul, who had once looked down upon Gentiles and hated the gospel, now say, “I will happily lay down my life in service to you Gentiles”?
When Paul was on his way to imprison Christians, Jesus himself appeared to him (Acts 9:5–6). Jesus went to this man who was persecuting his people and revealed to him how rich his grace is. He said to Paul, “My grace is so rich that it can even forgive and embrace you.”
Because of the riches we have in Christ, we can—like Paul and these disciples—rejoice in our suffering. We’re able, like Paul, to say that such service is a gift from God.
Throughout the letter, Paul keeps talking about God’s “riches” (Eph. 1:7, 18; 2:4, 7; 3:16). These riches refer to God’s grace and the eternal inheritance we receive through his grace. Christ, the ruler of all, has made us one with him and all that’s his: eternal life, glory, and communion with the Father. These are the “unsearchable riches” of the gospel that Paul had the privilege to proclaim.
These riches transform our suffering. As unnatural as it sounds, we can view our suffering as God’s gift to us.
Suffering for Our Glory
This gospel mystery is the cause of Paul’s suffering. At the end of this section, Paul writes, “So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory” (Eph. 3:13).
Paul doesn’t want the Ephesians to “lose heart” because of his suffering. In fact, something wonderful will come of it. His suffering is for their “glory.” What looks like disgrace in the world’s eyes will bring the Ephesians glory through the power of the gospel.
Have you mined the riches of the gospel of God’s grace? Do you come to God daily, or even hourly, as the adopted child you are, knowing that you’re united to Christ the king? Do you unburden your conscience often, knowing that in Christ your sins are forgiven? Do you focus your thoughts on eternity, knowing that you’ll live with Christ in glory forever, free from sin, suffering, and death?
With the gospel, there’s always room to dig further. We can always discover new treasures. God’s riches in the gospel are inexhaustible.
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This is an excerpt from Sola Media’s Bible Study on Ephesians, by Adriel Sanchez and Josh Maloney. The entire study is available here.
