First Reformed Presbyterian Church of Cambridge, Massachusetts
The Lord’s Day June 30, 2002 Anno Domini
Through humble sinners God accomplishes glorious things by his grace.
I. The prisoner of Christ: God’s grace in circumstance.
A. Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus.
Philemon 1, 9; Eph 6:20; Col 4:18; Acts 21 ff.
B. Paul, prisoner of Christ in spirit and in chains.
Acts 9:6; Phil 3:8; Rom 1:1; 1Cor 7:22.
C. Paul the prisoner serving Christ even in his chains.
Philippians 1:12-14 and Phil 4:22
D. Paul learned and affirmed that when Christ calls someone to be his slave, he provides the
grace needed for the service.
2Cor 12:9-10.
E. Paul teaches us that Christ’s greatest servants are humbled and weakened before they
can be used with might.
Eph 2:10, 22.
II. The Mystery of Christ: God’s grace in calling and mission.
A. God’s grace is manifested in Paul for the blessing of the Church.
Eph 2:2, 7.
B. God’s grace is manifested in Paul’s preparation for his ministry.
Eph 3:3, 5; Romans 16:25-26; Matt 13:52.
C. God’s grace is revealed in Paul’s mission.
Psalm 87; Isaiah 60:3 3; 1Pet 1:10-12
The Church: the “sun-“ (with) verbs of Eph 3:6. (See 2:5, 6)
Eph 1:10, 11, 22, 23; 2:6, 7, 16, 18
D. Christ revealed, the mystery revealed.
Eph 1:23 & 2:18
III. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ for us.
A. Without the revelation of the gospel we would all be lost forever.
B. Beware of the sin of pride in the Church.
1Cor 3:3-7
C. Paul was less than the least of all the saints, yet the grace to preach Christ was given to him.
1Corinthians 15:9; 1 Timothy 1:13
Pastor Christian Adjemian, Dipl.Div., Ph.D.
pastor@reformedprescambridge.com phone: 617.354.5512