We The Prisoners

Ephesians 3:1 For this cause I Paul, the PRISONER OF JESUS CHRIST for you Gentiles…

Without Repentance, There Is No Salvation.
So What Is Repentance?

The beginning of a person’s salvation is when that person REPENTS. I’ve heard people talk about REPENTANCE as “feeling sorry for or grieving over sin”. That’s not what true REPENTANCE is. The word “REPENT” means “to change the mind”. The first time the word “REPENT” is in the Scripture, it is applied to God Himself. We are told in:

Numbers 23:19 (KJV) God [is] not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that He should REPENT {nāḥam}: hath He said, and shall He not do [it]? or hath He spoken, and shall He not make it good?

Word Study nāḥam: The Hebrew nāḥam properly means “to sigh, to breathe heavily”. God does not plan a thing, then “sigh” because that thing didn’t happen the way He wanted. People often plan things, but because of circumstances that are unforeseen they can’t make it happen. So then they “sigh” and wish they were better able. “Sigh. I wish I hadn’t done that.” God is not like that. Let me tell you a secret:

What God has planned WILL come to pass, and there is nothing that you or I can do to stop God’s plans!

The nature of God is that He is all powerful, all knowing, all seeing, and at all places at all times. What God has decreed will come to pass, even though we as humans do our best to stop Him. God is God, and we are not. Which brings us to the word “REPENT” in the New Testament. This was the first word used when preaching the Gospel. John the Baptist preached:

Matthew 3:2 (NKJV) “REPENT {metanoeō}, for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand!”

Our Lord Jesus Christ came preaching:

Matthew 4:17 (KJV) From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, REPENT {metanoeō}: for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand.

Jesus sent His disciples out preaching:

Mark 6:12 (KJV) And they went out, and preached that men should REPENT {metanoeō}.

And on the Day of Pentecost, when God added 3000 to the Church in Jerusalem, Peter preached:

Acts 2:38 (KJV) Then Peter said unto them, REPENT {metanoeō}, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

Word Study “REPENT”: The word “REPENT” is a compound Greek word. “META” means “to change”, and “NOEO” means “the mind”. The word doesn’t mean to be sorry for your sins (though that may come). The word means “to change your MIND”.

What are we “changing our minds” about when we “get saved”? We are changing our minds about WHO is GOD.

God is God, and we are not. But it is in our very DNA that we want to be gods. This is what caused mankind to fall from Paradise into this veil of sin laden tears. Satan (in the guise of a serpent) came to Adam and Eve and said, (and I paraphrase Genesis 3:4-5):

“That fruit that God forbade you to eat – if you eat it, it won’t kill you. Oh no! God is just trying to keep you from the ultimate good. He knows that – if you eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil – your eyes will be opened. You’ll be gods just like Him!”

Every human is born wanting to be a god. But we’re NOT god. We’re not even close. We have fantastic knowledge and abilities that the animals don’t have. We have created nuclear weapons, the internet, social media, cordless tools, cars that burn fossil fuels. We have fantastic resources, and great knowledge.

The reason we have been able to do great things is because a Great God – in His Grace – made us in HIS image and in HIS likeness (Genesis 1:27).

God made us “MALE AND FEMALE” and put us in paradise. God made us through Christ. The Bible says:

Colossians 1:15-17 (NKJV) {Jesus Christ} is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. ALL THINGS WERE CREATED THROUGH HIM, AND FOR HIM. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.

The Father is God. The Holy Spirit is God. Jesus is God. But …

We want to be gods.

That’s what’s going on in our world today. This is why people are adopting outlandish ideas. Lost people are trying to remake themselves in their own image, after their own likeness. Lost people lower themselves and become furries. They surgically destroy themselves trying to change their genders. They redefine marriage, as if they are gods.

We want to be gods.

To “REPENT” is to change the mind. It is to look upward, to look around this God designed world, and to realize “I cannot be a god”. To “REPENT” is to stop being a god, and to turn to Him Who is God, and to let Him have your life. There are a lot of people who think they have repented and been saved, but they haven’t. The Apostle wrote the the Church at Corinth:

2 Corinthians 7:8-10 (KJV) For though I made you sorry with a letter {He’s talking about 1 Corinthians}, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though [it were] but for a season. 9 Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that YOU SORROWED TO REPENTANCE: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing. 10 For GODLY SORROW WORKETH REPENTANCE TO SALVATION NOT TO BE REPENTED OF: but the SORROW OF THE WORLD WORKETH DEATH.

When Paul wrote the Corinthians the first time, they were gripped by “GODLY SORROW”. God worked in their hearts. They then “REPENTED”, they stopped trying to be gods, and submitted to the will of God. God given sorrow brings us back to God. But “SORROW OF THE WORLD WORKETH DEATH”. Too many professing “Christians” today do not have Godly sorrow nor Biblical repentance. What did Jesus say about repentance?

Luke 13:2-5 (NKJV) … Jesus answered and said to them, “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all [other] Galileans, because they suffered such things? 3 “I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. 4 “Or those eighteen on whom the tower in Siloam fell and killed them, do you think that they were worse sinners than all [other] men who dwelt in Jerusalem? 5 “I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.”

You cannot be saved if you do not repent, change your mind, stop being gods and let God be God.

We Are Saved By Changing Our Mind,
By Giving ALL Of Ourselves To Jesus!

Ephesians 3:1 For this cause I Paul, the PRISONER of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles

One of the things I often hear as a Pastor is, “If God loves me, why am I going through this valley? If God is good, why do I find myself in a bad situation?” I believe God allows the tough situations to test us, whether we are saved or lost.

Let’s consider the Apostle Paul. God knocked Paul down on the Damascus Road. God caused a Jewish Pharisee named “Saul” to be changed. Before He met Jesus, the Bible says:

Acts 9:1 (KJV) Saul, yet breathing out THREATENING AND SLAUGHTER against the disciples of the Lord

Oh, if there was ever a “god” among men, it was Saul of Tarsus. He had the authority to chase down and kill those pesky Christ followers. Saul hated Jesus’ followers!

The Jewish leadership, the Sanhedrin, hated Christians. After all, Israel was God’s chosen people. And the Pharisees were the best of the Jews! These Christ followers claimed that Jesus took the place of the Temple Priests, that Jesus took the place of the Temple sacrifices. Disciples of Christ claimed that Jesus brought in a New Covenant, and all manner of people were coming to Him and being “saved”. The Pharisees couldn’t stand it. So they sent their best man, Saul the Pharisee, out to kill and imprison Christians.

When Jesus knocked Saul down on the Damascus Road, Saul didn’t say “I’m sorry for killing Christians”. Saul didn’t say “I’m sorry I offended you, Jesus”. He didn’t mention his sins. What did Saul say?

Acts 9:6 (KJV) {Saul} trembling and astonished said, LORD, WHAT WILT THOU HAVE ME TO DO? And the Lord [said] unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and IT SHALL BE TOLD THEE WHAT THOU MUST DO.

Salvation is a free gift because you cannot possibly earn or deserve it. But you cannot be saved without first REPENTING. The proof of salvation is not Church attendance, tithing, or doing good. The proof of salvation is when you stop debating God, look up from yourself, and say “LORD, WHAT WILT THOU HAVE ME TO DO?”

Repentance is a change of the mind. Jesus is the Boss, not YOU. God is God, and we are not. Saul got his orders – and he went. Saul of Tarsus goes to the street called Straight, to the home of Judas (Acts 9:11). Jesus then sends – He doesn’t request but ORDERS – Ananias to Saul to lay his hand on him so that he could receive his sight.

Jesus didn’t ask Ananias to go see Saul of Tarsus. He TOLD him. When Ananias (a common name among the Jews – Acts 22:12) told Jesus he was concerned about going to that murderous Saul, Jesus told him:

Acts 9:15 (KJV) But the Lord said unto him, GO THY WAY: for HE IS A CHOSEN VESSEL UNTO ME, to bear My name BEFORE THE GENTILES, and kings, and the children of Israel

Jesus doesn’t beg Ananias to go. He tells him. Jesus doesn’t beg or wheedle Saul to go. He tells him. Jesus is God. We’re not God. Jesus said, “SAUL IS A CHOSEN VESSEL UNTO ME”. Literally what Jesus said was:

“ this man is my chosen instrument ”

God is in control! Jesus is in control. I often hear about “Christians” who have been “saved”, but they don’t want to be “baptized”. Jesus did not make baptism optional. It is a command. If you are saved, you will obey the command. Too many so called “Christians” think that God waits on us. No, we wait on God. He’s the boss. We’re not. If you think YOU’RE the boss, and that GOD waits on you, dear friend, YOU NEED TO GENUINELY REPENT. For God will get His way.

Paul Is A PRISONER Of Jesus.

Ephesians 3:1 For this cause I Paul, the PRISONER {desmios} of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles

God called Saul of Tarsus to become Paul the Apostle FOR THE GENTILES. He didn’t call Paul for Paul. He called Paul so that God’s mission and God’s will could be complete.

Word Study: As Paul writes to the Church at Ephesus, He Is a prisoner. The Greek desmios means “someone bound or in bondage, a captive”. When Paul returned from his third missionary journey, preaching the Gospel, he felt a burning desire to go to Jerusalem to preach to the Jews there. Further, Paul had funds that the Church of Macedonia and other Gentile believers had sent to the impoverished Christians of Jerusalem. So Paul wanted to carry this money, and the Word of the Gospel, to Jerusalem.

His heart led him, rather than his head. Paul was a Jew, and he loved his people. Paul described his past life as:

Philippians 3:5-7 (KJV) Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, [of] the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee; 6 Concerning zeal, persecuting the church; touching the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. 7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

Knocked down on the Damascus Road, Paul loved and served the Lord Jesus. His primary focus was to reach out to the Gentiles. But Paul wanted to see his own people saved. Paul traveled to Caesarea, to the home of Philip the Evangelist, and intended to go from there to Jerusalem. While in Caesarea, God sent a Prophet named Agabus to see Paul. The Prophet told Paul:

Acts 21:11-14 (NKJV) When {Agabus} had come to us, he took Paul’s belt, bound his [own] hands and feet, and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver [him] into the hands of the Gentiles.’ ” 12 Now when we heard these things, both we and those from that place pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 Then Paul answered, “What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” 14 So when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, “The will of the Lord be done.”

If I were Paul, I would not have gone to Jerusalem. He was supposed to go to the Gentiles first, then the Jews. But Paul went to Jerusalem and – just as God said – he was bound over to the Gentiles.

As Paul wrote Ephesians he was in prison in Rome, around 61-62 AD. Before arriving in Rome he was two years in prison in Caesarea. Paul was imprisoned because he went to Jerusalem when God warned him away. He was imprisoned because the Jews he went to see hated the Gospel.

But Paul is not imprisoned because of Rome. He is not imprisoned because the Jews in Jerusalem were upset with him. Paul says:

Ephesians 3:1 For this cause I Paul, the PRISONER {desmios} of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles…

He was imprisoned because the Lord let him be imprisoned. He was imprisoned because God ordained Paul to go to the Gentiles first. But …

God’s Plan Will Always Be Fulfilled

Ephesians 3:2-4 If ye have heard of the DISPENSATION of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: 3 How that BY REVELATION {on the Damascus Road} he made known unto me the mystery; (as I wrote afore in few words, 4 Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ)

Word Study mystērion: Paul is imprisoned because God called him to go and preach the Gospel to the Gentiles. Now Paul starts talking about something he calls “THE MYSTERY”. This is the Greek mystērion, which means “the secret will of God, things hidden from ungodly and wicked men but that are clearly revealed to the child of God”. The ungodly, religious Pharisees and Sadducees believed that the Messiah would only come for the Jew, NOT for the Gentiles. When Jesus Christ reached out to the woman at the well in Samaria, the Bible said:

John 4:4 {Jesus} HAD to pass through Samaria.

The Jews went around Samaria. It was considered an unclean place filled with undesirable Gentiles. But Jesus did not avoid Samaria. Jesus HAD TO PASS THROUGH SAMARIA. The Pharisees and Sadducees would not sit near sinners. But Jesus HAD TO SIT WITH SINNERS.

Israel did what many Churches do today. They began to make THEMSELVES the center of God’s will. When Jesus came, they thought, “He cannot be the Messiah” because Jesus reached out to those that the religious crowd had no time for. Beloved, Jesus came for the Gentiles. He came for you. He came for me. When God called Abraham, He told that dear believer:

Genesis 12:3 (ESV) … in you ALL THE FAMILIES OF THE EARTH shall be blessed.

God’s Plan was to bring the Messiah through Israel. Jesus was a Jew from Israel. But His Plan – a mystery to the lost and the religious pretender – was known only in part in the Old Testament.

Ephesians 3:6-8 (KJV) That the Gentiles should be FELLOW HEIRS, and of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ BY THE GOSPEL: 7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. 8 Unto me, who am LESS THAN THE LEAST of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;

God is calling whosoever to Him through Jesus Christ. What does the Gospel offer to the believer? “The Gentiles should be fellow heirs”. God invites those who receive Jesus as Lord and Savior to be “FELLOW HEIRS”. The Scripture says:

Romans 8:16-18 (KJV) The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 And if children, then heirs; HEIRS OF GOD, and JOINT HEIRS WITH CHRIST; if so be that we suffer with [him], that we may be also glorified together. 18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time [are] not worthy [to be compared] with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

Being heirs with Christ means that there will be suffering. Paul said that we are “heirs of God and Joint Heirs with Christ”. But look what he says next: “if so be that we suffer with [him], that we may be also glorified together”. IF you are saved, God has a plan for you. That plan is to reach others with the Gospel of Christ. Where ever you find yourself, no matter what place you are in, no matter what valley, as “FELLOW HEIRS” with Christ we have a calling.

We must follow Jesus. We must work with God …

Ephesians 3:9-11 (KJV) … to make all [men] see what [is] the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: 10 To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly [places] might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, 11 According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord:

It’s not about me. It’s not about you. It’s about Jesus. If your Church will not learn this great truth, your Church will fail. Just as God put aside Israel for the time being while He uses the Church, God will put aside the body of believers that will not follow Him. God’s will must be fulfilled. As believers,

2 Corinthians 5:9 (KJV) Wherefore we labor, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of Him.

God will not support anything that does not advance the cause of the Gospel. Where ever you are, dear Christ follower, God has placed you to share Jesus and the glorious Gospel.