37 1 1 Through the Bible with Les Feldick Paul Dispenses Grace: Ephesians 3:1-7

Ephesians 3:1a "For this cause..." What's Paul speaking of when he says, "For this cause?" Well everything that he'd just expounded on in the first two chapters. Back up to chapter 2, verses 8 and 9 and you'll see what I'm talking about. These are verses I'm sure you've seen in salvation tracts and so forth, but again this is the highlight of these two chapters that I think Paul is talking about. Ephesians 2:8-9 "For by grace are ye saved through faith; (and that's where I get + nothing, because there's nothing after that word faith.) and that not of yourselves: (there's nothing you and I can do. Why? Because) it is the gift of God: (now how much work do you do for a gift? Nothing. The minute you do even a penny's worth it's no longer a gift, but rather it something you've worked for.) 9. Not of works, lest any man should boast." Well you don't see that brought out anywhere else in Scripture until we get to the apostle Paul, and his letters to Gentiles. Now back to chapter 3. Ephesians 3:1a "For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for (what people?) you Gentiles." Most people don't like to admit that. Most people can't see that his apostleship was uniquely directed to the Gentiles. Now Paul still had a heart for his Jewish people. In fact it was such a heavy heart that he was willing to suffer eternal doom if they could be saved. So don't ever accuse Paul of having turned his back on his own people