Prisoner - Ephesians 3:1
Types of Affliction (from Mark Driscoll)
- Adamic - because of Adam's sin, we are born into a fallen world.
- Punishment - God judges unbelievers and punishes them for their sin.
- Consequential - we suffer because of what we sow.
- Demonic - schemes/flaming arrows (Ephesians 6:12, 16)
- Victim - suffering brought on by being sinned against.
- Collective - a result of being part of a people (race/country)
- Disciplinary - God chastens believers in order to mature them
- Vicarious - those in Christ suffer because the ungodly oppose them
- Empathetic - suffering that comes when someone we love is hurting.
- Testimonial 0 suffering that is a demonstration of the gospel.
- Providential - some suffer to teach a lesson about God so that worship increases.
- Preventative - suffering that warns us of greater suffering to happen if we ignore God's warning.
- Mysterious - sometimes God, in his providence, has not chosen to reveal why we are afflicted.
- Apocalyptic - suffering that will signal the end of the age. (Revelation)
The Mystery - Ephesians 3:2-6
The Gentiles >>> Through the Gospel >>> Heirs with Israel (The Jews) >>> One Body >>> Sharing the Promise in Christ Jesus
Sin >>> The Gospel >>> New Identity (Image bearer of a Holy God, In Christ, A Saint, Blessed, An Heir, Alive, Reconciled, Afflicted)
God's Intent - Ephesians 3:10-11
God's Intent >>> Through the Church >>> The Manifold Wisdom of God >>> Be Knows to the Rulers & Authorities in the Heavenly Realms >>> According to His Eternal Purpose
Approaching God - Ephesians 3:12 - 13