Have You Heard?

Ephesians 3:2. Have you heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to Paul for you? This is a strange sentence, isn’t it? What does this mean? Well, let me give my opinion on the matter so you can either accept or reject it.
I want to know if you’ve heard about some really good news. I want to know if anyone has ever told you something very important. I want to know if you listened to the person who tried to tell you. I want to know if you started hearing it, but you stopped because you thought that you knew what they were going to say. Maybe some preconceived notion stopped you from giving audience. Maybe someone told you something wrong and you rightfully stopped listening. I’d like for you to give me a chance to tell you something that you may never have heard of, something wonderful for you.
God gave Paul a story that is very easy to understand, and at the same time, very deep. Paul had been given the Gospel, and he dispensed it to the world. This is the story of your need, God’s meeting your need, and your reception of God’s provision. Paul was the first person that God revealed this mystery to. God did this for you.
Let me tell you the mystery. First of all, we all need forgiveness. This is a fact, whether or not we believe it. We need forgiveness because we have done wrong, at one time or another. If you think you have never done wrong, you may as well stop reading now.
Second of all, God has provided our forgiveness through the actions of a Person. We could never earn forgiveness, and so God sent Jesus to earn our forgiveness for us. This is the meaning of the grace of God. Grace means undeserved kindness, and it is found in Jesus. Jesus the Christ is our representative before God. We could not affect our own forgiveness, so Jesus took the punishment we deserved. He was born of a virgin and so started the human race anew, without sin! Jesus lived the only good life. A religious person cannot believe this. Even the average Joe thinks he’s going to Heaven because he is good. But the fact is, all have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God. Only Jesus is good. Good Jesus died in our place and received our punishment when he bore our sins. He rose from the dead and verified everything He said and did. He alone conquered death.
Third of all, how do we receive all this good stuff? Is it by becoming religious? No! Is it by trying to earn forgiveness and denying all that Jesus has done? No! Is it by pushing all this out of our minds and ignoring our need? No! This is how to receive forgiveness and a new life. All you have to do is believe the story. When you believe that Jesus died for your sins and rose again, you are completely forgiven, no matter how you feel. Your happy ending is certain, and this knowledge will help you overcome the hardships of life. All you must do is continue to believe, and God will do the rest. This is the message that was given to the apostle Paul for you.