“To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ.” (Ephesians 3:8)

Here Paul shares the essence of the Christian message. Both what this message is, and what it is NOT, are significant:

The message we have, Paul says, is “the unfathomable riches of Christ.” Jesus Christ Himself is the Christian message. He is “the way, and the truth, and the life, and no one comes to the Father but through (Him).” (John 14:6) In Him is found “every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places” Ephesians 1:3 tells us. So just as Paul shared in I Corinthians 1:23, “We preach Christ crucified …”. HE is our message.

This message is also NOT what many “Christian” ministers and ministries focus on today:

— It is NOT a proclamation of physical healing and material prosperity.

— It is NOT “positive thinking.”

— It is NOT merely “family values.”

— It is NOT “church growth.”

— It is NOT conservative politics.

Some of these things may be good, or have certain good elements. But they are not to be the focus of the message of a Christian church or ministry. Only Jesus can save (John 14:6). And every spiritual blessing is found “in Him,” Ephesians 1 repeatedly shows us.. So as Paul points out here, our message is “to preach … the unfathomable riches of Christ.”