Ephesians 3:1-12 

Introduction: In these verses, Paul writes about how he came to know and how others now know the mystery, Ephesians 3:6 “that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body,” with Jews. 

Ephesians 2:11-22 In the prior lesson, Paul disclosed to the Gentiles how they had become “fellow citizens with the saints and of the household of God… built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets… builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit,”.  This had been a mystery until God made it known.

Let’s look at how this mystery was made known: 

The mystery had been hid in God – Ephesians 3:9 – from the beginning of the world, the mystery that Gentiles and Jews would be one in the body of Christ was hid in God.  God knew this mystery, but no one else did.  Vs 11 -This was “his eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord,” In these verses, we can see evidence that God had all this planned eternally. 

Then the mystery was revealed to Paul – Ephesians 3:3 – the first person to understand this mystery was Paul.  

Then the mystery was revealed to the apostles and prophets – Ephesians 3:5-6 – notice that “in other ages (it) was not made known unto the sons of men.”

Then the mystery was made known to the principalities and powers – Ephesians 3:10 

• Ephesians 6:12- Even the principalities and powers now know the mystery, “the manifold wisdom of God.”  It was made known to them “by the church.”  

Now the mystery is known to us – Ephesian 3:1-2, 3-4, 7-9 – 

• Ephesians 3:1-2 We know about the mystery through Paul.  It was given to him to give to us. 

Conclusion: Eph 3:12 – through the faith of Jesus Christ, because we are together in his body, we have boldness and access with confidence to the Father [Eph 2:18] and his throne of grace [Heb 4:16] where “we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand,” [Rom 5:2].  Praise the Lord that this mystery was made known.