A Secret Revealed

Ephesians 3:1–6 NKJV

1 For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for you Gentiles— 2 if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you, 3 how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, 4 by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), 5 which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: 6 that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel,

Paul is leading into the prayer which he begins in verse 14. So when he says “for this reason” he is referencing the major truth he has just proclaimed in chapter 2 verses 19-22 or perhaps he is even referring to all the truth he has taught in this epistle to this point.

This being the reason what it is the reason for? He picks this back up in verse 14

Ephesians 3:14 NKJV

14 For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

So these major earth shaking truths lead Paul to pray one of the most powerful and anointed prayers found in the Bible.

So, as I mentioned a couple of weeks ago, verses 2-13 sit in a parenthesis. So if we just stop at the end of verse 1, Paul is sharing here his specific and unique ministry, which he says is the stewardship of God’s grace which was given to him by way of a revelation of a mystery. This secret which Paul says was given to him so that he could distribute or dispense it to the nations.

Now that took us through to verse 3 where Paul now gives more details about this unique ministry of his.

Ephesians 3:3 NKJV

3 how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already,

By Revelation

God plan through out the ages has been manifest to mankind through covenants.

God made a covent with Noah

Genesis 9:8–17 NKJV

8 Then God spoke to Noah and to his sons with him, saying: 9 “And as for Me, behold, I establish My covenant with you and with your descendants after you, 10 and with every living creature that is with you: the birds, the cattle, and every beast of the earth with you, of all that go out of the ark, every beast of the earth. 11 Thus I establish My covenant with you: Never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood; never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.” 12 And God said: “This is the sign of the covenant which I make between Me and you, and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: 13 I set My rainbow in the cloud, and it shall be for the sign of the covenant between Me and the earth. 14 It shall be, when I bring a cloud over the earth, that the rainbow shall be seen in the cloud; 15 and I will remember My covenant which is between Me and you and every living creature of all flesh; the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. 16 The rainbow shall be in the cloud, and I will look on it to remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.” 17 And God said to Noah, “This is the sign of the covenant which I have established between Me and all flesh that is on the earth.”

The covenant that God makes with Noah that he would never destroy all flesh with water. Mankind had rebelled against God so that every intention of the thoughts of their hearts was only evil continually. If ever there was a time in history for God to utterly destroy every human this was it. But God saved Noah and his family. And made a covenant to never destroy all flesh with water again. The only reason to make such a covenant is the hope of redemption and restoration. And notice who this covenant is with. With you and your descendants after you. Who are Noah’s descendants? Everyone. Who then does God intend to redeem and restore? All nations.

God made a covenant with Abraham

Genesis 12:2–3 NKJV

2 I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

A little more of God’s plan is revealed in that God chooses Abraham to make a nation though which He will bless redeem and restore all nations.

God makes a covenant with Moses

Exodus 19:5–6 NKJV

5 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine. 6 And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.”

The Purpose of a priest is to be a mediator between God and man. But if they are a Kingdom of priest who are the to mediate between? God’s purpose for Israel was to be priest to the other nations. To be a light to the Gentiles

Isaiah 49:6 NKJV

6 Indeed He says, ‘It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant To raise up the tribes of Jacob, And to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, That You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ”

God makes a covenant with David

2 Samuel 7:12–13 NKJV

12 “When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.

This covenant is fulfilled in Christ

Daniel 7:13–14 NKJV

13 “I was watching in the night visions, And behold, One like the Son of Man, Coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, And they brought Him near before Him. 14 Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, That all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, Which shall not pass away, And His kingdom the one Which shall not be destroyed.

Again God’s plan includes all people, nations, and languages.

Now coming back to Paul’s mystery. He says that by revelation God made it known to him. This New covenant is part of an ancient plan. As we look at all the covenants that God made we can see that God’s plan has not changed, He has only revealed more of His plan in each covenant. God is omniscience and he is immutable. That means he knows everything and he never changes. God is not like us in that he does not change His mind. The covenants are not God trying out different ways to reach mankind using a trial and error method. This mystery that has been revealed to Paul is not a new plan only a new revelation

Ephesians 3:3–5 NKJV

3 how that by revelation He made known to me the mystery (as I have briefly written already, 4 by which, when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ), 5 which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets:

The Mystery

Ephesians 3:6 NKJV

6 that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel,

God’s great plan from the beginning has been revealed to Paul and the apostles. The of the nations of the world, every tribe and every race God would call his people. Peace and unity is found in the Prince of peace. The promise of redemption was alway pointing toward Christ and the people to be redeemed was always to be all families of the earth. What a privilege to be counted with God’s people, members of the same body, partakers of the same promises.

And it is in Christ through the gospel. Have you come to Christ? Repent of your sins, put your faith and trust in Jesus Christ. It make no difference what your tribe race, or nationality. If you will humble yourself before almighty God and receive the free gift of eternal life and forgiveness of your sins, then you will be a fellow heir with the saints, member of the same body and partaker of the same promises.