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

The letter to the Ephesians was written by the apostle Paul. Paul (by his own account) was born a Jew; a “Hebrew of Hebrews”. He was circumcised on the eight day – a member of the Jewish nation and of the tribe of Benjamin and named for the first king of Israel, Saul. He was a protege of the Pharisaical leaders of his time. He studied in Jerusalem at the feet of the great teacher, Gamaliel. Paul followed the Law as perfectly as he could – also the rituals and ceremonies. This wildly unlikely man was chosen by God to be his chosen vessel as the apostle to the Gentiles to reveal the mysteries of God in Christ by the Spirit – he perfectly exemplified the wholly and revolutionary eternal plan of God in God’s perfect timing. The mystery Paul expounds in our verses today was unexpected – a complete upheaval of pagan and Jewish thought.

Our verses today tell us that the Gentiles were to be fellow heirs with the Jews, in Christ, of the promise of eternal life. Paul learned this truth not from others – not by hearsay- but by direct revelation from God which was an indispensable qualification for apostleship. This revelation was undiscoverable by human reason. The Old Testament frequently predicted the union of the Jews and Gentiles but now this was clearly and fully revealed. God had promised universal blessing through Abraham but now Paul clearly discloses the truth that the Old Testament prophets had not understood: In Christ, in His church, there would be no social, racial or spiritual distinction. The general impression of the prophets was that Gentiles were to partake of the promises by becoming Jews. Until the day of Pentecost it never seemed to enter anyone’s mind that the Jewish theocracy was to be abolished and a new form of religion would include all mankind. This revelation made to the apostles raised them from sectarians to Christians. The promise is the promise of redemption amd the only indispensable condition of participation is union with Christ.

This union with Christ is brought about by the gospel; not by birth, not by outward rite, not by union with any external body but by the gospel received by faith. Amen