A Mystery Unveiled

We recently studied Ephesians 3:1–6, where Paul reveals what makes the New Covenant genuinely new. In Ephesians 3:1–6, Paul reveals what makes the new covenant genuinely new. He introduces the concept of mystery — not secret knowledge reserved for initiates, but a reality that was genuinely undisclosed in former generations and has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets (v. 5). Under the Old Covenant, God’s people were built on a promise to one man, Abraham, forming one nation through whom the families of the earth would be blessed — with the nations coming to Israel for mediation. But God has now revealed that His plan was never merely to bless the nations through Israel but to make one new people out of them all. The content of the mystery is stated plainly in verse 6: the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ through the gospel. This was not a change of plan but its most audacious fulfillment — accomplished in Christ, who is Himself the new Israel, and disclosed only after His coming so that God might surprise the world with the full scope of His grace. Praise God for doing such an amazing and unexpected thing through His cross!