Day 171 – Wednesday, August 27, 2025

One Year Journey Through the New Testament

Ephesians 3

Welcome to our journey through the New Testament!

The Mystery Revealed

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, ⁷ of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power. 

(Ephesians 3:1–7, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• Paul here began to discuss the universal message of the gospel. He explains that the gospel is available to all people, not just the Jews.
• He explains that this mystery had not been revealed before this time, and that the Holy Spirit made this clear to His apostles and prophets.
• Paul was simply the messenger to deliver this mystery to the world, and the gospel to the Gentiles.
• We are all fellow heirs of the eternal blessings of God if we partake of His great promises through the grace of God.

Purpose of the Mystery

⁸ To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, ⁹ and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; ¹⁰ to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, ¹¹ according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, ¹² in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him. ¹³ Therefore I ask that you do not lose heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory. 

(Ephesians 3:8–13, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• Paul was given grace to preach this gospel to the Gentiles.
• Jesus Christ revealed the mystery of salvation being offered to all people.
• This gift allowed all people to have access to God and boldness to enter into His presence.

Appreciation of the Mystery

¹⁴ For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁵ from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, ¹⁶ that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, ¹⁷ that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, ¹⁸ may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height—¹⁹ to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

²⁰ Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, ²¹ to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen. 

(Ephesians 3:14–21, NKJV)

Points to Ponder:

• Paul revealed his great gratitude to God for this grace. He offered worship to God and gratitude for the strength provided through the Holy Spirit to believe in faith and enter into a relationship with Christ that is transformational.
• Paul was thankful that all of us could know the magnitude of God’s love for His people. This love in unfathomable and beyond our comprehension, but we can experience this love and be filled with His love.
• Paul then offered the beautiful benediction of this first half of Ephesians:
• “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, ²¹ to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”
• This powerful offering of praise is a classic statement of our faith in Christ. Repeat it often! 

__________________________________________________________________________

All Scriptures from New King James Version unless otherwise noted.

Join us this afternoon at 5:00 pm for a discussion of this chapter live online. Live@5 with Dr. Greg Sloop can be found on Facebook on the Dr. Greg Sloop page or on the Kannapolis Church of God Facebook page or Youtube page. Another blog will be posted each weekday at 6:00 a.m.