Apostle Paul is saying that if ye/we have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God ("which is given me to you-ward!") how that by revelation He made known unto me the mystery ... whereby when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in Christ, which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men as it is now revealed unto His holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs and of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ by the gospel:whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of His power." (Ephesians 3:1-7)
At this point, Paul is speaking to the saints which are at Ephesus and to the faithful in Christ Jesus. Herein, Paul is praising the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly in Christ ... according as He hath chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love.
Why? Because from the very beginning of the world, He has predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will. And thus, Paul desires that we understand what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in god, who created all things by Jesus Christ -- to the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God -- according to the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Let me say that again -- "to the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly might be known by the church and manifold wisdom of God -- according to the eternal purpose which He purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Ephesians 3:10)
You see, the fullness of the Godhead dwelt bodily in the Lord Jesus Christ. (Colossians 2:9) Jesus was God Himself manifest in the flesh, having taken on a body unto Himself so that He could bring salvation to you and I. And He did so in such a way that His glory was initially hid from the world, or else the world would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
Indeed, what God did in His manifold wisdom is purpose our salvation in His perfect sacrifice to the world. He gave us His Name to love and adore and behold, and the ONLY Name -- JESUS -- whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:12; Philippians 2:9) And He shed His precious blood on that cross so that we would no longer be aliens from the commonwealth of Israel.
"But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ, for He is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us, having abolished in His flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments, contained in ordinances; for to make in Himself twain one new man, so making peace; and that He might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enemy thereby." (Ephesians 2:12-17)
It is because of the grace of God, and His abundant kindness that we are saved through faith, and that not of ourselves, it is the gift of God; not of works lest any man should boast.
But even more so, when we ask Jesus to become King of kings and Lord of lords in our hearts, and are water baptized in His precious Name -- the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, we receive His gift -- that is the Spirit of Christ living within. While those in the old testament could only look ahead to our time, we have an opportunity to have the Living Word leading and guiding us into all truth.
The same Word that was with God and was God and was made flesh. He was in the world and the world was made by Him and the world knew Him not. He came unto His own and His own received Him not. (John 1:10-11)
But for those of us who receive Jesus, and behold His glory, we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners but fellow citizens with the saints and of the household of God, and are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone; in whom all the building fitly framed together grows unto an holy temple in the Lord -- in whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. (Ephesians 3:19-22)
We are His beloved -- the Jesus people -- who know in whom we serve. Just like S/Paul did when He asked, as he was blinded by the light that shone all around him on his way to Damascus -- "Who art Thou, Lord?"
"I am Jesus!"
""I, the Lord, the first and with the last, I am He." (Isaiah 41:4; Revelation 1:8,11)
Yes, Christ Jesus our Lord and Christ, who willingly loved His creation so much that He would bring us salvation so that we too (as Gentiles) could become fellow heirs in the mystery of godliness.
"And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory." (I Timothy 3:16)
For this cause we bow our knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named. Let those who have ears to hear and eyes to see, hear and see and understand the mystery that God had put in place (after His own counsel) from the beginning of the world.
He is our all in all! Stand in the offering plate.
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