Ephesians 3:1-5

Rachel Workman:

3 When I think of all this, I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus for the benefit of you Gentiles^[a] . . . ² assuming, by the way, that you know God gave me the special responsibility of extending his grace to you Gentiles. ³ As I briefly wrote earlier, God himself revealed his mysterious plan to me. ⁴ As you read what I have written, you will understand my insight into this plan regarding Christ. ⁵ God did not reveal it to previous generations, but now by his Spirit he has revealed it to his holy apostles and prophets. 

God didn't reveal it to previous generations because the time wasn't right. God knows how to wait. I think it's something we humans lack. I know I do. God has spent many years showing me how to wait. I may not have liked it at the time but I'm grateful for it now.

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Mike Grimm: 1For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles— Even though Paul was under house arrest in Rome for preaching about Christ, he maintained his firm belief that God was in control of all that happened to him. Like Paul, it's important that we remember that no matter what happens, God directs the world's affairs.

I2 Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you, 3 that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. "The administration of God's grace" means the special stewardship, trust, or commitment that Paul has been given. He has been assigned the special work of preaching the Good News to the Gentiles. 4 In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets. 6 This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus. God's plan was hidden from previous generations, not because God wanted to keep something from His people, but because He would reveal it to everyone in His perfect timing. God planned to have Jews and Gentiles comprise one body, the church.

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John Burnett: ¹⁹ So then you are no longer strangers and aliens,^[a] but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, ²⁰ built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, ²¹ in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. ²² In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by^[b] the Spirit.  We, as gentiles, should be ecstatic that we even have a way to become adopted members of the household of God.

3 For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— ² assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God's grace that was given to me for you, ³ how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. ⁴ When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, ⁵ which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit.  The Gospel is a mystery and it is only revealed to those who God predestined by the Holy Spirit.  The Holy Spirit opens our eyes, shows us the mystery of how wretched and evil our sins are, and then grants us repentance and mercy by His grace.  He accepts Christ’s work on the cross on your behalf and grants you Christ righteousness and perfect record of no sin.  It is by God’s grace you have been saved and not of your own doing, any decision or acceptance we make has nothing to do with it.

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Reading for Ephesians 3:6-9

And this is God’s plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both are part of the same body, and both enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus.^{[b] 7} By God’s grace and mighty power, I have been given the privilege of serving him by spreading this Good News.
⁸ Though I am the least deserving of all God’s people, he graciously gave me the privilege of telling the Gentiles about the endless treasures available to them in Christ. ⁹ I was chosen to explain to everyone^[c] this mysterious plan that God, the Creator of all things, had kept secret from the beginning.