That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
By the gospel the Gentiles are fellow-heirs with Jewish believers and of the same body, partakers of the promise in Christ, sharing equally in the inheritance and blessings of salvation. This inclusion was a mystery hidden in God from former ages and from the beginning of the world, not made known to the sons of men as it is now revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets. It was accomplished through Christ's death, which broke down the middle wall of partition between Jew and Gentile. The mystery was made known to Paul by revelation to preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ and to make all men see the fellowship of the mystery hidden in God who created all things by Jesus Christ. Because the promise in Christ belongs to all peoples alike and the end is near, it lays a world-wide work on believers now to take up Paul's burden and proclaim the truth with one united voice.
Mystery of Gentile Inclusion
By the gospel the Gentiles become fellow-heirs and of the same body and partakers of the promise in Christ, sharing equally with Jewish believers in the inheritance and in all the blessings and privileges of salvation. This equal sharing means membership in the same body and participation in God's promise in Christ through the gospel, a standing precious because it places Gentiles on the same ground as Israel. The division between Jew and Gentile is broken down in God's kingdom, so that salvation and the gospel message belong to all peoples.
This inclusion was accomplished because the middle wall of partition was broken down, and Christ gave His own life to bring Gentiles into the privileged position it is their privilege to occupy. By His death heathen nations were made fellow-heirs with the Israel of God, made partakers of the blessings and privileges of the Jews to be benefited equally with them, no longer an unclean race excluded from the promises of God and the privileges of the gospel. That same effectual working that made Paul a minister according to the gift of the grace of God by the effectual working of His power brings God's people into that position.
It was a mystery hidden in God who created all things by Jesus Christ, hidden from the beginning of the world and from former ages, which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men as it is now revealed by the Spirit unto His holy apostles and prophets. The mystery was made known to Paul by revelation through the dispensation of the grace of God given to him for the Gentiles, laying open to him the plan of salvation as wrought out by Christ, and Paul desires believers to read and understand his knowledge in this mystery, which is full of instruction. These revelations gave marvelous insight that rooted and grounded him in the truth so that no suffering or reproach could make him deny them and no false or fanciful theory could make them of none effect.
Peter's vision of the sheet let down from heaven containing all manner of living beasts with the command to kill and eat gave him reproof and instruction, divesting him of settled prejudice against the Gentiles and leading him to comprehend the world-wide extent of the plan of God. The middle wall of partition broken down by the death of Christ had still remained in the minds of the apostles, whose labors had been confined to the Jews, with Peter not yet having preached the gospel to the Gentiles. The conversion of Cornelius was the first conversion of importance among the Gentiles, through which God brought the gospel to those who had been strangers and foreigners, making them fellow citizens with the saints and members of God's household. The animals illustrated that Gentiles once regarded as unclean were not to be treated as unclean or excluded from the promises, describing their inclusion in God's people through the gospel and not a change in which animals are clean for food nor permission to eat animals formerly declared unclean.
Jesus taught this inclusion by acts of mercy toward people outside Israel, showing that His love and grace are not limited by race or nation. Jew and Gentile are alike precious to God, who shows no partiality, and the gospel with its promises and its blessings and privileges is for all nations and extends to all peoples and to every soul. The divine plan of salvation is not confined to the Jews but reaches Gentiles through the gospel, correcting prejudice and revealing the worldwide scope of God's purpose.
Gentiles who accept the gospel belong to the same people of God and do not need to be circumcised to be received as fellow-heirs, sharing equally with Jewish believers in the blessings and privileges of salvation through Christ. No barrier of nationality or prejudice can keep anyone from sharing in it, and nothing but a person's own choice can prevent becoming a partaker of the promise. Christ is the propitiation not for some sins alone but for the sins of the whole world, revealing that transgression of the law cost the blood of the Son of the infinite God, leading the sinner with contrite heart to hate the sins that wounded Jesus and to view Jesus as a compassionate, tender High Priest. This is part of the lesson of Ephesians 2 and 3 for all to study by looking to God and seeking wisdom from Him in earnest prayer.
Paul's Ministry and Purpose
The mystery was made known to Paul by revelation through the dispensation of the grace of God given to him for the Gentiles, and through divine revelation the plan of salvation as wrought out by Christ was laid open to him. He was to have believers read and understand his knowledge in this mystery, which is full of instruction. Paul, though less than the least of all saints, was made a minister of this gospel according to the gift of the grace of God by the effectual working of His power. Grace was given to him to preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ and to make all men see the fellowship of the mystery hidden in God who created all things by Jesus Christ.
Paul himself had passed over the ground of beholding Christ in order to become like Him, seeing the perfection of the principles of God's law in Christ's character and becoming dissatisfied with everything but perfection. He fought the battle against the attributes Satan had strengthened for his own use, gaining victory through Christ's saving power as he came pleading for grace and efficiency. These revelations gave marvelous insight that rooted and grounded him in the truth, so that no suffering or reproach could make him deny them and no false or fanciful theory could make them of no effect. The intent is that now by the church the manifold wisdom of God according to the eternal purpose purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord might be known unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places. In whom there is boldness and access with confidence by faith, and through the sacrifice of Christ a new and living way has been opened for all, with deliverance from hopelessness under sin and death, dead in trespasses and sins, to be quickened to reach forth with mind, heart, and soul unto holiness and love with life and power.
To be made such a minister means not merely presenting the truth to people or relying on eloquent words, but carrying it out in the life, embodying its principles and making Christ known. The revelation was not to save only the generation living when Christ was on earth, but to be manifest in all ages and in every place where ministers show the abundant treasures of Christ's grace, love, and mercy. The gospel he presented still carries the same power today, revealing to men in all ages the rich treasures of the grace of Christ and the abundant love of God through His Son.
Worldwide Mission and Life
Because the promise in Christ by the gospel belongs to all peoples alike, it lays a world-wide work on believers now, for the end is near. They are to take up Paul's burden and go to work in earnest to proclaim the truth and the last message of warning. That work must be done in a short time and with one united voice.
The work is hindered by transgressions that hold back the proclamation of the last warning, and earnest hold must be taken on God to bear the message and expose what hinders it. Satan hinders it through alienation, disunion, diversity of opinion, envy, evil surmisings, faultfinding, seeking the highest place, working at cross-purposes with God, and letting commercial business absorb attention and means that belong to the proclamation of salvation. Putting self out of sight and putting on the whole armor of God carries the work forward to reach those who have never heard the reasons of faith and to tell them where the world is standing in its history, while time is fast passing and the world grows worse and worse.
Satan is devising plans to keep God's forces out of the work and to keep people from realizing that swift judgments are coming, and God has already spoken in judgments to arouse them. Believers must arouse to their true position, put away their own way, and take up God's work intelligently and unitedly. They must turn fully to Him while it is called today, for He will have mercy and abundantly pardon, but coming suddenly He must not find them unready, and there will be no second probation.
The privilege cut off through impenitence is again extended to Israel and to the Gentiles as well through repentance and belief in the gospel. Through conversion they are grafted into the living vine stock and the church of Christ, have peace with God and a sanctified conscience, and Jews and Gentiles dwell together in peace and love and unity in oneness with Christ. Belief in Christ produces transformation of character, kindness of temper, renewal of love to God, bearing of fruit in good works, and becoming partakers of the divine nature in disposition, words, and works. This helps Jews to understand the Scriptures and the mission of Christ and to receive the gospel in its fulness.
Its full meaning should create hungering, thirsting, and longing for the spiritual evidences promised to those who deny self and take up the cross and follow Jesus. Christ gave His own life to bring them into that privileged position, and every provision has been made to bring sinners into right relation to God, so heaven is disappointed when Christians do not meet that standard. The instruction calls for a great reformation in life and words and works and spiritual understanding, for catching the inspiration of angels and daily breathing the atmosphere of heaven. It calls for being strengthened with might by the Spirit in the inner man, having Christ dwell in the heart by faith, being rooted and grounded in love, comprehending the breadth and length and depth and height and knowing the love of Christ which passes knowledge so as to be filled with all the fullness of God.
The church for this work includes not only ministers but all who are united to Christ by faith and embrace the truth, members of one family who are to accomplish it. Those brought together in Christ are to show the principles of God's law in life and conduct, with truth working by love and exerting a sanctifying, cleansing, and refining influence on the soul. When professed believers instead act like unbelievers and lead others wrongly, they need conversion before they can be trusted with responsibility. In Christ a converted slave and his master alike belong to Christ's body as fellow-heirs and are made one, to be joined by brotherly love.
By the gospel the Gentiles are fellow-heirs with Jewish believers and of the same body, partakers of the promise in Christ, sharing equally in the inheritance and blessings of salvation. This inclusion was a mystery hidden in God from former ages and from the beginning of the world, not made known to the sons of men as it is now revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets. It was accomplished through Christ's death, which broke down the middle wall of partition between Jew and Gentile. The mystery was made known to Paul by revelation to preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ and to make all men see the fellowship of the mystery hidden in God who created all things by Jesus Christ. Because the promise in Christ belongs to all peoples alike and the end is near, it lays a world-wide work on believers now to take up Paul's burden and proclaim the truth with one united voice.
Mystery of Gentile Inclusion
By the gospel the Gentiles become fellow-heirs and of the same body and partakers of the promise in Christ, sharing equally with Jewish believers in the inheritance and in all the blessings and privileges of salvation. This equal sharing means membership in the same body and participation in God's promise in Christ through the gospel, a standing precious because it places Gentiles on the same ground as Israel. The division between Jew and Gentile is broken down in God's kingdom, so that salvation and the gospel message belong to all peoples.
This inclusion was accomplished because the middle wall of partition was broken down, and Christ gave His own life to bring Gentiles into the privileged position it is their privilege to occupy. By His death heathen nations were made fellow-heirs with the Israel of God, made partakers of the blessings and privileges of the Jews to be benefited equally with them, no longer an unclean race excluded from the promises of God and the privileges of the gospel. That same effectual working that made Paul a minister according to the gift of the grace of God by the effectual working of His power brings God's people into that position.
It was a mystery hidden in God who created all things by Jesus Christ, hidden from the beginning of the world and from former ages, which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men as it is now revealed by the Spirit unto His holy apostles and prophets. The mystery was made known to Paul by revelation through the dispensation of the grace of God given to him for the Gentiles, laying open to him the plan of salvation as wrought out by Christ, and Paul desires believers to read and understand his knowledge in this mystery, which is full of instruction. These revelations gave marvelous insight that rooted and grounded him in the truth so that no suffering or reproach could make him deny them and no false or fanciful theory could make them of none effect.
Peter's vision of the sheet let down from heaven containing all manner of living beasts with the command to kill and eat gave him reproof and instruction, divesting him of settled prejudice against the Gentiles and leading him to comprehend the world-wide extent of the plan of God. The middle wall of partition broken down by the death of Christ had still remained in the minds of the apostles, whose labors had been confined to the Jews, with Peter not yet having preached the gospel to the Gentiles. The conversion of Cornelius was the first conversion of importance among the Gentiles, through which God brought the gospel to those who had been strangers and foreigners, making them fellow citizens with the saints and members of God's household. The animals illustrated that Gentiles once regarded as unclean were not to be treated as unclean or excluded from the promises, describing their inclusion in God's people through the gospel and not a change in which animals are clean for food nor permission to eat animals formerly declared unclean.
Jesus taught this inclusion by acts of mercy toward people outside Israel, showing that His love and grace are not limited by race or nation. Jew and Gentile are alike precious to God, who shows no partiality, and the gospel with its promises and its blessings and privileges is for all nations and extends to all peoples and to every soul. The divine plan of salvation is not confined to the Jews but reaches Gentiles through the gospel, correcting prejudice and revealing the worldwide scope of God's purpose.
Gentiles who accept the gospel belong to the same people of God and do not need to be circumcised to be received as fellow-heirs, sharing equally with Jewish believers in the blessings and privileges of salvation through Christ. No barrier of nationality or prejudice can keep anyone from sharing in it, and nothing but a person's own choice can prevent becoming a partaker of the promise. Christ is the propitiation not for some sins alone but for the sins of the whole world, revealing that transgression of the law cost the blood of the Son of the infinite God, leading the sinner with contrite heart to hate the sins that wounded Jesus and to view Jesus as a compassionate, tender High Priest. This is part of the lesson of Ephesians 2 and 3 for all to study by looking to God and seeking wisdom from Him in earnest prayer.
Paul's Ministry and Purpose
The mystery was made known to Paul by revelation through the dispensation of the grace of God given to him for the Gentiles, and through divine revelation the plan of salvation as wrought out by Christ was laid open to him. He was to have believers read and understand his knowledge in this mystery, which is full of instruction. Paul, though less than the least of all saints, was made a minister of this gospel according to the gift of the grace of God by the effectual working of His power. Grace was given to him to preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ and to make all men see the fellowship of the mystery hidden in God who created all things by Jesus Christ.
Paul himself had passed over the ground of beholding Christ in order to become like Him, seeing the perfection of the principles of God's law in Christ's character and becoming dissatisfied with everything but perfection. He fought the battle against the attributes Satan had strengthened for his own use, gaining victory through Christ's saving power as he came pleading for grace and efficiency. These revelations gave marvelous insight that rooted and grounded him in the truth, so that no suffering or reproach could make him deny them and no false or fanciful theory could make them of no effect. The intent is that now by the church the manifold wisdom of God according to the eternal purpose purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord might be known unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places. In whom there is boldness and access with confidence by faith, and through the sacrifice of Christ a new and living way has been opened for all, with deliverance from hopelessness under sin and death, dead in trespasses and sins, to be quickened to reach forth with mind, heart, and soul unto holiness and love with life and power.
To be made such a minister means not merely presenting the truth to people or relying on eloquent words, but carrying it out in the life, embodying its principles and making Christ known. The revelation was not to save only the generation living when Christ was on earth, but to be manifest in all ages and in every place where ministers show the abundant treasures of Christ's grace, love, and mercy. The gospel he presented still carries the same power today, revealing to men in all ages the rich treasures of the grace of Christ and the abundant love of God through His Son.
Worldwide Mission and Life
Because the promise in Christ by the gospel belongs to all peoples alike, it lays a world-wide work on believers now, for the end is near. They are to take up Paul's burden and go to work in earnest to proclaim the truth and the last message of warning. That work must be done in a short time and with one united voice.
The work is hindered by transgressions that hold back the proclamation of the last warning, and earnest hold must be taken on God to bear the message and expose what hinders it. Satan hinders it through alienation, disunion, diversity of opinion, envy, evil surmisings, faultfinding, seeking the highest place, working at cross-purposes with God, and letting commercial business absorb attention and means that belong to the proclamation of salvation. Putting self out of sight and putting on the whole armor of God carries the work forward to reach those who have never heard the reasons of faith and to tell them where the world is standing in its history, while time is fast passing and the world grows worse and worse.
Satan is devising plans to keep God's forces out of the work and to keep people from realizing that swift judgments are coming, and God has already spoken in judgments to arouse them. Believers must arouse to their true position, put away their own way, and take up God's work intelligently and unitedly. They must turn fully to Him while it is called today, for He will have mercy and abundantly pardon, but coming suddenly He must not find them unready, and there will be no second probation.
The privilege cut off through impenitence is again extended to Israel and to the Gentiles as well through repentance and belief in the gospel. Through conversion they are grafted into the living vine stock and the church of Christ, have peace with God and a sanctified conscience, and Jews and Gentiles dwell together in peace and love and unity in oneness with Christ. Belief in Christ produces transformation of character, kindness of temper, renewal of love to God, bearing of fruit in good works, and becoming partakers of the divine nature in disposition, words, and works. This helps Jews to understand the Scriptures and the mission of Christ and to receive the gospel in its fulness.
Its full meaning should create hungering, thirsting, and longing for the spiritual evidences promised to those who deny self and take up the cross and follow Jesus. Christ gave His own life to bring them into that privileged position, and every provision has been made to bring sinners into right relation to God, so heaven is disappointed when Christians do not meet that standard. The instruction calls for a great reformation in life and words and works and spiritual understanding, for catching the inspiration of angels and daily breathing the atmosphere of heaven. It calls for being strengthened with might by the Spirit in the inner man, having Christ dwell in the heart by faith, being rooted and grounded in love, comprehending the breadth and length and depth and height and knowing the love of Christ which passes knowledge so as to be filled with all the fullness of God.
The church for this work includes not only ministers but all who are united to Christ by faith and embrace the truth, members of one family who are to accomplish it. Those brought together in Christ are to show the principles of God's law in life and conduct, with truth working by love and exerting a sanctifying, cleansing, and refining influence on the soul. When professed believers instead act like unbelievers and lead others wrongly, they need conversion before they can be trusted with responsibility. In Christ a converted slave and his master alike belong to Christ's body as fellow-heirs and are made one, to be joined by brotherly love.