Let’s read Ephesians 3:8-11, “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, 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; to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord” (NKJV).

Paul realized that God’s grace alone had made him the “apostle to the Gentiles” (see Acts 9:15 and Galatians 2:2 & 8). He never forgot how he had tried to exterminate the church (Galatians 1:13) and thus he meant it when he said he was “less than the least of all the saints.” In 1st Corinthians 15:9 he calls himself “the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.” This was NOT a false humility, but Paul’s true estimate of himself.

Yet in spite of his dark and murderous background, God’s grace saved him and called him to preach “the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery.” We believe this speaks of Paul’s TWOFOLD MINISTRY: 1) to preach the GOSPEL TO SINNERS; and 2) to teach the TRUTH OF THE CHURCH TO SAINTS. In preaching the gospel to sinners Paul was unfolding to them “the riches of God grace,” as he stated earlier in Ephesians 1:7, “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to THE RICHES OF HIS GRACE.” Once the sinner is saved they become RICH. “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that YOU THROUGH HIS POVERTY MIGHT BECOME RICH.” The saved sinner is then ready to hear and see “what is the fellowship (or “administration”) of the mystery.” A “mystery” is a truth that is made known by a special revelation from God and Paul was called to reveal it to “all who believed.” What the “mystery” is was brought out earlier in verse 6, “That the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel.”

Paul goes on to say, “which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God.” This simply means that the truth of Jews and Gentiles being brought into the one body of Christ was never revealed in Old Testament times. We read of God’s dealing with the Jews as His earthly people and Gentiles being blessed through them, but you will never read of Jews and Gentiles being “of the same body,” with both sharing together all the blessings of the gospel of Jesus Christ (see Ephesians 2:11-22).

Paul then teaches us God has another special purpose, for He is not only revealing the mystery of the church to men, but to “the principalities and powers in the heavenly places.” And in doing so, they are learning “the manifold wisdom of God.” Like students in a classroom they are observing the church on earth and learning of God’s marvelous grace in saving sinners (at such a cost to Himself!) and in forming them into a heavenly company with heavenly blessings. This AMAZING PLAN was designed before time began and thus it is said to be “according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.” God’s Son is at the center of this plan and we (who believe in Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross) are not only saved from our sins and formed into the body of Christ, but we are being conformed to the image of His Son and will one day be presented to the Lord Jesus in perfection as His eternal Bride. You can read about that in Romans 8:28-29 and Ephesian 5:25-27. (268.1) (DO)