Ephesians 3:1-12 God’s Marvelous Plan for the Gentiles

For this reason I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus for the sake of you Gentiles— Surely you have heard about the administration of God’s grace that was given to me for you, that is, the mystery made known to me by revelation, as I have already written briefly. In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, 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. 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.I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power. Although I am less than the least of all the Lord’s people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the boundless riches of Christ, and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things. His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence. In the years before Christ Jesus, the powers in heavenly places were only aware of God, Christ, the Holy Spirit and of Israel. Now in the fullness of times the church emerges as a full participant in God's plan to save the gentiles. The church did not exist in prior times, but was instituted by Paul who was the Apostle to the gentiles. Now all of creation knows that the sacrifice of Jesus was for the gentiles also, because they were given the same gift (the sending of the Holy Spirit) as was given to the Jews. Now the gates of Hell are at war with the God of gods and the Lord of lords and the enemy will not prevail.