What exactly is the mystery Paul states in Ephesians 3:6?
The mystery is that Gentiles are fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of God's promise in Christ—not through Judaism or the Mosaic law, but by Christ and His finished work. This truth, hidden in past generations, is now revealed, so Gentiles become one with Christ and with the God of Abraham.
Les explains that Ephesians 3:6 is one specific segment of the mystery Paul is dealing with; the mystery has various parts. Here Paul declares that Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ—not by Judaism or the Mosaic law, but by Christ, by His finished work. Les notes this was not made known in other past generations, all the way back to the Old Testament, and was not revealed to the sons of men as it is now revealed. He emphasizes that once revealed, it belongs to us, so we had better believe it. He also asks whether anything like this was ever read in the Old Testament—that Gentiles would become one with Christ or with God, indeed one with the God of Abraham—and observes that such a thing was unheard of.
That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
More Questions
Does Ephesians 3 describe one mystery or several segments of the mystery?
Paul's writing in Ephesians 3 contains all kinds of segments to the mystery, and verse six is the particular segment Paul is dealing with at this point.