The mystery Paul reveals is that Gentiles become fellow heirs with Christ, members of the same Body, and partakers of God's promise through the gospel.
Scripture says this secret was not made known to earlier generations but was revealed to Paul (Ephesians 3:5–6; Colossians 1:26–27). Les Feldick emphasizes that this places Jews and Gentiles on equal ground in the Body of Christ through Christ's finished work, not through Judaism or the Law.
Ephesians 3:5-6 — This is the central passage declaring that Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ.
Colossians 1:26-27 — This reveals that the mystery was hidden for ages and generations but is now made manifest, giving the riches of God's glory among the Gentiles.
Ephesians 1:9-10 — This shows the ultimate purpose of the mystery: God will gather together all things in Christ, the believer's hope.
The Bible plainly identifies the mystery in Ephesians 3:4–6: "Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:" Colossians 1:26–27 speaks of the same secret: "Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." Ephesians 1:9–10 adds the larger purpose: God has "made known unto us the mystery of his will... That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him."
Les Feldick teaches that the mystery Paul reveals in Ephesians 3 is that Gentiles become fellow heirs with Christ, members of the same Body, and partakers of the promise—not by Judaism or the Mosaic law, but by Christ's finished work (Clips 1, 2). This truth was hidden in God from past ages and generations, unknown to Israel and even to the Twelve, and was revealed to Paul as a minister of God's grace (Clips 4, 6). Les stresses that this mystery means Jews and Gentiles are on equal ground in the Body of Christ; while Israel retains a covenant position, there is no special privilege when it comes to personal salvation (Clip 3). He also describes the mystery as part of God's eternal purpose: when God gathers everything together in Christ, believers are the objects of His mercy and grace (Clip 0).
The Bible identifies it in Ephesians 3:6: "That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel." Les emphasizes that this does not come through Judaism or the Mosaic law, but through Christ's finished work (Clip 2). It is one segment of the mystery: Jews and Gentiles are brought into the Body on equal ground (Clip 3).
Yes. Scripture says it "was not made known unto the sons of men" in other ages and "hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest" (Ephesians 3:5; Colossians 1:26). Les says Israel never had a concept of these truths, and the Twelve had no concept of them either (Clip 4). He asks, "Have you ever read anything like this back in the Old Testament?" — and his answer is that no Old Testament passage gave this promise (Clips 2, 7).
Paul says it was made known to him "by revelation" and revealed to God's holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit (Ephesians 3:3–5). Les puts it vividly: Saul of Tarsus was a "renegade" saved by grace, and to him God revealed the secrets and mysteries (Clip 4). Les also notes Paul received greater revelations in his later prison epistles than in his earlier writings (Clip 0).
Les teaches that the mystery means Jews and Gentiles are on the same level playing field for personal salvation; a Jew is not in a place of special privilege (Clip 3). Israel's covenant position as God's favored nation is real, but Gentiles are now brought into a privileged position with Israel's God in the form of the Body of Christ (Clip 5).
Ephesians 1:9–10 says God's secret purpose is to gather together in one all things in Christ, both in heaven and on earth. Les calls this the hope of the believer, adding that when God brings everything to its culmination and believers enter eternity, they are the objects of His eternal purpose—which is His mercy (Clip 0).
The Secret of God's Will and the Believer's Hope
Les shows that Paul's mystery includes God's eternal purpose to gather all things together in Christ, and that this is the hope of the believer as the object of God's mercy.
Gentiles as Fellow Heirs
Les explains Ephesians 3:6 directly answers the question: Gentiles are fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ, a truth hidden from the world's beginning.
Equal to Israel by Christ's Finished Work
Les emphasizes that Gentiles receive this promise through Christ's finished work, not by Judaism or the Mosaic law—something never contemplated in the Old Testament.
Jews and Gentiles on Equal Ground
Les reveals one segment of the mystery is that Jews and Gentiles are brought into the Body on equal ground; for personal salvation, a Jew has no special privilege over a Gentile.
A Mystery Hidden, Now Made Manifest
Les points to Colossians 1:25–26 to show this secret had been hidden from ages and generations, and Paul was made a minister to fulfill God's Word by revealing it.
Gentiles' Privileged Position with Israel's God
Les identifies another aspect of the mystery: while Israel is temporarily blinded, Gentiles come into a privileged position with Israel's God in the Body of Christ.
Revealed to Paul by Revelation
Les cites Ephesians 3:3–6 to show the mystery of Christ was not made known in other ages, but was revealed to holy apostles and prophets, including the truth that Gentiles would be fellow heirs.
Christ in You, the Hope of Glory
Les highlights Colossians 1:27—the riches and glory of this mystery among the Gentiles—as a statement found nowhere else in the Old Testament or the Gospels.
Ephesians 3:5: Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
This shows the mystery was hidden in earlier ages and only now revealed.
Ephesians 3:6: That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
This is the precise content of Paul's mystery about the Gentiles.
Ephesians 1:9: Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
God has now made known the secret of His will through Paul.
Ephesians 1:10: That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
This unveils the ultimate goal of the mystery: all things gathered together in Christ.
Colossians 1:25: Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God;
Paul was made a minister of this mystery by God's dispensation.
Colossians 1:26: Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints:
This confirms the secret was hidden for ages and has now been revealed.
Colossians 1:27: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
Paul calls this the mystery among the Gentiles, with Christ as the hope of glory.
Paul said in Ephesians 3:6 that the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel. Les explains this means they receive the promise through Christ's finished work, not through the law.
Yes. Scripture says it was hidden in other ages and now revealed to Paul (Ephesians 3:5; Colossians 1:26). Les says no Old Testament passage ever promised that Gentiles would become one with Christ or with God.
Both are on equal ground for salvation. Les says a Jew today who experiences salvation is on the same level as a Gentile; Israel keeps a covenant position, but there is no special privilege in personal salvation.
Watch the Teaching: The Mysteries Paul Revealed — Secrets Hidden Since the World Began