Introduction

In Ephesians 3, Paul reveals the miraculous inclusion of Gentiles into God’s indivisible family through Christ. This inclusion demonstrates God’s multifaceted wisdom to all creation and fulfills His eternal purpose. Paul prays that believers be strengthened by the Holy Spirit to grasp the boundless dimensions of God’s love and to proclaim it. The chapter concludes with a doxology, giving glory to God for His immeasurable power at work in believers.

Key Points

• Main Point: God has miraculously included us as members of His indivisible family through Christ, to unveil His wisdom to everyone.
• Purpose: Be strengthened by the Holy Spirit to know and make known God’s never-ending love.

Ephesians 3:1–3

Paul recounts how God revealed His mystery to him, which he now preaches to the Ephesians as one of God’s chosen messengers. God has graciously revealed Himself through His Word, proclaimed by His appointed apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastor-teachers (4:11). Leaders like Paul and faithful church leaders today are given to build us up in faith and direct us toward God (4:15–16).

Ephesians 3:4–5

When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit.

Up until the coming of Christ, God withheld the greatest secret of His plan. With Christ’s arrival, God revealed His mystery to the world—to unite all things in Him, both in heaven and on earth (1:10). Today, through God’s Word, we have access to this profound truth at the core of God’s heart: to live in unity with Him now and forevermore.

Ephesians 3:6

This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.

The secret God has revealed is that even sinful non-Jews—those who were far from God (2:11–13)—can now become members of His family through Jesus. This unites them with God and breaks down the social stigmas and divisions between different groups (2:14–16). That God made salvation accessible to non-Jews and includes people from any background, despite their sinful rebellion against Him, is truly astonishing. By His incredible grace, God welcomes anyone who repents and places their trust in Jesus into His family.

Ephesians 3:7

Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power.

Paul recognizes God as the gracious giver and empowerer of his ministry to proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ—His person and work. Every opportunity we have to serve God is a gift from His gracious hand, given to build others up in faith and direct them to Christ (4:15–16).

Ephesians 3:8

To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.

Paul humbly acknowledges himself as the least worthy among Christians, yet God, in His abundant grace, entrusted him with the mission of preaching to non-Jews the incomparable worth of Christ’s person and work. Our ministries, too, are gifts of God’s grace, granting us the privilege to advance His kingdom despite our unworthiness. We are merely humble vessels in God’s grand plan of salvation for the world.

Ephesians 3:9–10

…and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.

The mystery entrusted to Paul to proclaim is that sinful non-Jews can be included in God’s family through Christ. This profound truth reveals God’s multi-ethnic family to all powerful beings—both natural and supernatural—showcasing His multifaceted wisdom in its fullness. By repenting, trusting in Jesus, and being united with God’s family, we make God’s infinite wisdom and knowledge known to the world. Only the Holy Spirit can transform our hearts and lives from the inside out through faith in Christ.

Ephesians 3:11–12

This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.

From creation, God’s desire has been to include people from every background into His loving family. Through the gracious and finished work of Christ—cleansing our sins and making us righteous in Him (2 Cor 5:21)—God brought this salvation plan to fruition. Even today, God graciously offers us access to His life and heart through Jesus Christ, who gave His life for us out of His great love. In Christ, we can draw near to God Almighty and live in close fellowship with Him.

Ephesians 3:13

So I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory.

Since the Ephesians have access to God through Christ, Paul encourages them not to be discouraged by his imprisonment. Instead, they can rejoice, as his imprisonment reflects obedience to God in preaching the Gospel (Phil 1:12–26). Faithful spiritual leaders prioritize the well-being of those they serve over their own comfort, persevering in their labor even when it involves pain and suffering in a world marred by sin. Their example inspires us to continue abiding in Christ, even in their absence.

Ephesians 3:14–15

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named.

Paul humbles himself before God, acknowledging Him as Father—the Creator of all families, even those fractured by sin. The God we worship is not an impersonal force or a self-serving deity to be appeased for blessings, whether earthly or spiritual. Instead, He is a loving Father who graciously and freely welcomes everyone into His family through the finished work of Jesus Christ.

Ephesians 3:16–17a

…that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith…

God desires to continually empower Christians through His Spirit, enabling Christ to live in their hearts and for them to live in Him (Jn 17:20–23). We worship a Triune God—Father, Son, and Spirit—who is a divine community of love and fellowship. This God eagerly knows, loves, and invites us into His eternal life. He uses His infinite and unending power to accomplish what is humanly impossible: uniting us with Himself forever.

Ephesians 3:17b–19a

…that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge…

Christ desires to dwell in our hearts, strengthening and continually building our foundation of faith in God’s immeasurably vast and multi-dimensional love. This creates a joyous upward spiral where being grounded in His love deepens our understanding of it, leading to an eternal journey of growing in His love. Since the greatness of Christ’s love is inexhaustible, we can anticipate discovering more of God and His love every day throughout our lives and continuing forever, even after Christ’s return.

Ephesians 3:19b

…that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Christ not only desires to dwell in our hearts but also to fill us with the fullness of God (3:17a; Jn 17:23). As we become more deeply rooted in Christ not only desires to dwell in our hearts but also to fill us with the fullness of God (3:17a; Jn 17:23). As we become more deeply rooted in His love and grow in our understanding of it—both cognitively and emotionally—we increasingly experience the fullness of God within us. We worship a Triune God—Father, Son, and Spirit—who is a divine community of love and fellowship. This God longs to fulfill us completely with His presence, using His infinite and boundless power to achieve what is humanly impossible by grounding us in His eternal love.

Ephesians 3:20–21

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Paul concludes the first half of his letter by reminding the Ephesians of the good news of God’s grace and the immeasurable power at work in their lives. He gives all glory to God for His greatness and goodness. In the second half of the letter, Paul will explain how this transformative Gospel shapes the lives of believers.

To God be the glory, great things He has done;
So loved He the world that He gave us His Son;
Who yielded His life an atonement for sin;
And opened the life-gate that all may go in;
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord; Let the earth hear His voice;
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord; Let the peoples rejoice;
O come to the Father through Jesus the Son;
And give Him the glory—great things He has done!

Conclusion

Ephesians 3 emphasizes God’s eternal plan to unite all believers into His family through Christ, demonstrating His wisdom and love. Believers are encouraged to be strengthened by the Spirit to comprehend and live out God’s never-ending love. This love not only empowers the church but also glorifies God through all generations.

Summary

• God has revealed His eternal plan to unite all believers into His family through Christ (3:1–6).
• The Gospel is a gracious gift, and ministry is an opportunity to share the riches of Christ (3:7–8).
• The church reveals God’s wisdom to the world and to the spiritual realm (3:9–10).
• Through Christ, believers have bold and confident access to God (3:11–12).
• Paul prays for believers to be strengthened by the Spirit to know the vast dimensions of God’s love (3:16–19).
• God’s power at work in believers surpasses all human expectations and brings Him eternal glory (3:20–21).