God has revealed the "mystery of His will" which
He purposed in Himself(Ephesians 1:9)
The "mystery" concerning His eternal purpose
(Ephesians 3:8-11) is to "gather together" (literally to "head up")
in Christ "ALL things" both in heaven and on earth in the "fullness" of the "appointed
times" (Ephesians 1:10)
The "ALL things" (Ephesians 1:10) associated with this "mystery" (Ephesians 1:9) are governmental positions of rank and authority in heaven and on
earth (Ephesians 1:20-21 cf. Colossians 1:16-17), which will be reconciled back to God by redeemed sinners who themselves
have been reconciled back to God thru "the blood of His (Christ's) cross" (Colossians 1:20-22)
The "appointed times" (Ephesians 1:10)
associated with this "mystery" (Ephesians 1:9) are times of resurrection - when each sphere will be reclaimed back
by the resurrection of each "family" (literally "lineage") of the redeemed creation (Ephesians 3:14-15 cf.I Corinthians 15:22-23,50-52)
The "fullness" of Christ is His Body which shares
His Headship over "ALL things" (Ephesians 1:22-23) - with Christ possessing the preeminent Headship which includes His
Body (Colossians 1:18-19)
God dispensed His message of grace to Paul for the Gentiles
known as the "mystery" (Ephesians 3:1-3)
The "mystery" is more specifically called the
"mystery of (the) Christ" (Ephesians 3:4) and is a reference to the Church, which is called by the name of its
Head
The "mystery" concerning the fact that the Jew
and the Gentile would be "fellow" ("equal") heirs and of the SAME body was NOT known prior
to Paul (Ephesians 3:5-6 cf. Colossians 1:25-27)
Prior to Paul, Israel was promised to be a "peculiar
treasure above ALL people" and a "kingdom of priests" (I Peter 2:9-10 cf. Exodus 19:5-6; Isaiah 61:6)
With Paul, the Gentiles were "made nigh by the blood
of Christ", which "broke down the middle wall of partition" (the Law) between the Jew and the Gentile
and "reconciled both unto God in one body by the cross" (Ephesians 2:13-16)
The "love of Christ" as expressed in His "death
for all" (II Corinthians 5:14-15) introduced a "new knowledge" of Christ in which the "old
things" of the Law are to be replaced by the "new things" pertaining to the "new creation"
(II Corinthians 5:16-17), which constitutes the "new message of reconciliation" (II Corinthians 5:18-19)
to be proclaimed by "new ambassadors" (II Corinthians 5:20-21)
Israel became "enemies of God" for the "gospel's
sake" (Romans 11:28), so that God could have "mercy upon all" - upon BOTH Jew
and Gentile (Romans 11:30-32)
With Paul, the Jew and Gentile share an equality together: