[Pastor Ralph]

Q2. (Ephesians 3:6) Just what is the "mystery" that Paul is talking about? Why was it important to the Gentile Christians in Paul's day?

[Ken7]

"I am a child of the King!" The Jewish nation is God's "chosen nation" with the mystery revealed; that both Jew and Gentile are part of God's family. I have been adopted with an adoption that cannot be broken. The importance is in the understanding and the acceptance of these truths from God. Praise Him!

[Stan]

Q2. (Ephesians 3:6) Just what is the "mystery" that Paul is talking about? Why was it important to the Gentile Christians in Paul's day?

Its the fact that now the Gentile believer in Christ was a part of God's Family just like the Jews with the same promises of blessings and cursings that the patriarchs had recieved directly from God. Now they were also included as God's chosen people.

It was important because till that time they were outsiders when it came to God's promise. They were second class citizens with no future life to look foward to. It made them a part of God's plan and brought to light that He had been there waiting for the proper time to bring them to His family.

[Jezemeg]

I believe the mystery that Paul was referring to was that God had not declared that the unbelievers amongst the Jews were not as much a part of His family as the Gentile believers were, that the Gentiles were not to consider themselves above those of their brother Jews. God has not chosen to disown His first chosen people, unlike the thinking of many even today. He has a purpose and a timing for the unbelieving Jew, and it is not our (Gentiles) place to question or demand to know why, God will reveal in His timing if it is necessary for we mortals to know.

[PCHRIS]

the mystery is simply Christ. Colossians 1:27 states specifically that the mystery is "Christ in you, the hope of the glory", that is to say, the actual mystery, the wonderful truth that has been revealed, is that Christ comes to dwell now in the hearts of ALL people, giving the hope of a future in the immediate presence of God.


it is the purpose of God to 'gather together in one all things in Christ'.

[pickledilly]

The word "mystery" here is from a root word related to silence. A scriptural mystery is simply something that God has not told us about before, a previously unknown revelation. This concept of salvation and equal status with God for everyone was revolutionary and certainly unheard of to the Jews. This was God's original intent for humanity, but it had been hidden, or silenced, by sin. Then the LORD had designated the Jewish nation as His chosen people and heirs of His covenant promises. And now, through the apostle Paul, the LORD was revealing His plan to reconcile Gentiles to Himself as well as Jews because of the redemptive work Christ had finished. He was revealing what had been hidden to their eyes yet was there all along. When a magician pulls a rabbit out of a hat, that rabbit was somewhere the whole time, just out of the range of vision. When the rabbit appears it seems to be a magical mystery revealed, but it is actually a well designed and executed plan to keep it hidden until just the right time. God has a plan in everything He does.

Gentile Christians in Paul's day were often looked down upon. They weren't considered part of the elite "in-crowd". The Jews had all that history and those traditions of being such a special people, and they retained biases against those newly saved heathens. The revelation of this wondrous mystery of uniting Jews and Gentiles through Christ put everyone on the same level before God. Through Christ, we all have an equal share in the promises and inheritance. What an esteem builder for this Gentile!

[JustJeff]

Paul's revelation of the mystery that God had manifested to Him was the incorporation of the Gentiles into His body, the welcoming of His adopted children.
The Jewish people were biased toward their faith as the law had intructed them not to assimilate with Gentiles. Tradition probably carried this to the extreme causing ill feelings between the two groups. By accepting the Gentiles into His family, God threw out the welcome mat and made the Gentiles feel the same love that Adonai displays to His chosen, with eventual acceptance into the Messianic Jewish community.

[masika]

The mystery was God had planned to have Jews and Gentiles comprise one body , the Church.
God's plan was not revealed to previous generation , not because God wanted to keep something from His peiple , but because He would reveal it to everyone in His perfect Timing.

[sahala p.s.]

Q2. (Ephesians 3:6) Just what is the "mystery" that Paul is talking about? Why was it important to the Gentile Christians in Paul's day?

The "mystery" that Paul is talking about is that Gentiles are equally the people of God with God’s chosen people, the Jews. Through the gospel, the Gentiles are inheriting together with the Jews, belonging to the same body, that is, Christ’s body, having a share with the Jews in the promise in Christ.

It is important to the Gentile Christians in Paul's day, because in that time they were made to feel like second-class citizen around Jewish Christians.

[warrior]

Just what is the "mystery" that Paul is talking about? Why was it important to the Gentile Christians in Paul's day?

It is the revelation of God and his plan of Salvation that can only be understood by the spirit which draws us, that which was and is revealed through God's prophets and ministers.

It is important to the Gentile because it makes us all equals heirs to the Kingdom of God where under the law the Jews and Gentiles had a wall between them created by the law they were under. We are now under Grace and not under the legal system which man could not obey in full and need a sacrifice yearly by the priest to atone for the laws (sins) he broke.

[janet]

Q2. (Ephesians 3:6) Just what is the "mystery" that Paul is talking about? Why was it important to the Gentile Christians in Paul's day?

The mystery that Paul is talking about is Ephesians 3:2........the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward: KJV
It is important to the Gentile Chrisitans in Paul's day to know that they are accepted by God and would be fellow heirs

[heavenlymann]

The "mystery" is that the gentiles are joint heirs with the Jews thru Christ. One body of believers, co-equal, heirs to God's promises.
It was important to Gentile Christians of Pauls day because the Jews tried to make gentiles second class citizens even in the church. Paul made it clear they were equal not inferior.

[Lisa Rupert]

Q2. (Ephesians 3:6) Just what is the "mystery" that Paul is talking about? Why was it important to the Gentile Christians in Paul's day?
The mystery is that both the Gentiles and Jews are equal heirs to the kingdom. We are both God's chosen people. The Gentile and the Jews are both sharing together, co-heirs, and are of one body to the promises of Christ.
This is important to the Christians in Paul's day because they have always been treated like the outsiders looking in. Now both the Gentiles and Jews are aware they both are equal heirs, who are both going to inherit together as equal heirs, the promises of Christ Jesus. But it is important not to be conceited, not to boast, not to judge the believing or the non-believing Jews because they will all be saved.

[Commissioned]

Q2. (Ephesians 3:6) Just what is the "mystery" that Paul is talking about?
The "mystery" was that no longer was the Jews the only heirs and partakers of the promise in Christ as given in the Gospel; the Gentiles also had rights to be partakers of the same promise. Gentiles are equally the people of God with God's chosen people, the Jews.

Why was it important to the Gentile Christians in Paul's day?
The Gentile Christians in Paul's day were sometimes made to feel like second-class citizens around Jewish Christians. But now the mystery revealed and they are both one in Christ.

[charisbarak]

The mystery revealed was that the Gentiles would share in being heirs in Christ with Jewish believers. What a surprise to the Gentiles telling of the love and grace of God. It was equally a surprise to the Jews--God's chosen people.
After having been counted as 2nd class citizens, the gentiles were ranked as equals to the Jews in God's eyes.

[June]

It was God's purpose to unite all things in heaven and on earth under one head, even Christ and to include Jews and Gentiles in the promise of life and salvation. That we can alll come to God and receive grace through Him. It is that we are heirs to the promises which God gave to the Jews. They assumed that these promises wass for only them, but Praise God we christians share in the same heirship as they do. This was revealed through the Holy Spirit to Paul and then to all mankind.

[steve.c]

(Ephesians 3:6) Just what is the "mystery" that Paul is talking about? Why was it important to the Gentile Christians in Paul's day?

The mystery is that Gentile Christians will be treated exactly the same as God's chosen people: the Jews. Gentiles are co-heirs, members of one body and sharers together. This was important in Paul's day because Jews looked down on Gentiles and were inclined to treat them as second class citizens. Although the nucleus of the early churches were often Jewish, increasingly Gentiles were being drawn to it.

[Eudora]

Q2. (Ephesians 3:6) Just what is the "mystery" that Paul is talking about?

The mystery that Paul was talking about is the lesson in mystery that was shown and taught to Peter in Acts chapters 10 & 11.

Cornelius had true faith in God's word, as far as he understood it. He just hadn’t heard the word of salvation through Jesus Christ. He did not know yet that Christ had come. He was a devout man to the God of Israel, but was not yet filled with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Cornelius was a Gentile.

Peter was a Jew. Peter was visiting Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side. Tanners were required, by the ancient sanitary laws, to live outside city walls, and had to be near plenty of water. He was up on top the roof of Simon’s house when the Holy Spirit showed him a sheet full of un-clean food.

The angel meanwhile, had told Cornelius to send for a man by the name of one Simon, whose surname is Peter: and this man would tell Cornelius further what needed to be done. (key words, what needed to be done, next in their lives, the completion, the fullness of the Gentiles) Cornelius gave this information to two of his servants and a devout soldier. Since all of his house were believers, and this soldier is called devout, they were all three.... believers, whom had not yet known of Salvation for the remission of sin, through the blood of Jesus.

The contents inside this sheet, were food items that Peter did not eat because of the Mosaic Law, given to Moses by the God of Israel. Peter was told in this trance to rise, kill and eat. Peter responded to this voice by name, saying, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. The voice of The Lord, in this trance replied: vs 15: And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.

In this chapter, the sheet that was revealed, held things that according to the Mosaic law were unclean and the reference to Peter was that he did not want to go to the house of Cornelius because Peter thought him to be unclean because he was a Gentile. God had already made Cornelius clean in his heart, though had not yet baptized him in the Spirit of God. It’s kinda like when God answers our prayers before we even ask. God knew that upon hearing the story of Jesus and salvation, which is what Peter was sent to Cornelius for, (the next step, the completion the fullness of the Gentiles) God knew that Cornelius would accept the plan of salvation and repent. ( Many folks believe that this passage is where the food in the sheet was made clean)

This was done three times before the sheet was received back up into heaven purposely to get the point across to Peter. While Peter doubted in himself what this vision had meant, He did not doubt the voice. While Peter was still thinking about the vision and it’s meaning, the spirit told Peter to Arise therefore, and get thee down, and go with them, doubting nothing: for I have sent them.

Once Peter had come down from the rooftop, he introduced himself as the one they were looking for. He asked them of their mission and the three witnesses explained that a just centurion man who believed and feared the God, a man who had a good repore with the Jews, was warned from God by a holy angel to send for Peter, and to hear what Peter had to say. Peter packed up and left the next day to go to Cornelius.

When they arrived back in Ceserea, Cornelius had gathered his family and friends to hear what this man Peter had to say. When he first saw Peter, he fell down to his feet. Peter told Cornelius, I am just a man. Peter could have taken advantage of this but Peter directed Cornelius to God. Peter went into the house of Cornelius and right away began to tell this company of folks that it was not a normal thing for him to go into a house of a non Jew, but that God had showed him that the Gentile would no longer be considered unclean and be treated the same as a Jew. Paul spoke it best: Romans 3:29 Is he the God of the Jews only? is he not also of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also:

Why was it important to the Gentile Christians in Paul's day?

This particular chapter is pointing out that God is no respecter of persons that Jew and Gentile are all one under the God of Israel. Jesus had just died on the cross, thereby, bringing Jew and Gentile to gather as one. Now God truly was, The God of Israel. No longer the God of one or the other. This is the conversion of where man becomes neither Jew, nor Gentile. This is why, Cornelius is considered the first fruit of the Gentiles. With out being told, the Gentile would not have known that the God of Israel was their God too.

[haar]

The mystery? The gentiles are no longer second class citizens but are heirs together with the Jews. I am (a gentile) important to God and will share with the Jews (who accept Christ as their saviour), God's heavenly blessings, promises and glory.

This mystery revealed was important to the gentiles because they were treated as second class citizen but then came the revelation that they were joint heirs with Christ together with the Jews. How exciting!