Ephesians 3:4 In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ...

We are continuing in our larger series, Ephesians, this Sunday but beginning a new subsection on The Mystery of Christ!

So far in Ephesians, Paul has woven together great theological truths about what God has done for humanity in Jesus Christ: reconciling the world unto Himself and to one another. The first two chapters are chockfull of revelations and insight, and Paul begins a new section here in chapter three on the mystery of Christ.

Paul expands upon this mystery in Romans, weaving together the Old Testament stories and what God has done to continue the covenant in Jesus Christ, and in this short section, Paul highlights how Jesus was God's plan for humanity all along.

One of the premier Pauline scholars today, N.T. Wright, argues that Jesus is not just a figure in a religious story, but the one who fulfills the promises of the Old Testament covenant, bringing about God's kingdom and offering a new way of life. And that is exactly what Paul is writing on here in Ephesians 3!