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Many people think of the church today as a building. We all say that we are going over to the church on Sunday—and that is okay. But here is a biblical definition of the church: It is a people called by God, belonging to Jesus Christ, and indwelt by the Holy Spirit.[1] Paul is about to amplify that definition in Ephesians 3 by adding some details to his description of the church.

First, he mentions in verse 1 that he is a “prisoner of Christ.” This is a reminder to his readers that even though he is under house arrest in the city of Rome, he is still serving Christ, who is ultimately in control of His life.

Do not miss this! Even though Paul would rather be free to serve in the church, God wanted him imprisoned; and from that confinement, he is going to find the time to write four inspired New Testament letters, which have directed the church to this day.

He mentions the “stewardship of God’s grace” in verse 2. A stewardship is a responsibility. Paul affirms that the Lord has entrusted to him the preaching of God’s grace, particularly as God’s chosen apostle to the Gentiles.

Paul then begins talking about the mystery of the church. He writes in verse 3 that this “mystery was made known” to him by divine revelation. And he adds in verse 5 that the mystery was not known “to the sons of men in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets.”

What is this mystery Paul is talking about? We use the word mystery today to refer to something you cannot figure out. But Paul is using the word for something that was unknown throughout Old Testament times but has now been “unveiled by God’s revelation.”[2] 

So, what is the mystery that has now revealed by God through Paul? Paul tells us in verse 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.

This does not seem like front-page news to us today. This is not such a big deal, is it? Well, that is because for us the church is 2,000 years old and most Christians today are Gentiles.

But remember that throughout the Old Testament dispensation, until the beginning of the New Testament dispensation of the church age, God was working in the world almost exclusively through His chosen nation Israel. In fact, until the church was created in Acts 2, Gentiles who believed in the true God effectively became a part of the Jewish nation, adopting its ceremonies and festivals and commandments.

But now it is a new day—a new era of time, a new dispensation. And Paul has been divinely entrusted with this stewardship, or responsibility, that effectively defines the church age—to proclaim the gospel of Christ to both Jews and Gentiles.

And do not miss how he feels about it. He writes that he thinks he is “the very least of all the saints” (verse 8). He does not think he is worthy of this responsibility at all. He is the last person who should be explaining the mystery of the church. Yet God gave this former persecutor of the early church the privilege of preaching “to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.”

Beloved, you have been given the same privilege today—to be a part of God’s plan for the church age in taking the gospel to all people! You are carrying on what Paul started.

In verse 10 Paul also reveals the fascinating point that God’s “manifold wisdom” is “made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.” Even the angels are listening. Imagine that. God has chosen to use us, the church, to reveal to the angelic world the mystery that Jews and Gentiles are united in one body—the New Testament church.

That is a staggering thought. We might have a lot to learn, but the angels are still learning as well. First Peter 1:12 tells us the angels “long to look” into matters of salvation. And Paul says God is using you and me to instruct them through the way we live together as members of the church!

This is part of what Paul calls here in verse 11, God’s “eternal purpose”—that He be glorified throughout all creation. Do not ever think you are insignificant, beloved; you are part of God’s eternal plan—and we are all just getting started. 

The apostle then adds a personal note to the believers in Ephesus, writing, “I ask you not to lose heart over what I am suffering for you, which is your glory” (verse 13). He is currently suffering imprisonment in Rome because of his ministry to Gentiles. His claim that Gentiles can belong to God caused the Jewish people in Jerusalem to riot—to threaten his life. And that led to his imprisonment now in Rome. But Paul does not want his readers to be discouraged because God’s purposes are being accomplished.

What a wonderful perspective! Serving the Lord is not about us; it is about Him. It is not about our expectations in ministry; it is about His expectations that unfold in our ministry. It is not about our will; it is about demonstrating our trust in His will and in His wisdom. If this is our perspective, hardship along the way will not cause us to give in or give up.

In verse 14 Paul begins another long prayer for the church in Ephesus. And again, this prayer is actually one long sentence. His request is that these believers will “be strengthened with power through [God’s] Spirit in [their] inner being” (verse 16). Paul is praying that the Holy Spirit will invigorate the believers in their “inner core” with dynamic power.  

The Spirit’s power will provide two results. First, verse 17 says it allows Christ to “dwell in [our] hearts through faith.” The apostle is not talking about Christ coming to dwell in us through salvation. He is writing this letter to Christians. Paul is praying that Christ will be “at home” in their hearts through faithful living. Have you ever gone to someone’s house but never really felt at home there? Well, Paul is effectively praying that the way we live our lives will make Christ feel at home in us.

The second result of spiritual strengthening is revealed in verses 18-19. Paul prays that this spiritual strength will allow them to comprehend to a greater degree “what is the breadth and length and height and depth [of] the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge.”

We often speak of the love of God—and we should. But we have to admit that our understanding of God’s love needs to grow. We have so much more to learn about the incredible, unstoppable, faithful love of God for His redeemed—His church today.

This is a pretty big prayer request. He is praying that we will be filled with the strength of God’s Spirit in order to deepen our understanding of God’s love for us, in order that we might surrender more readily to what God wants to do through us. Is this prayer request too big?

Paul knew we would probably ask that question, so he closes in verse 20 by reminding us that God is fully capable of answering this prayer. In fact, Paul writes that God “is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think.”

In light of that, we cannot help but join the apostle Paul here in verse 21, praising God in saying, “To him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.”