QT 9/2/2026 Eph 3:1–6, The mystery of the church

Ephesians 3:1–6 (ESV) —

1 For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles— 2 assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you, 3 how the mystery was made known to me by revelation, as I have written briefly. 4 When you read this, you can perceive my insight into the mystery of Christ, 5 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. 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.

 

NOTE: There are 7 or 8 mysteries revealed in the New Testament, that were not revealed in the Old Testament, although they were hinted at. Paul calls them mysteries for that reason. The mystery here is that Gentiles are partakers with the Jews of the promises in Christ. We share the same body -- the universal church -- and both groups are one, and fellow heirs.

 

The new body is the church, which Paul discusses in other letters as well. Technically, there is no Jewish religion or law now. Jesus has fulfilled all the conditions of the law and has nailed the law to the cross. There is a new high priest, prophet, and king in direct violation of the old covenant (for one, Jesus of Judah as high priest), hence the need for the new covenant.

 

The prophets of old foretold these things, but Jesus was rejected by his own people and put to death by the Romans (Gentiles). For now, God has set aside Israel for a time (we call it the church age). Israel is still God's possession, and he promises to return in the end days to bring as many as possible into the real kingdom. In the meantime, we can pray for the peace of Jerusalem.

 

PONDER:

1. In Romans, Paul says God is not finished with his people, Israel. Are you praying that as many as possible will hear the gospel before the end of days?

 

PRAYER: Father, thank you for saving me from hell and giving me a new life, a born-again life. You have changed me from the inside out. I still fall, and yet you still pick me up. Have mercy upon me.

QT 9/1/2026 Eph 2:19–22, Continue in spiritual growth

Ephesians 2:19–22 (ESV) —

19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

 

NOTE: So, one of the questions I have had is whether we will have the Holy Spirit in the Kingdom. In Corinthians, it says our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, which is why we should keep it free from sin and other things that my damage the temple. In the passage today, it speaks to the Universal Church as growing into a holy temple to the Lord, but it also seems to imply the same thing for the individual is verse 22. Yes, we will have new bodies, but there is no reason to assume we still won't need the Holy Spirit. I don't believe we will be perfect in knowledge. We can still grow and learn even in the Millennial kingdom. We will need the Spirit's help as we fulfill the responsibilities given to us by Jesus in the new kingdom. And I kind of wonder, if what we are learning and doing now might also carry over into the new kingdom, minus the sin and its temptations from the flesh.

 

PONDER:

1. Do I think of this life as preparation for the kingdom?
2. Or do I live this life for myself?

 

PRAYER: Father, continue to help us grow and change. I don't know what the future holds, but I certainly don't want to be lazy in my service to you.