Eph 3:1-3, 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.
As we resume our study of Ephesians, we turn to chapter 3. The previous chapter, the apostle discussed in detail how we are saved and made one in Christ both Jews and Gentiles. He takes half of chapter 3 to discuss the mystery of the gospel.
Paul did not learn this mystery on his own accord. This prisoner of Christ in the interest of the Gentiles acknowledges that Grace was given to him by God to give to the Gentiles. He considered this grace as a gospel mystery because it was by revelation. A mystery is something that is difficult or impossible to understand or explain unless revealed.
Deu 29:29 “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.”
In the mystery of the gospel that saves, we must ask ourselves, what comes first, faith or regeneration (alive)? Most state faith. Grapple with this, if a man is spiritually dead (Eph 2:1), how can he have faith? The mystery of the gospel declares that regeneration precedes faith, that is, God must make you alive first before you can believe. Faith is not the cause of eternal life, it is a gift in response. What a revelation!