◄ What Does Ephesians 3:6 Mean? ►

The wealth that all believers have in Christ is described in incredible depth and wondrous beauty in the first three chapters of Ephesians. This is followed by instruction to believers on the application of these glorious truths, which are found in the last three chapters of this book.

But this verse outlines the core truth of the message of the Cross: that members of the Body of Christ, which is the Church, all enjoy equal position, privileges, status, and title.

There are no super-Christians and none that are inferior believers, for we are all one in Christ. There is no division in the Church, for we are all fellow members of His Body, fellow-partakers of the unconditional promise made to Christ through Abraham, and fellow-inheritors with the same birthright that is given by grace through faith to all the redeemed in Christ.

From the point when Israel were adopted as God's chosen people, a great, unbridgeable gulf between them and the Gentiles was erected, and a bitter hatred developed between the two, until Gentiles were considered to be no more than dogs by the nation of Israel, and the Jews were conversely regarded as an arrogant and prideful people by the Gentiles.

And so the mystery hidden for ages and generations was now revealed to His saints through the unique ministry of the apostle Paul. It was a truth that was staggering to God's chosen people and which was strongly resisted by many Jews, who could not accept that God in His mercy and kindness and stepped into history and elevated Gentile believers to enjoy equal position, privileges, status, and title with other Jewish believers.

Before the Cross, the only way for a Gentile to be included in the unconditional promises made to Abraham was to become a Proselyte Jew. Naturally this meant that proselytes were to embrace all Jewish customs and their religions practices, including worshipping the God of Israel, adopting the Jewish religion, participating in all religious customs, and adherence to the conditional Law that was given to Israel through Moses. However, there were certain Jewish privileges, positions, and titles from which all Gentile converts were excluded, which naturally rendered them as second-class citizens.

But because of the Cross of Christ and the sacrifice of Himself on behalf of all people, God in His grace chose to make the Gentiles: "Co-heirs, members of the same Body, and partners of the promise in Christ Jesus." It was through the Cross that the wall of separation was broken down and it was through the gospel message that we preach Christ crucified. To the Jews it was a cause for stumbling, and to the Gentiles it was foolishness, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Gentiles, Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God.

The wealth that all believers have in Christ is staggering. The incredible depth and wondrous beauty of the position, possession, and privileges we have in Christ are beyond our understanding. But this verse outlines a core truth that is contained in the message of the Cross: "Which is that Gentiles are co-heirs, members of the same Body, and partners of the promise made to Christ Jesus our Lord, through the glorious gospel of grace."

Heavenly Father, thank You that I have become a child of God and a member of Christ’s Body, by faith in His finished work at Calvary. Thank You that there is no division in the Body of Christ, and that we are all equal partakers of the unconditional promise made to Christ through Abraham and have become fellow-inheritors with the same birthright that is given, by grace through faith to all the redeemed in Christ. In Jesus' precious name, AMEN.