Ephesians  ◦   Chapter 3

1 It is because I have brought the healing truth about Christ Jesus to you, Gentiles, that I, Paul, am now a prisoner.

2 Surely you have heard how God graciously gave me the healing message of truth for you–3 that is, the truth previously not understood but made known to me by revelation, as I have already written to you.4 In reading this, you will be able to understand the insight I have into the truth about God and Christ — the truth previously hidden by Satan's lies and distortions.5 These insights were not understood by previous generations because the lies of Satan were so effective that only Christ himself could refute them and provide the truth sufficient to make plain what God's Spirit had previously revealed to his holy apostles and prophets.6 This is the truth previously hidden and not understood: God loves all humanity, and all humanity is included in God's plan to heal and restore, and–through the incredible good news of God as revealed in Christ–all humans are included in the promises given to Abraham, and are therefore heirs of the blessings of salvation which come through Christ Jesus.

7 I became an ambassador of this incredible truth by receiving the gift of God's healing Remedy graciously given to me through the working of his power–the power of truth and love.8 Although I am the least deserving of all God's people, this gracious privilege was given me to take to the Gentiles the incredible truth of Christ,9 and to explain to everyone God's methods and principles which had been misunderstood because of Satan's lies and distortions, and for ages past were hidden in God, but are now revealed by Christ, who created all things.10 His intent was that now, through the church, God's wisdom, methods, principles and character should be revealed to all intelligent beings throughout the entire universe as we experience God's methods and character recreated within us,11 according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.12 In Christlikeness of character experienced by trust in him, we may approach God freely and with confidence.13 Therefore please don't be discouraged because of my sufferings for you–they are for your healing, and beneficial for your character development.

14 It is for your healing and transformation that I kneel before the Father,15 from whom his entire family in heaven and on earth derives its character, methods, and principles.16 I pray that out of the glorious riches that emanate from his being, and through the working of his Spirit in your minds, you will be fully transformed into Christlikeness and so settled into God’s methods and principles that you cannot be shaken,17 so that Christ will dwell in your hearts through trust. And I pray that you, rooted and transformed by love,18 will have your minds enabled (together with all the saints) to grasp how immense, and wide, and long, and deep, and high is the love of Christ,19 and to know in every fiber of your beings this love that surpasses intellectual knowledge, that you may become living showcases of God's loving character.

20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or could ever imagine — according to his life-giving power at work within us — 21 be all honor, and praise, and glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all time, forever and ever! Amen.