Last time we considered Paul’ review of things before he prays in verse 14. It was like Paul and the Apostles opened a great big, secret treasure chest (we spoke about that in chapter one) and they got to look in it for the first time. Now we are invited to look into the treasure chest and see all the wonderful things God in His grace has for us. Paul reminds us of THE FORMATION OF THE CHURCH v2-6 It Was Divinely Revealed. v3-5 It Was Not Known in the Past. v5  It Was the Establishment of a New United Family. v6 then, THE PROCLAMATION OF THE CHURCH. v7-9 Paul was Preaching the Gospel to the Gentiles. v7-8 And he was Training Jew and Gentile to Live in Unity. v9 And Paul now continues in verses 10-13 to reveal to us our task, our privilege and our cost as part of this revealed mystery.

Paul opens chapter 3 prepared to pray, but he is moved to reiterate the truths he has taught in chapters 1 and 2. So in a lengthy parenthetical diversion, Paul reminds us again of the importance of God’s establishment of the church and the fact that God revealed the purpose and ministry of the church to him and sent him up specifically as a missionary to the Gentiles who are readily welcomed into God’s family when receiving His saving grace through Jesus Christ.

In verses 11-22, Paul considers our outward lives. He compares our former living without Christ to our present living in Christ. Paul shows how salvation in Christ’s finished work on the cross unites every believer, Jew and Gentile. He proceeds to declare that our privileges are equal and illustrates this reality with heavenly citizenship and the illustration of the building of a temple.