The Grace for the Gentiles – Co-Heirs with Christ
Paul further states the “dispensation of the grace of God for the Gentiles” is a stewardship or an economy. This is how grace is being worked out. This dispensation of the grace of God is for the Gentiles. It is related specifically to a body of truth. It’s the revelation of a mystery that He made known to Paul. This was not known in other ages. The prophets didn’t know. The sons of men didn’t know. The prophets could barely imagine that God would have anything to do with Gentiles. They could see it, but didn’t quite understand the riches of the glory that would be among the Gentiles.
“Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ) which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel: Of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.” Ephesians 3:4-7 KJV.
This mystery is related to inheritance. Some believe it to mean being fellow heirs with Israel – that the Gentiles become part of Israel. No, they’re the same Body and partakers of the promise in Christ by the gospel. What’s the promise in Christ? It’s the promise of the Spirit according to Galatians 3:14 and Eph 1:13. Jesus became a curse so that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. What Spirit? The same Spirit Jesus has, the Spirit of Christ, which He promised He would send forth. The Spirit is the promise of the Father (Lk 24:49), the comforter (John 14:16), to produce the Sons of God who would be the abode of God, the dwelling place of God. As he dwells in the Father and the Father dwells in Him, He would dwell in us and we in Him (John 14:20). It’s to bring us into the very union that the Father enjoyed with His Son and the Son enjoyed the Father.
The fellowship of the Holy Spirit existed in the Triune God from the foundation of the world, before anything. God’s intention is to expand the sphere of that fellowship to include the many Sons of God who would receive the Spirit. They would no longer be orphans in this world, but would be Sons of God and members of His household, heirs not just with Jews, but heirs together with Christ (Rom 8:17; Gal 3:29). Christ is the reason God created everything. He is the heir of all things (Heb 1:2) and this inheritance is to distributed among His household and shared with His brothers. He is the testator who died and secured the will. Now He’s the mediator of the New Testament to distribute the riches of the inheritance in God’s household to the saints (Heb 9:15-17; Eph 1:18), who are largely comprised of Gentiles. God’s intention is that Gentiles should be members of the Body and fellow heirs together with Christ (Eph 3:6)!
“For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.” Romans 8:15-17 KJV. Jesus said, “Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you. All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that he shall take of mine, and shall shew it unto you.” Romans 16:13-15 KJV.
The riches of God is for Christ to be our portion, our inheritance, and our everything, forever, to be brought into God and for God to be brought into us. This is the promise of the gospel. This is the inheritance and that which makes up the Body, not Jew or Gentile. The Body is Christ. As Paul said in Corinthians, “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment. For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you. Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?” 1 Corinthians 1:10-13 KJV.
We are predestinated to be conformed to His image and to share with Him in His inheritance all things that the Father has (Rom 8:29). This is a heavenly inheritance and we are blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies in Christ (Eph 1:3). This is far beyond anything ever prophesied in the Old Testament concerning the dominion of God on earth. Man was created in His image. In his dominion, he was given authority over all the earth (Gen 1:26-27). The Israelites will have that because Christ will rule on the throne of David and His dominion will cover the earth. The Israelites will partake of that during the Millenium, but we, the Church, are Christ’s co-regents, not only on earth, but in the heavens.
We actually wrestle with the principalities in the heavens and we are destined for the heavens. We’re already seated in the heavens, enthroned far above all principalities and powers and above every name both in this world and the world to come. In Christ, we are seated at the right hand of God. Our life is hid with Christ in God (Col 3:1-4). We Gentiles are the real “Mephibosheth” — lame and brought up to the table (2 Sam 9:10). Paul writes, “Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.” Ephesians 3:7-12 KJV.