Ephesians 3:1-13 — The Mystery of the Church

Ephesians 3:1-13 — The Mystery of the Church
 
This passage seems to begin as if the Apostle Paul is starting another prayer. However, right afterward he begins an "if-then" statement where the "if" is in verse 2 but the "then" is not until verse 13. In between, he breaks off this "if-then" statement to write about his apostleship to the Gentiles. He was appointed to proclaim the mystery that was given to him through revelation. This mystery, this plan of God previously unknown, is how Jews and Gentiles can now be God's people.
God’s people will now be identified by their togetherness, their love for one another with the Holy Spirit dwelling in their midst. God’s people will now be people from every nation, every tribe, and every tongue. God's people are no longer identified by circumcision, ritual purity, or blood sacrifices.
 
Some think that the mystery was known previously, but not to the degree that it is now.
However, without overstating the discontinuity, the construction of grammar and the language being used here indicates an absolute disjunction between the past, before Christ, and the present, after Christ. This mystery was unknown before the coming of Christ and it required direct revelation from God to be understood.
There are three ways in which this mystery, God's plan which was previously unknown, required revelation to comprehend its significance.
 

1. The new and unexpected way by which God executed His plan.
   Bringing the Gentile into the family of God by shedding the blood of His only begotten Son was unexpected. Now, Jews and Gentiles are united into one body with equal access to God. (Ephesians 2:14–18)
2. The annulment of the Mosaic law.
   No one expected that God would set aside the requirement of the Mosaic law to allow the Gentile to be in a relationship with Him. 
3. The new covenant afforded God's people a greater degree of nearness to Him that exceeds any expectation of an Old Testament believer.
   In this new dispensation, those "who once were far have become near by the blood of Christ” (Ephesians 2:13). God's people, who have been brought near, now have "boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him" (Ephesians 3:12). Jews—who had no direct access to God—and Gentiles—who had no access—now not only have equal access but they have direct access.