12/18/12  Ephesians 3

The mystery of Christ.   Paul uses this phrase over and over to explain this new revelation that salvation is for the Gentiles as well as for the Jews. The mystery, the secret plan that God the Father had purposed, planned, and accomplished through Jesus Christ. 
Romans 11:25 "For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery.... " The Jews and Gentiles alike are saved by faith in Christ Jesus.
Romans 16:25 " Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery which has been kept secret for long ages past, but now is manifested and by the Scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the eternal God, has been made known to all the nations, leading to obedience of faith.."
I Cor. 2:7 " but we speak God's wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory, the wisdom which none of this age understood..."
Eph. 1: 9 " He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him"
Eph. 3:3,4 " that by revelation there was made known to me the mystery..." ; " And by referring to this, when you read you can understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which in other generations was not made known to the sons of men as it has now been revealed..." v6 "to be specific, that the Gentiles are fellow heirs and fellow members of the body, and fellow partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel"
v9 " and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God, who created all things".
Col. 1:26 -27" that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations; but has now been manifested to His saints, to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles , which is Christ in you the hope of glory."
Col. 4: 3 "...so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned"
Paul, a Jew, was given the privilege by Grace to "preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ", to reveal something hidden in God the Creator,  to make known "the manifold wisdom of God"  To announce "to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places" that God had planned from eternity to bring salvation through His Son, Christ Jesus our Lord, to all people.
Paul closes chapter 3 with a beautiful prayer.
To the Father - of ALL families in heaven and earth, "that He would grant you , according to the riches of His glory" : inner strength/ power through His Spirit; ability to comprehend the love of Christ that is beyond our ability to comprehend, through His dwelling in our hearts; to be filled with the fulness of God.
To be filled with the Spirit for strength.  To be filled with Christ for love. To be filled with all the fulness of God - made complete.