What Paul especially wants them to know is “this mystery,” not a secret that is known only by the initiated, but a secret that has now been openly revealed and has therefore become public truth. Essentially the mystery is Christ himself. But in particular it is the good news that in Christ, Gentiles are now equal beneficiaries with the Jews of the promises of God and are equal members of God’s family. The mystery consists of three consecutive truths. “Israel has experienced a hardening in part.”