“Unto me [Paul], 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.” (Ephesians 3:8)

In his ministry during the period of the Book of Acts, Paul had been preaching the searchable riches of Christ to Israel. These were to be known among Israel for they were promised to Israel as a nation. These blessings came through Abraham who had received the promises and these were later expanded and made known by Moses and the prophets.

So, there were no UNsearchable riches preached by Paul until AFTER to the end of the time of the book of Acts. It was with the end of the book of Acts that Israel as a nation was not only ‘divorced’ from God (Jer. 3:8-10) but also ‘fallen,’ (Rom. 11:12) and cast away (Rom. 11:15) temporarily (Rom. 11:25).

Israel’s promised blessings are currently withheld until such a day that they will be willing to recognize and receive the Lord Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.

Yet, all through the Old Testament and on up to the end of Acts, Israel’s SEARCHABLE riches were made known and published in Israel’s Scriptures. These SEARCHABLE riches and blessings came through the promises made to Abraham concerning his seed. So then, all Israel was blessed through faithful Abraham. That included the promise of “the land,” the ‘Kingdom on earth,’ and much more. The prophets had done their part well in making all the riches and blessings known from Abraham until the end of Acts.

So then, there were no promises and blessings and riches for Israel from about A.D. 64 (Acts 28:28). At that time something happened. The “Salvation of God” was “sent To the Gentiles,” that is to the nations, outside of Israel, the Gentiles then received UNsearchable riches. Israel as a nation became fully fallen and blinded as seen in Acts 28:28 when Paul said;

“Be it known therefore unto you [Israel], that THE SALVATION OF GOD IS SENT UNTO THE GENTILES, and that they will hear [heed] it.” (Acts 28:28 (KJV)

Therefore, the individual people of Israel, being then fallen and divorced [cf. Rom. 11:10-12, 15, 25), are currently counted by God as being ‘lost Gentiles,’ without distinction from lost Gentiles.

So, some individuals Israelites of “the circumcision [Israel]” could and did believe to become joined to the Gentile church which is “the body of Christ,” having faith in Jesus Christ. Paul identifies them once as “the circumcision.” Paul then never uses the word Jews, or even Israel for these new members of “the church, which is His body” in his last seven, pure grace [100% grace] prison epistles.

From the time Paul was making known to the Gentiles some Riches that Israel Had Never Heard of. For they were “UNsearchable” (i.e., beyond finding) for the reason that they were never mentioned by Moses and the prophets. These UNsearchable riches have to do with the believing people destined for “the Heavenly Places,” Not the Earth. These riches include “all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ,” including membership in the church, “the body of Christ.”

All believers then, as we today, looked for the appearing of the Christ of glory, in “the heavenly places” (cf. Philippians 3:20-21). These UNsearchable riches also include for us Gentiles a home, an eternal dwelling place in “the heavens,” not on this earth (2Cor 5:1b).

“That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he [God] might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him [in Christ]: Ephesians 1:10 (KJV)

Here you will find a short list of our riches and blessings. http://www.artlicursi.com/articles/automatic-blessings-our-salvation-faith-jesus-christ

With that said we can now start digging into Paul’s last 7 epistles (Ephesians through Philemon) to find for ourselves more of our many once UNsearchable riches.

Just notice the seven references to “us” in chapter 1 of Ephesians.

“Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus: ² Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. ³ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who Hath [Already] Blessed Us with All Spiritual Blessings In Heavenly Places In Christ:” Ephesians 1:1-3 (KJV)

Notice the words “in whom” and “with Him” in Col. 2:3 to 3:1-4.

“[Christ] In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” (Colossians 2:3 (KJV)
“If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. ² Set your affection on things ABOVE, not on things on the earth. ³ For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. ⁴ When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.” (Colossians 3:1-4 (KJV)

You will not find these riches and blessings that Paul describes anywhere in the Old Testament or in the four Gospels. These particular wonderful UNsearchable riches and blessings for the Gentile “body of Christ” today were all made known by Paul in His last seven epistles.

- This paper is largely adapted by Arthur J Licursi from Oscar M. Baker -