He did this by predestining us to adoption as his sons through Jesus Christ, according to the pleasure of his will –

Let nobody deceive you with empty words, for because of these things God’s wrath comes on the sons of disobedience.

in which you formerly lived according to this world’s present path, according to the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the ruler of the spirit that is now energizing the sons of disobedience,

Now this secret was not disclosed to people in former generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit,