Maintain Unity

The first three chapters of Ephesians are devoted to Paul detailing all the blessings awaiting those who follow Christ. In this chapter, Paul changed topics a bit and explained how believers conduct life as those so unimaginably and completely blessed by Jesus. 

When Paul used the word “walk” in these next two chapters, he was referring to how one lives out the habits of daily life. 

In essence, Paul stated in these chapters that fear of dark powers and magic should be replaced with the understanding that the blessing of Christ strips the power from darkness, as Christ reigns preeminent over all.

Don’t Gain but Maintain Unity (1-6)

Paul called upon the Ephesian church to behave in a manner equal to how they were treated by Christ and called by the Father. In other words, the way the Father behaved toward them through the sacrificial life of Jesus was exactly how God would fill them to behave toward others (1-2). Notice they were not asked to try to manufacture unity but to live in the love and unity Christ had already established. Humility, gentleness, patience, and bearing with one another in love were not character qualities one sought to achieve, but character qualities that followers lived out so the church could remain how it had been built, “unified” and at “peace.”  

In Paul’s mind, there was “one body.” There was “one body” because there was only “one Spirit,” “hope,” “Lord,” “faith,” “baptism,” “God and Father.” He was over and through and in all. 

Paul never quite saw everyone being individually baptized in water or baptized in the Holy Spirit; they were all baptized into Jesus' one baptism on the cross. They were all baptized into the one baptism in the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost. In Paul’s mind, it was always about Jesus, and the Church was built on what had already been accomplished (3-6).

Let Jesus Build (7-16)

Next, Paul let the Ephesians know for certain that Christ was building His Church, having made preparation for its leadership when He busted out of hell with all the former saints who had died and been held captive in hell before His death (Matthew 27:52-53). Having freed those imprisoned souls, Jesus also stopped by the earth, appeared to many, and then left gifts to His Church. These gifts were given to each person in His Body. These gifts unleashed God’s grace in the Church; these gifts all represented a measure or portion of the whole leadership gift resting on Jesus our King (7-10).