The Church in America is rapidly losing its influence. Many have speculated that it is because the light of the Church is diminishing. Simply put, there is a dark world but a dimly lit Church. The world needs a Church - made up of God's people - that reflects the brilliance of His light.

Paul continues his narrative of taking off and putting on. Here in this passage he starts with what needs to be put on and ends with what needs to be taken off. It appears that Paul is taking us on a journey to find the true meaning of love and its counterfeit sexual sin.

Jesus guaranteed the potential for a transformed life through His death, burial, and resurrection. The Holy Spirit provides what is necessary to live a transformed life

Paul in these verses is challenging those of us who are “in Christ” to live a transformed life which should be radically different from our previous tragic life.

Paul is exhorting us to unity that we may fulfill the calling of our life to minister to others and reach the lost with the gospel with our gifts through the local Church.

The “calling” represents the time in which we trusted Jesus as Savior and Lord. We received by faith through repentance what Jesus provided through the cross. It is at that time we are placed “in Christ” with others who have done the same. From this point we then begin to live together (in unity) the life He intends for us to live

Paul concludes the theological chapters of Ephesians (1-3) with a prayer for us who are “in Christ;” that we would fully understand who we are “in Christ.”

The mystery is that there is no distinction between Jew and Gentile

Paul in this passage is saying that the gospel is not exclusive but inclusive

The new spiritual realities that have been provided for you (1:3-14) can only be realized when you discover the true crisis of your soul and then receive the cure provided by Christ. In the passage today Paul is describing the act and process of salvation or as he puts it “being in Christ.”