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 when we trusted Jesus as Savior and Lord. We received by faith through repentance what Jesus provided through the cross. 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—not only in Him but also for Him.

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.”

Paul shows us in this passage that racism and division have no place in the church. Because of Jesus, the two enemies have become friends.

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.”

Once we understand: 1) that our identity is Christ-based, 2) that we are “in Him” (meaning we are living in the new spiritual realities Christ has provided) then we can begin to pursue the life He has for us.

When we begin to understand who we are “in Christ” then we begin to know our true identity, our privileges, and our purpose.

Most scholars agree that excluding the book of Romans; the letter to the Ephesians is the most detailed written presentation of Christian Theology of all of the epistles.