The Book of Ephesians is a letter written by the Apostle Paul to the church in Ephesus, a significant city in Asia Minor. Let’s examine the two main sections: chapters 1-3 focus on teaching what God has done for believers, while chapters 4-6 provide practical guidance on living and how believers should respond practically in their own transformed lives.

Chapters 1-3: Our Riches in Christ

Paul begins by celebrating the incredible spiritual blessings believers have in Christ. He emphasizes that God chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world, which strongly indicates that God predestined believers to come into a relationship with Him. Further, in that unity with Him, we are to be holy and blameless. Through Christ, we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins, and are adopted as God’s children. The Holy Spirit is given as a seal and a down payment of our inheritance — an abiding confidence in eternal life.

A key theme in these chapters is the mystery of Christ, which Paul reveals: both Jews and Gentiles are united in one body, the church, through Christ. God’s plan was always to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under Christ. This unity is a powerful testament to God’s sovereignty, wisdom and grace.

Paul prays for the Ephesians to truly grasp the immense power of God at work in them – the same power that raised Christ from the dead and seated Him at God’s right hand. He stresses that salvation is by grace through faith, not by works, so no one can boast. We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works.

Chapters 4-6: Our Walk in Christ

Moving from doctrine to practice, Paul urges believers to “walk worthy of the calling” they have received. This involves living out their new identity in Christ. He emphasizes unity in the Spirit, calling believers to humility, gentleness, patience, and love, working to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. He highlights the various spiritual gifts given to the church – apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers – all of which are designed to equip the saints for ministry and build up the body of Christ.

Practical instructions for daily living abound:

• Putting off the old self and putting on the new self: This means renouncing former ways of life (lying, stealing, corrupt speech, anger) and embracing righteousness and holiness (speaking truth, working diligently, speaking encouraging words, forgiveness).
• Walking in love: Imitating Christ’s selfless love, particularly in marriage, where husbands are to love their wives as Christ loved the church, and wives are to respect their husbands.
• Family relationships: Children are to obey their parents, and fathers are not to provoke their children but bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. Slaves (servants) are to obey their masters, and masters are to treat their servants justly.
• Spiritual warfare: Paul concludes by encouraging believers to “put on the whole armour of God” to stand against the schemes of the devil. This spiritual armour includes truth, righteousness, the gospel of peace, faith, salvation, and the word of God, along with prayer.

In essence, Ephesians is a powerful message about the incredible identity and spiritual blessings believers have in Christ, and the consequent call to live out that reality in unity, love, and spiritual strength within the church and in the world. It paints a grand picture of God’s redemptive plan to bring all things together in Christ.