Visual Theology – Ephesians

The Visual Theology charts are designed to help you see the structure and movement of Scripture. They highlight patterns, contrasts, and developments that are often difficult to hold together when reading line by line.

These charts show the structure of the argument. The accompanying articles develop each part in full.

This approach follows a long tradition of visual teaching in the Church. The well-known charts of Clarence Larkin helped many grasp the broad outline of Scripture. In the same spirit, these charts aim to make visible what the Word of God is revealing.

Charts and teaching notes for the book of Ephesians. Select a chart below to view the image and article.

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From the teaching in: EPHESIANS: THE VISION OF BETHEL FOR THE ISRAEL OF GOD (Vol 1: The Foundation of the House)

Ephesians 4:17-24

Contrast: Two Walks, Two Outcomes

Ephesians 4:17-24 -- The Two Walks Contrasted

This chart shows the structure. What follows explains each part.

Ephesians 4:17-24
This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But ye have not so learned Christ; if so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: that ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

The Two Walks: Vanity vs. Worthiness

In Ephesians 4:17-24, Paul contrasts two ways of living. The first is the walk of the Gentiles, described as walking "in the vanity of their mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart" (Ephesians 4:17-18). The second is the worthy walk—living according to our heavenly calling.

Walking in the Vanity of the Mind

To walk in vanity of the mind is to live in spiritual blindness, as if the Cross and New Creation do not exist. Though we are seated with Christ in the heavenlies (Ephesians 2:6), we can still act as strangers and orphans, relying on our own understanding. This "orphan complex" denies God’s accomplished work in Christ. In this state, we become "past feeling," alienated from enjoying God’s life. Even religious efforts disconnected from the vision of Christ and His Body are a form of this vanity.

Alienation vs. Secure Position

This alienation does not change our eternal position. We are "sealed unto the day of redemption" (Ephesians 4:30) and are "fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God" (Ephesians 2:19). However, walking in futility causes us to lose the enjoyment of our sonship. We treat the church as a place for fleshly needs rather than as a corporate habitation where we function as joints of supply. The Spirit is grieved because we refuse to enjoy our inheritance, living as spiritual orphans.

The Worthy Walk

Paul urges us to "walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called" (Ephesians 4:1). This is an invitation to participate in God’s purpose. The worthy walk is rooted in our corporate calling: God has raised and seated us together in Christ, building us together as a habitation of God (Ephesians 2:6, 2:22). It requires "the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling" (Ephesians 1:17-18).

Putting Off and Putting On

This involves "putting off... the old man... and being renewed in the spirit of your mind; and putting on the new man" (Ephesians 4:22-24). Renewal is a collective transformation of perception—a shift from old concepts to a shared vision of the Body of Christ. The new man is a corporate entity created by Christ on the Cross, where distinctions are abolished and we are built together.

The Outcome: Building Up the Body

The result is the building up of the Body: "From whom the whole body fitly joined together... maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love" (Ephesians 4:16). As "joints of supply" with access to Christ’s riches, we are freed from striving for recognition. We walk as sons, contributing to God’s habitation and enjoying household fellowship.

The Choice Before Us

The Christian life is participation in building the Body. Walking in vanity of the mind leads to alienation and loss of enjoyment, though we remain sealed in Christ. Walking worthy of the calling, rooted in God’s accomplishment, results in mutual edification and the Body’s increase in love. The choice is between living as orphans in the old creation or as sons in the new, embracing the vision and supply provided in Christ.

Orientation

Even though a believer is eternally secure, they can still walk in the vanity of the mind as if they were a spiritual orphan.

Walking in vanity means relying on personal understanding instead of the finished work of Christ
This state produces a 'past feeling' condition that is alienated from the enjoyment of God's life
It treats the household of God as a place for fleshly needs rather than a corporate habitation

This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
— Ephesians 4:17-18

Clarification

Spiritual alienation does not mean a loss of salvation, but a loss of the enjoyment of our sonship and inheritance.

The believer remains sealed unto the day of redemption regardless of their walk
Grieving the Spirit occurs when we refuse to walk in the reality of our heavenly calling
The 'orphan complex' is a denial of the fact that we are already seated in Christ

And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
— Ephesians 4:30

Structure

The worthy walk is a transition from individualistic vanity to a collective participation in the Body of Christ.

Renewal is a transformation of perception where the eyes of understanding are enlightened
Putting on the new man is recognizing the corporate entity created by Christ on the Cross
Every believer functions as a 'joint of supply' to edify the body in love

And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
— Ephesians 4:23-24

Weight-Bearing Prose

The core conflict in the believer’s experience is not a struggle for standing, but a struggle of sight. Paul contrasts the ‘vanity of the mind’ with the ‘worthy walk.’ Vanity is characterized by an ignorance that produces an ’orphan complex,’ where the believer lives as though they are not a fellowcitizen of the household of God. This darkened understanding leads to a life ‘past feeling,’ where the rich life of God is present but not enjoyed.

Conversely, the worthy walk is rooted in the Pauline category of the New Man—a corporate reality where Christ has abolished the old distinctions to build a single habitation of God. This requires more than willpower; it requires the enlightenment of the eyes of understanding. We do not ‘put on’ the new man through incremental moral improvement, but by being renewed in the spirit of our mind to see what God has already created in righteousness and true holiness. The goal of this walk is the increase of the Body, where each member acts as a joint of supply, contributing to the edifying of the whole in love.

Integration

Your position in Christ is a settled fact. You are sealed, seated, and accepted in the Beloved. The invitation to walk worthy is not a pressure to perform for God’s favor, but a call to enjoy the inheritance He has already given.

Rest in the assurance that you are no longer a stranger or an orphan. As you look to Christ and the reality of His Body, the Spirit renews your mind. There is no hierarchy in this growth—only a shared increase as we all learn to lean on the riches of Christ together. You are a vital part of His habitation, kept secure by His power.

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These charts are based on the following books:

EPHESIANS: THE VISION OF BETHEL FOR THE ISRAEL OF GOD (Vol 1: The Foundation of the House)

Are you ready to move beyond a surface-level reading of Ephesians into the very heart of God's eternal plan. In The Foundation of the House, author David Benjamin unveils the book of Ephesians not as a mere list of bl...

View Related Book

Ephesians: The Bethel of the Israel of God - Vol 2: Building with Sword in Hand

Volume 2 of the Ephesians commentary: from Ephesians 4:1 onward—the worthy walk as attentiveness, not performance. For the beaten sheep outside the institutional church.