Visual Theology – Ephesians ?

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 Christian Life in the Overlap of Two Worlds

The Christian life unfolds where two worlds meet. Paul addresses believers as people existing in the overlap of the old creation and the new (Ephesians 4:17-24). Though we remain in our physical bodies and daily circumstances, we have been joined to Christ in the new creation. This dual status creates a defining tension in our walk.

The Futility of the Old Mind

Paul warns believers not to walk “as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God” (Ephesians 4:17-18). The futility of the mind is humanity’s natural state: living as if the Cross and New Creation do not exist, relying on one’s own understanding. Believers can lapse into this vanity, walking as spiritual orphans—past feeling and blind to the riches already theirs in Christ.

The Corporate Renewal of the New Man

Paul’s call is not to self-improvement. He says, “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). The “spirit of your mind” involves a collective renewal; the Greek uses a singular “mind” and plural “you,” indicating a shared vision that reorients the entire community.

The new man was accomplished by Christ at the Cross, making “in himself of twain one new man” (Ephesians 2:15). In him, distinctions like Jew and Gentile are abolished. Yet we still move through old creation structures—our jobs and relationships. Tension arises when we misuse new creation freedom as license to disregard old creation order, or use old distinctions to dominate others. Both are fleshly and miss grace.

Living as a Joint of Supply

To live in the overlap is to acknowledge earthly existence while drawing life from union with Christ and His Body. Ephesians’ admonitions are invitations to participate in building up the Body. “From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth... maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love” (Ephesians 4:16). The Christian is a joint of supply, possessing Christ’s riches and contributing to God’s habitation.

The Orphan Complex and the Grieving Spirit

Failure to see this results in the orphan complex—living as if excluded and alone, though eternally secure in Christ. This “grieve[s] not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed” (Ephesians 4:30). The Spirit is grieved not by wounded feelings, but because we refuse to enjoy the secured sonship and inheritance, living as orphans instead of sons.

The Worthy Walk: A Corporate Inheritance

The worthy walk is not outward conformity, but embracing the vision of the Body and our corporate inheritance. We have been “raised up together, and made to sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:6) and are “builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit” (Ephesians 2:22). To be renewed in the spirit of our mind is to see one another in the light of the new creation, supplying Christ and participating in the Body’s increase in love. This is the purpose of walking as the new man in the overlap of two creations.