Visual Theology – Ephesians ?

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

Ephesians 4:1–6:20 — From Warfare to Fellowship
I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, with all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace; there is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things. And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: from whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. 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. Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: neither give place to the devil. Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour. But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. But all things

The Goal of Spiritual Warfare

Spiritual warfare is never an end in itself. Paul’s epistle to the Ephesians reveals that the battle is a deliberate defense of the environment where God enjoys fellowship with His people. “We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers” (Ephesians 6:12), but the object is the “building”—the place God has chosen for His delight and our joy. This household is where the heirs of God safely partake of their inheritance in Christ. The warfare is necessary to secure the space where fellowship with the Father and the Son can flourish, “that your joy may be full” (1 John 1:4).

The Heart of Fellowship: Our Acceptance

At the heart of this fellowship is the truth of our acceptance. God “hath made us accepted in the beloved” (Ephesians 1:6). This acceptance is rooted in Christ’s offering of Himself: “Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour” (Ephesians 5:2). The burnt offering, which Paul references, was not for guilt but for God’s pleasure, representing Christ’s perfect consecration. Unlike the sin offering, it was wholly consumed on the altar as a memorial. We are clothed in the savor of Christ’s burnt offering; God delights in us because we are perfumed with His Son’s fragrance. “For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ” (2 Corinthians 2:15).

The Foundation of Our Walk

This acceptance is the foundation of our security and walk. We are not striving to earn a place; we are already “made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Ephesians 2:6). Our walk in love is the outward expression of this inward reality. We are called to “walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us” (Ephesians 5:2), not to gain acceptance, but as those who already possess it.

The Spirit’s work is to persuade us of this acceptance and reveal the riches of Christ. Our separation from the world is the fruit of being satisfied with the inheritance already tasted in Him. The warfare defends the household where we, as God’s treasure and Christ’s Bride, enjoy peace, love, and the fullness of our inheritance. We are the treasure Christ fought for, the Bride He died for, and the sweet fragrance in which the Father delights.