Ephesians: Unveiling Our Mysterious RealitySample

In the World but Not of the World

In his letter to the early Christians in Ephesus, the Apostle Paul makes the radical claim that we live not only in the seen world but also in an unseen spiritual realm; we dwell not only in the material, but “in Christ”.

This is an extraordinary concept that requires us to embrace the idea that the world is a far more wonderful and mysterious place than we ever could have imagined. And the guidance that Paul gives is profoundly counter-cultural.

Paul recognizes that living both “in Christ” and in the day-to-day world is challenging but urges us to live a life worthy of the calling we have received.

There is no doubt that, as Christians, we are already saved. We already dwell “in Christ”, but at the same time we also live in the world and can still be easily swayed and seduced by its ways. We are set apart to be holy and blameless, but we are still open to the world’s temptations. Our sins have been forgiven but we can still sin.

God has given us free will, and on a daily basis we are faced with the choice whether to follow our own desires or be led by the Holy Spirit. We live in a place of creative tension between the earthly and spiritual realms, and even though we are saved, we have to make the conscious decision not to go down a worldly path.

We are called to be humble in a world that celebrates those who promote themselves. We are to be patient in a fast-paced world, living according to God’s timing, not our own. And we are to bear with one another in love in a society, and even a church, that is riven by divisions. We must be kind and compassionate to each other, forgiving each other just as Christ forgave us.

Paul lists out the behaviors that we are to avoid, including unwholesome talk, falsehoods, bitterness, rage, anger, and every other form of malice. We must no longer live like the non-believers who surround us but put off our old self and put on a new self created by God. In fact, Paul says that we must be imitators of God, living a life of love because God is loving.

Reflect: What do you find most challenging about this idea of living in the world but not of the world?