These verses are part of Paul’s practical application of his doctrinal themes in Ephesians. Paul establishes the doctrine in the first three chapters. Jesus Christ is the head of the body. The body is made up of the individual parts or members, people who have been brought into relationship with God through the work of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross. And each of those individual members has specific roles in the body.
Paul begins the application section (chapters 4 through 6) by calling believers to “walk worthy” of God’s calling. He explains later in chapter 4 that walking worthy involves the need to “put off” the former lifestyle of the “old man,” to have our minds renewed by God’s Word, and to “put on” the Christ-like “new man.”
Finally, here at the end of chapter 4 Paul gives a very practical application: an exhortation for us to have a certain kind of relationship with one another. We’ll be emphasizing these theme verses at school this year. Let’s pray that our students will grow in their walk this year, beginning with their relationship with God and extending to their relationships with one another.