“Therefore remember that formerly you, the Gentiles in the flesh, who are called ‘Uncircumcision’ by the so-called ‘Circumcision,’ which is performed in the flesh by human hands — remember that you were at that time separate from Christ, excluded from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world” (Eph 2:11-12).

Forty imperatives (commands) are found in the second half of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians (chaps. 4-6), but only one imperative (command) in the first half of the book (chapters 1-3): “remember” (2:11). The implication of this literary structure for our spiritual lives is quite profound. Paul obviously longs for us to do the right things and to stop doing the wrong things. That’s why Paul spends the first three chapters not talking about what we need to do but what God has already done for us.

We get so consumed by what we are supposed to do for God that we forget what God has already done for us

It is a common mistake for believers to put the cart before the horse. We get so consumed by what we are supposed to do for God (or not do) we forget what God has already done for us (i.e., we forget the gospel). And by forgetting what God has done for us, our spiritual lives devolve into futile and frustrating attempts to make ourselves better. The structure of Ephesians is there to empower God’s people to live right by reminding us: “We love (Ephesians 4-6), because He first loved us (Ephesians 1-3)” (1 John 4:19).

“For You, O LORD, have made me glad by what You have done, I will sing for joy at the works of Your hands. How great are Your works, O LORD! Your thoughts are very deep” (Ps 92:4-5).