Our Lord's Orders

The beginning of verse 17 sets the course for the rest of the epistle to the Ephesians. Paul's only authority is Christ Jesus (or the Lord in verse 17). Paul does two things in verse 17. 1. He tells or commands the church in Ephesus and 2. He testifies or bears witness on the basis of the Lord Jesus Christ. All of the practical commands in Ephesians 4:17-6:24 are founded on the testimony of the Lord Jesus Christ. For example, how can Paul tell a woman to be submissive to her husband without sounding chauvinistic? The answer is found in that the command is not of Paul's own doing, but in Christ's doing. Therefore, to no longer walk in darkness and have a futile mind as verse 17 commands believers to not have only holds weight if Christ is behind it. And because He is, we must come under His tutelage.