Ephesians - 7

Ephesians - 7

Ephesians 5:1-21

Introduction

At the age of 23, Second Lieutenant Karl Marlantes was in charge of 40 marines during an intense battle in the Vietnam War. Marlantes had moved his men into the jungle as they waited for U.S. jets to bomb a hill that North Vietnamese soldiers had overtaken. Unfortunately, the jets came and dropped their bombs on the wrong hill. So when Marlantes led his men out of the jungle, they were instantly under fire from untouched machine-gun positions. Marlantes knew it would only take a few minutes before the enemy rockets and mortars found his troops. The entire mission ground to a halt as the U.S. soldiers ducked behind downed trees and huddled in shell holes.

Marlantes knew what he had to do next. He writes:

“If I didn't get up and lead, we'd get wiped out …. I did a lot of things that day … but the one I'm most proud of is that I simply stood up, in the middle of that flying metal, and started up the hill …. I simply ran forward up the steep hill, zigzagging for the bunker, all by myself.” But then in the midst of his solo charge up the hill to take out the enemy, Marlantes suddenly saw some movement in his peripheral vision: “It was a marine! He was about 15 meters below me, zigzagging, falling, up and running again. Immediately behind him a long ragged line of Marines came moving and weaving up the hill behind me. They'd all come with me …. Everyone was intermingled, weaving, rushing and covering, taking on each hole and bunker one at a time in groups …. We, the group, just rushed forward all at once. We couldn't be stopped. Just individuals among us were stopped … but we couldn't be …. I was we, no longer me.”

Sometimes, to work together in unity, all you need is an example to follow. This is the Apostle’s Paul’s point in Ephesians 5. So far Ephesians has established for us the twin realities of the Christian faith. When God saved you, He placed you in Union with Christ. You are in Him. Meaning, your spiritual position has been moved and you are now in Christ. But God’s saving work doesn’t stop at merely placing you in Union with Christ. That Union with Christ creates Unity with Christians. God the Father has adopted you as sons and daughters, and placed you into His own family…with brothers and sisters. You are not alone. Your faith is not isolated and independent. You are part of God’s people, called to live out the reality of the Unity Christ has created for you. How exactly do we do that?

Well, the back half of Ephesians is designed to give us the nitty-gritty how-to of Christian unity. A Unity that is based on our identity in Christ. In Ephesians 5, Paul, having firmly established all that God’s saving work has done for you, gets intensely practical.

Ephesians 5:1-21 - Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children,

2 and walk in love, just as Christ also loved us and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.

3 But sexual immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints;

4 nor filthiness and foolish talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.

5 For this you know with certainty, that no one sexually immoral or impure or greedy, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

7 Therefore do not be partakers with them,

8 for you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light

9 (for the fruit of that light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth),

10 trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.

11 And do not participate in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead even expose them.

12 For it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret.

13 But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light.

14 For this reason it says,

“Awake, sleeper,

And arise from the dead,

And Christ will shine on you.”

15 Therefore look carefully how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,

16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

17 On account of this, do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,

19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;

20 always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father;

21 and being subject to one another in the fear of Christ.

Since Ephesians 4:1, Paul has used the metaphor of ‘walk’ to refer to the Christian’s lifestyle, their everyday living out of their faith. He instructed to ‘walk worthily of the calling with which you have been called.’ So how do we do that? What does that look like? Throughout our text for today, he fleshes that out for us so that we can understand what this means, what this looks like.

WALK IN LOVE (V. 1-6)

Paul has just ended chapter four like this…4:32 - Instead, be kind to one another, tender-hearted, graciously forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has graciously forgiven you. And he opens chapter 5 with the summary command to ‘be imitators of God.’ The Greek word for ‘imitate’ comes into English as mimic. We are called to be like God. Jesus said in Matthew 5:48 to be perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect. Peter wrote in 1 Peter 1:15 to be holy as God is holy. He sets the standard. He sets the pattern to follow. Imitate Him…as beloved children. He is the Father, we are to be the kids who follow dad’s example and follow in His steps. Because we are ‘beloved.’ We love because we are loved.

Therefore, v. 2 - we ‘walk in love.’ We live out what it means to love. Meaning, love is not an emotion that we feel. It is an action that we live. Just as Christ has loved us…sacrificially…gave Himself up for us…this is what we do for those around us. We will come back to this idea towards the end. Christ’s sacrificial love was a fragrant aroma, a pleasing sacrifice to God. Your life of practical love for God’s people around you is you living in a way that pleases God. We will come back to this one too.

Verses 3-4 offer two triads of sins that are the opposite of love. They are the epitome of selfishness. Because the opposite of love is not hate. The opposite of love is selfishness. And we are given a definition of love, defined by what it is not. Verse 3…sexual immorality, impurity, and greed. ‘Sexual immorality’ (porneia) is a general term for all sexual sin. Any sexual activity outside of the marriage between a husband and wife, is considered sexual sin according to Scripture. Premarital, extramarital, pornography, assault, abuse…all sexual sin. ‘Impurity’ is also a blanket term referring to general defilement. It is a tainted, dirty, immoral way of living. ‘Greed’ caps off the list. To be greedy is to be defined by discontentment. Always pursuing more because you are not happy with what you have. Brian Rosner - “The greedy are those with a strong desire to acquire for themselves more and more money and possessions, because they love, trust, and obey wealth rather than God.”

These sins are not even ‘to be named’ among you. This doesn’t mean that they aren’t to be talked about. It means that they are not to describe us. No one should look at the lives of God’s people and ‘name’ these sins as being evident among us. Verse 4 continues the list with another triad. ‘Filthiness’ means shameful or disgraceful living. It is participating in things that God and God’s people would condemn as a ‘dis-grace’ an opposition to God’s grace. ‘Foolish talk’ literally translates as ‘moron words.’ It is empty, worthless, content-less speech. ‘Coarse jesting’ is an interesting word in Greek. It literally translates as ‘good turn.’ The Greeks saw it as a positive attribute and called it being ‘witty.’ They could take a concept or phrase and turn it into something humorous or clever. Here, the turn is bad. It is taking a phrase or concept and turning it sinful and sexual. You know these people. No matter what you say, they have a way of making what you said sound sexual. It is evidence of a wicked heart…out of the overflow of a wicked heart comes vulgar speech.

These sins are ‘not fitting’ for God’s people. Meaning, they do not ‘measure up.’ God has set a high and holy standard for the lifestyle of His people. When you look at this list of sins…you are above this. Instead…here is the alternative in v. 4…’giving thanks.’ That may sound like an odd contrast, but it is quite fitting. Thanksgiving is a synonym for the Christian life. Living in grateful response to God and His blessings will defeat all these unfitting, demeaning sins. And here is why we walk away from these sins…v. 5 - for this you know with certainty, that no one sexually immoral or impure or greedy, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Notice how he has personalized the sins. It is the same ones he listed in verse 3. But it is one thing to think theoretically about someone committing these sins. But now it is not someone who commits sexual immorality, but someone who is sexually immoral. They don’t struggle with greed…they are greedy. Those whose lives are characterized by these sins are not insiders, but outsiders. No inheritance. No Heaven. They are not God’s people.

Therefore, don’t be deceived, v. 6. Well, who was deceiving them? Here is what is likely happening…these Christians come out of very pagan, idolatrous, sinful backgrounds. And in their new relationship with Christ, they are walking away from that former lifestyle. That is what Paul has been commanding all along. Take off the old man, put on the new. Don’t walk as Gentiles do. But among God’s people there are always those who attempt to wed a sinful lifestyle with a saving faith. You can be a Christian and still commit these sins. In fact, they aren’t even sins, it’s ok. That is utter deceit. Don’t think you can be a Christian and still live like you aren’t. Which Paul turns to next.

WALK IN LIGHT (V. 7-14)

v. 7-8 - Therefore, do not be partakers with them, for you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light. Do not be ‘partakers’ with them. It is a word that implies a sort of union with them. A unity with those who walk like that. And why can’t you? Because you are already in Union with Christ and in Unity with Christians. You’re already taken. This is Paul’s point in 1 Corinthians 6 regarding sexual sin. He tells them that the one who sins sexually with someone (prostitute) becomes one with them. Why is that a problem? You are already ‘one’ with Christ. You’re spoken for. You are already taken. Know your identity. Know who you are.

You ‘were’ formerly darkness. Notice he doesn’t say that you used to walk in darkness. Though that is true. They ‘were’ darkness. But now you are light in the Lord. He doesn’t say you’re bright. You ‘are’ light…how? In the Lord. You are in Union with Him. Now live like it. You have been united with the One who is the Light of the World…so walk in that light.

That produces some good things. Mixing the metaphors, he says that light produces fruit. It is very practical. It looks like goodness, righteousness, and truth. It looks like, v. 10 - trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Remember, Jesus’ sacrificial love was a pleasing offering to God. Now, walking in light means that we are learning and growing in what pleases the Lord. We seek His will and live it out. Because we want to please Him.

I fear the displeasure of God. ILL - when I was in HS I did something stupid and got into trouble. Not unique, pretty common occurrence. I didn’t think it was a big deal. Until I was called in front of my parents and my mom was crying. It broke my heart. I had disappointed her. That motivated better behavior than any punishment ever could. Fear God’s displeasure, because it will motivate the kind of life he desires for you. v. 11, we don’t ‘participate’ in the worthless fruits of darkness. ‘Participate’ literally translates as ‘fellowship with.’ Why don’t we do that? Because we are already in fellowship with God and His people.

WALK IN WISDOM (V. 15-21)

These final verses could easily serve as the summation of all Paul’s teaching so far about how to live in unity with one another. And he gets intensely practical and helpful here. v. 15 - look carefully how you walk. Don’t just live. Don’t just go about your life hoping that you might please God is you have a good day. Be intentional with your lifestyle. Think through how exactly you will please God. He describes life with a series of 3 contrasts:

Not unwise, but wise.

Wisdom is the practical application of knowledge. The old joke goes, ‘knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit, not a vegetable. Wisdom is knowing that you shouldn’t put it in a fruit salad.’ Think of someone you know that you would describe as ‘wise.’ What it is that makes them wise? It’s not their knowledge base. Otherwise we would call them ‘intelligent.’ The wise are those who take what they know, however little it may be, and live out the implications of what they know with daily faithfulness. Think of grandparents of previous generations. Older, wiser, but typically a lower level of education. But they knew some stuff and they lived in light of what they knew. Be wise. Take what you know about God and His will, and live it out. It will impact every single area of your life in very real ways. That begins to look more and more like wisdom.

Doing so is how we, v. 16, redeem the time. To ‘redeem’ means to buy back. To take advantage of the opportunities, because the days are evil. So how do you respond to an evil world? It is significant that we are not instructed to abandon it. We don’t go hide in caves. Instead we courageously face the evil world and redeem the time we have. We do that by living out what we know.

Not foolish, but understanding God’s will.

Be wise, don’t be foolish. The fool is the one who doesn’t live out what he knows. Because he doesn’t know. In the OT wisdom literature, the ‘fool’ is referred to 74x. He is consistently described as the one who goes his own way, not God’s way. Well, how can you ensure that you aren’t a fool? Go God’s way. How? Know His will. How? Read His word where He clearly reveals His will.

Not drunk, but filled with the Spirit.

Why this contrast in particular? Because we are talking about influence. If you are going to be under the influence of anything, don’t let it be alcohol. That is ‘dissipation.’ Waste. Empty. Of no substance. Same word is used in Luke 15 of the prodigal’s ‘wild living.’ It was worthless. That is his point. Living your life under the influence of any drug is simply a worthless way to live. Instead, be under the influence of God the Holy Spirit. Be filled with the Spirit. So what does that mean? What does that look like? Well, he tells us. It is not some weird, charismatic, goofy way of life. It is intensely practical. He uses 5 participles to describe the Spirit-filled life. Here is how you know that the Spirit of God is directing your life.

Speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. You will be speaking, conversing with one another (lit. With yourselves). And the content of your conversations is going to be praise to God. Through psalms (Scripture), songs of all kinds…all declaring God’s victory, God’s blessings, and our praise to Him. The second and third ones go together…singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord. You are going to be a worshiping person. Not just that you’ll come to church for worship together, but that from your heart you will sing and make melody. ‘Make melody’ is the verb psalm. You will sing and psalm in your heart, praise to the Lord. So it is not just external, but internal. Giving thanks, always and for all things. Again, thanksgiving is a synonym for the Christian life. How do you know if God is at work in your life? You will be grateful. How do you know God is not at work in your life? You will be greedy, unsatisfied, and bitter. God will always influence you to look to Him, to see how good He has been to you, how gracious and kind He is. And you’ll respond with grateful praise. Being subject to one another in the fear of Christ. We will spend more time on the practicalities of this next Sunday as Paul uses this command to launch into the nitty-gritty of Christian relationships. But this is the overarching Christian relationship principle. What does unity look like? How do we keep that unity? How does the Lord influence our relationships? We submit to one another. ‘Being subject’ is a great Greek word. Hypotasso. It is part of a word group known as the tag words. They all mean ‘order.’ The key here is the prefix…hypo. It means ‘under.’ Like a hypodermic needle goes under the skin. Hypothermia means you are under temperature. The Christian orders himself under others. It is where subordinate comes from. Sub-order. I know it is getting into the nerdy grammar stuff, but this word is in what is called the middle voice, meaning it is voluntary. Submission cannot be forced. It can only be offered.

This is done to one another, meaning it is mutual. Not one-sided. Unity is required to get this done. Otherwise it would produce a sense of superiority almost immediately. And unity is enhanced by this. Because when there is mutual submission, no one is seeking self-glory or power. All is done in the ‘fear of Christ.’ So not because they deserve it, but because Christ has ordered it and He deserves it. After all, isn’t this what love means? A voluntary offering of self for the benefit of another. Which means we have come full circle…back to the sacrificial love of Christ.