A Study of Ephesians (3) “Walk this way”

Welcome

Vision Sunday Reminder

**recap this week & discuss the series in some more detail: what is the aim?

Week 1 was chapters 1 & 2 - Grace through FAITH

Week 2 was chapters 3 & 4 - the Same but Different

Week 3 we are going to look at chapters 5 and possibly 6

33 Verses today: but i think its gonna be great. a whole chapter

Ephesians 5 (ESV)

1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

3 But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. 4 Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. 5 For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no 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 become partners with them; 8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), 10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. 13 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,

“Awake, O sleeper,

and arise from the dead,

and Christ will shine on you.”

15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.

25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. 28 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30 because we are members of his body. 31 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. 33 However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

Ephesians 6:1–9 ESV

1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), 3 “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” 4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. 5 Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, 6 not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, 7 rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, 8 knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free. 9 Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him.

This is a central point - These are the “Walking sections”

Which is a theme Paul uses

Ephesians 2:2 “2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience—”

Ephesians 4:1 “1 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,”

Ephesians 5:2 “2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”

Ephesians 5:8 “8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light”

1.How We Walk (live) matters

Ephesians 5:15 ESV

15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,

are you taking your life seriously? with care and attention?

Ephesians 5:16 ESV

16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.

Walk wisely because the world is watching

The moment you became a jesus follower, the world started watching you. Your neighbor, your unsaved friends, your work colleagues: you are not like them so walk wiseey and pay careful attention

Walk wisely how you conduct your affairs in the common places

Walk wiseley how you conduct yourself in the world of social media

…. and i could go on

Here is essentially what Paul is saying to a Christian church in a gentile environment: How you walk matters

the Christians are the living breathing billboard carriers of the GRACE of God. Paul wanted to ensure they knew that by example, they needed to display the outward change reflecting an inward conviction coming from revelation.

How we live our lives is important

We are called to find what is PLEASING TO THE LOARD.

Ephesians 5:9–10 ESV

9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), 10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.

Its intersting that Paul uses the WORD WALK… instead of TALK.

WALKING IS BETTER THAN TALKING: for the Christian in a gentile world.

Talk is cheap in the whole picture of life when it comes to being a witness. You cant say one thing and live anther thing.

The best message i preach is the way i walk, not how i talk. Eventually they will crossover…. and many a pastor has come undone by this. What is unseen will eventually be brought to light

and this is what Paul says here

guys how you LIVE .. how you walk out your FAITH matters. Bring it into the LIGHT, be children of LIGHT and you will share that light with others and people will notice something begin to change in the people around you.

2.How We Treat Each Other Matters.

Ephesians 5:22–33 ESV

22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. 25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. 28 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30 because we are members of his body. 31 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. 33 However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

Paul addresses HEAD on here BIBLICAL HOUSEHOLD MANAGEMENT: He sets up and structures family life: how many know that if the HOME life isnt in order, the rest of ones life is bound to be chaos as well. How my family is run determines how the rest of my life is run as well.

There is a PROGRESSION HERE: Starts with the wider church congregation… but then gets to the heart of the household: The Marriage, The next Generation (Children(, And the wider household (which at that time included slaves).

How does Godly, Biblical government or management happen with the home.

Fitting with political discourse - he is using the politcal environment as his own backdrop and then Transforming this Into the home and connecting them to eventually… Christ Himself.

Now before anyone checks out and says “this is the verse where you tell wives to submit and children to behave” - people dismiss these verses in this current age: Listen you cant cheerypick the bible, you either take the whole counsel of God or none. There is actually a significant blessing in these verses: The Apostle paul is establishing something completely UNIQUE here in the Roman/Greek world, something that wasnt there: He actually brings value and dignifies the weaker or subordinate party by giving them their own place and addressing them directly.

(I realize today there are people who arent married, have been married or your single today - i believe God is still speaking to you today trhough his word)

Paul addresses both parties - But notice he actually addresses the Weaker first

“Wives and Husbands - This is how you are supposed to treat one another With respect, love, sacrifice, care attention and affection.

“Children & Parents - This is how you are supposed to relate and treat and speak to one another. through obedience,

“Bondservants & Masters” - This is how you are to live with one another.

This wasn’t typical in Pauls day. Read Aristotle and similar writings and you will see that this is actually quite new and very different and significant

He addresses it HEAD ON: Wives, submit to your own husbands as to the lord- Husbands, Love your wives as Christ loves the church and GAVE Himself UP

Why should a wife submit to her husband? and why is this a big deal today? because in part men have stopped taking their assigned place. and also because people just dont’ know their bibles. this is a prescription for HOUSEHOLD HARMONY. For the blessing over a HOME.

The greatest need for a woman is security and God has provided a place within the heart of a husband for her to reside and to feel safe both physically, emotionally and spiritually.

and He calls men to give up their lives like Christ did the church: a self sacrificing, loving initiator of care and responsibility in the HOME as the HEAD: the buck starts and stops with DAD.

men you are the HEAD. the spotlight is on you, not her! (and when you love her you love yourself: thats verse 28)

If you have lost their way, and i believe the word of God is bringing them back. A wife should submit and be respectful and honor her husband. why? because he is the spiritiual head of the household. God holds him as the final authority over his home. Wives if you dont submit to your husband, you must. Because thats how you are faithful to GOD. this is a mystery but its profound. If you stay and are found faiful in this way, god promises you will make an impact on your husband and he will honor you for doing it.

Its not about what HUSBAND is doing right now

The greatest need for a man is respect (or honor). There is something that shifts in a man in a situation and especially a family that when he is respected, he finds it easy to take responsibility. Its a God-given thing. He realizes i have a place here, i have a role here i need to step up here

*just an offering today to maybe a wife: maybe the reason he isnt stepping up is because you need to build him up, in respect (thats verse 33 “and let the wife see that she respects the husband) i dont beleive Paul put that in to press down on the wife, but rather to help the husband step up.

.. its about the way you are obeying the Lord in your submission to his word…. and your husband. Serve and submit to him. God will hold him accountable, you dont have to

But that is what biblical living looks like:

Wives and Husbands

Children and Parents

Slaves & masters

How you treat each other matters & finally this is why:

3.OUR LIVES ARE DESIGNED TO MAGNIFY CHRIST

MARRIAGE IS A REFLECTION AND MAGNICIFICANTION OF CHRIST AND THE CHURCH.

and it is a witness to the world.

why should a man love his wife?

because Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her

Ephesians 5:25–33 ESV

25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. 28 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30 because we are members of his body. 31 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. 33 However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

Ephesians 5:22–28 MSG

22 Wives, understand and support your husbands in ways that show your support for Christ. 23 The husband provides leadership to his wife the way Christ does to his church, not by domineering but by cherishing. 24 So just as the church submits to Christ as he exercises such leadership, wives should likewise submit to their husbands. 25 Husbands, go all out in your love for your wives, exactly as Christ did for the church—a love marked by giving, not getting. 26 Christ’s love makes the church whole. His words evoke her beauty. Everything he does and says is designed to bring the best out of her, 27 dressing her in dazzling white silk, radiant with holiness. 28 And that is how husbands ought to love their wives. They’re really doing themselves a favor—since they’re already “one” in marriage.

Walk this way

Walk out your faith in Love

Walk in love, Walk in a manner worthy of your calling

Treat each other rightLY

The bride and the bridegroom: the head and the body

Christ… and the Church

Vs 29:

Ephesians 5:29–32 “29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30 because we are members of his body. 31 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.”

THIS IS PROFOUND BECAUSE THIS DOESNT JUST GO BACK TO THE CROSS, THIS GOES ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE GARDEN

The most perfect example of unity found orignically in the bible is in Genesis: adam and Eve….. and The Marriage union is the new, better ETERNAL union. Christ and the Church is the redemptive fulfilment of what was lost in the garden. Paul says this is profound because God has done it. We dont fully get it yet but we will.

Christ will come back for his bride… and this will all be complete.

When we relate to each other… in Christ… our lives point back to what Christ has DONE… and also What Christ WILL DO. Amen.

The New Bible Commentary (4:17–6:9 Appeals to Abandon the Life of the Old Humanity and Live according to the New-Creation Humanity Revealed in Jesus)

Paul was perfectly aware of the literal meaning of Gn. 2:24, but he saw the mystery of cosmic unity in Christ, and especially the union between Christ and his body, as in a sense prefigured in the marriage bond. For him there is a typological relationship between creation in unity with God and redemption into unity with God. That original unity was nowhere better focused than in Adam’s prefall union with Eve, and Paul holds that Christ’s union with the church is its redemptive counterpart. The parallel was not accidental: as Lincoln observes, ‘Christ had already been seen in Adamic terms in Eph. 1:22 …, and so a text that refers to Adam’s bodily union can now be claimed for Christ’s union with the Church’ (Lincoln, p. 382). But if Paul sees marriage as an illustration of the new-creation union, it must be noted that he also interprets marriage in the light of that Christ-church union—and thereby transforms the concept of the marriage relationship, and gives the world the highest ideal of marriage it knows.