Walk in Love
Notes
Transcript
Good morning,
Today we are on part 2 of the series we started last week called LIFE IS A JOURNEY
As followers of Christ we are on that journey together…called to walk in the spirit and not to walk in the flesh.
The truth of the matter is the christian road we walk is a difficult one. However, walking with Jesus and staying focused on Him will give us the strength we need to continue that journey and encourage others to join us as we follow Christ with each step we take.
Paul continues his exhortation for the Ephesians to live according to the new life they have in Christ. His initial call, which has guided this section of the letter, was for them to walk in a manner worthy of their calling (4:1).
Having finished his discussion of putting off vices and putting on virtues, Paul picks back up the language of the “walk” in this sermon this morning Paul characterizes the method of the walk. That method is walking in love.
Walk in Love
Walk in Love
Paul desires the readers to love like Christ did and to exemplify this in particular practices such as morality and purity of speech.
1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.
5:1 Paul has called on the Ephesians to grow up into Christ, who is the head of the body, in 4:15, and in 4:20–24 he instructed them to put on the new self, which is aligned with the person of Jesus. In a similar fashion, 5:1 provides an exhortation to be imitators of God. Since believers are part of the household of God (2:19), they are to imitate him. This carries forward the idea of 4:32, where God was described as forgiving.
2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.
5:2 Paul further explaining how the Ephesians are to be imitators of God. In this verse he commands them to walk in love, modeled after the love Jesus displayed. The love Jesus exemplified was experienced by believers and was demonstrated in Christ’s sacrificial death. Paul then explains that this love’s purpose was to be a pleasing offering to God. Thus, the walk of the Ephesians is to honor God by being characterized by sacrificial, giving love.
3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints;
5:3 Paul further describes the walk of love in this verse. He described its sacrificial nature in 5:2, and here he focuses on its effect on morality. He explains that one walking in love should reject any form of immorality or impurity. These habits are not appropriate for those set apart by God, and thus they are not proper for the believers. He doesn’t provide an explicit explanation of what these characteristics entail, but instead favors broad categories, as opposed to 5:4, where he specifies speech-related acts.
4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.
5:4 In this verse Paul continues his call to walk in love by explicitly calling for loving speech. No impure, silly, or coarse speech should be on the lips of believers. Similar to his explanation in 5:3 regarding the appropriateness of this behavior for the saints, he continues to state that this unloving speech is not fitting for believers. Instead, he explains that thanksgiving should be what flows from the Ephesians.
5 For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
5:5 Paul further explains the idea of appropriateness from 5:3–4 in this verse. He has used this concept as the basis for rejecting immorality and impure speech, and now further describes why these concepts are inappropriate. Paul’s emphasis is on detailing that the behavior in 5:3–4 is not appropriate for one who has an inheritance in the kingdom of God. The immoral, impure, and covetous person will not receive this inheritance, for that individual is an idolater. Since these vices would deny Jesus’ role in one’s life, then the issue underlying these actions is truly idolatry.
6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
5:6 Paul has encouraged the Ephesians to flee from their old lives, but he recognizes that there will be temptation to return and pick up the former walk. Thus in this verse he calls on them to not let anyone deceive them with empty/false words. To further solidify this point, he says that God’s wrath is actually poured out on those who participate in such vices.
7 Therefore do not be partakers with them.
5:7 This paragraph on walking in love is concluded with Paul imploring the believers to not join with the deceivers. He calls on them to not be fellow participants in this immorality, which entails impure behaviors and speech.