Love, Light, Wisdom

Ephesians 5

Out of the mouth of babes. They say what they see.

Paul makes his appeal to us… as Children.

Ephesians 5:1–2 ESV

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

5:1

Imitators of God - mimic, to look like

Beloved - worthy of love

Children - Offspring

5:2

Our example:

Sacrificial living…

Ephesians 5:3 ESV

But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints.

In Contract to Christ example, Paul is highlighting for us things that stand in contract the the example of love:

V3.

Lust / Self indulgence

Greed’

v4

words that tear down (eph 4:29)

Joking that has a double meaning

Degrades God’s gifts

Ephesians 5:5 ESV

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.

v5

The Message of Ephesians 1. The Certainty of Judgment (Verses 5–7)

In his day Gnostics were arguing that bodily sins could be committed without damage to the soul, and with impunity. In our day there are many deceivers in the world, and even in the church. They teach that God is too kind to condemn everybody, and that everybody will get to heaven in the end, irrespective of their behaviour on earth. But their words are empty and their teaching deceitful. Universalism (i.e. universal final salvation) is a lie. The truth is that because of these things (these evil, immoral, greedy, idolatrous practices) the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. The last phrase is a Hebraism already encountered in 2:2; it means simply ‘the disobedient’, those who know God’s law and wilfully disobey it. God’s wrath falls on such, beginning now, and culminating in the day of judgment.

Ephesians 5:6–7 ESV

Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them;

v6 and v7 help to bring more clarity to what Paul is saying.

“Sons of Disobedience” is a hebraism that refers to non-believers

V7

“Don’t make these people your ride or die”

V8 Walking in Light

V9 stands in contract to 4:18

Ephesians 5:9 ESV

(for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true),

Ephesians 4:18 ESV

They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart.

5:10

Keeping God in the forefront of our thoughts

5:12

Causes the mind to be tempted… there are some doors that get opened and are difficult to shut.

5:13 -

Ever heard a noise in the dark?

Turning on the light can be a difficult task. But it will expose the danger

John 3:17–19 ESV

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.

Eph 5:15 Walk in Wisdom

Results of wise living?

Seeking understanding of God’s will

Being controlling internally by God’s Spirit

Constant attitude of worship

Thankfulness

Willful submissiveness to other believers

The fourth result of fullness with (control by) the Spirit is willingness to submit to other people, specifically believers. The opposite would be dominating others and exalting oneself over them. This attitude is only reasonable and carries over from reverence for (fear of) Christ. When God controls us, we have submissive (supportive) spirits.