The Journey

Walk in Love

5 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.

The latter part of chapter 5 and the beginning part of chapter 6 hinge on what is contained in verses 1-21.

Imitating God leads the believer to live in such a way that God is glorified.

The appeal to “be … followers of God, as dear children” is the main thought of 5:1–14. “Followers” (imitators) translates mimetai, from which we get “mimic.

Believers seek out purity.

Believers seek out purity due to the fact that God is pure. Believers should seek a life that imitates and brings glory to God.

Believers walk as children of light.

To say that the readers “were” darkness is to imply that deeds of darkness are now behind them. Such things are no longer in harmony with their character, and they must not revert to them.

Believers do not take part in unfruitful deeds.

unfruitful” because they produce no goodness, give no satisfaction and joy.

Believers do not live foolishly.

Redeeming the Time (vs. 16). First, to walk wisely means that one will make the most of every opportunity—“redeeming the time” (vs. 16). The Greek word for “redeeming” is a market term meaning “to buy out” or “purchase completely.” “Time” is the translation of a Greek word that came to mean something rather like “opportunity.” To “buy out the opportunity” is to make the most of one’s time, to pay the price in effort and exertion that is necessary in using it.

Submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

To not submit in love to others is to not revere Christ.

Acts 15:10–12 ESV

Now, therefore, why are you putting God to the test by placing a yoke on the neck of the disciples that neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.” And all the assembly fell silent, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul as they related what signs and wonders God had done through them among the Gentiles.

In their book The New Testament: It’s Background and Message, Thomas D. Lea and David Alan Black speak on three important decisions that emerged from the Jerusalem Council in Acts 15.

1. The church decided that obedience to the Mosaic law was not a condition for salvation to be imposed on Gentiles. 2. The church urged that Gentile Christians avoid certain practices for the sake of harmonious Jewish-Gentile relationships. 3. The church preserved a unity that gave credibility to its witness of the gospel.

The decisions were based on the central point of unity among all believers. The focus was on the Gospel and the proclaiming of the Gospel to all people.

May the church seek unity in the work of bringing glory to God.

What is the area we need to work on to bring unity to the body of Christ?

Believer vs unbeliever.