Ephesians 5
Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 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.
Therefore- Again, a therefore, a new thought.
imitators of God-This is connected to 4:32, we are to forgive, now it is not enough to forgive but to love, unconditionally
children-As loving children imitate fathers, we need to act like God vs 2 shows us how
walk in love- This is the third “walk in love” , vs 1 walk in unity vs 17 walk in the new man now walk in love.
as Christ- He is to be our example
given Himself for us- He took our place for punishment
a sacrifice- He presented himself to God in our place knowing the cost
sweet-smelling aroma. This means that the sacrifice was accepted
3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; 4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. 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. 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.
But-we are to walk in love that means some things need to be different about us
Fornication- Sex outside of marriage
all uncleanness or covetousness- The meaning here is lusting after sexual sin
named among you- Not only are we not even to do these things, we should not even talk about them, “Teflon Christians”
but rather giving of thanks- Eph 4 put off put on put off put off sexual talk and put on praising god for what we do have.
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. 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.
For this you know- This is something that we already know. That those who worship the creature rather then than the creator, Rom 1.
has any inheritance- They are not Christians
Christ and God- the closeness shows the unity between the two, the oneness.
Let no one deceive you with empty words- Do not believe those who justify, defend, promote these sins
wrath of God- natural, spiritual and eternal
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret.
were once darkness- we, lost in sin, are evil itself, not in evil, but are evil
light- We are no longer lost in sin but pure, holy before God
the Lord- Eph 2:8-9
Walk-5:1-7 We should behave as the light.
fruit of the Spirit – What follows, goodness, righteousness and truth, the opposite of 3-7 are all byproducts of being the light.
finding out– Putting to the test
acceptable to the Lord- not what man says, mans rules.
unfruitful works- produce nothing good, nothing lasting, nothing that brings satisfaction
expose them- call them out, not allow them.
Shameful- More than wrong
13 But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. 14 Therefore He says:
“Awake, you who sleep,
Arise from the dead,
And Christ will give you light.”
15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Vs 13-like a flashlight in the darkness, the light shows everything.
Vs 14 – This is Isa 60:1 not word for word but thought for thought. The idea is that we are to shine the light of God into the world and not stand still as sin runs wild.
walk circumspectly- Walk with fixed principles
redeeming the time- We do not know when the world will end, but we do not it is not getting any better.
First Baptist Church Delmar 