Bible Study Ephesians 5: 1-21

 

A Commentary of the Book of Ephesians

By Dr. Barry L. Jenkins

Text Used: Legacy Standard Bible

Bible Study Ephesians 5: 1-21

Text:

Be Imitators of God

5 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, 2 and walk in love, just as Christ also loved [a]us and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God [b]as a fragrant aroma.

3 But sexual immorality [c]or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among [d]saints; 4 nor filthiness and foolish talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this you know with certainty, that no one sexually immoral or impure or greedy, who is an idolater, has an 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, 8 for you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of that light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), 10 [e]trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 And do not participate in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead even [f]expose them. 12 For it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. 13 But all things become visible when they are [g]exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. 14 For this reason [h]it says,

“Awake, sleeper,
And arise from the dead,
And Christ will shine on you.”

15 Therefore look carefully how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 On account of this, do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, [i]for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to [j]one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; 20 always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to [k]God, even the Father; 21 [l]and being subject to one another in the [m]fear of Christ.

Verse by verse commentary:

Verse 1: “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children,”

A firm appreciation of God’s love and of one’s place in His family motivates the self-sacrifice necessary for Christian life. We should be constantly mindful of who we are imitating. Do we imitate the world or Christ? We are to be like our Father because we are His children. 

Verse 2: “and walk in love, just as Christ also loved us and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.”

Believers must do their best to extend to others the forgiveness and love God has extended to them. The same principle is found in Jesus’ new commandment: “as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.” Our walk is one of love, but it is not an emotional tolerance of sinful acts and lifestyles. It is a holy love based on the Word of God. Christ loved us when we were lost sinners, but His love would not allow Him to leave us in the state He found us in. Walking in love is a sacrificial walk always looking to the Lord Jesus Christ as our model for behavior and thinking.

Verse 3: “But sexual immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints;”

In complete contrast to God’s holiness and love, such sins as these exist, by which Satan seeks to destroy God’s divine work in His children and turn them as far away as possible from His image and will as possible. As do other Scriptures, this verse shows the causal connection between sexual sin and other forms of impurity and greed. An immoral person is inevitably greedy. Such sins are so godless that the world should never have reason even to suspect their presence in Christians. These sins appeal to the weak flesh. Satan loves to destroy using the lure of sexual pleasures, including physical sin, lust, pornography, and these days the rise of transgenderism further shows how far Satan will go. As Christians, we can not accept sinful lifestyles that violate Scripture.

Verse 4: “nor filthiness and foolish talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.” 

These three inappropriate sins of the tongue include any speech that is obscene and degrading or foolish and dirty, as well as suggestive and immoral wit. This includes “dirty jokes” and flirting with those that are not Biblically available for marriage. We are to guard our mouths and do our best to speak words of Godliness and holiness. We are to replace such sinful talk with open expressions of thankfulness to God.

Verse 5: “For this you know with certainty, that no one sexually immoral or impure or greedy, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.”

You are not saved by what you do, but what you do will be impacted by your salvation. Paul is very clear that the sexually immoral, impure or greedy are not saved. Is it judging? No, it is being Biblical to warn others of their dangerous state when they live in habitual sin.

Verse 6: “Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.”

No Christian will be perfectly sinless in this present life, but it is dangerous spiritually for Christians to offer assurance of salvation to a professing believer whose life is characterized by habitual sin and who shows no shame for that sin or hunger for a holy walk on the “highway of holiness.” Those that walk in intentional habitual sin will face God’s wrath.

Verse 7: “Therefore do not be partakers with them,”

Christians must remember the fate of non-believers and refuse to join them in their folly and sinful lifestyles. We are to be separate from the world. This does not mean physically, although sometimes it is required, but we are to refuse to embrace the world’s thinking and instead, stand for holiness and righteousness.

Verse 8: “or you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light”

“Darkness” describes the character of the life of the lost as void of truth and virtue in intellectual and moral matters. Paul describes the believer as a “light” in contrast to the “darkness.” The verb tense for “walk” is a command that is ongoing as opposed to singular action. Walking in the light is our lifestyle.

Verse 9: “(for the fruit of that light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth),”

Fruit is for others. A tree doesn’t consume its own fruit. Our fruit of goodness, righteousness and truth will be produced as we walk in the light of God’s Word.

Verse 10: “trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.”

As we read, study, meditate, and memorize the Word of God, you will learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Our God has not hidden the truth from us. He has told us how we are to live. As we follow Him, He is well pleased.

Verse 11: “And do not participate in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead even expose them.”

Paul’s instruction is plain and direct: Christians are to faithfully live in righteousness, holiness and sanctification, and have nothing at all to do with the evil ways and works of Satan and the world. We are not to participate and be in agreement with the world’s way of thinking because Satan is in control of the world. He is the “god of this world.” We are to walk on the highway of holiness and daily repent and walk in faith. 

Verse 12: “For it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret.”

Some sins are so despicable that they should be sealed off from direct contact and not even mentioned, much less discussed, except in order to contradict and oppose them. I am convinced that the most heinous sins are sexual sins, i.e. sins against the body. They are generally committed in the dark of night and bring out the worst in humanity. We must guard our lips and refuse to engage in talks about such activities except to expose them for what they are: sin.

Verse 13: “But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light.”

Paul assumes that certain sins are so shameful that bringing them to light will shame some non-believers into repentance. The Christians’ presence alone may expose sins through contrast or they may openly denounce them. How often have I been told that someone would tell me a “joke” because they knew what I stood for. Without endorsing the theology of Charles Finney, I have heard he could walk into a room and people would be under conviction. May our lives be so filled with holiness that others feel conviction for their sin.

Verse 14: “For this reason it says,

‘Awake, sleeper,
And arise from the dead,
And Christ will shine on you.’”

Quoting Isaiah 60:1, Paul extends an invitation for salvation to the lost, in order that they may be transformed from children of darkness into children of God’s holy light. May we be ever ready to extend the general call of salvation to all God brings into our life. Some pastors assumed that all the congregation was saved and preached accordingly. I always assumed that the congregation was lost and needed to be saved. Let us give a consistent call, “Awake, oh sinner. Come to Christ!” 

Verse 15: “Therefore look carefully how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,”

This word “carefully”means “accurately or precisely with great care”. To live morally is to live wisely and Biblically. In contrast, Biblically, a “fool” is not so named because of intellectual limits, but because of unbelief and the consequent is an immoral life. The unsaved live apart from God and against God’s law, and can’t understand the truth or his true condition. Certainly, believers are to avoid behaving like fools. Why? Because it goes against our new nature given to us by Christ. 

Verse 16: “redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”

We are to make the most of our time on this evil earth in fulfilling God’s purposes, lining up every opportunity for useful worship and service. Jonathan Edwards once remarked that we should live every hour as if it was our last. How might this change your life? I use the expression, living under “Judgment Day honesty.” The days are evil. Time is drawing short. Let us live our lives with this thought in mind.

Verse 17: “On account of this, do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”

Knowing and understanding God’s will through His Word is spiritual wisdom. Nothing but heresy comes when people receive a special vision, dream, or word. As proof, I cite the Mormans, Jehovah Witnesses, Christian Scientists, and the Word of Faith movement. If you stay true to the Word of God, you will keep from error. However, as soon as you leave the Word of God, look for heresy to be coming.

Verse 18: “And do not get drunk with wine, [a]for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,” 

Any Biblical discussion of the Holy Spirit's ongoing work in the life of the believer leads to the inevitable question: What does it mean to be filled with the Holy Spirit? We want our answer to be Scripturally based and sound theologically. It is regrettable that those who claim to be charismatics have hijacked the designation, "Spirit-filled" Christians. Charismatics define the being filled with the Spirit in terms of ecstatic experiences. They point to supposed signs and wonders as the evidence of the Spirit's power at work in them. If you look at the Word of God, you will not see that speaking in tongues or being "slain in the Spirit" are not evidence of being filled with the HOLY SPIRIT.  

We want to look at the Word of God for clarity. The definitive New Testament passage is found in Ephesians 5: 18: "Do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but filled with the Spirit." In contrast to being controlled by drink, which manifests itself in irrational and out-of-control behavior, those who are Spirit-filled consciously submit themselves to His holy influence. The command to "be filled" is in the present tense, indicating this is to be an ongoing experience in the life of every Christian. As we have seen, all believers are baptized (1 Corinthians 12: 13; Galatians 3: 27), indwelt (Romans 8: 9), and sealed (Ephesians 1: 13) by the Holy Spirit at the moment of salvation. The above list represents realities occurring only once, but if believers are to grow in Christlikeness, they must be continually filled with the Spirit, allowing His power to permeate their lives so that all they think, say, and do reflects His divine presence.

The book of Acts provides several illustrations of the fact that being Spirit-filled is a repeated experience:

1. Peter was filled with the Spirit on the day of Pentecost, but then again in Acts 4: 8. 

2. Many people were filled on the Day of Pentecost but again they were filled in Acts 4: 31.

3. In Acts 6: 5, Stephen is described as a man "full of faith and the Holy Spirit." Acts 7: 55 reiterates the fact that he was "full of the Holy Spirit.".

4. The Apostle Paul was filled with the Spirit in Acts 9: 17 shortly after his conversation, and again in Acts 13: 9. 

5. As they were filled with the Holy Spirit, the apostles and early church were empowered to build up fellow believers in the church and to fearlessly proclaim the gospel, even in the face of severe persecution from the world.

When we review the New Testament Scriptures, we find that being filled with the Spirit is demonstrated not through ecstatic experiences but through the manifestation of spiritual fruit. In other words, Spirit-filled Christians exhibit the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control" (Galatians 5: 22-23). They are "led by the Spirit" (Romans 8: 14). What are they led to do? Read verse 13: "...but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live." "Being led" means you are being led to mortify sin in your life. That is being Spirit-filled." If you read Romans 8: 5-8, you will see that the apostle's point is that those who are Spirit-filled seek to please God by pursuing God by pursuing practical holiness. 

The tragic irony is that the movement labeling itself as "Spirit-filled" is notorious for sexual immorality, financial impropriety, and extreme worldliness when it comes to living extravagant lifestyles. The charismatic movement is regularly involved with some type of scandal. No matter how many times someone "speaks in tongues" or is "slain in the spirit," it is the fruit of their lives that reveals the true nature of their hearts. Those whose behavior is characterized by the works of the flesh (Galatians 5: 19-21) are not filled with the Holy Spirit, no matter how often they babble "retie my bow tie or get a Honda."

After commanding believers to be filled with the Spirit, Paul provides specific examples of what that would look like:

1. Joyful singing (Ephesians 5: 19);

2. Hearts full of thanksgiving (v. 20);

3. Selflessness toward others (v. 21);

4. If they are married, their marriage honors God (vv. 22-33);

5. If they have children, their parenting patiently unfolds the gospel (6: 1-4); 

6. If they work for an earthly employer, they work hard for the Lord's honor (vv. 5-8);

7. If they have people that work for them, they treat their employees with kindness and fairness (v. 9).

The above is what it looks like to be a Spirit-filled Christian. His influence in our lives makes us rightly related to God and to others. This was the Apostle Paul’s message.

Verse 19: “speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;”

After commanding believers to be filled with the Spirit, Paul now describes what being Spirit-filled looks like in a practical sense. In this verse, we are told to speak to each other in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs and to make melody in our hearts. While worship is offered to God alone, in corporate worship, there is a human audience as well since people worship together and address each other for their mutual edification.

Verse 20: “always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father;”

Believers’ thankfulness is for who God is and for what He has done through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. We should live every moment being thankful for the sacrifice our Lord made for us, to save us and prepare a home for us for all eternity. Again, this is a description of Spirit-filled living.

Verse 21: “and being subject to one another in the [b]fear of Christ.”

This transitional verse is the last in a series of expressions explaining what it means to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Regardless of their social standing, all Christians should pattern their social behavior on the humility and kindness of Christ. He is our Master and we are to follow Him.