Overview
Walking in Love (Verses 1-7):
The opening verses make it clear: Christians are called to be imitators of God. Paul urges believers to walk in love, just as Christ loved us. This love is sacrificial, it's unconditional, and it’s non-negotiable. It means abandoning all forms of immorality and greed, which are inconsistent with being God's "beloved children."
Walking in Light (Verses 8-14):
Here, Paul contrasts the life of darkness before coming to Christ with the life of light in Him. The implication is strong; we've been transformed, so we ought to act like it. The light exposes the darkness and makes everything visible. Paul tells us to be a light to the world, emphasizing the transforming power of the Gospel.
Walking in Wisdom (Verses 15-21):
Paul ends with a call to be wise in our actions and decisions. He urges us to make the most of every opportunity because the days are evil. This wisdom extends to personal habits like not getting drunk but being filled with the Spirit, indicating a life led by God’s guidance rather than fleshly desires. He closes by encouraging mutual submission, setting the stage for his teaching on relationships in the following chapter.
Ephesians 5 serves as a practical guide to Christian living, stressing the importance of love, light, and wisdom. It pushes us to evaluate our lives critically, ensuring we are aligned with God’s will, and reminds us to be active representatives of Christ in a dark world. A lifestyle rooted in these principles will look radically different from the world but beautifully reflective of Christ.
The opening verses make it clear: Christians are called to be imitators of God. Paul urges believers to walk in love, just as Christ loved us. This love is sacrificial, it's unconditional, and it’s non-negotiable. It means abandoning all forms of immorality and greed, which are inconsistent with being God's "beloved children."
Walking in Light (Verses 8-14):
Here, Paul contrasts the life of darkness before coming to Christ with the life of light in Him. The implication is strong; we've been transformed, so we ought to act like it. The light exposes the darkness and makes everything visible. Paul tells us to be a light to the world, emphasizing the transforming power of the Gospel.
Walking in Wisdom (Verses 15-21):
Paul ends with a call to be wise in our actions and decisions. He urges us to make the most of every opportunity because the days are evil. This wisdom extends to personal habits like not getting drunk but being filled with the Spirit, indicating a life led by God’s guidance rather than fleshly desires. He closes by encouraging mutual submission, setting the stage for his teaching on relationships in the following chapter.
Ephesians 5 serves as a practical guide to Christian living, stressing the importance of love, light, and wisdom. It pushes us to evaluate our lives critically, ensuring we are aligned with God’s will, and reminds us to be active representatives of Christ in a dark world. A lifestyle rooted in these principles will look radically different from the world but beautifully reflective of Christ.
Ephesians 5
1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.
13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.
14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
🔑 Sermon: DOT Your i's & Cross Your t's (Part 3)
17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.
End of Ephesians 5
1 Year Plan: Aug 31 - Ecc 8, Ecc 9, Eph 5 [next day]
2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.
13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.
14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
🔑 Sermon: DOT Your i's & Cross Your t's (Part 3)
17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.
End of Ephesians 5
1 Year Plan: Aug 31 - Ecc 8, Ecc 9, Eph 5 [next day]
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