Ephesians

Paul continues to offer a look at what a church, and those that make it up, might look like.

Ephesians 5:1-2

The ‘therefore’ of verse one is a conclusion linked to the first three chapters of established doctrine and position.  We were dead, Jesus gave us new life – because of this, we should be imitators of God.

I remember many years ago when I used to come home from work.  I’d take off my boots, my hat, and vest and leave them by the door.  One Saturday morning, I remember Kris, probably 2 or 3 years old, coming in to announce to Bev and I that he was going to work.  He had on my hat and my vest, which was dragging the ground.  His feet were stuck down in my boots of course most of his leg was in the boot, not just his feet.  He said he was going to work, like Dad.  He was imitating me, wanting to be like me.  Probably every father has experienced this.

I remember growing up and seeing my dad was capable of fixing anything.  I remember pretending to work on cars and work on toys.  I didn't so much play with toys when I was a kid, I took them apart, put them together, broke them and fixed them.  I grew up seeing my dad use tools.  Tools were cool, so I wanted to use tools also.  I wanted to imitate my father.

That's the way we are to be with God.  Paul said be imitators of God as dear children.  Just like a child looking up to his dad and wanting to be like him.  We look up to our father in heaven and desire to be like him.  This imitation also speaks somewhat of bearing the family name or likeness.  We are to bear His likeness as we imitate Him.  As we imitate Him, we begin to look like Him.  And we are to uphold the family name.

To do this Paul said we should imitate the son of God.  As sons of God, we should walk in love the same way Christ loved us. 

Papias, the bishop of Hierapolis in 110AD, called the apostle John “a living and abiding voice.”  Papias placed great value on the oral instruction he received from John.  He referred to John as ‘the apostle’ and later called the elder John ‘presbyter’.  This living and abiding voice is seen in the story told by Jerome, another church father, about the aged and feeble apostle John.  In this account, John was being carried into the presence of the people who were anxious to hear a word from a man that had walked with Jesus.  As they waited with great anticipation, John finally spoke, “Little children, love one another, love one another, love one another.”  Having heard this many times, the people asked for more.  John responded that these were the words of Jesus and they were enough. 

Jesus loved us and gave himself for us and became an offering and sacrifice on our behalf to God.  His sacrifice was a sweet-smelling aroma to God.  This 'sweet smelling aroma' is a phrase from the Old Testament.  The 'Sweet Savor' was the result of the burnt offering; the smoke of the sacrifice rising up to heaven like a signal to God that man was taking sin seriously and it was being atoned for.   Jesus is the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.  He was the one-time, perfect sacrifice offered for all sin.  God found this offering a sweet-smelling aroma. (Ex 29:25; Lev 1:9)

This is what we are to imitate.  It is a right response to copy the actions of God, to become more like Him.  We should give of our lives for others, making ourselves an offering and living sacrificial lives to benefit others.  Walking in love is seeking the highest good for another.  In doing so we imitate Jesus Christ and it is a sweet aroma to Him.  This is a picture of the father seeing His children trying to be just like Him. When He looks down and sees this, nothing could please a father more.

Ephesians 5:3-4

In our ‘walk’ and ‘don’t walk’ instruction we get a similar exhortation to ‘imitate’ and ‘don’t imitate’.  As we imitate Christ, these things should not be part of our lives.  As we refrain from imitating the unbelieving world, we’ll find the consistency of walking with the Lord. There is no place for this kind of sin among believers. 

Paul brings six categories of sin before them: fornication, uncleanness, covetousness and then filthiness, foolish talking and coarse jesting.  It is likely that these things were a problem at Ephesus.  Before we look down our nose at them, we should recognize these same six things remain a problem for all men across all the ages.  Just as these things were constantly before the Ephesians, they are constantly before us.  They can easily get a foothold in our life.  It’s as if the door is always open for these things to find their way in.  This is the natural inclination for sin-fallen men.  Our encouragement is to slam the door and lock it.  Without exception, without compromise, keep these things out!!

• Fornication: the word is porneia
  • A wide category of sexual immorality of all kinds; unlawful sex, prostitution, unchastity, fornication, incest, etc.
• Uncleanness: the word is akartharsia.
  • Immorality understood as dirty or impure.  BDAG, vileness, unnatural acts.
  • Used in reference to Corinthian man sleeping with father’s wife.
• Covetousness: the word is pleonexia.
  • The excessive desire for more and more wealth; more than what’s due.
  • Associated with fraud & extortion
• Filthiness: the word is aischrotes (only used here).
  • This is obscene behavior, shameful and filthy.
  • A behavior that flouts social and moral standards.
• Foolish Talking: the word is morologia (only used here).
  • Stupid or rash conversation – like that of a drunken man.
• Course Jesting: the word is eutrapelia (only used here).
  • This is course jesting, turning a phrase.
  • Sharp and caustic talk used to evoke laughter.

It really is fascinating that so many of these lists are sexual in nature as we live in such a sex-crazed culture.  The heart of sinful man hasn’t changed all that much in a few thousand years.  While we find it all around us, in Paul's time it was found at the pagan temples.  They were carrying on in this way; illicit sex, uncleanness and then covetousness.  This covetousness may seem out of place next to these sexual sins.  But the coveting was just another way of fulfilling the greedy sinful lusts of the flesh.

The Paul goes on to warn about filthiness, foolish talking and coarse jesting.  This is the person that finds filth in everything said.  Everything has a sexual connation, everything statement is wink, wink; nod, nod; you know what I mean.  Hey, hey know what I mean?  It’s a filthy mind played out in dirty jokes and a foul mouth.  The source of the problem here was sex in ways God didn't intend.  The language, mostly sexually oriented, was that which was revealing an attitude toward sex that God didn't intend.  These things exist among unbelievers acting like unbelievers; they reveal a heart problem.

Therefore, these things aren't even to be named among those in Christ.  Paul is compelled to tell them this because these things were among them, just like they are among us.  There must be a conscience effort to keep these things away.  What should be named among us is the giving of thanks.  We are not to think we are missing out on something by not partaking of these things.  We are not to be known in these circles, but rather, we are to be known for our thankfulness that we experience life as intended by God.

Ephesians 5:5-7

Paul makes it clear that the presence of these in the church indicate a problem.  Those who were called to adoption are heirs to the kingdom.  The presence of these things indicates no adoption occurred, no sonship was acquired, and there is no inheritance in place.  We are to be clothed in Christ having put on the new man that is Christ.  These immoral behaviors won't be found among those clothed in Christ.  They indicate a rebellious heart, rejecting the reign of Christ.

There were apparently some in the church of Ephesus using empty words to convince believers it was okay to continue in their old ways of immoral and lewd behavior.   These ‘empty words’ were likely attempts to trivialize or justify their illicit behavior. 

There is a great and age-old deception in play.  It started in the garden with, “did God really say?”  It continues today in much the say way.  Mankind wants to trump God’s ways with his own sinful desires.  We justify it by saying ‘God is love’ and He wants me to be happy.  We redefine God’s righteousness to make room for our unrighteousness.  We justify by saying God made us this way.  But it’s all a deception; as if one could be in Christ and still take part in all this sexual immorality.  Paul said we shouldn’t let anyone deceive us with their empty words.  This is the way an unbelieving world heaps sin on sin; the wrath of God will be revealed against this sin and those who practice it.

We have grown so casual and callous to the filth and we don’t even realize we do it.  Paul’s warning can barely be heard for all the noise of the current deception.  We shouldn't let the empty words of someone else convince us that these things are okay.  Peter’s words encourage us:

¹³ Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; ¹⁴ as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; ¹⁵ but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, ¹⁶ because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”  (1 Peter 1:13-16)

We shouldn’t be deceived.  We shouldn’t be partners with world and its ways.  There is no doubt where God stands on this.  Paul said it is because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. We are not to be partakers with them.

Ephesians 5:8-10
Looking closely at verse 8 is important.  It doesn't say you were in darkness; it says you were darkness itself.  This darkness reveals a lack of understanding; as in a sin-darkened mind.  It is spiritual darkness.  You were once characterized by, and dominated by, spiritual death and sin. 

“But now” is the good news!  You are not darkness but light.  You have understanding and are dominated by spiritual life and sin has been put to death.  Once again, we are given words to walk by.  As sons and daughters of the Most High God, walk as such.

Children of light was a common label used by some.  The Essenes of Qumran called themselves children of light.  Walking in the light produces fruit.  Fruit is the natural result of light; this is a fruit that is acceptable to the Lord.  Paul said the fruit of the Spirit is:

• Goodness
• Righteousness
• Truth. 

What is the Lord’s will for my life?  What does God want me to do?  These must be two of the more prevalent questions among believers.  We can know God’s will.  Walk in the light, experience the fruit of the light and experience God’s perfect will for your life.  As you grow in goodness, righteousness and truth, the call and direction of life becomes evident.  It doesn’t have to be difficult.  We make it hard because of our reluctance to completely submit to God’s will.  Our inclination is to make sure God’s way is acceptable to us and doesn’t mess up our plans.

See Galatians 5 for Paul’s complete list of the fruit of righteousness. 

Ephesians 5:11-14
There is an unfruitful work that comes from darkness.  There is the fruit from light and fruit from darkness.  There is no neutral fruit, no gray or in between fruit.  We are commanded to avoid the fruit of the darkness, not having any fellowship with these works.  This is especially true in the church. 

⁵ This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. ⁶ If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.  (1 John 1:5-6)

The word used for ‘fellowship’ means ‘participate in’ or ‘share company with’.  We don’t owe anything to these works; we shouldn’t compromise with them; give them our time; give our ear to listen out of fairness.  And we are called to not just avoid this evil but we are to expose it.  We aren’t judging this; it’s already been judged.  We are commanded to simply call it what it is.

We are to call it sin because that is what it is and we are to avoid it.  Paul said some of these things they were doing were shameful and they were done in the darkness thinking no one would or could find out.  All Paul is saying is these dark things are known and will be exposed in the light.  Paul doesn't even make it personal here.  It's not necessarily about the person at this point.  It's just an admonition to call the works of darkness, works of darkness.  Don’t be deceived into thinking there’s a little private place where you can claim, “No one is getting hurt.”  The end we think we see doesn’t justify the means.

Then Paul said,

“Awake, you who sleep, 

Arise from the dead, 

And Christ will give you light.” 

Some of the people Paul was writing to had given the appearance of having been asleep.  The thing is, if you are asleep, you don't even realize it.  You only know you were asleep after you wake up.  Something, or somebody, has to wake you up.  We are called to be that somebody.  This quote was probably from Isaiah 60 and adapted to a praise or worship chorus in that day.  It may have been a response or praise offered when one was baptized.

It appears Paul is trying to shake the Ephesians awake with the truth so they might realize that they have been asleep.  People were sitting there in the churches at that time nodding and agreeing with all that was said, like walking and talking in their sleep.  By appearance, the Ephesians were Christians; but, is it possible some looked saved on Sunday and walked in darkness the rest of the time?   The truth was evident in the fruit of their life.

In those days there were all kinds of pagan worship all around them.  Paul was saying you couldn't be a Christian and then go down to the pagan temple with your neighbors and do the kind of things they did.  By their fruit, the followers of Christ can be recognized.  I think the other aspect of this is, if there is someone in the church who is asleep, it is an act of love to shake them awake.  If they are bearing rotten fruit of darkness, we must take action.  That may mean some tough love.  It may mean setting them out with the purpose of leading them to sorrow and then repentance.  The very worse we could do is ignore the darkness and just try hard to get along and be tolerant.  The outcome of that is bad for everyone.

Ephesians 5:15-16  
To walk circumspect is to walk careful; being cautious of what is ahead, watching your footsteps along the way.  When my wife and I go walking, we pass through an area where a lot of geese roam about.  They are messy little critters – we’ve learned we have to walk circumspect through this area.  In our case, the stakes aren’t very high.  The walk that Paul refers to is guarding our steps because the spiritual stakes are high.

There are two distinct walks – that of a fool and that of the wise.  The fool goes off the path, is drawn away to be stumbled, tripped and detoured from the path the Lord determined for them.  We are called to make wise choices about where we walk.  The wise choice is associated with redeeming the time because we live in evil days.  The idea of the time is a specific season.  We have a limited amount of time and we must make good use of it.  It creates this picture of a clock counting down toward zero.

 Amos 5 is a call to repentance, beginning with the phrase, “Seek me and live.”  The obvious alternative is to not seek the Lord and die.  There was no gray area where a man can seek his own and way find a full life.  It speaks of the Lord’s awareness of sin.  Then it says:

Therefore the prudent keep silent at that time, for it is an evil time.

(NKJV: Amos 5:13; 1982, Thomas Nelson)

We live in an evil time.  Satan seems to have a lot of freedom in the days in which we find ourselves.  He works hard at devising ways to deceive us or tempt us; to trip us up or run us off course.  We have to keep each other awake and on our path.

Ephesians 5:17-21

A circumspect walk is a wise walk.

Because the days are evil, we must know the path of our life.  It is the wise that understand what the will of the Lord is.  How can we be careful about our path if we don’t know what path we are to be on?  Or, we don’t understand how the Lord desires us to carry ourself?  These things come from being in the word, seeking the Lord in prayer and fellowshipping with other believers.  We are called to wisdom. 

A circumspect walk is a sober walk. 

The world and the unwise citizens of it are portrayed as going through life in a drunken stupor.  They are having a good time, laughing and stumbling around carefree.  The pagan worship ceremonies some once took part in were drunken orgies.  Paul said this is dissipation, which is lavishness.  It is wasting time as though it were a luxury you could afford to waste.  There is a cost to this drunken walk.  A sober walk is specific and purposeful, with a desire to arrive at a specific place. 

A circumspect walk is a spirit filled walk

We have the gift of the Holy Spirit present in our life, to guide us and protect us.  We should be sensitive to His work, calling and direction.  We can then enjoy the Lord, regardless of your circumstances.  

A circumspect walk inspires others

Paul presents a portion of our walk is speaking to each other in Psalms and hymns.  It is in song, making melody in your heart.  In that day, they believed music could come by inspiration, sharing that music could inspire others.  Paul speaks of Christians speaking and singing to each other with the purpose of inspiring them, encouraging them along their way.  While visiting my grandkids, at times I’ll sit down at the piano and play a song.  After, I tell them I had a song in my heart that just had to get out.  This is the idea Paul presents.  We have a melody in our heart to the Lord that we share with others.

A circumspect walk is a thankful walk

We are to give thanks, not just some of the time but always, in all things.  That's the life of a Christian.  Regardless of the circumstances in life, our position in the Lord remains unchanged.  We have spiritual blessings, a calling and a walk that flow from our salvation – for that we can be forever grateful.

This is quite a contrast with the world and it's quite a challenge at times.  Paul would agree.  If he thought it was easy he wouldn't have spent so much time writing, encouraging and admonishing the people of the church.

A circumspect walk is a submitted walk

We honor Christ when we honor, love and help one another.  As we’ve submitted to the Lord, we are called to submit to one another in prescribed ways.  Paul goes on to provide details in regards to this.

Ephesians 5:22-24

Over half of the population of Ephesus were in slavery.  This means a large part of the church was made of those in bondage to others.  They had found new freedom and live in the church – but now were being told that submission was an important part of their walk.  Submission to Jesus, trust in Jesus, is to follow as He teaches us.  Trust in Jesus means appropriate submission to His established order. 

The cultural model of the time was a patriarchal male leadership.  Paul, instead presents the concept of mutual respect with a God ordained order.  This is the Lord establishing an order of authority and responsibility.  Frankly, it should be seen as a call for men to step up.  Men, we are to be responsible for the spiritual health of our family.  Men, Christ is the head of us.  We submit to Him and when our wives submit to us, we are to be a picture of Jesus. 

Would your wife say that about you?  Just as Christ is the bridegroom and the church is the bride.  A marriage is to be a similar picture of the same.  Men, you are to stand as a representative of Jesus in your family.

Christ as the head of the church is the model for the husband. 

• The Lord doesn't beat us into submission or oppress – He edifies and elevates. 
• The Lord doesn’t Lord it over us – commanding those around Him to serve Him.  Instead, He was a servant to those around Him. 
• The Lord gave his life for us. 

Husbands as the head of the family, it we have the opportunity to be servants; not to lord over our families or beat them into submission, but to have the heart of a servant and to be a living sacrifice for them.  We would then be the picture of Christ.

Wives are to submit to their husbands as to the Lord.  The idea of this submission is one of respect.  As the husband stands as a Christ-like model, the wife respects him, honors him and expresses loyalty towards him.  This passage has been wrongly used by some as a call for wives to kneel at the feet of their husbands.  This is the complete opposite of what is taught.

Ephesians 5:25-33

Jesus is our model of a husband’s sacrificial love for his wife.

1. Christ loves the church and gave himself for her.
   1. Complete sacrifice, like a burnt offering. 
   2. No limitations or boundaries that won’t be crossed for her.
2. He gave Himself that He might sanctify her.
   1. She is set apart for Him only.
   2. Implies exclusion of all others.
3. She might be cleansed by the word.
   1. Pictures cleansing and preparation of the bride for her groom.
   2. The word is gospel, scripture and its effect on our spirit.
   3. Presentation of purity on the inside.
4.  That He might call her to Himself.
   1. Jesus does the work to prepare his bride and then comes and calls her to himself.
      1. The bridal garments are symbolic of purity.
      2. Holy, set apart for God’s purpose with no moral defect.
   2. The husband stands in that role of Jesus, serving and preparing his bride for a coming day.
      1. The husband takes a bride in purity, set apart.
      2. He leads her in a life of purity with no moral defect.

In verse 28, Paul brings all these big thoughts of the church back to the husband’s attitude.  The ancient codes and contracts of marriage never spoke of love or considered it part of the contract.  Paul speaks of sacrificial love towards wives – like Christ loves the church and gave Himself for her. 

The role of a husband is a sense of love and protecting and leading and learning and growing.  It's the picture of the bride being at the side of the bridegroom.  The bridegroom takes care of his bride, providing for her, making sure she has all the basic needs of life.  He cherishes her because she is part of him.  The two became one flesh.

As one flesh, the bride and bridegroom are one and the same, grown together while still being individuals.  That is the mystery.  And this is the same whether you are talking about Jesus and the church or the husband and the wife.  In a godly marriage the two have become as one.  Each is to treat the other as their own flesh but the husband is responsible to nourish and cherish his bride just like Christ cherishes the church as his bride.

The two become as one flesh in marriage.  No one ever hated his own flesh.  He nourishes and cherishes it.  This speaks to the importance of getting this right the first time and making sure it is the only time.  What God joins together no man can tear apart.  This puts a new perspective on divorce and maybe sheds some light on a culture where half of all marriages end in divorce.  And now, because of the fear of divorce, folks just skip marriage and live together.

We are members of His body – His flesh and His bones.  Paul points us back to Adam & Eve, the first marriage performed before God, a model for all time. 

The marriage relationship is one aspect of submission and a circumspect walk – part of the call to maturity for the church of Ephesus.  By extension, this message is for us also.  As the Church, we are being sanctified and that is leading us toward our soon glorification.  The day is rapidly approaching.  While the darkness of sin descends on our culture, we have the light of the Lord doing an ongoing work in our lives here.  He is faithful to complete what He started. 

We are being prepared.  And as that preparation continues, we learn the width and length and depth and height of Jesus Christ.  As we learn, we become firmly established within the body.  We, the church, are being prepared for the marriage supper of the lamb.  And we will be the bride of Christ, spotless, without wrinkle, without blemish, perfect in every way.

Genesis 2:18-25

©2010, 2017, 2023 Doug Ford