1 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
This is the conclusion of Paul’s thoughts from Ephesians 4: be an imitator of Christ. God must be our example (1 Peter 15-16). Christ is the great example of this love.
3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.
Paul contrast the idea of imitating Christ with the problem of sin and hypocrisy. If we are to represent and imitate Christ, we need to walk in holiness, not be pulled down by the worldly traps around us. These items which he lists are not in alignment with God and holy people.
Sexual Immorality: this covers a wide swath of behavior. Sexual sin is devastating to God’s followers because it can easily rob us of the purity God desires in us.
Impurity: this is a broad term, but refers to a type of unfitting moral behavior, again with a hint of sexuality.
Greed: Greed isn’t just about wealth. Greed is the unquenched desire for something that is idolatrous.
Obscenity: Again, a broad term for dirty or unfitting behavior.
Foolish Talk/ Coarse Joking: unclean, inappropriate hurry that aims to drag down the object as well as the person making the joke.
5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7 Therefore do not be partners with them.
Paul makes two very important points here. First, he makes the case that anyone who indulges in this behavior does not have an inheritance in the Kingdom of God. Why? Why is any of this so bad? What about when we occasionally do it, but aren’t consistent about it?
The distinction Paul makes is a clear one. If we are indulging in any of this (meaning if we have made room for these things in our life), then we have already made a choice about holiness. We are in opposition to it. In 1 Corinthians 10:3, Paul says this: whatever you do, do for the glory of God. If we are to put that into practice, it would help clear up those gray areas that we sometimes think are there. Is the joke I’m going to make for the glory go God? Is the action I’m going to take glorify Him?
In Galatians 5:19-21, Paul talks about the Acts of the Flesh. These acts are a variety of practices in opposition to the holiness that God desires in us. He makes the same case there: if we are to indulge in those acts, then we forfeit our inheritance in the Kingdom of God. The reason is simple: we choose to act in opposition to God, rather than obey Him.
The second point Paul makes in these verses is in verse 7. He cautions being partners with them. To partner with people who live like this has a detrimental effect on us. It can tempt us away from God. It can lure us into a place of conforming with the darkness when we should be in light. In the story of the Israelites, we see this very clearly when the Israelites take the Promised Land. Although they start out strong, they grow tired and begin to make compromises with the very people they are supposed to drive out. Before long they are marrying them, creating alliances with them, and worshipping their gods. When we get to the end of the book of Judges we see that the Israelites, because they had no leader, decided to do whatever they thought was right. God’s holy people, who were promised the land of Israel, ultimately became a nation lost immoral relativity. It was because they partnered with people who lived against God’s wishes.
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.
Paul implores that we are reminded of God’s grace and mercy in our life. The very things Paul described in the previous verses (Sexual immorality, greed, obscenity) are the very things we were once lost in. Remember those things of no value that God rescued you from. As we are enlightened, we are to live as children of light. The fruit of the light is a call to The Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23) which are evidences of someone walking in the light. It is evidence of the Holy Spirit. In this, we should avoid the works of darkness and administer to the people lost in the dark.
13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. 14 This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
Avoiding the unfruitful activity that interferes with our purity is a smart option. Since all is exposed by God’s searching, the follower must make an effort to avoid, fight and conquer those things that fight against his/her purity.
15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.
In conclusion, Paul states that it is important to use our time wisely. But how do we do that, with so many options open to us? First, we look at the opportunities to do God’s will and do them. Since there is always a choice involved, our choice must be weighed toward purity. Since the days are evil, we have a unique opportunity to do God’s will when we can, making the most of our time and energy. We do this first by understanding God’s will, and we can only do that through authentic relationship, through reading and studying the word, making the most of our opportunities as they arrive.
18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul asks us to consider a contrast. “Don’t get drunk on wine” he says, eluding to the world system. Instead, be filled with the spirit. His plea is for us to disconnect from the world system and connect with the spiritual system, using our time, energy and focus to connect with God rather than fall into the traps of the world. In using our time wisely, we are to connect with others, with God, give thanks to God for everything, always through Christ.
Instructions for Christian Households
In this section of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, he outlines one of the most important concepts of the new testament: God’s plan fo the family. More pointedly, how each person fits into the family dynamic, and when all of the members are living up to their mission, how the family flourishes. In our times, we see an assault on the family that God says is the cornerstone of developing proper society.
21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
First, it is important to note the submission of both husband and wife. First, the relationship with Christ must be the standard. Only then, is submission to one another proper. A spirit-filled life is marked by mutual submission. But it can only be truly effective if that submission to God happens first. This is a mindset that thinks of other first, cannot be self-seeking, and must be focused and happy about the others’ success. Our motivation for submission must be centered on Christ. We have to remember that once married, we cease to be an individual. We are melded with our mate, and the individualism that we grew accustomed to in our early years is now gone. Our submission, in this union, must be first because we love Jesus.
22 Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.
This is a widely misunderstood and, frankly, abused pair of verses. Many men have used this as a way to keep their wife oppressed. When taking this verse out of context, it is easy to see how it can be maligned. These verses speak of the divine order in which God requires each person the family to be in. First, the wife is to submit to the husband. But the submission first needs to be based in the Lord. She submits to her husband out of love for the Lord. This does not mean inferiority. It means equality, but there are different jobs to do. In your work life, often times there is a department manager and many underlings. Of the many different jobs in the company, many of them are of equal importance. Production is not more important than Sales. Sales may argue that they bring in the money, but unless Production produces the product, there will be no sales. In effect, the jobs are different but of equal importance. At the end of the day, everyone does their job individually for the purpose of making the business succeed. It is the same in a marriage. There are 3 reasons why a wife should submit to her husband: 1.It is part of her obedience to Jesus 2.It is appropriate for the order of creation 3.It is the model of relationship between Christ and His Church
In the Garden of Eden, Adam was first created. He was created in the wild tundra of creation and paced into the garden. Soon it became obvious that he was lonely, so a mate was constructed for him. Eve. In that, the husband (The man, Adam), is the leader of the household. For the women reading, this may be tough to reconcile. But let me share this with you: if the man doesn’t step into his role as leader, it is very difficult to follow. If the man doesn’t step into a loving relationship with God, then it is even harder. If the man chooses the path to God and leadership, then it is easier to follow his lead, right? That is what Paul is saying. As a woman, you need a man who is willing to step up and lead, and lead properly. It is the proper place for a man, and if he doesn’t step up, then how can you follow effectively?
When Paul says that a woman should submit to their husbands in everything, this can be another gut-punch. But again, if your husband is leading effectively, following God and His will, then will your husband be asking anything terrible? If he is following God and respecting the relationship, he has your best interests at heart. He wants you to succeed. If that isn’t the case, then should you submit to his demands? You are to submit out of love, but not out of ignorance. Submission is always based in God first, so if the demands are not for your well-being, then you have to go to God about it.
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing[a] her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— 30 for we are members of his body. 31 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” 32 This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
Just as a wife is supposed to submit to her husband out of her love for Jesus, husbands must love their wife with a deep, abiding love, just as Jesus loved the church. The word here for love is Agape, meaning instinctive, spontaneous, self-sacrificing. This is how we are to live, and if a husband doesn’t have his wife’s best interests at heart, then he is not performing his mission, and thus the crux of the problem. Christ had a special love for the church, a constant, enduring, hearty and unselfish love for the church. Husbands must take an active, caring interest in his wife and family’s spiritual health. Husbands cannot be effective leaders if we aren’t actively stepping into the role God wants us to be in. If we cannot take that role, then the wife will have trouble submitting. Because who can submit to someone who is not stepping up into the role they are supposed to take?