TEACHING NOTES Introduction Today we continue our series in Ephesians as we begin chapter five. Chapter four presented the church as the unified body of Christ who lives a new life of love and truth. Chapter five is going to cover what it means to live out our identity of the image of God. Certain actions and lifestyles must be avoided so we can reflect God’s image to the world. Disclaimer: This passage is offensive in our modern culture. However, we cannot avoid the truth for the sake of popularity or the avoidance of conflict or criticism. This passages teaches truth and truth is often offensive to a culture full of lies. Ephesians 5:1–2 ESV 1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Imitators = Grk. mimetes - This is where we get our English word for mime or mimic. It refers to copying or reflecting the character and behavior of another. In this case, Paul says that disciples of Jesus should mimic God Himself. As beloved children = One way to mimic God is to live like we are His beloved children. Children tend to be like their parents and this is likely what Paul has in mind to illustrate his point. Part of being a family is to obey your parents and to uphold the family name/reputation. In the same way, being part of God’s family entails obedience and reflecting His Name and reputation. Walk in love = Another way to mimic God is to walk/live in love. The example of love that Paul gives us is the sacrifice of Christ on the cross. In Paul writings, he often describes the love of Christ as giving himself up for us (Eph. 5:2; Gal. 2:20). For Paul, the greatest example of love is to give up yourself for another. Jesus also gave this definition in John 15:13 “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” This example became the model for what the New Testament means by love, as seen in 1 John 3:16 “By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.” ​ Ephesians 5:3–4 ESV 3 But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. 4 Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. Sexual Immorality = Grk. porneia - This is a broad term that covers all sexual sins. Fornication, adultery, homosexuality, prostitution, etc. is included in this term. All impurity = Grk. pas akatharsia - In case porneia wasn’t clear, Paul adds another term that includes all sexual sins. Paul also uses this term in Rom. 1:24, which is a reference to homosexual acts. Covetousness = Grk. pleonexia - This word refers to greed and exploitation. It is a state of desiring to have more than one is due. Back in Eph. 4:19, Paul defined “sensuality” as being “greedy to practice every kind of impurity (akatharsia). Paul will define covetousness in Eph. 5:5 as idolatry (worshiping created things). Must not even be named among you = Here we see the seriousness of what Paul is saying. Sexual immorality, impurity, and greed should not even be heard of or accused in the body of Christ. Paul will tell us the reason in Eph. 5:5. ​ Ephesians 5:5–6 ESV 5 For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no 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. You may be sure of this = Meaning, there is no debate about this. Everyone who is…has no inheritance in the kingdom = Notice here that Paul describes these people as living in these sins in the present tense. These are people who are continuously living in unrepentant sin. Those who refuse to repent of these things are choosing not to follow Jesus and will not inherit eternal life. Let no one deceive you with empty words = Apparently, Paul knew that some people would try to get around this fact with deceptive teaching. If someone says that people living in unrepentant immorality can inherit eternal life, they are speaking empty (foolish) words. The wrath of God = The best way to understand this is to study what Paul wrote in Rom. 1 about how the wrath of God is being revealed. It is very important to realize that Paul defines the wrath of God as God giving people over to their desires. In other words, God’s wrath is best seen when people get what they want and suffer for it. An Interesting Progression in Rom. 1: God has revealed Himself in creation (Rom. 1:18-20). People rejected God by refusing to honor Him as God (Rom. 1:21). As a result, their minds and hearts were darkened (Rom. 1:21-22). They began worshiping other things (Rom. 1:23, 25). God gave them over to their unnatural desires (Rom. 1:24, 26-27). They became filled with all kinds of evil (Rom. 1:28-32). ​ Ephesians 5:7–10 ESV 7 Therefore do not become partners with them; 8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), 10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. You were darkness, now you are light = Paul’s language here is interesting. We might expect him to say that the Gentiles were in darkness but now are in the light. But Paul says that they were darkness but now are light in the Lord. This indicates that Paul wants us to think in terms of identity. Without Christ, we are not just in darkness, we are darkness. But in Christ, we are not just in the light, we are light in the Lord. As a result of this new identity, we walk (live) as children of light. Try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord = Paul wrote to the Romans, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Rom. 12:2). As we pull away from this world, renew our minds continually through prayer and God’s word, we are transformed. This transformation includes “testing” or critical examination of your life and how God’s word applies to your life. This continual process helps us discern the will of God. This is why we must spend time daily meditating on God’s word (Psalm 1) and using His word to evaluate our lives. ​ Ephesians 5:11–14 ESV 11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. 13 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Take no part = If we are going to be children of light, we must “Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.” (Eph. 5:11). The Greek phrase for “take no part” means we are not to associate with the activities of ungodliness and immorality. Paul listed some of the unfruitful works of darkness previously in Eph. 5:3-4. Not only that, we are to “expose” these works of darkness. Instead expose them = The Greek word for expose used here is elencho, which literally means to bring something to light, to examine carefully, or to show something as wrong. As followers of Jesus, we must not deceive ourselves by creating gray areas for sin. We must see sin for what it really is and speak truthfully about its consequences. When tempted, we should stop long enough to expose the truth about the specific sin, along with considering its intended and unintended consequences. It becomes visible = Paul says that the truth about sin “becomes visible” and we are bringing light into darkness. This is effective because darkness always loses to light. Paul then quotes from Isa. 60:1 to remind us that Christ, who is light, shined into our darkness to make us light. Christ exposed who we really were and then changed us to be what He wants. ​ Ephesians 5:15–18 ESV 15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, Look carefully = Grk. blepo akribos - This phrase means to watch out so you can see accurately. Paul wants the Ephesians to carefully consider how they live. If we do not pay close attention, we will be foolish. The key instruction here is to live with wisdom that carefully evaluates daily living, instead of living foolishly without consideration. Prov. 14:8 says, “The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way, but the folly of fools is deceiving.” Prov. 14:16 says, “One who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is reckless and careless.” Making the best use of the time = “Making the best use of” is one word in Greek (exagorazo), which means to redeem or buy back. Since we only have so much time in this life, we must be wise. Fools waste their time on things that don’t matter. The wise redeem what would have been wasted to focus on what matters most. Why? Because “the days are evil” meaning that the times in which we live are bent toward things that are harmful. Satan’s best strategy is to keep us busy focused on things that don’t matter. Do not be foolish = Grk. aphron - Literally, to be ignorant or without knowledge. A better translation might be “do not be ignorant” since it is followed by “but understand what the will of the Lord is.” Disciples of Jesus should never be ignorant about what God wants for us. Do not get drunk with wine = While the Bible never condemns drinking alcohol as a sin, it repeatedly warns against drunkeness and the consequences that follow (Prov. 20:1; 23:20, 31; 1 Cor. 5:11). Paul says that drunkeness is “debauchery” (Grk. asotia), which is recklessness or wildly out of control. If we cannot drink alcohol with moderation and self-control, we should avoid it altogether. A disciple of Jesus should never be drunk for any reason. But be filled with the Spirit = Don’t be filled with alcoholic spirits, but be filled with God’s Spirit. Being filled with the Holy Spirit is a common theme in the Bible, especially in the New Testament. We’re told that God “gives the Spirit without measure” (John 3:34). Jesus said that the Holy Spirit gives His disciples the power to spread the kingdom (Acts 1:8). He taught that “It is the Spirit who gives life” and Jesus’ words are “spirit and life” (John 6:63). Jesus also said that the Spirit would guide His disciples in all truth (John 14:26; 16:13). In Acts, Luke repeatedly points out that the disciples were “filled” with the Spirit (Acts 2:4; 4:8, 31; 6:3, 5, 8; 7:55; 9:17; 11:24; 13:9, 52). Disciples of Jesus should pray daily to be filled with the Spirit. ​ Ephesians 5:19–21 ESV 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. Psalms, hymns, spiritual songs = When Paul says “addressing one another” he is likely referring to the church gathering. It would be odd to sing songs to each other individually. Most likely, Paul is speaking of singing together in praise to God or singing a song about God to the congregation. Paul and Silas do this in prison (Acts 16:25) and singing is encouraged in other letters as well (1 Cor. 14:26; Col. 3:16; James 5:13). Giving thanks always = Disciples of Jesus should be thankful people. An attitude of thankfulness guards us from discouragement, discontentment, and greed. All of our prayers should begin with a list of things we are thankful for. Submitting to one another = In the literal sense, this phrase means that no one should be elevated over another. If every person is submissive to each other, then all are willingly equal. We do this “out of reverence for Christ” because He is over all. Submitting to one another keeps Jesus as our Superior and honors Him as the head of us all. Conclusion As we worship and take communion, let us pray that God will give us the courage and power to be His image to our community.