24/12/17 Ephesians 5:1-10 “Children of the light should walk in the light”
Ephesians 5:1 – Be ye
therefore followers of God, as dear children;
followers – or imitators. As in the following:
1 Corinthians 11:1 – Be ye followers of me, even as I also [am]
of Christ.
dear – agapetos (beloved; esteemed; dear;
favourite; worthy of love; dearly beloved) It is translated as “beloved’ in
Ephesians 6:21.
That is, in order
to avoid giving place to the devil through sin (previous chapter), we should imitate
God. And, if God has forgiven them in love, then we should do likewise. Note
what we looked at last week:
Ephesians 4:32 – And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted,
forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
agape (love,
particularly that love that God has for man) has already appeared 8 times in
Ephesians to this point (and again in the next verse, Ephesians 5:2), and the
above word “dear” is the adjectival form of the verb agapao (to love)
from which we get the noun form agape (love) which has also been used 8
times to this point (and again in the next verse, Ephesians 5:2).
John 15:13 – Greater love (agape) hath
no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
We are to imitate
God as children imitate their parents. Children copy their parents; Christians
copy their heavenly Father. They are learning by example.
1 Peter 2:21 – For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ
also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
Romans 8:29 – For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate [to
be] conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among
many brethren.
Ephesians 5:2 – 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.
walk – to conduct one’s self; live or control
one’s life. Note 2 Corinthians 5:7 – For we walk by faith, not by sight:
offering – that which is offered; gift; present;
sacrifice offering for sin or expiation.
This emphasises the
“gift” aspect of Christ’s offering for sin.
sweetsmelling – euodia (sweet smell; fragrance;
incense; odour (of acquiescence); a sweet odour, spoken of the smell of
sacrifices and obligations, agreeably to the ancient notion that God smells and
is pleased with the odour of sacrifices; metaphorically, a thing well pleasing
to God). See its use in the following:
Philippians 4:18 – But I have all, and abound: I am full, having
received of Epaphroditus the things [which were sent] from you, an odour
of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.
“And walk (live one’s life) in love (agape)
just as (even as) Christ has also loved us (with agape love) and has given Himself for us as a gift and
a sacrifice (victim) to God for a sweetsmelling (fragrant; well-pleasing to God) savour (smell; odour).”
2 Corinthians 2:14-16 – 14 Now thanks [be] unto God, which always
causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his
knowledge by us in every place. 15 For we are unto God a
sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: 16
To the one [we are] the savour of death unto death; and to the
other the savour of life unto life. And who [is] sufficient for these
things?
Again, the emphasis
is upon the example set us by God. Here it is the love of Christ that sets us
the perfect example of the love which we are to imitate (See John 15:13). As
Paul wrote, such love binds us to a certain course of action, behaviour or
belief.
2 Corinthians 5:14 – For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we
thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: (where “constraineth us” is synecho (from
syn + echo – have; hold; possess; cling to) There is a sense here
of giving ourselves up to being a gift in love to others as Christ was a gift
in love to us.
hath given himself for us – as a ransom; see Matthew 20:28 – Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister,
and to give his life a ransom for many.
Not given just to (or for) many, but specifically for me.
Galatians 2:20 – I am crucified with Christ:
nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I
now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and
gave himself for me.
Ephesians 5:3 – But
fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named
among you, as becometh saints;
fornication – porneia (illicit sexual
intercourse; adultery; metaphorically, the worship of idols and false gods) Where
we get the term “pornography” from.
uncleanness – in a moral sense: the impurity of
lustful, luxurious, profligate living; of impure motives.
covetousness – greed; avarice; always wanting more than
you have.
saints – holy; an attribute of God as in “Be ye
holy as I am holy!”
It is actually an
adjective and in most cases it has been translated as “holy” as in
Revelation 22:11 – He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he
which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be
righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.
In other words, such
things are unholy, and saints are holy; the two just should not be seen
together!
once named – or “even named”. That is, even “once” is
once too many!
becometh – to stand out; be conspicuous; seemly;
fit.
That is, it is not
seemly (not fit) for a Christian to be named as (known as) a doer of these
sins. Rather, let him be known as one who is holy as God is holy.
1 Peter 1:16 – Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
Leviticus 19:2 – Speak unto all the congregation of the children of
Israel, and say unto them, Ye shall be holy: for I the Lord your God [am] holy.
Ephesians 5:4 – Neither
filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather
giving of thanks.
“Neither filthiness
(obscenity;
filthy talk), nor foolish (not edifying) talking, nor jesting (ribald or suggestive talk), which are not convenient (not fitting; out of place; out
of character): but rather the
giving of thanks (thankfulness).”
Christians are
commanded in everything to give thanks.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 – In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of
God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
And for those who
say it means in everything but not for everything. …. (I’ve heard
this taught more than once!) ….. just note the following:
Ephesians 5:20 – Giving thanks always for all things unto God and
the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
And how can praise
be continually in your mouth if you are less than thankful for even just one
thing?
Psalm 34:1b – I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise [shall]
continually [be] in my mouth.
It is difficult to
imagine how we can do those things which are not convenient if we are giving
thanks for all things continually!
convenient – Translated as “fit” in the following.
Colossians 3:18 – Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as
it is fit in the Lord.
Ephesians 5:5 – 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.
whoremonger – pornos (a man who prostitutes his
body to another’s lust for hire)
unclean person – in a moral sense it means unclean
thoughts and living. In the OT law it meant that which must be abstained from
according to the law.
covetous man – one who is eager to have more, especially
what belongs to others; greedy for gain. Related to “covetousness” in Vs 3
above.
idolater – eidololatres (cf. “idolatrous”) (a
worshipper of false gods; an idolater; a covetous man as a worshipper of Mammon
(meaning material wealth, the greedy pursuit of gain, possibly from a Hebrew
word which may mean “money”).
These are very hard
words for many Christians to take in properly! Whoremonger, unclean persons and
covetous men can be seen as definitely wrong, even the worship of false gods,
but at what point does a Christian become a seeker after Mammon? It can be said
that whatever is most important in our lives is our god. Note Matthew 6:33a – But seek ye first the kingdom
of God, and his righteousness;
covetous man who
is an idolater – Colossians 3:5 – Mortify therefore your members
which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil
concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:
It has the idea of making a god out of what other people have.
hath any
inheritance in the kingdom of Christ – Does this mean that such people cannot enter heaven? But Christians
can still sin, so therefore does it mean those who sin habitually without care
for God’s holiness? Or does it mean that such people do not build up treasures
in heaven, thus no inheritance, as some would suggest?
Matthew 6:19-21 – 19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth,
where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 20
But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor
rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 21
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.
Or is it saying
that if such people cannot enter the kingdom, then why should Christians be
doing such things? Or maybe if Christians do such works of the flesh, then are
they really Christians? Or do they love this present world too much?
Galatians 5:19-21 – 19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are [these];
Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry,
witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21
Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the
which I tell you before, as I have also told [you] in time past, that they
which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Will all who
profess to be Christians enter heaven?
Matthew 7:21-23 – 21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall
enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which
is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord,
have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and
in thy name done many wonderful works? 23 And then will I
profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Do we have the
right to boast of our eternal security?? Christians are not immune to the sins
of Vs 3-5. In particular, Vs 5 says we cannot have any inheritance in the
kingdom if we commit those certain sins. The meaning does seem clear, that such
people cannot inherit (that is, take as a possession of) anything in the
kingdom of Christ, and therefore cannot enter heaven. But can Christians sin
such sins? Seemingly they do, from evidence in churches around us today.
Certainly, if a Christian sins such sins, we might be justified in assessing
them as probably not Christians, but can we lay down the law and say they are definitely
not Christians?
Paul said in 1 Corinthians 5:5 – To deliver such an one unto
Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day
of the Lord Jesus. Such a one
had committed such
fornication as is not so much as named among the Gentiles. Yet it appears as if Paul might be suggesting
that this man was a Christian? Perhaps he was withholding such final judgment, and
perhaps we should do the same today. Throw them out of the church, yes; suggest
that they are worse than the non-Christian Gentiles around them, yes; but state
uncategorically that they are not Christians at all, probably not in
this case.
Do some believe
that the Corinthian man lost his salvation, with an option to regain it later
on? (Of course, passages such as Hebrews 6:6 and 2 Peter 2:21 oppose this.) It
is likely that this may have led to some believing incorrectly that such sins
could cause the loss of your salvation until you were cleansed by confession to
God as per 1 John 1:9. But the real key appears to be how much emphasis you put
on your need to sin such bad sins. Do you sin because you have been tempted,
yet regret with sorrow afterwards? Or is your desire to sin itself so great
that it has become a driving force in your life? (For such people, this sin has
taken the place of God in their lives.) Is God really your God, or is sin,
instead, your god?
Ephesians 5:6 – Let no
man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath
of God upon the children of disobedience.
“Let no one deceive
(beguile; cheat) you with vain (empty; devoid of truth) words: for because of these things the
wrath (anger;
vengeance) of God will come
upon the children of disobedience (obstinacy; obstinate opposition to the divine will) [those who live lives of obstinate opposition to
God’s will].”
Let no-one try to
persuade you that a life of sin and debauchery is acceptable. It is vanity – a
mere illusion that sin is pleasure! (Ephesians 4:17) Such people will
experience the wrath of God in judgment.
The children of
disobedience would be those who seek to lead others astray, false teachers as
noted in 2 Peter 2:1-2 – 1
But
there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false
teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying
the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. 2
And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the
way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
Also see Romans 16:17-18 – 17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause
divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and
avoid them. 18 For they that are such serve not our Lord
Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive
the hearts of the simple.
Colossians 2:8 – Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy
and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world,
and not after Christ.
1 Timothy 4:1-2 – 1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the
latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits,
and doctrines of devils; 2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having
their conscience seared with a hot iron;
Ephesians 5:7 – Be not ye
therefore partakers with them.
partakers – symmetochos (partakers together, a
“syn” word)
Leave such false
teachers alone or you may be led astray with them. Be not unequally yoked (2
Corinthians 6:14). Come out from among them (2 Corinthians 6:17). Put that one
out from among you (1 Corinthians 5:1-5).
Ephesians 5:8 – For ye
were sometimes (once; formerly) darkness, but now [are ye] light
in the Lord: walk as children of light:
darkness – metaphorically: moral darkness; ignorance
of God’s law; ungodliness.
light – metaphorically: moral and spiritual
truth
For children of the
light do not belong to the darkness that you once were.
1 Thessalonians 5:5 – Ye are all the children of light, and the children
of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
We are to be
lights, not hidden, but shining forth before all men.
Matthew 5:14-16 – 14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set
on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle,
and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all
that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men,
that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Jesus is the light
of the world.
John 8:12 – I am the
light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall
have the light of life.
So, walk according
to the light that is in you, rather than the darkness that you once were.
1 John 1:6-7 – 6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and
walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 7 But if we
walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another,
and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
John 12:36a – While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye
may be the children of light.
Ephesians 5:9 – (For the
fruit of the Spirit [is] in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
For, in contrast
with the evil works already mentioned in today’s passage, the fruit (or works)
of those who are indwelt by God’s Spirit may only be described as goodness,
righteousness and truth. If you live in the Spirit, then also walk in the
Spirit.
Galatians 5:22-25 – 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness,
temperance: against such there is no law. 24 And they that
are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25
If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Ephesians 5:10 – Proving
what is acceptable unto the Lord.
Faith without works
is dead (James 2:26 – For as
the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.) Therefore, your works will demonstrate
what you really are like, and will also demonstrate that which God finds
acceptable.
“Proving (testing; approving) that which is acceptable (well-pleasing) to the Lord.”
It could also be
read as “Demonstrating (by our lives) that
which is well-pleasing to the Lord.”
Romans 12:2 – And be not conformed to this world: but be ye
transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that
good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Ephesians 5:5 says to Let no man deceive you with vain (devoid of truth) words. There is
much false teaching in the world today, especially within what many like to
call “The Church”. People are declared Christians because they speak in tongues
or demonstrate spiritual manifestations such as Toronto, or they attend worship
on Saturdays, or they go to mass, or they go to confession, or they
relentlessly knock on doors, etc. But one group largely escapes the critical
eye of those who seek out false doctrines. It is a group of people who claim to
be more Biblical, with a higher view of God’s sovereignty, people who claim to
be more scholarly than the rest (and therefore to trust them because they “know”
more). They are generally well-accepted among fundamentalist believers because
they, very importantly, appear to believe just like them. They claim
that their truth is the gospel, yet preach the gospel of the people who are not
of their group. (They only preach their gospel to those who have already
been won to their cause.) They claim their “truth” is better, yet do not preach
it widely to the uninitiated. And who are these false teachers? They are those
who claim to be calvinist, reformed, or of the doctrines of grace, etc. Beware
their vanity!