Ephesians 5: 3-14 (No more playing games with sin; Children of the light)

            Summary:  Paul begins this section of scripture with a “but”, this must cause us to have to refer back to what he has just said in verses 1-3.  He has just mentioned some things that are a pleasing aroma unto the lord, that is to walk love and abide in Christ.  The “but” indicates a turning an appeal to the opposite.  Paul says now the things that do not offer a pleasing aroma unto the lord.  Those things being sexual immorality, impurity, covetousness, filthiness, or crude joking.  Paul now states that those who willingly participate in these things have no inheritance in the kingdom of God and in fact are threatened by a Holy and Mighty and Infinite wrath of God the Father.  He then urges that no one might be deceived with empty talk from false prophets who only tempt our flesh to sin.  He then, in verse 7, uses another word that demands our attention, the word “therefore”.  Paul is setting up to give an application.  He says that because they, those who participate in worldliness, deceive us and are under the weight of a terrifying wrath we should not become partners with them.  Not even mentioning what they do because it is disgusting.  Instead of these things walk as children of light, as adopted sons in and through Christ.  Let the light of Christ shine on you thereby sanctifying us from our ungodliness slowly and painfully but ever steadily.

            Note: The Greek word porneia which covers ALL forms of sexual immorality.

Timeless Principle:  Paul is putting importance on this passage by using strong adjectives.  He is trying to get several extremely important points across.  The first of these is led off with a word that indicates a turning from the previous passage.  The verse beforehand talks about offering up a pleasing aroma to God by walking in manner worthy of being called a son of God.  He is now saying what that does not mean.  Well then what is the opposite of walking as a child of God, adopted in grace?  The opposite as described by Paul in this text in commanding the Ephesians to not so much as allow sexual immorality, covetousness, and course joking to be named among us.  Paul is not playing games in this passage, rather he attacks the hearts of the church.  We all fall victim to one of the specific sins mentioned in this text.  He knows that we should be so disgusted by them that we cannot so much as mention them except in making war against them.  The absence of war against our flesh brings on one terrifying consequence, namely played out in a horrifying wrath against sin by God (v. 6).

Sexual immorality is probably the prominent sin in this list.  The word used for immorality is the word porneia. Sound familiar?  The word, as though by some and wrongly so, does not merely mean adultery although it does cover that.  It actually covers all forms of sexual sin.  Included under this definition are homosexuality, lust, fornication, adultery, prostitution, etc.  This sin kills community and is one of the few specific sins that is mentioned in almost all of Paul’s lists of things to avoid in the church.  First and second Corinthians were both written to protest against sexual immorality.  Even some of the most upheld laborers are scarred by the empty deceit of the adulteress.  No one is above it, and it must be daily hung on a cross or it will, especially in men’s lives, cause major problems in the body and destroy personal pursuits towards holiness.  Every other sin is done outside the body but it alone is a sin against a person’s own body. 

The second point made in this text is that we should not be partnered with the world.  The word in verse 7, “therefore” indicates one thing.  Paul is setting the stage for a point.  He explains rather explicitly that we should have nothing to do with the world because all it does is deceive and corrupts the body and because of those things the wrath of God is coming (Col. 3:5,6).  Playing around in the world causes death.  It brings no good but rather causes only harm.  Paul in one instance curses the sons of disobedience saying that they claim to know God (one of their deceptions) but deny him by their works, they are detestable and disobedient, unfit for any good work (Titus 1:15).  May this never be said about us.  May we never claim to know God and then lounge in the desires of our flesh which will only lead to our own demise.  David exclaims in psalm 7 the terrible consequences of a life that knows about God but does not submit to Him in repentance and personal experience. 

“God is a righteous judge and a God who feels indignation every day.

If a man does not repent, God will whet his sword; he has bent and readied his bow;

Preparing for him his deadly weapons, making his arrows fiery shafts….

[In his evil] He makes a pit, digging it out, and falls into the hole that he has made.

His mischief returns upon his own head, on his own head does his violence descend.” (Psalm 7: 11-13, 15-16)

It is clear here that God does not play games with sin.  He does not partner with it or those who are partnered with it but rather he crushes it and in doing so them.  Paul realizes how real sin is and commands his last point.  The point that he has spends most of his letters trying to get across, to be put simply, kill yourself, do away with the old you, and put on the new self which is “created in the likeness of God.” 

            Paul now calls those who are saints in Christ to walk in the light.  That is to walk in a manner worthy of the calling by which they have been called.  A life that is no longer hostile to the creator, a lifestyle that is above reproach out of a love for Christ and gratitude of His sacrifice.

            The light in this passage does not mingle with darkness.  There can never be dark or light, just one or the other.  The light when it comes exposes sin for what it is and does not play games with it.  Therefore we must allow Christ to expose our falsehoods whereby he will nail them to the cross through the long and grueling work of the Spirit towards sanctification. 

Ephesians 5: 1-2  (Imitating Christ)

            Summary:  Paul is returning to providing the Ephesians with directly applicable things to do in order to become more like Christ.  He now urges the church to be imitators of God just like favored children.  He also continues in urging the church to walk in love furthermore following the example of Christ because this pleases the Father.

Note: Beloved is translated from agapetos which literally means “to be worthy of love, or favorite”

            Timeless Principle:  The first command issued by Paul in this text is that of a calling to be imitators of God, following after Him as beloved children.  We are to imitate God.  Is that even possible?  It may not possible to the furthest degree at least not until the time of the returning of “our blessed hope, savior Jesus Christ.”  However this gives us no excuse to become, through the power of the Spirit that lives within us, more and more like Christ.  We are to cut our losses upon becoming a Christian and toil with all our might counting everything as loss such that in the end we may gain Christ.  This, at least when looking at the lives of those who have done this in the past, implies one thing.  It is not easy to count all as loss, to give up relationships, to willingly die, and to suffer seemingly in vain (but in fact with a divine cause).  All of these things have one huge thing in common being that they all directly relate to the life of Christ, and it is this life for which we focus all our efforts.  How then should we approach this obvious pain might be one question that presents itself?  We should be as beloved children. The word for beloved here literally means as “favored” children.  What then does this imply?  When a child is favored that means that he/she is obedient to the father in all things doing them eagerly and without complaint.  So despite the obvious result, meaning obvious pain, it should be our joy to go follow Christ even unto death so that as favored child also receiving our allotted inheritance.  This is not be confused with the idea works earn God’s favor but rather simply highlights a truly Christ-centered life that has committed all to the name that is above all names.  We should go there for as children who are striving with all strength to progress in God’s will.

            The second brought out is that we should walk in love as Christ did.  What does this mean? Perhaps an example of this in Christ’s life should be looked at so that we can see can get a better grasp on what this implies.  In Matthew 9 a beautiful picture of Christ’s love is painted.  Christ comes into Capernaum and begins doing miraculous things, as was his style.  He healed, cast out demons, performed miracles, and turned the town upside down so much so that the locals were talking about Him regularly, proclaiming, “Never [has there been seen] anything like this in Israel.”  He continued this until he had healed every disease and affliction in the area.  But despite this physical miracle something troubled Him and caused Him great sorrow.  He looked out unto the crowds and then turns to His disciples and says the something that echoes through time.  He perceived that the crowds on which he stared were harassed and helpless as sheep without a shepherd.   He had just healed every disease and affliction and still he was driven to sorrow for the spiritual bankruptcy of the crowds.  He loved them so much that he cared for every need they had and then labored diligently for them and even was driven to sorrow for them.  It was for them that he willingly drank a cup filled with the wrath, fury, and sulfur on the cross for their (and our) sake.  So should we weep for the souls of men and walk in this making it our goal to stand out of this world not in a way that is prideful but in a way that offers "a pleasing aroma to God."

Ephesians 4: 30-32 (Paul summarizes chapter 4)

            Summary:  Paul now reminds the church here to not grieve the Holy Spirit but continue to put the things he has just come off pronouncing into practice.  He then gives a short summary of what he has just said before he continues in the next chapter of adding more instant application.

Note:  The Greek word for grieve is lupeo which literally means “to make sorrowful, to offend.”

            Timeless Principle:  Paul is giving another command to the church in Ephesus that echoes to us now.  He commands them not to grieve the Holy Spirit.  It is important that we not offend the Holy Spirit.  This leads to one question, what offends the Holy Spirit? A simple question answered by the obvious answer of sin.  Sin causes the Holy Spirit to literally become sorrowful. This deserves some attention.  In this context the specific sin being referred to is anger and malice caused by bitterness in the church which disrupts unity.  So in not forgiving and forgetting (to forgive means to not ever be brought up again, as not to even be mentioned again) we cause the Holy Spirit to become sorrowful.  This is the same Spirit that has sealed us to “the day of redemption” and we cause Him great distress in the futility of our fleshly desires and actions in reverting to how we were before Christ. In this sin against the Spirit we sin against a triune God, this is sickening in itself and must be dealt with.

            Paul gives a synopsis here of what he has spent chapter four trying to get across.  That of course being fellowship and unity between believers and what that entails as well as calls for.  Step one for good unity as described here, is a putting away of contempt and malice and any other conflict between believers and forgiving simply because you were counted worthy to be forgiven by God therefore giving you no excuse to hold anything against anyone for any reason.  Step two consists of treating one another with tenderness and love.  This is hard for a sinner to do and on this earth we will never fully achieve this perfect unity but that is no reason at all not to aspire for it out of a resilience to see God’s will done out of a love for Him.

Ephesians 4: 28-29 (Being made new in all things including speech)

            Summary:  Paul is furthermore exhorting of practicing life at a higher standard of holiness.  He urges thieves to no longer steal for their living but rather work honestly for their wages.  He then urges the believer’s in Ephesus to talk in a manner that is helpful to building up the body.                   

            Note: Paul illustrates what a changed life looks like in the life of a thief.

            Note: The word used for labor here literally means “to grow weary.”

Timeless Principle:  Paul uses this passage to illustrate what a truly changed life looks like.  A thief should so be changed that his thievery is thrown away such that he might willingly trade his easy (lazy) lifestyle for a lifestyle of work that drives him to grow weary in intense labor so much so that he is giving a portion away.  A giving thief is not something we here very often.  Christ does not halfway change people, he does not leave things incomplete. A true sign of repentance is like that which Paul personifies with a thief here. 

This also may be interpreted not only from another perspective other than a thief.  Paul often accentuates that a man should be a man and work hard to earn his keep (see 2 Thess. 3).  Paul was not content to live off of those whom he stayed with on his journeys but rather he toiled for all that he got becoming like those he was staying with.  Everything he did bore a purpose and was driven by the Gospel.  This is how we should be, constantly earning our own such that we might earn respect from the world thereby allowing us to share the Gospel without getting cross looks like a Donald Trump in a trailer park.  May the world never look at us and scoff at the truth of the Gospel simply because we are not living a life that is marked by It.  But rather let them only have reason to hate it because it is deadly to them.

Paul also comments here about the daily communion between believers.  He is transcribing that we should behave towards one another in a way that builds each other up.  It is critical for stabilizing the body and holding unity.  To often we are content to chop down our brothers and sisters for our own selfish gain, to make us look of feel good.  In doing so we essentially mock Christ’s prayer in John 14 and perform the opposite of bearing with one another in love.  We create a barrier of hostility between each other despite the fact that Christ died to tear it down.  May all our speech be edifying and soft towards one another, encouraging one another such that we may be united in a single cause of becoming more like Christ.  Failure to practice this essential will result in pain for those who are involved and hurt the church’s ministry.

Ephesians 4: 25-27 (Righteous Anger)

            Summary:  This passage is the natural follow up of what Paul has just tried to get across in the previous passage.  That message being a passionate out crying and commission of living holy lifestyles.  Paul now dives into what that looks like in the life of the believer, an instant application.  Paul warns against the threat of how the devil can use unrighteous anger to his advantage. 

            Note:  Paul is commanding “be angry”

                        Timeless Principle:  Paul raises a very interesting fact that often evades our normal perceptions when he commands the church to “be angry.”  It implies something that we have always been taught against.  The restriction on this command, “but do not sin,” adds extra confusion to the matter.  One can conclude from this restriction that there is a right and wrong kind of anger.  Bob Deffinbaugh puts it this way:

“The command, “Be angry!” just doesn’t sound right, does it? We are uncomfortable with a command like this. We find ourselves trying to avoid or explain this command away, because anger does not sound godly. But we must remember that there are two kinds of anger. There is the “anger of man” which “does not achieve the righteousness of God” (James 1:20), and the anger which is an expression of God’s righteousness. We are commanded in our text to be angry in a way that is righteous, that is a reflection of God.”

God in his nature cannot sin and if he is repeatedly driven to anger then it must follow that there is Godly anger.  So what exactly is a good definition of anger that is godly?  Godly anger is God-like anger.  God gets angry, believe it.  Sin infuriates him.  In one recorded instance of this anger, Jesus gets heated towards the Pharisees due to the hardness of their hearts (Mark 3).  Another case of this anger is clearly demonstrated by the Father in Deuteronomy upon the Isrealites molding of a golden calf to become a false God.  Any common man upon picking up the Bible for the first time would agree in minutes that God is often driven to anger.  It only takes three chapters into the Bible to find God’s first display of anger towards man because of man’s innate hatred of Him.  So God, in his nature cannot sin, this must mean that these instances of anger are not sin.  What makes them not sin then?  These displays of righteous anger are not unprovoked but are results of actions that show a disregard for God.  We have been called to mimic God and God gets infuriated by sin because he hates it therefore we should hate sin and get angry with Him at it.  (For more on Godly anger go to http://bible.org/seriespage/righteous-anger-ephesians-426-27)

            There is yet one more restriction on this anger.  That is “do not let the sun go down” on it.  Unresolved conflict leads only to separation of the body that Christ died to bring together for his glory.   Therefore we must never allow any chance for Satan to tear apart our unity.  God’s anger was satisfied by the death of His Son which he used as the vessel to forgive the sinner so we must never hesitate to offer forgiveness to one another.

Ephesians 4: 20-24 (An exclamation of first importance)

            Summary:  Paul is coming off telling the Ephesians not to walk in their former ways of living.  Now his tone is even more intense as he is passionate in saying that to live in the flesh is not how the Ephesians learned Christ. But rather that surely they had been taught to put off the old self and live self-controlled and godly lives in the present age.

            Note:  There is an exclamation and break in thought after verse 20.

Timeless Principle:  It is high importance to identify just how passionate Paul is about this whole putting off the old and putting on the new stuff.  Paul exclaims this is not how you learned Christ.  He wants to make sure that this is not how Paul had taught them in his stays in Ephesus and he is passionate that they know it.  He has taught them to lead a life “worthy of the calling they have received.”  They are no longer alienated from the commonwealth of Israel thanks to the death of Christ.  To walk back into our former lives is to belittle His death.  This demands action.  Paul exhorts the church to put off their former selves and put on the newness of Christ. 

We are to be “transformed by the renewing of our minds,” this is not something we do is something Christ does within us through the Spirit.  We are to chase this maturity in Christ and fight our childish ambitions along with the desires of our youth that lead only to death and separation from God.  

Ephesians 4: 17-19 (Don’t live in your former ways!!!)

            Summary:  Paul now gives his reason why the church in Ephesus, as well as all people, should push onward to growing in unity and holiness.  He is passionate that the Ephesians not fall back into their old ways and live as though they were still in ignorance, partaking in all acts of the flesh.

            Note: The word for ignorance means lack of knowledge.

Timeless Principle:  Paul is now essentially commanding the Ephesians to stop being who they used to be.  Paul is intense about this, he means no games.  He is demanding an action of following hard after Christ, not a petty lounging causing a hard falling away from Christ which is the opposite of our goal as Christians. 

Here we see that we should never submit to our former ways.  It is of the upmost importance.  Our accent towards holiness is marked by a hard fought effort to furthermore become like Christ, because this is what Christ desires.  He gave himself so that he might purify for himself a people for his own possession that is zealous for good works (Titus 2).  Paul exhorts these things in the very name that is above all names.  His tone here suggests an intense declaration of war against us.  Never shall we submit to glorifying ourselves, furthermore robbing God of His rightfully deserved glory in direct opposition of the purpose he set forth for mankind in love. 

Paul is careful to note a wide category of the things that we should put off here as he does throughout his letters.  He accuses, and rightfully so, those who are outside of the covenant of promise given by the blood of Christ of “giving themselves to every kind of impurity.”  Though this statement is amazing on its own, the accusation extends even further than this.  Paul says that they have given themselves over to their passions and they are “greedy” continue to practice and even seek out all kinds of impurity.  This is how we were before a divine heart transplant occurred.  Now because God revealed himself to us we look at these impurities as dirty and detestable but yet in the darkness we hastily retreat to take refuge in them instead of intensifying our efforts of all-out war against them.  The games that the Ephesians might have been playing here, much like the ones we play when no one is watching us are sickening and demand an action of death.  Paul warns of their consequences in Romans 1 in mentioning that those who repeatedly practice these things with blatant disregard have an action waiting for them, “they will be given over” to their desires by God.  This is a scary thought.  God has not called fence riders or fair-weather Christians.  He has called a people for his own possession.  So stop bickering and pursue hard after God being built into a “holy temple of the Lord.”