Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (Ephesians 5:1-2 ESV)
There really is a priority to God’s instructions and design for us. Love God with everything, Jesus said, and love our neighbors as ourselves. These commands are equally important in our worship. Paul describes it as walking in love…a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. 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. (Ephesians 5:3-5 ESV)
It doesn’t take much effort to stop showing our love for God and people. Immorality, impurity, and covetousness all show our selfishness rather than our willingness to love God above all else and love people with all purity.
Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, "Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." (Ephesians 5:6-14 ESV)
I’ve had many people talk to me about the transition from their addiction to the fruitful life walking with God. In each conversation, one topic comes up: letting go of old friends. Each person has told me that a part of their healing process is breaking the ties to the people who pull them back down. Later in their lives, though, they find that they can go back to some of those friendships and pull them up. First, though, they need to heal.
Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. (Ephesians 5:15-21 ESV)
Read this section again starting with “be filled with the Spirit…” Now read it again. That is what we try to do in a church service at Life Bridge.
Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body. "Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh." This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.(Ephesians 5:22-33 ESV)
I’ve heard whole teachings about this and other passages like this – telling me that women have roles in their home and God’s Church that are subservient to their husband or men of the Church. Unfortunately, that is not what Paul is saying here. He is saying that husbands and wives can live out their faith in their current culture, even without changing the culture. The key to understanding the passage here, in the letter to the Ephesians, is verse 21: “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ” (Ephesians 5:21 [NIV84]). Paul is telling husbands and wives of their day to think about ways to be subject to one another, even in their current culture, because of their new relationship with Jesus Christ. Christians serve one another.
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. "Honor your father and mother" (this is the first commandment with a promise), "that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land." Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free. Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him. (Ephesians 6:1-9 ESV)
Children come to me struggling. God says to obey their parents (and grandparents), but their guardians are pointing them to underage drinking, getting them to take illegal drugs, and even perform acts of sexual immorality with them. Paul is not saying this is ok. He is saying the guardians are wrong.
“Children obey your parents,” was a command given to the children of the adults in Israel who failed to go into the promised land. Their parents knew about God’s great works, beautiful promises, covenant commitment, and laws. They rebelled against God, so they would be dying in the desert. Their job, before they died, was to teach their children well…and they did. That was what their children were being told to obey.
Paul wasn’t endorsing slavery. He was pointing both slaves and masters to a new picture based on their relationship with Christ. They (slaves and masters) are now brothers in Christ and they need to submit to one another.
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.(Ephesians 6:10-20 ESV)
Look at the “armor of God” section again. Do you put on truth, righteousness, the good news of peace (with God), faith, and salvation every day? They will protect you from the enemy’s attacks. Do you pick up the word of God? It will help you fight the enemy and set captives free. Fight the good fight. It’s worth every battle.
So that you also may know how I am and what I am doing, Tychicus the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord will tell you everything. I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage your hearts. Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible. (Ephesians 6:21-24 ESV)
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