CrossSites Bible Study

Ephesians 5:1-14

FIRST THOUGHTS

Who has been a great example for you? Why?

Gait is a word that only athletes or medical specialists use very often. It refers to the way a person walks—the movement of a person’s limbs while in motion. When there is an abnormality in a person’s gait, it can potentially cause health issues. Likewise, every person has a behavioral walk, the way they move through life. Our walk-in life is of the utmost importance. In the walk of a follower of Christ, it determines whether Christ’s love and character are demonstrated or obscured.

The people of Ephesus identified with a goddess named Artemis, known in Roman culture as Diana. She was a Greek virgin goddess of the hunt and was depicted in statue as a many-breasted female. The temple to Artemis in Ephesus was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. It was also the hub of Ephesian economic life. Worship in the temple centered around the Artemision, a week-long festival in the spring dedicated to Artemis. This included erotic ceremonies of dancing and giving of extravagant offerings. The temple became so wealthy that it was the principal financial institution of Asia, receiving deposits and making loans like a bank.

As Paul continued his message to the Ephesians in chapter 5, he seemed to react against those who claimed a conversion to Christianity but continued in the immoral and greedy ways of pagan worship. He encouraged them to imitate God. By doing so, they would leave behind the impure practices of the temple in Ephesus, and they would not be given to greed as those in the financial institution that was in the temple of Artemis.

Imitate

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.

What’s your method of imitating God?

Recently I had the opportunity to go and watch my grandson play baseball. My son was the team’s head coach. As I watched them play, I began to realize how much my grandson was imitating his father. It was truly a “like father, like son” moment. This is what Paul is saying to us. We are the children of God so; we are to imitate God just as a child imitates their earthly father. The word imitate comes from the word mimeomai, from which we get our word mimic. It means “to act like.”

Paul is saying that we are to imitate God and have a walk of love. When we love we give up our self-interest. Imitating God means that we place His will above ours. When we imitate God, we become concrete models of Christlikeness and show other people how to emulate Him. Much like my son showing his son how to play the game of baseball.

Paul described Jesus’ death in two ways. First, it was sacrificial., Christ willing gave up His life as a sacrifice for our sins. Secondly, it was a fragrant offering, please to God.

A “sweet-smelling savior” refers to Leviticus 1–5, wherein we see the burnt offering, meal offering, and the peace offering—all called sweet-smelling offerings because their aroma was sweet to the Father. So, too, when you choose to follow Jesus’ example by sacrificing your rights, by walking in love, the scent is sweet to the Father.

Isolate

Ephesians 5:3–7 (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. 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. ⁷ Therefore do not become partners with them;

What’s the opposite of walking in love?

In order for us to imitate Christ, we have to be willing to separate ourselves from the darkness of this culture. Paul writes that the opposite of imitating God and giving oneself up for him is living in sexual immorality, impurity, and greed. These are common behaviors in our culture today. Many of the television shows are filled with immorality and greed. Paul says we should isolate ourselves from such behavior. Far from the self-sacrifice modeled through the death of Christ, sexual immorality is the epitome of self-indulgence.

Paul says not only our actions but our speech has to be pleasing to God. The filthiness, foolish talking, and jesting here in Eph. 5:4 are related to the fornication, uncleanness, and coveting of Eph 5:3. Anyone watching culture knows that what once caused people to blush is now nothing but a joke because our culture has become totally desensitized. Instead of talking like the world, just start praising the Lord. Whenever the conversation takes a sinful or suggestive turn, alter its course by bringing the Lord into it, by saying, “Isn’t God good? Let me tell you what He did for me today….

Since we are not part of the world anymore, we should not be partners with the world. It is not a matter of salvation in this instance but a matter of identification. We are not like the world anymore; therefore, we ought not to live like the world. If we are partners with the world, we are forewarned that such people do not share the inheritance of God’s Kingdom. Rather, they endure divine wrath. Paul wasn’t speaking of Kingdom who have a moral lapse and repent, but of unbelievers who revel in immorality with no remorse.

How can believers stay pure in an impure world?

We imitate how Christ responded to immorality. He was friends with sinners, but He didn’t participate in behavior contrary to God’s character. We aren’t to isolate ourselves from the world because God calls us to be salt in it. However, we must isolate ourselves from impure thoughts and behavior. We must not partner with people who engage in self-indulgent behavior and speech. Believers need to form close relationships with one another and provide support and accountability to live by God’s good and holy standards.

Illuminate

Ephesians 5:8–14 (ESV)

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. 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.”

How are we to live our lives in a world so filled with darkness?

Paul reminds us that prior to our salvation we were in darkness. If fact we were not just in darkness, we were darkness. Now that we are saved, we are in the “Light of the Lord” and are not to partner with darkness. We must be identified with goodness and righteousness and truth.

A life changed by Christ has three strong characteristics. First, Paul said that a Christian living in the light would produce goodness. Goodness is a quality of God Himself.

 Second, Paul said the fruit of the light consists of righteousness. This is already produced in the believer as part of the new self that is created at salvation (Eph. 4:24), so that as believers walk in the light, they express the righteousness that God has already given them as a gift (Rom. 5:17). As believers continue to walk in the light, their behavior is transformed from unrighteousness to righteous conduct.

Third, the fruit of the light also includes truth. Because believers experience the truth at salvation, that truth emanates like light from their lives. (Eph. 4:15.)

Jewish texts often used “light” and “darkness” to contrast good and evil, and Paul uses this imagery here. Some Greek religious groups known as “mystery cults” emphasized night initiations, and some of them were also connected with sexual immorality; because some Roman critics of all foreign religions associated Christians with immoral cults, Paul has all the more reason to wish to dissociate Christianity from cults he already regards as pagan. People could enact deeds in darkness of which they would have been ashamed in public.

Most people in the world are as sleeping men when it comes to walking in the light of God. They are living in the darkness of spiritual sleep and spiritual death—ever rushing on to that inevitable day of eternal darkness and death. Note a most unfortunate fact: this passage is being written to believers. Too many professing believers are passing through life just like unbelievers: asleep—living in the darkness of spiritual sleep and spiritual death—fellowshipping with and too often participating in the works of darkness. They are unaware and ignorant of the great heritage and promises God has given us in Christ Jesus.

We should be like little children who discover the joy in pleasing their parents. They do not participate in the things of darkness. I believe, this is where the “Seeker” movement failed. It sought to win the lost by looking like the lost and making it comfortable for the lost to come to church. Whenever the Word of God is preached it will shine the light of truth on darkness. Those living in darkness will be uncomfortable when confronted with the “Light of God’s Word.”

Application

How can we be worthy examples for others to follow?

• Make Christ our standard and model our lives after His example.
• Let love and purity be the guiding principles for all our actions and words.
• Separate from any activity or group, even a “Christian” group, that behaves contrary to Christ’s character.
• Find joy in discerning and doing what pleases God.
• Stay in community with other believers whose goal is to imitate God.

Personal Challenge: As you walk through this week ask yourself, Who am I imitating? From what am I isolating myself? How am I illuminating Jesus?

Bibliography

• Max Anders, Galatians-Colossians, vol. 8, Holman New Testament Commentary (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999)
• Jon Courson, Jon Courson’s Application Commentary (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2003)
• David O. Dykes, General Editor, Explore the Bible: Leaders Guide, Fall 2019 (Nashville, TN: Lifeway, Christian Resources, 2019)
•  David O. Dykes, General Editor, Explore the Bible: QuickSource, Fall 2019 (Nashville, TN: Lifeway, Christian Resources, 2019)
• Francis Foulkes, Ephesians: An Introduction and Commentary, vol. 10, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1989)
• Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1993)
• John MacArthur, Ephesians, (Chicago: Moody Press, 1986)
• J. Vernon McGee, Thru the Bible Commentary: The Epistles (Ephesians), electronic ed., vol. 47 (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1991)
• Tony Merida, Exalting Jesus In Ephesians: Christ-Centered Exposition, ed.
• David Platt, Daniel L. Akin, Tony Merida, (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman, 2014) R. C. Sproul, The Purpose of God: Ephesians (Scotland: Christian Focus Publications, 1994)-