Scripture Reading: Ephesians 4:17-24
Our Walk in Christ
Ephesians 5:1-21
Intro.
1. Walk: A course of conduct, lifestyle, pattern of living; “to be occupied with.”
2. Eph. 4:17-32: New man’s character and conduct in Christ. Christians walk in newness of life, Rom. 6:4.
3. “Walk” used 6x’s in Ephesians, emphasizing our life in Christ:
a. The good works of God, 2:10.
b. Worthily of our calling, 4:1 (Col. 1:10-12).
c. No longer as Gentiles (in darkness; Know living in sin is futile), 4:17.
4. Eph. 5:1-21: Practical applications of being new people in Christ.
I. WALK IN LOVE, Eph. 5:1-2.
A. We Imitate God When We Walk in Love, 5:1-2.
1. God’s love for us made us His children, and we are to mimic Him, 5:1; 1 John 4:7-11, 19-21.
2. As Christ loved us, 5:2.
a. His love was a genuine surrendering of Himself, willingly done to accomplish our redemption, 1:7; cf. Gal. 2:20.
b. Our love must be the same as we surrender ourselves to God.
B. Such Love Pleases God and Makes Us Acceptable to Him, 5:2.
1. Like those of old (Gen. 8:21; Exod. 29:18), the offering/sacrifice of Christ fully pleased God (self-sacrifice), Isa. 53:11; 2 Cor. 5:21.
2. Our walk (life) of love pleases God.
II. WALK AS CHILDREN OF LIGHT, Eph. 5:3-14.
A. Children of Light Reject Self-Indulgence, 5:3-8a.
1. Perversion of love is condemned (5:3):
a. Fornication, all impurity, greedy selfishness, 1 Cor. 6:18; 1 Thess. 4:3-6.
b. We should be so far removed from such sins as to banish any suspicion of them.
2. Shameful language and conduct rejected, 5:4.
a. Double entendres, coarse, vulgar, etc.
b. Rather, giving thanks (1 Thess. 5:18).
3. Reasons to abstain, 5:5-7:
a. No inheritance, 5:5; 1 Cor. 6:9-10.
b. Wrath of God, 5:6; Rom. 1:18, 32.
c. Disobedience and darkness, 5:6, 8a.
4. Now light in the Lord (immorality and salvation opposed to each other), 5:7-8. Therefore: Do not partake in them.
B. Children of Light Bear the Fruit of the Spirit, 5:8b-14.
1. By this you prove what pleases God, 5:8-10; Matt. 5:16; 7:18-21.
2. Reprove works of darkness, 5:11; Rom. 13:12-14; 1 Cor. 15:33-34; 2 John 9-11.
a. Must not have fellowship with (join up in and/or endorse) unfruitful (unholy) works.
b. Reprove/expose them: By your godly life with the truth of God (5:13).
3. The shame of sin and purity of light, 5:12-13.
a. Zion’s light shines in purity and overwhelms the darkness of sin, Isa. 60:1-3; John 3:19-21.
b. Warning against apathy, Joel 1:5 (Rom. 13:11).
4. Call sinners to repentance, 5:14; cf. Acts 26:18-20.
III. WALK AS WISE MEN, 5:15-21 (possess spiritual insight); James 3:13-18.
A. Wisdom Tells Us To:
1. Be careful, 5:15; 1 Cor. 10:12; 1 Pet. 5:8.
2. Redeem our time, 5:16; James 4:13-14, 17.
--How we do this--
a. Understand God’s will, 5:17; Eph. 3:3-4.
b. Be filled with the Spirit, 5:17; Col. 3:16; Rom. 8:5-8:
1) Worship in song, 5:19 (Col. 3:16).
2) Give thanks for all things, 5:20.
3. Be subject to each other, 5:21.
a. Regulated by fear of God (Christ).
b. This is illustrated and applied in the next section (Eph. 5:22-6:9).
B. Foolish to
Disregard God’s Will and His Salvation,
Eph. 5:17;
Ps. 14:1.
Conclusion
1. Eph. 2:10: The good works God has prepared for us to walk in include love (5:12), light (5:3-14), and wisdom (5:15-21).
2. Offer ourselves to God by sacrificing for Him, bearing the fruit of moral purity, and being careful to reverently obey His word.
By: Joe R. Price
Posted February 26, 2024