Introduction
Memory Text: “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” (Ephesians 5”15-17, ESV).
As Believers,
we are not expected to walk as unwise, as those who do not know an ultimate day
of appraisal is coming when the true value of things will become apparent (Eph.
5:5, 6). Like the bidder who walked away with a very good bargain for the extremely
rare, Islamic ewer because He knew the true value of the jug, we are to understand
that the value of the cares of this life cannot be measured to what we hope to
get for eternity. So, we are to do “all that is good and right and true” (Eph.
5:9, ESV) to get the greater reward.
What does Paul urge the believers on?
Paul urges the believers in Ephesus to walk in love modeled
after Christ’s own love for us expressed in His atoning sacrifice.
What four things does Paul affirm about Christ’s sacrifice?
1.
It is motivated by both the love of God the
Father (Eph. 5:1) and of Christ Himself (Eph. 5:2);
2.
It is substitutionary, with Christ dying in our
place. Christ is no passive victim but gave Himself up for us;
3.
Under the imagery of the Old Testament sanctuary
service, Christ’s death is also a sacrifice, which is made to God; and
4.
The sacrifice is accepted by God since it is “a
fragrant offering” (Eph. 5:2, ESV; compare Exod. 29:18, Lev. 2:9, Phil. 4:18).
What does Paul highlight that has the propensity of reversing the Christianity
of young converts in Ephesus?
Sexual behavior that will negate their Christian witness,
drunkenness, ribald speech, risqué entertainment, and immoral acts. Urban
centers too, provided anonymity and permissiveness that fostered immoral sexual
practices.
What is Paul’s exhortation to the Ephesians who are exposed to these temptations
that can lead them to derail from the faith?
Paul’s desire for the Ephesians is for them to avoid the
immoral behavior practiced by the Gentiles while wishing for believers to be
circumspect in their behavior and so to earn good standing among outsiders. Despite
the immoral environment, there were many who lived virtuous lives and served as
advocates for strict morality.
What other factor does Paul exhort believers to avoid?
“empty words”; believers may be deceived by explicit language
into thinking that sexual sin is not taboo.
What is the risk of being deceived by “empty words”?
‘To be so deceived, warns Paul, risks God’s end-time
judgment, “the wrath of God” that “comes upon the sons of disobedience” (Eph.
5:6, ESV).’
What does the phrase “the wrath of God” mean?
The phrase “the wrath of God” is the just response of a
long-suffering and righteous God against stubborn commitment to evil, not a
crazed, volcanic reaction to some minor infraction. Mentions of divine wrath
often occur in the context of inspired, biblical warnings about the coming of
the judgment of God (e.g., Rev. 6:12-17, Rev. 16:1-16, Rev. 19:11-16).
How should we see God’s coming judgment?
We should see God’s coming judgment as an act of grace
since humans are “by nature children of wrath” (Eph. 2:3, ESV), subject to
those judgments.
Why does Paul exhort believers not to become “partners” or “partakers” with
sinners?
The believers' desire is to do what pleases God and being “partners”
or “partakers” with sinners does not help us achieve that desire. The believer
is to “Walk as children of light” (Eph. 5:8) seeking to reflect the
self-sacrifice of Christ (“walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave Himself up
for us” Eph. 5:2, ESV) “and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord” (Eph.
5:10, ESV).
What are the two exhortations that Paul repeatedly offers that can help us
understand Ephesians 5:11-14?
(1)
Live a God-honoring lifestyle as “children of
light” (Eph. 5:8; see also Eph. 5:1, 2, 3, 9-10, 11, 13, 14); and
(2)
Don’t live a sexually immoral, God-opposing
lifestyle, exhibiting the “unfruitful works of darkness” (Eph. 5:11; see also
Eph. 5:3-8, 12).
What are the expectations from believers?
Believers are to live before unbelievers as “light in the
Lord” and “children of light” (Eph. 5:8).
Why should believers live as the “light in the Lord” and “children of light”
(Eph. 5:8)?
The whole point of doing so is to be seen, to make clear
that “the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true” (Eph.
5:9, ESV).
What strategy does Paul advocate to show forth God’s goodness?
Believers are to expose the unfruitful works of darkness by
exhibiting the righteous alternative for all to see.
What are some of the benefits that the Spirit brings when We exhibit the
fruits?
By exhibiting “the fruit of the Spirit” (Eph. 5:9), we may
win worldlings to faith in Christ. The Spirit is like light and reveals hidden
things: “But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for
anything that becomes visible is light” (Eph. 5:13, 14, ESV). When decadent living
is exposed by light, worldlings may see their behavior for what it is,
futureless and wrath-bound (Eph. 5:5, 6), and experience a darkness-to-light transformation.
What exactly is Paul saying in Ephesians 5:14?
Paul uses language associated with the resurrection of the dead
at the end of time (compare Eph. 2:1, 5) to issue a clarion call to awaken from
spiritual slumber and experience the transforming presence of Christ. This is a
call for Christian believers to awaken to their role as missionaries, refractors
of the light of Christ in a darkened world (compare Phil. 2:14-16, Matt. 5:16).
What does the Old Testament metaphor of “walking” mean?
Walking is used to refer to how one lives (Eph. 2:2, 10;
Eph. 4:1, 17; Eph. 5:2, 8).
What does it mean when Paul says in Ephesians 5:15 to “look carefully then
how you walk”?
The metaphor, “walking” is used to encourage intentional
discipleship. It is more like to “Watch your step” when walking on a rough or darkened
path.
What definition can we draw from what it means to live as wise people from
Ephesians 5:15 and Ephesians 5:17?
To be wise it to reach beyond ourselves, to “understand what
the will of the Lord is” (Eph. 5:17, ESV).
What is Paul’s counsel concerning the “time” until Christ’s second coming?
The time until Christ’s second coming is a difficult time,
one that Paul portrays as a hazardous but rewarding marketplace. It is a
challenging time because “the days are evil” (Eph. 5:16; compare Eph. 6:13,
Gal. 1:4) and because “the course of this world” is dominated by “the prince of
the power of the air” (Eph. 2:2, ESV). Believers are to be attentive in their
use of the time that remains as are bargain hunters during a brief sale that offers
steep discounts, believers are to be intentional about discipleship.
What is Paul’s exhortation to the Ephesians concerning piety?
Paul urges believers to turn away from the mind-numbing use of
wine and instead experience together the presence and power of the Spirit. The
evil things that come in the wake of drunkenness such as crude, sexually
explicit speech, mindlessness, immorality, and idolatry (Eph. 5:3-14) are to be
exchanged for thoughtful, Spirit-inspired worship of God.
Who is the specific object of the musical praise or worship?
Though in worship or singing, church members are in a sense “speaking
to one another” (Eph. 5:19, NKJV), the specific object of the musical praise is
the Lord, which, as indicated in Ephesians 5:20, identifies “the Lord Jesus
Christ” (compare Col. 3:16).
What does the phrase “spiritual songs,” in Ephesians 5:19 highlight?
In the phrase “spiritual songs,” the adjective “spiritual”
(Greek, pneumatikos) highlights the role of the Holy Spirit in worship since
the term describes songs that are inspired by or filled with the Holy Spirit.
Thus, Paul’s sketch of early Christian worship portrays all three members of
the Godhead as active participants.
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