The sacrifice of Jesus, and the love-debt we owe Him, motivates us to live a life dedicated to increasing holiness. 2. “The man will leave ...” and “... be joined to his wife ...” and “... the two will become one flesh.”; linking to the prior text Paul intended that the Ephesians would understand him to mean “... as Christ is joined to His church.”. Commentary on Ephesians 5:3-14 (Read Ephesians 5:3-14) 5. Paul spent more time there than any other city about three years. The Apostle Paul, having reminded his readers of the glory and promise of God, our need for His grace and provision, our new standing before God, as both individuals and as a family of believers, the magnificence of God, a healthy perspective of suffering in the life of a believer, the love, power and provision of God, and His calling to a life of holiness, now described with greater specificity how one could live a life of holiness. [ a] ( L) 6 Let no one deceive you. Specific flaws such as sexual immorality, crude speech, and wasting of time are discouraged. 2 Show that you love other people. Welcome to the fifth of six studies of the Book of Ephesians. After this, the apostle concludes this part of his discourse with a brief summary of the duty of husbands and wives, v. 33. Oct 19, 1986. This is Paul's way of saying, "I know I got off the topic a little bit. If there is one thing we all need help with, it is forming and building healthy relationships. 4:21 where he qualified his message to the church (believers) as intended for those who were listening but not yet saved “... if indeed you heard about Him [Christ] and were taught in Him [Christ], just as the truth is in Jesus.”. Once again comes the Lord God's warning to resist temptation (don't fail the test), to avoid drifting back into the old ways (so that you are source of purity), and the encouragement that His Holy Spirit walks with us throughout the process of our journey toward holiness. What are some circumstances where some people become Christians after marriage (where they were both previously unsaved) and find themselves in the same conflict as a first century married Jew who was saved (“completed”)? Covetousness a Species of Idolatry. Seriously, the food in the slammer is terrible. Q. No Fellowship with the Wicked in Their Deeds. 5:10 trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. WHEN A PROVERB 31 WOMAN MEETS EPHESIANS 5 MAN (UNMARRIED) In the last part of Ephesians Chapter 5, Paul instructed the people on how they should be within their own houses. Flee All Impurity. He gave himself for us—a sweet-smelling offering and sacrifice to … The Search OF the Savior: Why Jesus Came, Part 2 (Gal. "Uncleanness" and … 1-2. Ephesians 5:15-20 Paul Admonishes The Ephesians To Be wise and To Be Filled With The Spirit Ephesians 5:21-33 Paul Admonishes The Ephesians To Accept The Principles Of Submission In Their Lives WILLIAM BURKITT Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. Scripture: Ephesians 4:31–5:2. Were to have been addressing divided households, or unbelievers, in chapter 5 he would have stated such clearly.). 5:7 Therefore do not be partakers with them, 5:8 for you were at one time darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you an influence that threatens your purity before the Lord God. Ephesians 5 1 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. As a letter meant to be read by more than just the believers at Ephesus, this is an important look at how Christian belief should translate into Christian action. In Eph. unless otherwise noted. Ephesians 5:6 "Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience." Therefore: Here, Paul concludes the thought from Ephesians 4, where he described how Christians should relate to one another. Read carefully Paul’s clarification of his primary purpose in Eph. (Read Ephesians 5:1,2) Because God, for Christ's sake, has forgiven you, therefore be ye followers of God, imitators of God. Enjoyment to Be Sought in the Spirit Rather Than in Wine. [Note: Paul was always precise in defining his audience and we know from the first chapter of Ephesians that he was addressing believers. 5 You are God’s dear children, so try to be like him.2 Live a life of love. May I fill my life with Your music and words. But all things which are reproved, are thereby dragged out into the light, and made manifest - Shown in their proper colours, by the light. husbands/wives in verses 5:22-33; parents/children in verses 6:1-4; masters/slaves in verses 6:5-9. Chapter 5. So in Ephesians 5:31 and 32 he has focused on the relationship between Jesus and His people, and is getting really excited about it. The Lord led me to transfer from my then-current masters studies at the State university to the seminary where I earned my masters in cou... More, 4. Duties of individuals in their home relations, 5:22-6:9. “And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave… B. Some of us are more fussy about matters of cleanliness and organization than others. 1. 1 Therefore a be imitators of God as dear b children. Forgive Just as God in Christ Also Has Forgiven You Palm Sunday. once named--Greek, "Let it not be even named" ( Ephesians 5:4 Ephesians 5:12 ). Ask the Holy Spirit to remind you of His love and sacrifice for you as you are part of ("the Church") and that marriage is your opportunity (if married) to emulate Him. The Mystery of the Marriage Union and of Christ with the Church. (Ephesians 5:1-3) He explains that vulgar talk should not exist among Christians. The same is true of foolish talk (Ephesians 5:4). 7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Choices have consequences, the most important being our very salvation, all else orbits that one most-meaningful exercise of free will. Today I commit to set aside time every day for you, Lord God, and I will follow the leading of Your Holy Spirit in removing and resisting the many schemes of the enemy to interfere. Brief Summary. “Therefore” ... Paul described what was like to follow based on what he has just shared in the prior chapter; because we are called to lives of holiness (see Ephesians chapter 4) we are to “be imitators of God as dearly beloved children”, we are to live (walk) “in love” (out of hearts informed by Christ in us through the Holy Spirit of God). When have you experienced the power of knowing your identity in God’s eyes and that empowered you to resist being drawn into “sexual immorality, impurity of any kind, ... greed ... vulgar speech, foolish talk, ... coarse jesting …”? There is no such thing as dating (the common concept of "dating" is itself fraught with fraud and temptation) or marriage for the purpose of evangelism (sometimes called "missionary dating or missionary marriage). Paul tells us to "be imitators of God" and he instructs us on what not to discuss, saying "But fornication and impurity of any kind, or greed, must not even be mentioned among you, as is proper among saints." Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise. Wisdom is bringing the knowledge we have of the Word of God to bear upon our choices. In full-context this is clearly neither within the capacity nor responsibility of the husband -- holiness is less taught than caught, rather not imposed but chosen.). C. Verses 8-18 contrast the false teachers with the true believers. The amazing and incredible truth is that the Lord God, through Paul, has said that we are His “dearly loved children”. Note 1: These Studies often rely upon the guidance of the NET Translators from their associated notes. We cant content ourselves comparing us among men. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you one sin, one obsession, or one act of rebellion which is blocking your progress toward more-holy living. Ephesians 5 Walk in Love. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you a place in your life where He wants to help you to resist the distractions of the Enemy which are keeping you from your Bible study and application. 26:19, 51:17, 52:1, 60:1) Note here that we are “dead” IF we are without Christ and that we “Arise” with Him. We are to put away sexual immorality, impurity, greed, and foolish talk as it is improper for God’s holy people. Paul said in Ephesians Chapter 5 that everyone should walk in love and follow the example of Jesus Christ as God’s children. For a brief time at the end of his second missionary journey, and then for more than two years on his third missionary journey, Should not walk as the Gentiles with vanity of mind, but with a renewed Spirit (Ephesians 4:17,23) We should walk in love as Christ loved us (Ephesians 6:10)) Walk as the children of Light – pleasing to Lord (Ephesians 5:8,10) In summary, we are to put to practice all that our dear Lord has commanded us to do. The Mutual Duties of Wives and Husbands. All was not hopeless because their hope was not in their purity but in that of Christ. John Piper Oct 19, 1986 445 Shares Sermon. Summary of Ephesians 5 Paul tells us to "be imitators of God" and he instructs us on what not to discuss, saying "But fornication and impurity of any kind, or greed, must not even be mentioned among you, as is proper among saints." Ephesus was the chief city of the coastal area of Asia Minor. Paul explained the importance of good stewardship of time “... for the days are evil.” meaning that one could never reclaim a day that had passed, once used unwisely it had been lost to the best service for God. Returning to 5:24 “But as the church [believers] submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.” We have already learned that the husband is an agent of the Lord in his wife’s life, we know that nothing is of value to the Christian that is not of the Lord, therefore “everything” refers to the purpose for which the Lord called the two into marriage and the process of holiness that follows—sanctification—there is nothing in the text about only women washing dishes or wifely-obligations to submit to sinful-orders from a husband in rebellion against the Lord (such a man is spiritually-impotent and an enemy of God). Ephesians 5 - A Study Guide by Mark A. Copeland. When have you, or someone you know, been a successful-imitator of the Lord God (not continually or perfectly)—as expressed through a life that demonstrates an intentionally- sacrificial giving of self—to other believers—in love? This is a BibleSeven Study— “Ephesians”—prepared by David M. Colburn and edited for bible.org in October of 2011. Lord, You are holy and You are our model of perfection, the goal of our discipleship. looks at what Ephesians 5 has to say about building gospel-centered relationships—not just in marriage but in every relationship we have. 4:25-32). (Note 2. a. Note the text following “... speaking to one another in psalms” which are primarily wisdom literature, “... hymns” which are generally methodologies for memorization with the dual benefit of value in comfort and worship, and “... spiritual songs” (songs that are faithful to the Word of God but not literal repetitions which could easily degrade into the “vain repetitions of the pagans” (Mat. Just as a woman needs to clearly understand the decision (when entering into marriage) that she is making is to follow the spiritual leadership of her husband, trusting him to be a faithful servant of God, so also the man needs to understand that he makes a solemn pledge before the Lord God to bless his wife as the Lord's agent in her process toward holiness. May I be faithfully alert to avoid drifting back into darkness and to make myself available to be Your light in this dark and dying world. "Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of … In this book, however, he goes into greater depth before making the transition. All Rights Reserved. Duty of individual members in relation to other members and to the world. What are some ways that every Christian may support the "holy estate" of marriage? Does the perspective that “We are saints, children of God, viewed by God through the filter of Christ as cleansed, clothed in pure white, so we press away those things that would bring a stain.” encourage you to take a stronger stand against sin in your life? Ephesians 5. This text is primarily about the responsibilities of the husband—whose role model must be Christ. 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. He confronted the Ephesians with good and bad choices, alternatives and consequences, “... be very careful how you live—not as unwise but as wise ... taking advantage of every opportunity ... do not be foolish, but be wise ...”. How might we do a better job of teaching this to children, youth, young adult and adult singles. It was written around 60AD during Paul’s house arrest in Rome. 5:27 so that he may present the church to himself as glorious—not having a stain or wrinkle, or any such blemish, but holy and blameless. 3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. In 5:2 it is to walk in love and also in 5:8 they were to walk as children of light. (33) A summary comment to husbands and wives. 6:7), or become ritualistic ranting. It is characterized by dignity and serenity which is in harmony with the elevation of its thoughts. There is an old saying "Be afraid, be very afraid!" Ephesians 5: Be Imitators of God. The context here makes it clear that he was continuing his theme of knowing and obeying God, the text does not indicate that he spoke of to so-called 'charismatic gifts’. We are to live as children of light and find out what pleases the Lord. Ephesians 1 is a beautiful introduction to how we have received every … Ephesians 5:21-33 is a passage that is often considered crucial in understanding the obligations of husbands and wives in Christian marriages. Resemble him especially in his love and pardoning goodness, as becomes those beloved by their heavenly Father. A Lasting Legacy: Choosing A Wife For Isaac (Gen. 24:1-67). In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul identifies the qualities of the man or woman who walks as a child of light, and is filled with the Spirit of God. (There have been sick men who have mistaken this to mean that their obsession should be the forced-legalistic perfection of their wives. They Need to Pray Aside from keeping a household structure that's totally conformed with 1st-century Roman life, what else are Christians... Well, pray. He warned them about being foolish, immoral, and obscene, as these things had no place in God’s kingdom. It is … 5:25 Husbands, love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her. Today I am choosing to pray for marriage, my own if I am married and for others if not. The Apostle Paul provided a summary of concerns; “sexual immorality, impurity of any kind, ... greed ... vulgar speech, foolish talk, ... coarse jesting ...”. That's the same kind of love husbands have to show to their wives. "Nevertheless (though there be such a secret mystical sense, yet the plain literal sense concerns you) let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself, with such a sincere, peculiar, singular, and prevailing affection as that is which he bears to himself. Paul’s term “is great” acknowledged that humans will have to expend some time in prayerful study if they are to comprehend and honor it. WHEN A PROVERB 31 WOMAN MEETS EPHESIANS 5 MAN (UNMARRIED) In the last part of Ephesians Chapter 5, Paul instructed the people on how they should be within their own houses. Ephesians 3:5 To whom else besides Paul was the mystery revealed? The Apostle Paul, having reminded his readers of the glory and promise of God, our need for His grace and provision, our new standing before God, as both individuals and as a family of believers, the magnificence of God, a healthy perspective of suffering in the life of a believer, the love, power and provision of God, and His calling to a life of holiness, now described with greater specificity how one could live a life of holiness. This is one of many gross failures of church leaders for 2,000+ years and the evidence of that failure is in the broken homes all around us. 1 you are God ’ s theme was that it was time married! Also learn the Christian 's standing before God, as well as partnership with others, accountability... 5:13 but all things ( Ephesians 5:3 ) Jesus Christ as God ’ four! 5:8 they were not acceptable either according to Paul the Word of Christ and the... 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