Transcription
Introduction
Well, good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I want to invite you, if you will, to open in your New Testament to Ephesians chapter 5. Ephesians chapter 5. Actually, we’ll spend a little bit of time in chapter 4, but it’s not hard to get there uh from chapter 5. So, uh most of our time will be spent in that chapter. You know, the Apostle Paul started what is sometimes referred to as the practical section of this letter with an appeal. And that appeal is at the beginning of chapter 4 verse one.
And Paul says there, I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called. And the remainder of the letter kind of tells us how to do that. So, even though we’ll be looking at chapter 5 this evening, we’ll still be addressing that that same basic theme, walking in a manner worthy of our calling. Paul would make the same basic appeal a little bit later in chapter 4. The only difference is he would state it in negative terms. And so, down in verse 17 of chapter 4, he says, “They are now this, I say, and testify in the Lord that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do in the futility of their minds.”
And then he went on to discuss some different things at that point, but that’s basically the same appeal. And so when you get into chapter 5, Paul is still addressing what it means in essence to walk in a manner worthy of our calling, a walk that is worthy. And he’s still giving examples of ways that we should no longer walk as the Gentiles do. And I want you to keep that in mind as we read our text for this evening and as we point out three different characteristics of this walk that was encouraged by the Apostle Paul. And so let’s start Ephesians chapter 5 verse one beginning where Paul says there 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.
But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetous must not even be named among you as is proper among saints. Uh, let there be no filthiness or 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 idoltor, has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 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 partakers with them, or 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 the 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 uh when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible.
1. Walk in Love as Christ Loved Us
For anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore, it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Look carefully then, how you walk things. No doubt about that. If love wins, immorality is not the result. But I don’t think that’s what Paul had in mind. It seems to me that the first couple of verses of chapter 5 really tie in with the end of chapter 4, and especially the last two verses of chapter 4. And so, I want to read those kind of together. In verse 31 of chapter 4, Paul says, ‘ Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you along with all malice.
Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another as God in Christ forgave you. 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. I I think the key to understanding what Paul had in mind when he encouraged his readers to walk in love is to understand what he says there that we must walk in love as Christ loved us. And that sounds like he’s maybe dealing with uh the way that we treat one another, doesn’t it?
And I think that’s exactly it. That’s why I say that the end of chapter 4 and the beginning of chapter 5 go together. You know, it’s one thing to be given the command to to love one another, but that command’s taken to an entirely different level when you add to it that we must love as Christ loved us and and gave himself up for us. That puts it on a different plane, doesn’t it? Have you ever noticed how often the love of of Christ is used as an example for us to follow?
I mean, Jesus himself set his love for us as the standard uh that ought to be used in our dealings with one another. In John chapter 13 and verse 34, a new commandment I give to you, Jesus said that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. And of course, Jesus did more than just tell people that he loved them. He he proved that he did so. In fact, if if you recall there in John chapter 13, just before he gave his disciples that particular command to love one another as he had loved them, do you remember what he did?
He showed them what it would what it would what that would involve. He showed them what that would look like. That they would serve one another and they would treat others as more important than themselves. He he took a towel and he washed the disciples feet. And as significant as that is, Jesus would then go on to say at a different point in John chapter 15 in verse 12, this is my commandment that you love one another as I have loved you. And look at the example this time. Greater love has no one than this, that someone laid down his life for his friends.
It’s a pretty big example there, isn’t it? And it seems to me that these things must have had a profound impact on the Apostle John. Not only did he record them in the gospel that bears his name, but I want you to take just a moment to go with me to to one of the letters that John wrote. Go with me to First John chapter 3. And actually, we could find an example earlier in that same letter, but we’ll look at this one because it’s pretty quick. 1 John chapter 3 and:es 10 and 11.
John says there, “By this it is evident, who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil. Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.” Now, skip down to verse 14. We know that we have passed out of death into life because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death. But everyone who hates his brother is a murderer. And you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
By this we know love that he laid down his life for us and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. Just in case anyone is, you know, mistaken about whether or not we are to apply that to ourselves, John just goes ahead and puts it in in in plain terms here. And we could look at other passages from first John where John seizes on those same kinds of principles. And so the particular demand though of love that Paul focused on, it seems to me when he wrote in Ephesians when he talks there in verses 31 and 32, how we’re to treat one another, the particular aspect that he deals with, it seems to me, is forgiveness.
Look again at what he says in verse 31. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another as God in Christ forgave you. I’ll just go and tell you that’s probably one of the hardest commands for some people to obey. In fact, it seems to me that some people would rather lay down their lives for their brothers and sisters in Christ than forgive them.
You know, I’d rather do one than the other. And why is that? I think maybe because sometimes we lack some of the fundamental qualities that are necessary to do what we’re supposed to do. Take just a minute to go over to Colossians chapter 3 for a moment. Colossians chapter 3. And I want to begin reading there in verse 12. There are a lot of parallels between Ephesians and Colossians. And really this is one of them. But in Colossians chapter 3 and:12, Paul says, “They’re put on then as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another, and if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other.
2. Walk as Children of Light
As the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.” That’s the example that’s been set for us. That’s what it means when when Paul says, “I want you to love as Christ loved you.” That’s it. Paul said that we need to walk in love. And this is the kind of love that he was talking about. It’s not easy, but it’s essential. But I also want you to see in all of this that Paul would tell uh his readers in this letter to walk in light. You know, darkness and light are commonly used as metaphors in the Bible.
And just as Paul contrasted in chapter 4 the old self with the new self, he’s going to contrast a life characterized by darkness with a life that is characterized by light in chapter 5. And so down in verse eight of chapter 5, he says, “At one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.” And I think Paul’s discussion about darkness and light. Actually, it it begins in about verse three. even though he didn’t use those particular words until verse 8, it seems to me that verses 3 through 14 really is one section and has darkness and light as its theme.
And so when Paul said to these people, “At one time you were darkness,” what he meant is that they were darkness when they practiced the very things that he mentions here, things like sexual immorality and impurity and covetousness. And some people when they look at all of those things that he mentions there, uh, see sexual sins in each of them. I mean that’s obviously true in the first word that Paul uses which is translated typically by the two words sexual immorality in most of our translations but some commentators believe that the other words refer to things that are sexual in nature as well.
There’s no doubt that the word impurity is sometimes used with a sexual connotation and it could be used that way here and if so it evidently refers to things that are sexually inappropriate maybe not going as far as an illicit sexual relationship. The word covetousness may not seem to to fit in a list of sexual sins. But Paul could have been using the word in the same in the same sense as in the ten commandments where it is said in Exodus 20 and:e 17, you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife.
There’s that principle. Some have also uh pointed out that when Paul talks about filthiness and foolish talk and crude joking, uh he’s talking about things that are vulgar that have to do with sexual things, which would make sense. And those things are certainly included in what Paul mentions here, no doubt. But I don’t know that they’re meant to be limited in that way. You can be impure without necessarily being impure in a sexual way. You can obviously be covetous in other ways.
And the fact that Paul associates it with idolatry maybe leads me to think it’s a little broader than that. And you can also be filthy and foolish and crude in your speech without it being sexual in nature, even though it frequent frequently is. But regardless of how you look at it, all these things are characteristic of a life lived in darkness. That’s the point Paul’s making. That our lives are now supposed to be characterized by something different.
And so he talks about there in verse 6. Don’t let anybody deceive you with empty words. For because of these things, the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore, do not become partakers with him. Don’t live that way. For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. walk as children of light. And then he says, for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true and is ultimately what is pleasing to the Lord.
And so Paul said that we’re want light. We we’re children of light. Talks about both of those. And I’m not sure he meant anything more than the fact that our lives ought to be characterized by things like goodness and righteousness and truth. You know, some things are no longer fitting. There’s no doubt about that. But other things need to take their place. You know, Christianity was never meant to consist merely of setting aside the things that are wrong.
As important as that is, we also have to put on the things that are right. And yet, I think we need to understand that we have obligations that really go beyond even these things. Paul chose to use this this uh this metaphor of darkness and light here for a reason. And it’s not simply because it’s another way to describe sinfulness on the one hand and and righteousness on the other. He used these metaphors because of the nature of light itself.
Light exposes. And that’s exactly what Paul said we have to do as well. You look down in verse 11. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it’s shameful to speak of the things that they do in secret, but with any but when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible. For anything that becomes visible is light, Paul says. Now, before we go too far in all that, let me point out the need to to kind of keep what Paul says here in context. You know, some people look at this and they say, “Well, we’re supposed to expose sin.” And that’s what Paul’s getting at there. And and maybe they set out to do that.
But I want to just point out what Paul’s talking about here in context. While I think there is a sense in which we are called upon to expose sin in general, to help people, whether they’re Christians or not, see that they’re wrong and and how they can be right. I I’m not sure that Paul’s words in this passage are meant to be quite that broad. I don’t think what he’s saying as Christians, you need to be sure that you you get out there and you speak on the issues of the day.
I’m not saying we ought we shouldn’t do that kind of thing. That’s not my point. I’m just not sure it’s the point that Paul’s making here in this passage because it seems to me that Paul’s words here primarily apply to what takes place among us. In in in part, I believe Paul was issuing a warning against the false teachers that that seem to be everywhere in the first century. And we know that there were people in the first century who taught that you could you could be a Christian and you could live a life that’s characterized by sin. And I think Paul had such people in mind when he said there in verse six, let no one deceive you with empty words.
Don’t let anybody convince you otherwise. For because of these things, the wrath of God comes upon the dis the sons of disobedience. Then he goes on to say, you have an obligation not just to to refrain from practicing all of that, but you’ve got to expose it. It is darkness and not light. And when you turn the light on, people will see it for what it is. You need to make sure that that’s what you as children of light do. We must walk in the light.
3. Walk Not as Unwise but as Wise
And then the final thing I want you to see this evening is Paul says, “I want you to walk in wisdom.” And technically he didn’t say it in those terms exactly what he said down in verse 15 is look carefully then how you walk not as unwise but as wise. Comes out at the same spot, doesn’t it? Have you ever noticed that some people, even some Christians at times, seem to go through this life as though they just they just don’t have a care in the world?
And and I’m not talking about people who are lively and cheerful or anything like that. I’m talking about people who seem to be blissfully unaware that there is anything about life that needs to be approached seriously and soberly. It happens sometimes. And so they go through life with neither care nor concern about what they’re doing. And there is a word for that kind of approach to life. That word is foolish. I don’t believe Christians are called upon to walk through life with a, you know, a furrowed brow and and an attention headache caused by paranoia and overanalyzing every situation.
That that’s not what I’m talking about tonight. Some Christians are like that. We need to stop it. you know, they’re just robbed of joy by not actually allowing themselves to live and enjoy life. But I don’t think Paul had that in mind when he says there in verse 15, “Look carefully then how you walk.” By and large though, that that kind of thing, that’s not really our problem, is it? The most serious problem among God’s people, it seems to me, is living a life from day to day without careful consideration for what we’re doing.
In fact, too many Christians are nothing more than easy targets for the devil. You know, Peter would say in 1 Peter chapter 5 and:es 8 and 9, he’d say, “Be sober minded. Be watchful. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of sufferings are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.” Common experience. We need to be sober minded and watchful.
But I think there’s a little more to what Paul had in mind than just living a life that’s sober and watchful. believe in. He wasn’t saying that we ought to that we merely need to guard against temptation. There’s more involved in this than that. As important as that is, we need to do more than look out for things that might do us harm. What Paul says is we need to look for ways to do some good in this world. And that seems to be what Paul had in mind when he talks about in Ephesians 5 and verse 16 making the best use of the time.
You know, even among Christians who try to remain alert to the dangers they face each day, how many do you think also try to remain alert to the opportunities that they are given to do good? We don’t we don’t look for that as much as we ought to, I don’t think. How often are we guilty of passing up the opportunities that come our way simply because we’re not really looking for those opportunities in the first place? You know, the truth is that there are so there are only so many real opportunities that are afforded to us.
And that may be something along the lines of what Paul had in mind when he talked about making the best use of the time because the days are evil. We simply can’t afford to pass up opportunities to make an impact for good in this world. We need to walk carefully, Paul says. And this careful walk is described by Paul in verse 15 as not as unwise but as wise. And that’s why I said that we need to walk in wisdom. But how do you do that? It’s not just by being careful how you walk.
It’s possible to be careful and deliberate and yet still foolish. And so what does it mean to walk as a wise person? And how do you get the wisdom to walk to walk in this way in the first place? Do you remember what James would say about wisdom? Let’s go over to James chapter 1 for just a moment. James chapter 1 and I’m going to start reading in verse 5. James says there, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
But let him ask in faith with no doubting. For the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord. He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. And so, James said that wisdom comes from God and that he shares it liberally with those who ask for it in faith. Wisdom has to come from God. But James didn’t really tell us how God gives wisdom to those who ask for it.
Did you notice that? And I don’t believe he he does that in some kind of mysterious way or some kind of miraculous way. It seems to me that we get wisdom much like anything else that we ask God for. For example, in Matthew chapter 6 and 11, Jesus taught us to pray this. He said, “Give us this day our daily bread.” That that is one of the things that that we are to to express to our God that this dependence upon him for our daily necessities.
But I don’t know anyone who expects bread to fall from heaven. Do you? It’s not how that works. We still have to go out and we have to use the abilities and we have to take advantage of the opportunities that God has given to us through his providence in order for that to come about. And it seems to me that the same is true when we talk about asking God for wisdom. You don’t get wisdom miraculously. You don’t ask God to give it to you. You go to sleep, you wake up, and all of a sudden, wham, you are the wisest person you know.
It’s not how that works. You get wisdom when you want it enough to search for it. God provides the circumstances and the events and the atmosphere that’s needed to get wisdom through his providence, but he doesn’t miraculously give it to us. That’s not how that is. And one thing that is implied in Paul’s words and stated explicitly in other places is the fact that wisdom is something that is learned. In fact, I want us to uh to look at what he says here.
verse 17, , do not be foolish. And he doesn’t couple that on the other side and say, instead be wise. He says, do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. That tells you what wisdom is going to look like. It’s going to be an understanding of the word of the Lord. And so, you get wisdom from understanding God’s will. And I I think you see that same sort of thing in in the Proverbs. I want to go to Proverbs chapter 1 for just a moment and look at some things from the beginning of that book.
Proverbs chapter 1, the first verse, the Proverbs of Solomon, son of David, King of Israel. to know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight, to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity. Now, we could keep on reading, but that gets us far enough for now. Later in the same chapter, Solomon’s going to personify wisdom. He’s going to write as though it is wisdom itself doing the speaking.
And here’s what wisdom says down in chapter 1 and verse 23. If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you. I will make my words known to you. You see that wisdom is something to be known. It involves words. It involves instruction. It even involves reproof. Where do you get all that? Go to chapter two of of Proverbs. Proverbs verse six. For the Lord gives wisdom. It’s exactly what James said, isn’t it? But he tells us where it comes from.
Conclusion
From his mouth come knowledge and understanding. That’s where we get it. Comes from the word of God. Comes from having a better grasp of what the will of the Lord is. That’s how you walk in wisdom is you come to understand what God wants from you based upon what he’s revealed in his word. And so as we bring things to a close this evening, I want to ask you a question. Are you walking in a manner worthy of the calling to which you’ve been called?
As we’ve seen this evening, that means that we must walk in love. Love is emphasized all through the New Testament. It’s, you know, talking about uh Jesus being example of that this month. And it is, it is highlighted time and time again. We are to walk in light, not in the darkness that is so characteristic of much that goes on in this world. We are to walk in wisdom. And so, how are you doing with all of that? As you look at your life, are these are there changes that need to be made?
Are are there things that we’ve talked about this evening we think, you know what, my life doesn’t actually line up exactly with what we have looked at there in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians? If so, can we help you with that? Are you willing to make the changes that are necessary in order to bring your life into accord with God’s will? And if you’ve never answered the call of the gospel, we would like to help you with that as well. We want to appeal to you to make that decision even tonight.
If you have some questions about it, by all means, come and see me. We’ll talk about that. We’ll open up God’s word and we’ll use his wisdom to answer those questions. We don’t need the wisdom of men. We need the wisdom that comes from God. If we can help you in some way this evening, we ask you to come as we stand and as we sing.