Ephesians 5:1-21

Living As Light in the Darkness

1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; 4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any 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 be partakers with them. 8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. 13 But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. 14 Therefore He says:
“ Awake, you who sleep,
Arise from the dead,
And Christ will give you light.”
15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 18 And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20 giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another in the fear of God.
Ephesians 5:1-21Ephesians 5:1-21
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
5 ¹ Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; ² And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. ³ But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; ⁴ Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. ⁵ For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. ⁶ Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. disobedience: or, unbelief ⁷ Be not ye therefore partakers with them. ⁸ For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: ^{9 10} Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. ¹¹ And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. ¹² For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. ¹³ But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. reproved: or, discovered ¹⁴ Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. he: or, it ¹⁵ See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, ¹⁶ Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. ¹⁷ Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. ¹⁸ And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; ¹⁹ Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; ²⁰ Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; ²¹ Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.  

WP-Bible plugin (NKJV)

Paul moves from the image of clothing (putting off the old man Adam and putting on the new man Jesus) to the image of light. He alludes to Greek culture to reveal the contrast between life in Jesus and life outside of Jesus.

I. Imitate God (vs 1-2)
This language of imitating God or the gods is all through Greek thought. Greek philosophy and culture sees the physical as an imitation or lesser expression of the spiritual. Art, great ideas, human character all reflect or seek to imitate the gods. Paul taps into their ideas to point the Jesus. In so doing, he reinterprets what it means to be an imitator of God. We imitate God by looking to Jesus who walked in the way of love and presented himself as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1-12Romans 12:1-12
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
12 ¹ I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. ² And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. ³ For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith. soberly: Gr. to sobriety ⁴ For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: ⁵ So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. ⁶ Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; ⁷ Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; ⁸ Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. giveth: or, imparteth with simplicity: or, liberally ⁹ Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. ¹⁰ Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; with...: or, in the love of the brethren ¹¹ Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; ¹² Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;  

WP-Bible plugin). This sacrifice is a sacrifice of love: his life poured out on behalf of the people of God. This points to another aspect of imitation: imitating the Triune life. The life of the Father, the Son and the Spirit is based on self-giving love.

II. Do Not Imitate Those Living in Darkness (vs 3-7)
Darkness and Light do not mix. We cannot live in both worlds at once. We cannot serve two masters. Thus all these acts describe by Paul are categorized as idolatry: idol worship. As long as we insist upon worship idols, we cannot partake of the kingdom. In other words, we cannot enter the temple with our idols. They have to be smashed and discarded. This is the process of repentance, acknowledging on our reliance and bondage to powers other than the one true God. By His grace, we turn away from the darkness and toward the light.

III. Living as Light (vs 8-14)
The people living in darkness have seen a great light. In the darkness, we are formless and void (for darkness has no true form). The Spirit of God hovers over us and says, “Let the be Light.” Remember the blessing from chapter one? “Be blessed.” His blessing, His light overcome the darkness. His light illuminates. His light beautifies. His light particularizes. His light resurrects. His light penetrates every dark corner of the heart, transforming stone to flesh. His light makes us real human, or images or imitators of God.

IV. Rejoicing in His Will (15-21)
The natural response to God’s action is not gloom, but joy. His yoke is light and His burden is easy. We literally bubble over with living water. Our words, our actions, our minds, our whole person reveals the glory and wonder of His love. The natural outworking of this life manifests in love for one another.

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