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Study of Ephesians Chapter 5
(Eph 5:1) Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear
children;
Children are given as examples many times because of their constant
unquestionable faith in their leaders. Children also fight a lot and have petty
disputes but the next day is is forgotten and forgiven if adults do not
interfere.
Simple child-like faith in God is necessary for salvation.
Be followers of God. We are to follow after God in faith trusting Him to lead
us the right direction. If we faithfully look to God, He will not lead us into
deception. Usually when we are led to deception, we are lead after by our own
desires that are contrary to the Word of God. When we study the word let us make
sure we are sincerely seeking the will of God and not seeking to see if we can
get by with some sinful activity and still inherit the kingdom of God. Follow
God no matter what.
(Eph 5:2) 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.
Walk in love. Love is to have benevolence or good will for. Love is charity
and holding a high esteem for something or someone. God wants us to love Him and
to love our fellowmen and women. This is not speaking of the type of love a that
is spoken of as love in this present world we live in. That is sometimes not
even love but lust.
We are to love as Christ has loved us. How did Christ love us? He gave
Himself over as a sacrifice for sin. He was willing to suffer and die so that we
might live. Dying to self is not easy but as we daily seek God it will become
part of us to deny self and follow Christ.
(Eph 5:3) But fornication, and all uncleanness, or
covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
Does this sound as if we can receive Christ and then live in sin because we
are covered by His grace.
1. Fornication-. The incontinence or lewdness of unmarried persons, male or
female; also, the criminal conversation of a married man with an unmarried
woman.
2. uncleanness - Moral impurity; defilement by sin; sinfulness.
3. covetousness - A strong or inordinate desire of obtaining and possessing some
supposed good; usually in a bad sense, and applied to an inordinate desire of
wealth or avarice.
These things are not proper behavior for saints who are to be examples of
holiness to those who watch how they live.
(Eph 5:4) Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor
jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
1. foolish talking - Void of understanding or sound judgment; weak in
intellect; applied to general character. Unwise; imprudent; acting without
judgment or discretion in particular things. Proceeding from folly, or marked
with folly; silly; vain; trifling.
2. filthiness - Corruption; pollution; defilement by sin; impurity.
3. jesting - Joking; talking for diversion or merriment.
I personally can't stand sacrilegious jokes. I know it gets attention but it
is a waste of time. Making merry by making jokes especially of others is not an
example of holiness. I'm not saying that we should go around with rigid long
faces of gloom but not be wasting time with joking and laughing at the wrong
things and trying to be friends with the world.
Walking is the joy of the Lord is not a rigid strict kind of religion.
Nevertheless, we should avoid the about foolish talking, jesting and making fun
of people.
The emphasis here is being thankful.
Are we thankful for the jobs we have even though we never seem to get paid
enough? Are we thankful for what we have or is our attitude, "The company owes
me more?" Are we thankful for things we have or is our attitude, I need more,
bigger, better etc.
(Eph 5:5) 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.
(Eph 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.
This should refute any claim of once saved always saved. No one going back
into these sins mentioned above is to inherit the kingdom of Christ and of God.
No one. If we once accepted Jesus and repented of sins and we yield to those
sins and continually walk in them again after being made free in Christ Jesus we
shall not enter the kingdom of God. We never lose our power to choose when we
become Christians. We are not made puppets. We must not believe doctrines that
are not according to godliness. The wrath of God comes upon children of
disobedience. Judgment begins at the house of God. We have a greater
responsibility to live godly than even before we came to Christ.
1Pe 4:17 For the time is come that judgment
must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us,
what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
1Pe 4:18 And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where
shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
Its good to read the verse, by grace are you saved through faith but we must
read the rest of the book of Ephesians also not just quote the good verses and
reject the other ones about godly living.
Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and
that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
That means that you can't be saved by doing good things and just being a good
person and earning one's way to heaven. You are saved by faith in Jesus Christ.
You repent of sin and come to Christ to be saved. No matter how bad or good you
live in this present world, if you don't come to Jesus Christ for
salvation, you can't be saved. It does not mean that after you are saved you can
live how you want. If you allow sin back into your life, you have to repent
again and allow Jesus Christ to give you power over that sin. We are to be new
creatures and old things are passed away. We are never to go back into sin and
expect to be saved and inherit eternal life. We must read all the scriptures,
not just a few taken completely out of context.
No we are not saved by any good works we did before coming to Christ. We have
to come to Christ to be saved. After that though we are judged by our works. We
still have to answer to God by what we do in the body. Sin is not supposed to
reign after coming to Christ. If we allow it to return there is hope though but
we must not continue in that sin:
1Jo 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto
you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father,
Jesus Christ the righteous:
1Jo 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not
for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
1Jo 2:3 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we
keep his commandments.
1Jo 2:4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his
commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
1Jo 2:5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the
love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
1Jo 2:6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself
also so to walk, even as he walked.
If we say we know Jesus Christ and ignore His word and His commandments, we
are lying according to the word of God. If we sin after we are saved, we must
repent and do the first works.
Rev 2:5 Remember therefore from whence thou art
fallen, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto thee
quickly, and will remove thy candlestick out of his place, except thou repent.
(Eph 5:7) Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
Be not partakers with those who continue in sin and do the above mention
things.
(Eph 5:8) For ye were sometimes darkness, but now
are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
Those things children of darkness walk in. We are to walk in the light of the
gospel after are sins are forgiven and we accept Jesus Christ as savior. It does
matter what we do and how we live. Holiness is not taught much anymore but it
needs to be. The bible teaches it.
(Eph 5:9) (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all
goodness and righteousness and truth;)
(Eph 5:10) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
If we try to prove what is acceptable to the Lord in these days, we get
accused of being legalistic. Yet Jesus Christ, Paul, Peter, John and others
instruct us to strive to please the Lord.
Here should be our fruits: Goodness, righteousness and truth.
Lying, foolish talking, jesting, vanity, strife, fornication are not fruits
of the Spirit.
(Eph 5:11) And have no fellowship with the unfruitful
works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
Reprove, correct, rebuke, change, instruct, teach the ways of righteousness.
Tit 2:7 In all things shewing thyself a pattern of
good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,
Tit 2:8 Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he
that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of
you.
2Ti 4:2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of
season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
2Ti 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure
sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves
teachers, having itching ears;
2Ti 3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse
and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
2Ti 3:14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast
learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
2Ti 3:15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy
scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith
which is in Christ Jesus.
2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of
God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for
instruction in righteousness:
2Ti 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly
furnished unto all good works.
1Ti 6:3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not
to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the
doctrine which is according to godliness;
1Ti 6:4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting
about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings,
evil surmisings,
1Ti 6:5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds,
and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such
withdraw thyself.
(Eph 5:12) For it is a shame even to speak of those
things which are done of them in secret.
(Eph 5:13) But all things that are reproved are made
manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.
(Eph 5:14) Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest,
and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
Sleeping here is referring to being blind to spiritual truth or being blind
to our spiritual condition. We must allow the word of God to continually awaken
us to the things of the Spirit and not sleep.
(Eph 5:15) See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as
fools, but as wise,
To walk in the word of God is wisdom.
(Eph 5:16) Redeeming the time, because the days are
evil.
As we see the days are evil, we must redeem the time. We must spend quality
time in fellowship with God seeking His will with prayer and the study of His
word.
(Eph 5:17) Wherefore be ye not unwise, but
understanding what the will of the Lord is.
We don't' have to be in ignorance to the will of God.
Mat 7:7 Ask, and
it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened
unto you:
(Eph 5:18) And be not drunk with wine, wherein is
excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
Walk every day filled with the Spirit. If we walked in the spirit we would
see less of a need for other things that pass away with the using.
(Eph 5:19) Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns
and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
The purpose of singing is here as part of worship. Prayer should never be
neglected and replaced with singing but singing also should not be neglected for
it is a vital part of worship.
(Eph 5:20) Giving thanks always for all things unto God
and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
Always be thankful for everything God does for us.
(Eph 5:21) Submitting yourselves one to another in the
fear of God.
True love for our brothers and sisters in Christ causes us to not want our
own way all the time. Be willing to let others have their preferences as long as
it is not contrary to the scriptures.
(Eph 5:22) Wives, submit yourselves unto your own
husbands, as unto the Lord.
(Eph 5:23) For the husband is the head of the wife,
even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
(Eph 5:24) Therefore as the church is subject unto
Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
Women are never to desire authority above Godly men. We are to recognize
authority God gives the husband as the provider and protector of the household.
They are responsible for the souls of their families. He is to be an example and
a leader. The wife is to help and support Him.
This never means that a wife is to follow any husband blindly if he is not
following Christ and tries to get her to sin. A women must follow the Lord and
if her husband stops following the Lord she must continue the Lords way and not
go the way of sin.
(Eph 5:25) Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ
also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
(Eph 5:26) That he might sanctify and cleanse it with
the washing of water by the word,
The word of God is a cleansing agent. That is why it is vital and necessary
to stay in the word continually.
(Eph 5:27) That he might present it to himself a
glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it
should be holy and without blemish.
The word brings us to this state of being holy. If you wonder why many
Christians are not living godly, you can probably trace it to the fact that they
do not study the word or spend much time in prayer. Holiness comes through the
word which cleanses the inner person.
(Eph 5:28) So ought men to love their wives as their
own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
Husbands are not to be rigid demanding Lords but love their wives as Christ
loved the church. Jesus Christ gave His life for the church. Husbands are to
follow the example of Christ's love and not rule in an ungodly manner.
(Eph 5:29) For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but
nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
(Eph 5:30) For we are members of his body, of his
flesh, and of his bones.
(Eph 5:31) For this cause shall a man leave his father
and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
(Eph 5:32) This is a great mystery: but I speak
concerning Christ and the church.
Just as a new married couple must leave the authority of father and mother
and become one flesh and one family, so much one who comes to Christ and accepts
Jesus as savior. They must leave the authority of the old nature and become a
new creature in Christ. Sin no longer is to be our master. We are now one with
Jesus Christ and in a new family. We are no longer under the power of Satan and
sin. Jesus Christ now becomes first
(Eph 5:33) Nevertheless let every one of you in
particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she
reverence her husband.
There would be less divorces in the church if husbands and wives would take
heed to these scriptures. A perfect family would be the husband following Christ
and the wife submitting to the husband who is following Christ. If just
one of these get out of place, trouble results. If the husbands move out of his
place of following the Lord, the wife has to continue following the Lord
herself. If the wife moves out of her place and stops following a husband
who is following the Lord, the husband must continue putting the Lord first and
following the Lord in all things. Of course he should try to restore his
wife to the Lord but if she refuses he must remain faithful to the Lord.
It is great to follow and help a man of God who is serving the Lord
faithfully like a good pastor but if that pastor turns aside from the word of
truth, the flock must keep following the Lord and not turn aside with the one
going astray. This is why God took great care to provide the word of
God for all to read and study. We must read and find out what our
Lord's word says so that we will not follow any false teachings but we will
follow the Lord and worship Him in Spirit and in truth. Church traditions
should be checked and compared to the word of God. Sometimes church
teachings are not in line with the scripture. We must check these things
out. That is why God brought the scripture to us. It is not wrong to
check things out and not blindly follow anyone that comes along. No good
pastor should ever fear his words being compared to the word of God.
Act 17:10 And the brethren immediately sent away
Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the
synagogue of the Jews.
Act 17:11 These were more noble than those in
Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and
searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.
The Bereans searched the scriptures DAILY to see if what Paul and Silas was
teachings was according to scripture. All they had at that time would have
been the Old Testament. Yet from the Old Testament they discovered the
truth of the gospel. If you let God open your eyes being
determined to walk in love, compassion and being obedient to the word of God,
you will see Jesus in the Old Testament, especially the prophecies of Isaiah,
Jeremiah, Daniel, Zechariah, Psalms and many others.
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