Ephesians 05:01-21 Walking in Love, Light and Wisdom

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Text: Ephesians 5:1-21

Introduction

1. Though we now enter chapter five, we are still noticing how to “walk worthy of the calling with which you were called” – Ephesians 4:1

a. We have been “called” to be

1) “holy and without blame before Him in love” – Ephesians 1:4

2) “sons by Jesus Christ to Himself” – Ephesians 1:5

3) “fellow citizens with the saints” – Ephesians 2:19

4) “members of the household of God” – Ephesians 2:19

5) “a holy temple in the Lord” – Ephesians 2:21

6) “fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ” – Ephesians 3:6

b. What sort of “walk” is worthy of such a calling? So far we have seen that it is one in which we are

1) “Walking Together in Unity” – Ephesians 4:1-16

2) “Walking In Truth and Holiness – Ephesians 4:17-32

2. As we come into the fifth chapter, we learn that our “walk” (or conduct) which is worthy of our calling is one in which we

a. Walk In Love – Ephesians 5:1-7

b. Walk As Light – Ephesians 5:8-14

c. Walk As Wise – Ephesians 5:15-21

Body

I. WALK IN LOVE (Ephesians 5:1-7)

A. FOLLOWING CHRIST AS OUR EXAMPLE (Ephesians 5:1-2)

1. Jesus certainly has loved us and given Himself for us

2. He offered Himself to God as an offering and sacrifice in our behalf

3. Let His example teach us how to “walk in love” – cf. John 13:34-35; 1 John 3:16-17

B. WITH A LOVE THAT IS PURE (Ephesians 5:3-7)

1. Our love should be free from any hint of immorality or greed – Ephesians 5:3

2. Even words or jokes suggestive of immorality or greed are unbecoming those who are “saints” (holy, set apart for God’s purpose) – Ephesians 5:4

3. This is a serious concern, for immoral or greedy persons have no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ, but instead will experience the full wrath of God! – Ephesians 5:5-7

II. WALK AS LIGHT (Ephesians 5:8-14)

A. WE ARE NOW “LIGHT IN THE LORD” (Ephesians 5:8-10)

1. Before coming to Christ, we were once “darkness” (remember Ephesians 2:1-3); but now we are “light in the Lord” and should walk as “children of light” – Ephesians 5:8

2. The fruit expected of those children of light is goodness, righteousness and truth – Ephesians 5:9

3. By bearing such fruit, we fulfill our role as “light” by “proving” (demonstrating) what is well-pleasing to the Lord – Ephesians 5:10; cf. Romans 12:1-2

B. AS “LIGHT” WE MUST NECESSARILY EXPOSE “DARKNESS” (Ephesians 5:11-14)

1. We are not to have fellowship with “unfruitful works of darkness” – Ephesians 5:11, 5:3-4

2. Instead, our task is to “expose” them – Ephesians 5:11b-13

a. Things that we must expose are often so disgraceful, it is shameful to speak of them

b. But by “walking in the light” ourselves, we can through example and word expose by contrast these “works of darkness”

3. Thus the need to be “light” ourselves, something that comes only from Christ – Ephesians 5:14

a. Christ gives “light” to those who were spiritually asleep and dead – cf. Ephesians 2:4-6

b. Some scholars think this verse (Ephesians 5:14) may have been an early “baptismal hymn”, sung at a person’s baptism

III. WALK AS WISE (Ephesians 5:15-21)

A. CHARACTERISTICS OF “WALKING AS WISE” (Ephesians 5:15-17)

1. Doing so with great care – Ephesians 5:15

a. The word translated “circumspectly” means “exactly, accurately, diligently”

b. Unlike fools, who care little about where they are going or what is happening

2. Taking advantage of the time available to one – Ephesians 5:16

3. Understanding the will of the Lord – Ephesians 5:17

a. Only by understanding the will of the Lord can we be a “wise people”

b. Just as Israel was to demonstrate their wisdom by doing the will of the Lord, so we can “walk as wise” only if we understand His will for us – Deuteronomy 4:5-6

B. TO WALK AS WISE REQUIRES BEING “FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT” (Ephesians 5:18-21)

1. While those who “walk as fools” delight in being filled with wine, those who walk as wise” will endeavor to be filled with the Spirit!

2. What evidence is there that one is “filled with the Spirit”? Paul describes three indications…

a. One indication is singing praises – Ephesians 5:19

b. Another indication is giving thanks – Ephesians 5:20

c. A third indication is submitting to one another in the fear of God – Ephesians 5:21

Conclusion

1. Children of God who delight in:

a. Singing praises and making melody in the heart

b. Giving thanks always for all things to God

c. Submitting to one another in the fear of God

d. Demonstrate that they are “filled with the Spirit”, and as such, truly are “followers of God as dear children” – Ephesians 5:1

2. As children of God, and “filled with the Spirit”, they are able to walk in a manner worthy of their calling, as they:

a. “Walk in love”

b. “Walk as light”

c. “Walk as wise”

3. Brothers and sisters in Christ, we live in a world:

a. That has perverted the meaning of “love”

b. That takes perverse pleasure in works of darkness

c. That stumbles around aimlessly, like drunken fools

d. Can we not see the need for the people of God today to live up to their “calling”, and to “prove what is acceptable in the Lord”?

4. May God fill His children with His Spirit:

a. So that we can truly “walk in love”, “walk as light”, and “walk as wise”

b. And thereby show to the world the fruit of the Spirit, goodness, righteousness, and truth