Walk in Love and Be Filled with the Spirit

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.

Q1--How are we to walk (live our life)? What do you think this means?

Comment on verse 2

This is the sixth "Walk" in Ephesians -- walk in love. We are to love as Christ has loved us. I believe this love is two-fold: first, it is displayed in our love to God; and second, it is revealed in our love to others. If we love God, we will be followers of his. We will obey his commands, and we will try to live our lives according to God’s principles. If we love others, we will be willing to give ourselves to others as Christ gave himself for us.

J. Vernon McGee comments,

"The Gentiles who formerly walked on a very low plane are now lifted to the high level of love. They are now called ‘dear children’ or beloved children. The plane of love to which they are lifted is the love which Christ exhibited when He loved us enough to give Himself as an offering and a sacrifice for us."

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.

Q2--Optional question: Name and define the ten activities listed in these verses that believers should not be involved in.

Fornication -- sexual immorality, uncleanness -- doing that which is unholy, covetousness -- desiring to have what others possess, filthiness -- the Louw-Nida Greek Lexicon gives "to act shamefully, indecent behavior, shameful deed," foolish talking -- vulgar speech, jesting -- ribaldry, whoremonger -- sexually immoral, unclean -- impure, covetous -- greedy, idolater -- putting anything ahead 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.

7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.

Q3--Why do you think Christians are sometimes deceived into doing wrong?

Comment on verses 6-7

How often are Christians deceived by empty words. We listen to something which may appeal to our desires or which may appear to make sense, but then we discover that we have been deceived into doing something wrong against God. Remember, the serpent’s appeal to Eve in the garden of Eden: he pointed out how desirable the fruit would be, and then he appealed to Eve’s pride -- "you will be like God." He never once said, do this because it is evil and you will be disobeying God. Rather, he appealed to her desires and tried to present it to her in a manner that made sense to her. Let us not be deceived by similar empty words.

8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)

10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.

Q4--What do you think it means to walk (live) as children of light?

Comment on verse 8

This is the next "Walk" in Ephesians -- we are to walk as children of light. Our light comes from the Lord. Do we live our life as God’s children, or do we act like children of darkness? If we want to walk in the light, we need to be doing the deeds of Christ.

McGee writes,

"There are too many Christians who take the critical method or the preaching method. They try to correct an unsaved person by saying, ‘You shouldn’t be doing that.’ My friend, that is not the way to approach the darkness. You are to be light. You cannot preach to people about these things. You cannot tell them what to do and not do. I constantly get letters from people who are telling me that I should preach against certain sins. No, my business is to turn on the light of the Word of God -- that which God calls right. You see, you are not able to win a person to Christ by lecturing to him and telling him what is wrong. You are not to try to get the unsaved man to change his conduct; he cannot change his conduct. He needs to be born again in order to change. You are not to shake your finger under his nose and say, ‘Don’t do that. Don’t be a bad boy.’ You are to be light, and light will always affect darkness. ... Remember that darkness is not dissipated by lecturing or by preaching. Darkness is dissipated by light."

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.

14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.

Q5--What is the light that Christ will give us?

The Lord gives us the light of his word, the light of his Holy Spirit, and the light of his wisdom. As we continue to serve him, we will discover a clearer understanding of the things of God as the light of his love shines in our souls.

Barnes comments on verse 14

"The idea here is, that if they will use all the powers with which God has endowed them, and arouse from their spiritual slumber, and make an appropriate effort for salvation, then they may expect that Christ will shine upon them, and bless them in their efforts. This is just the promise that we need, and it is all that we need. All that man can ask is, that if he will make efforts to be saved, God will bless those efforts, so that they shall not be in vain."

15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,

16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

Q6--What activities in your life do you think "redeeming the time" (making the most of every opportunity) is referring to?

Comment on verse 15

This is the next "Walk" of Ephesians -- walk circumspectly. This means to take care as to how we live our life. We are to walk circumspectly -- examining our life, our motives, our priorities. We must be careful to live our life according to God’s plan.

Comment on verse 16

I love this term, "redeeming the time." We have only been given so much time. Are we using it wisely? Early in our marriage, Lorna would save Blue Chip Stamps. After she would fill up a few books, she would take them to the Redemption Store and "redeem" her books for merchandise. In fact, we still have a lamp that she bought with stamps. God gives us only so many blue chips of time. Are we redeeming the time for heavenly things? Are we spending our time on things that matter for all eternity? Let us be wise with the time that God has given us and use it for his glory.

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.

Q7--What do these verses tell you about the priorities in your own life?

Comment on verses 17-18

It seems to me these two verses are teaching us priorities: first, priority in our understanding and second, priority in our desires. Verse 17 tells us not to be unwise but to understand what the will of the Lord is. We need to keep our mind focused on God and learn of his ways. Our priority must not be on our own thoughts or ideas, but rather on God’s thoughts and ideas. We learn of God’s ways by studying his word, by listening to him in prayer, and by meditating upon his goodness. Verse 18 then stresses that we are not to indulge in the pleasures of the world, but rather be filled with the Holy Spirit. Christians do not need to be drunk to have a good time. They do not have to prop up a false joy, because they are already filled with the greatest joy of all -- God’s Spirit living within them.

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.

Q8--If you do the things in these two verses, what do you think happens to your spirit?

Comment on verses 19-20

If more Christians would follow the instructions in these verses, there would be less unhappiness in the churches. Notice verse 19 tells us to speak to ourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in our heart to the Lord. Do you always have a song in your heart? Do you go around each day with a melody in your spirit? If you do, you will experience the joy of the Lord throughout the day. And then verse 20 tells us to give thanks always unto God. No matter what is happening throughout the day, give thanks to God. He is the one in control of our life, and he will be with us no matter how difficult the day may be. If we have a song on our heart and a grateful attitude, the Lord will carry us through our day.

Footnotes:

All scriptures from the King James Version. Questions based on both the King James Version and the New International Version

Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament pg. 1003, Kregel Publications



	A Study of Ephesians 5:1-20