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Ephesians Chapter Five

 
Chapter Five General Review
 
OBJECTIVES IN STUDYING THE CHAPTER
 
1) To see the importance of walking in love, light, and wisdom
 
2) To understand the responsibilities wives and husbands have toward
 each other
 
3) To appreciate the high esteem and great love the Lord has for His
 church
 
SUMMARY
 
Paul continues to exhort Christians to walk in a manner worthy of their
calling (cf. 4:1). Having described the need to walk in unity and in
purity, he now urges them to imitate God and "walk in love" with Christ
as their example. Such love requires that all forms of immorality and 
filthy speech not even be named among them. Since the wrath of God is
to come upon the sons of disobedience, Christians must not be deceived
by nor partake with those who engage in such evil deeds (1-6).
 
Having passed from darkness to light in coming to Christ, we should 
also "walk as children of light". This includes producing the fruit of
the Spirit such as goodness, righteousness and truth, thereby
demonstrating what is acceptable to the Lord. We cannot participate in
the shameful works of darkness, but instead must expose them. This we
do by letting Christ's light shine in us, for such light will naturally
make the darkness manifest by way of contrast (7-14).
 
As the days are evil and the time is short, Christians must "walk as
wise" and make the best use of their time. This requires an 
understanding of the Lord's will. Christians are also to be filled 
with the Spirit, as evidenced by singing together, praying with 
thanksgiving, and submitting to one another in the fear of God (15-21).
 
The chapter ends with what we might describe as a call to "walk in 
matrimonial harmony". Wives are exhorted to respect their husbands,
submitting to them as to the Lord. Husbands are commanded to love 
their wives as Christ loved the church, and even as they love their own
bodies. In the course of such instructions Paul takes the opportunity 
to reveal the Lord's desire to present to Himself a glorious church,
holy and without blemish, which is why He gave Himself for it (22-33).
 
OUTLINE
 
I. A CALL TO WALK IN LOVE (1-7)
 
 A. AS CHRIST LOVED US (1-2)
 1. Be followers of God as dear children (1)
 2. Walk in love as Christ loved us (2)
 a. Who gave Himself for us
 b. As a sweet-smelling sacrifice to God 
 
 B. NOT IN IMMORALITY AND WORLDLINESS (3-7)
 1. Things which should not even be named among saints (3-4)
 a. Fornication
 b. All uncleanness
 c. Covetousness
 d. Filthiness
 e. Foolish talking
 f. Coarse jesting
 -- Rather, giving of thanks
 2. For such have no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God
 (5)
 a. No fornicator or unclean person
 b. No covetous man, who is an idolater
 3. Upon sons of disobedience will come the wrath of God (6-7)
 a. So don't let anyone deceive you with empty words
 b. Do not be partakers with them
 
II. A CALL TO WALK AS CHILDREN OF LIGHT (7-14)
 
 A. AS THOSE WHO ARE NOW LIGHT IN THE LORD (7-10)
 1. Though once darkness, they are now light in the Lord (7a)
  2. They should walk as children of light (7b-10)
 a. Bearing the fruit of the Spirit (or light) in all goodness,
 righteousness and truth
 b. Proving what is acceptable to the Lord
 
 B. HAVING NO FELLOWSHIP WITH WORKS OF DARKNESS (11-14)
 1. Instead expose them (11-12)
 a. For they are unfruitful
 b. It is even shameful to even speak of those things done in
 secret
 2. Which shall be exposed (13-14)
 a. When made manifest by the light
 b. Thus we should be the light which Christ gives us
 
III. A CALL TO WALK AS WISE (15-21)
 
 A. WALKING CIRCUMSPECTLY (15-17)
 1. Not as fools but as wise (15)
 2. Redeeming the time, for the days are evil (16)
 3. Not as unwise, but understanding the will of the Lord (17)
 
 B. FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT, NOT WINE (18-21)
 1. Singing (19)
 a. Speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, spiritual songs
 b. Making melody in your heart to the Lord
 2. Giving thanks (20)
 a. Always for all things
 b. To God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ
 3. Submitting to one another in the fear of God (21)
 
IV. A CALL TO WALK IN MATRIMONIAL HARMONY (22-33)
 
 A. DUTIES OF WIVES (22-24)
  1. Submit to their own husbands, as to the Lord (22-23)
 a. For the husband is the head of the wife
 b. Even as Christ is the head of the church and the Savior of
 the Body
 2. Be subject to their husbands in everything, just as the church
 is subject to Christ (24)
 
 B. DUTIES OF HUSBANDS (25-32)
 1. Love their wives, as Christ loved the church (25-27)
 a. He gave Himself for it
 b. This He did that He might:
 1) Sanctify and cleanse the church through the washing of
 water by the word
 2) Present it to Himself a glorious church
 a) Having no spot or wrinkle
 b) Holy and without blemish
 2. Love their wives as their own bodies (28-32)
 a. For he who loves his wife loves himself
 b. For no one hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes
 it
 1) Even as the Lord does His church
 2) For we are members of His body
 c. For in marriage man and woman become one, just as with
 Christ and His church
 
 C. SUMMARY OF DUTIES (33)
 1. Let each man love his wife as himself (33a)
 2. Let the wife respect her husband (33b)
 
REVIEW QUESTIONS FOR THE CHAPTER
 
1) What are the main points of this chapter?
 - A call to walk in love (1-7)
 - A call to walk as children of light (8-14)
 - A call to walk as wise (15-21)
 - A call to walk in matrimonial harmony (22-33)
 
2) What are Christians to be? (1)
 - Followers of God as dear children
 
3) How are we to walk (live)? (2)
 - In love, even as Christ loved us and gave Himself for us
 
4) What things are not fitting for saints? (3-4)
 - Fornication
 - All uncleanness
 - Covetousness
 - Filthiness
 - Foolish talking
 - Coarse jesting
 
5) What is fitting for saints? (4)
 - The giving of thanks
 
6) Who has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God? (5)
 - No fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous person
 
7) Of what is a covetous person guilty? (5)
 - Idolatry
 
8) What is to come upon the sons of disobedience? (6)
 - The wrath of God
 
9) What are we now in the Lord? How then should we walk? (8-10)
 - Light in the Lord
 - As children of light, proving what is acceptable to the Lord
 
10) What is the fruit of the Spirit (light)? (9)
 - Goodness, righteousness, and truth
 
11) What are Christians to do regarding unfruitful works of darkness?
 (11)
 - Have no fellowship with them
 - Expose them
 
12) How else are Christians to live? Why? (15-16)
 - Circumspectly, as wise, redeeming the time
 - Because the days are evil
 
13) What other responsibilities do we have as Christians? (17-18)
 - To understand the will of the Lord
 - To be filled with the Spirit
 
14) What is either the means or the evidence of one filled with the
 Spirit? (19-21)
 - Speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs
 - Singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord
 - Giving thanks for all things to God the Father in the name of
  Jesus Christ
 - Submitting to one another in the fear of God
 
15) What are the responsibilities of wives toward their husbands?
 (22-24)
 - To submit and be subject to their husbands, as to the Lord
 
16) What is revealed about the relation of Christ to His church? (23)
 - He is the head of the church and the Savior of the body
 
17) What are the responsibilities of husbands toward their wives?
 (25-31)
 - To love their wives as Christ loved the church
 - To nourish and cherish their wives, as they do their own bodies
 
18) Why did Jesus love and give Himself for the church? (25-27)
 - That He might sanctify and cleanse the church
 - That He might present it to Himself a glorious church
 - That it might be holy and without blemish
 
19) What is Paul's summation regarding marital responsibilities? (33)
 - A husband is to love his wife as himself
 - A wife is to respect her husband

Walking In Love, Light, And Wisdom (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" - Ep 4:1
 a. We have been "called" to be...
 1) "holy and without blame before Him in love" - Ep 1:4
 2) "sons by Jesus Christ to Himself" - Ep 1:5
 3) "fellow citizens with the saints" - Ep 2:19
 4) "members of the household of God" - Ep 2:19
 5) "a holy temple in the Lord" - Ep 2:21
 6) "fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise 
 in Christ" - Ep 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" - Ep 4:1-16
 2) "Walking In Truth And Holiness - Ep 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 - Ep 5:1-7
 b. Walk As Light - Ep 5:8-14
 c. Walk As Wise - Ep 5:15-21
 
["Walking In Love, Light, And Wisdom": why is this so important? As 
indicated in Ep 5:1, we are to be "followers of God as dear children";
and just as God is "love, light, and wisdom" personified, so we should 
try to imitate our Father!
 
Therefore, consider how we should...]
 
I. WALK IN LOVE (1-7)
 
 A. FOLLOWING CHRIST AS OUR EXAMPLE... (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. Jn 13:
 34-35; 1 Jn 3:16-17
 
 B. WITH A LOVE THAT IS PURE... (3-7)
 1. Our love should be free from any hint of immorality or greed 
 - Ep 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) - Ep 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! - Ep 5:5-7
 
["Walk In Love", with a love that is sacrificial and free from any hint
of personal gain (either sexual or monetary)...that is the kind of 
"walk" worthy of our calling as "saints".
 
Our "walk" also bears the responsibility of being a positive influence 
in the world in which we live, and this Paul discusses as we now 
consider our need to...]
 
II. WALK AS LIGHT (8-14)
 
 A. WE ARE NOW "LIGHT IN THE LORD"... (8-10)
 1. Before coming to Christ, we were once "darkness" (remember Ep
 2:1-3); but now we are "light in the Lord" and should walk as
 "children of light" - Ep 5:8
 2. The "fruit" expected of those "children of light" is "goodness,
 righteousness and truth" - Ep 5:9
 3. By bearing such fruit, we fulfill our role as "light" by 
 "proving" (demonstrating) what is well-pleasing to the Lord - 
 Ep 5:10; cf. Ro 12:1-2
 
 B. AS "LIGHT" WE MUST NECESSARILY EXPOSE "DARKNESS"... (11-14)
 1. We are not to have fellowship with "unfruitful works of 
 darkness" - Ep 5:11; e.g., fornication, uncleanness, 
 covetousness, Ep 5:3-4
 2. Instead, our task is to "expose" them - Ep 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 - Ep 5:14
 a. Christ gives "light" to those who were spiritually asleep 
 and dead - cf. Ep 2:4-6
 b. Some scholars think this verse (14) may have been an early
 "baptismal hymn", sung at a person's baptism
 
[To "Walk As Light" is an awesome responsibility, and some have allowed
the "darkness" to overshadow the "light", rather than the "light" 
exposing the "darkness". How can we be sure to carry out our role as 
"the children of light"?
 
This is were "wisdom" comes in, and therefore Paul exhorts us to...]
 
III. WALK AS WISE (15-21)
 
 A. CHARACTERISTICS OF "WALKING AS WISE"... (15-17)
 1. Doing so with great care - Ep 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 - Ep 5:16
 a. To "redeem the time" is "to make wise and sacred use of 
 every opportunity for doing good, so that zeal and well 
 doing are as it were the purchase money by which we make the
 time our own" (from the "Online Bible")
 b. This is necessary, because the days are "evil" (bringing 
  toils, annoyances, perils; of a time full of peril to 
 Christian faith and steadfastness; causing pain and trouble 
 - Online Bible)
 3. Understanding the will of the Lord - Ep 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 - cf. Deu 4:5-6
 
 B. TO WALK AS WISE REQUIRES BEING "FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT"... (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 - Ep 5:19
 b. Another indication is giving thanks - Ep 5:20
 c. A third indication is submitting to one another in the fear
 of God - Ep 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
 -- demonstrate that they are "filled with the Spirit", and as such, 
 truly are "followers of God as dear children" (Ep 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
 -- 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" (i.e.,
 goodness, righteousness, and truth)!
 
Displaying God's Wisdom In Our Families (5:22-6:9)
 
INTRODUCTION
 
1. Up to this point Paul has been describing how we can "have a walk 
 worthy of the calling with which you were called" - Ep 4:1
 
2. We have seen that conduct "worthy of the calling" involves:
 a. Walking in unity - Ep 4:1-16
 b. Walking in truth and holiness - Ep 4:17-32
 c. Walking in love, walking as light and walking as wise - Ep 5:1-21
 
3. In what might appear at first to be an abrupt change of direction, 
 Paul begins to describe how various family members are to conduct 
 themselves - Ep 5:22-6:9
 a. The responsibilities of wives - Ep 5:22-24
 b. The responsibilities of husbands - Ep 5:25-33
 c. The responsibilities of children - Ep 6:1-3
 d. The responsibilities of fathers - Ep 6:4
 e. The responsibilities of servants - Ep 6:5-8
 f. The responsibilities of masters - Ep 6:9
 
4. But the subject matter is really not so abrupt as it may appear, for 
 Paul mentioned earlier...
 a. How the church is to "make known the manifold wisdom of God" 
 - Ep 3:10
 b. How we are to walk in "wisdom" - Ep 5:15-17
 ...and it is through family relationships that we can often do this 
 more successfully than in any other way!
 
5. How can this be? Well, it is through our families that we interact 
 so much with the society in which we live...
 a. Through marriage we immediately come into contact with another 
 family (our "in-laws")
 b. Through children we develop relationships with those in their 
 schools, their neighborhood, etc.
 
6. Thus it is through our families we have great potential to 
 demonstrate the wisdom of God...
 a. The same principles that underlie the gospel message (submission,
 love, sacrifice, obedience, honesty, fairness) are to be displayed
 in our family relationships
 b. By example, then, we can demonstrate in our families what is truly
 good and right (i.e., God's will), and prepare others to be 
 receptive to the gospel message!
 
[Thus Paul is not abruptly changing direction, but continues to talk 
about those sort of things which are crucial to having a "walk worthy of
the calling with which you were called".
 
Consider, then, how those who "walk worthy" conduct themselves in 
regards to...]
 
I. MARITAL RESPONSIBILITIES (5:22-33)
 
 A. THE DUTY OF WIVES... (22-24)
 1. They are to submit to their husbands in everything...
 a. Just as they are to submit to the Lord ("as to the Lord")
 b. Just as the church is subject to Christ
 2. The reason: the husband is head of the wife, just as Christ is
 head of the church
 a. Any time you have organization that is functional, you must 
 have some chain of authority
 b. In the family, it is God's Will that the husband be the head
 of the wife, and that parents be over their children
 3. Here is an opportunity for wives to demonstrate the wisdom and 
 value of an important principle in God's will: that of 
 submission!
 a. Jesus taught by both word and example of the importance of 
 submission - cf. Jn 13:12-17; Mk 10:42-45
 b. Indeed we all are to submit in one way or another - Ja 4:7;
 Ep 5:21
 c. Through their submission, wives prove that God's will is 
 best in such matters!
 
 B. THE DUTY OF HUSBANDS... (25-30)
 1. They are to love their wives... 
 a. Just as Christ loved the church, i.e., with a sacrificial 
 love designed to bless and benefit their wives
 b. Just as they love their own bodies, i.e., with a love that 
 nourishes and cherishes their wives
 2. Just as the wives have the opportunity to demonstrate God's 
 wisdom concerning submission, so husbands are given the 
 opportunity to demonstrate Christ's love...
 a. As the head over His church, Jesus rules as a "benevolent 
 monarch"
 b. Some think such a concept as "benevolent monarch" is 
 impossible (as per the saying, "Power corrupts, absolute 
 power corrupts absolutely")
 c. But when a husband exercises his authority as head of the 
 family with the kind of love Jesus displays while ruling 
 over His church, they demonstrate not only the possibility, 
 but the wisdom of a benevolent monarchy!
 
[Indeed, the "marriage" between a man and a woman can reflect the 
relationship that exists between Christ and the church (31-32). But 
this can happen only if...
 
 1) A husband exercises his authority with love (33a)
 
 2) A wife submits to her husband with respect (33b).
 
Just as there are "marital responsibilities", so there are...]
 
II. FAMILIAL RESPONSIBILITIES (6:1-9)
 
 A. THE DUTY OF CHILDREN... (1-3)
 1. Children are to obey their parents in a way that honors them
 2. There are certainly temporal benefits for such obedience ("that
 it may be well with you...")
 3. But there are also spiritual repercussions - cf. Co 3:20
 ("for this is well pleasing to the Lord")
 4. And by their example, children can show the value of obedience 
 to the commands of God
 
 B. THE DUTY OF FATHERS... (4)
 1. Fathers are charged both negatively and positively..
 a. DON'T provoke children to wrath (i.e., discipline without 
 love)
 b. DO bring them up in the "training and admonition" of the 
 Lord (i.e., discipline tempered with love)
 2. In the world, people usually fall into two extremes of child-
 raising:
 a. Discipline without love (child abuse)
 b. Love without discipline (permissiveness)
 3. But when fathers properly administer both love and discipline, 
 by example they show how God raises His own children in the 
 family of God - cf. He 12:5-11
 
 C. THE DUTY OF SERVANTS... (5-8)
  1. In the First Century A.D., servants were an intricate part of 
 many households, which may explain Paul including instructions
 to them and masters in this and parallel passages - cf. Co 3:
 18-4:1
 2. Christians who were servants were expected to exemplify the 
 proper kind of obedience required of all Christians...
 a. Obedience with fear and trembling - cf. Ph 2:10
 b. Obedience in sincerity of heart, as to Christ Himself
 c. Obedience with good will, as to the Lord 
 d. Obedience with an understanding that the Lord is an 
 impartial Judge
 3. In this way even slaves could demonstrate by example what true
 obedience was according to the Will of God
 
 D. THE DUTY OF MASTERS... (9)
 1. Those Christians who had slaves (like Philemon) were charged to
 treat their servants in very special ways:
 a. "do the same things to them", i.e., their treatment of 
 slaves should be governed by the same sort of principles 
 given to the servants...
 1) "with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to 
 Christ"
 2) "not with eyeservice...but as servants of Christ, doing 
 the will of God from the heart"
 3) "with good will...as to the Lord, and not to men"
 4) "knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive
 the same from the Lord..."
 b. In particular, Christian slave-owners were to give up 
 threatening and to remember that God shows no respect of 
 persons
 2. By their example, masters could demonstrate the proper exercise
 of authority, and reveal much about how our Master in heaven 
  rules over us in the kingdom of God!
 
CONCLUSION
 
1. How we conduct ourselves in our marriage and family relationships can
 greatly effect our efforts to make known "the manifold wisdom of 
 God"...
 a. Marriages and families that are "dysfunctional" serve only to 
 belie the claims we make about the gospel and its power to 
 transform lives
 b. Whereas marriages and families based upon the teachings of God's 
 Word can speak volumes as to the value of principles inherent in 
 the gospel; such principles as:
 1) Submitting to God and others in authority
 2) Exercising authority with sacrificial love
 3) Obeying those placed over us by God
 4) Developing others through training and admonition, not 
 intimidation
 5) Rendering service that is sincere, not hypocritical
 6) Exercising authority with justice and fairness
 
2. So as we endeavor to "walk worthy of the calling" that we have in 
 Christ, let's not overlook those areas where it is most imperative to
 have a "worthy walk": in our marriages and families!

－－《Executable Outlines》