Class Notes, Eph 5:1-14

Eph 5:1-2 (NIV) Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
1. This is the third section on the practical application of being a member of God's family, a citizen of God's kingdom, and part of this new thing the church, the merging of Jew and Gentile.  Verses 1-2 form the thesis statement for this next area.  What is the emphasis and why?
• Walk in love -- 2 reasons
• Be imitators of God -- why? Going back to chapter 2-3, you are a member of God's family
• Love as Christ loved us -- how? Sacrificial love.  Truly is a sacrifice which is indicative of the words "fragrant offering"
2. The next verses are best understood in the context of the introductory statements
• Live a life of love
• The example of God and His son is the positive context
Eph 5:3-7 (NIV) But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person — such a man is an idolater — has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.  6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7 Therefore do not be partners with them.
3. So from the negative point of view, what does Paul list that is not part of a life of love?
• Sexual immorality - Greek word porneia meaning adultery and incest.  Interestingly, the word figuratively means idolatry.  How does this fit with the topic of love?
• Love has been perverted in our society
• Sex is outside of the context that God placed it for our good.  Sex is a good thing, but even good things have rules to prevent them from being a bad thing
• Pornography is the ultimate idolatry, where my satisfaction comes first and foremost
• Any kind of impurity.  This is a broader term for all types of uncleanness.  It is the Greek word akatharsia meaning physically or morally unclean.  Thayer describes the moral sense as the impurity of lustful, luxurious, profligate (recklessly wasteful, wildly extravagant) living.  How does love fit?
• This person is in love with themselves
• There only purpose is to please themselves
• They give very little of themselves  to others so that they can focus on themselves.  They are in love with themselves
• All of this starts out in a sexual context, and the living described here is very likely focused on lustful immorality
• Greed.  Greek word pleonexia.    Louw and Nida define it as a "strong desire to acquire more and more material possessions or to possess more things than other people have, all irrespective of need - 'greed, avarice, covetousness.'
• Again the focus is on self
• Likewise, the greed may refer to sexual possessions and experiences
• So far, the main thought is that the negative aspect of love is love for self.  Consequently, the godly aspect of love is a love for others (in a right manner)
4. Paul now focuses on our speech in light of love.  And there is probably still a sexual component to this ...
• Obscenity.  This is just filthy or dirty speech.  Nowadays we are seeing more and more of this talk presented as natural in everyday contexts.  And I am sure, the world is following like dumb dogs.  But it is not true in all work places and presents a very misleading picture.  Most obscenities seem to have a sexual nature
• Foolish talk.  This is talk that is both foolish and stupid.  Trench describes it as the "talk of fools" which is foolishness and sin together
• Coarse joking usually involves vulgar expressions and indecent content.  It can be witty, but it is often pointed (which suggests sarcasm) or with indecent content
• One of the great destroyers of marriages is sarcasm
• Sarcasm can work between common-sex friends, usually men, but very seldom works in other contexts
• It might even start out cute and fun, but in the long run brings a steady deterioration of the relationship -- partly because sometimes the barbs are true, and soon one has difficulty in distinguishing the difference
5. Finally Paul makes a very interesting statement
• First, in chapter one, Paul stated that believers have an inheritance
• Secondly, Christians can live carnal lives (1 Cor 3:1-4)
• So, the contrast is really between believer and unbeliever
• One is part of the kingdom and the other is not part of the kingdom
• So the inference is, why would we, who a part of  the kingdom, live like those who are not part of the kingdom
• Another possibility which is supported by other scripture is that our inheritance is affected by how we live.  The word "any" in the AV, NKJV, and NIV is not found in the Greek
• This would fit with the believer's judgment described in 1 Cor
• In any case, since all believers struggle with sin, this would be a person who is habitually or as a way of life lives this way.  In which case, one can question his salvation
Eph 5:8-14 (NIV) For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, 14 for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said:
"Wake up, O sleeper,
rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you."
6. Now Paul urges them to live as children of the light.  What does it mean to live in the light?
• First, it is contrasted with how they used to live -- "once were darkness" -- so it is a different lifestyle than you lived before you came to Christ
• Goodness.  Greek word agathoosunee meaning uprightness of heart and life.  It is found only in biblical and church writings.  [suggests that it is not one of the words that the world uses a lot]
• Opposite would be a heart and life exhibiting the worst of the world's virtues
• Righteousness.  Greek word for dikaiosunee meaning the virtue or quality or state of one who is diakaios (observing divine and human laws) -- one who is such as he ought to be
• I like the simple definition for righteousness -- doing what is right
• Opposite would be doing what is wrong habitually
• Truth.  Greek word aletheia meaning truth or verity
• Opposite is someone who doesn't think twice about lying or shading the truth if it suits his purpose
7. Instead of being involved in darkness, we should
• Not even talk about it
• Expose it.  How does a believer expose sin?
• Not by drawing attention to the sin.  Although in the case of believers, we do need to confront sin
• But by drawing attention to the light.  If we are light, our lives are a testimony against sin