Scripture Reading: Ephesians 4:17-24

Our Walk in Christ

Ephesians 5:1-21

Intro.

1. Walk: A course of conduct, lifestyle, pattern of living; “to be occupied with.”

2. Eph. 4:17-32: New man’s character and conduct in Christ. Christians walk in newness of life, Rom. 6:4.

3. “Walk” used 6x’s in Ephesians, emphasizing our life in Christ:

a. The good works of God, 2:10.

b. Worthily of our calling, 4:1 (Col. 1:10-12).

c. No longer as Gentiles (in darkness; Know living in sin is futile), 4:17.

4. Eph. 5:1-21: Practical applications of being new people in Christ.

I. WALK IN LOVE, Eph. 5:1-2.

A. We Imitate God When We Walk in Love, 5:1-2.

1. God’s love for us made us His children, and we are to mimic Him, 5:1; 1 John 4:7-11, 19-21.

2. As Christ loved us, 5:2.

a. His love was a genuine surrendering of Himself, willingly done to accomplish our redemption, 1:7; cf. Gal. 2:20.

b. Our love must be the same as we surrender ourselves to God.

B. Such Love Pleases God and Makes Us Acceptable to Him, 5:2.

1. Like those of old (Gen. 8:21; Exod. 29:18), the offering/sacrifice of Christ fully pleased God (self-sacrifice), Isa. 53:11; 2 Cor. 5:21.

2. Our walk (life) of love pleases God.

II. WALK AS CHILDREN OF LIGHT, Eph. 5:3-14.

A. Children of Light Reject Self-Indulgence, 5:3-8a.

1. Perversion of love is condemned (5:3):

a. Fornication, all impurity, greedy selfishness, 1 Cor. 6:18; 1 Thess. 4:3-6.

b. We should be so far removed from such sins as to banish any suspicion of them.

2. Shameful language and conduct rejected, 5:4.

a. Double entendres, coarse, vulgar, etc.

b. Rather, giving thanks (1 Thess. 5:18).

3. Reasons to abstain, 5:5-7:

a. No inheritance, 5:5; 1 Cor. 6:9-10.

b. Wrath of God, 5:6; Rom. 1:18, 32.

c. Disobedience and darkness, 5:6, 8a.

4. Now light in the Lord (immorality and salvation opposed to each other), 5:7-8. Therefore: Do not partake in them.

B. Children of Light Bear the Fruit of the Spirit, 5:8b-14.

1. By this you prove what pleases God, 5:8-10; Matt. 5:16; 7:18-21.

2. Reprove works of darkness, 5:11; Rom. 13:12-14; 1 Cor. 15:33-34; 2 John 9-11.

a. Must not have fellowship with (join up in and/or endorse) unfruitful (unholy) works.

b. Reprove/expose them: By your godly life with the truth of God (5:13).

3. The shame of sin and purity of light, 5:12-13.

a. Zion’s light shines in purity and overwhelms the darkness of sin, Isa. 60:1-3; John 3:19-21.

b. Warning against apathy, Joel 1:5 (Rom. 13:11).

4. Call sinners to repentance, 5:14; cf. Acts 26:18-20.

III. WALK AS WISE MEN, 5:15-21 (possess spiritual insight); James 3:13-18.

A. Wisdom Tells Us To:

1. Be careful, 5:15; 1 Cor. 10:12; 1 Pet. 5:8.

2. Redeem our time, 5:16; James 4:13-14, 17.

--How we do this--

a. Understand God’s will, 5:17; Eph. 3:3-4.

b. Be filled with the Spirit, 5:17; Col. 3:16; Rom. 8:5-8:

1) Worship in song, 5:19 (Col. 3:16).

2) Give thanks for all things, 5:20.

3. Be subject to each other, 5:21.

a. Regulated by fear of God (Christ).

b. This is illustrated and applied in the next section (Eph. 5:22-6:9).

B. Foolish to Disregard God’s Will and His Salvation, Eph. 5:17; Ps. 14:1.

Conclusion

1. Eph. 2:10: The good works God has prepared for us to walk in include love (5:12), light (5:3-14), and wisdom (5:15-21).

2. Offer ourselves to God by sacrificing for Him, bearing the fruit of moral purity, and being careful to reverently obey His word.

By: Joe R. Price

Posted February 26, 2024