Chapter 5:1-11
Eph 5:1
Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
 
As we begin chapter five, Paul is now saying, since now you have all this information as to what you should and shouldn’t do, therefore, you know enough to be able to follow the Lord as His Children.  The word “followers” also carries with it the meaning of “imitators.”  “And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:”  (1 Thessalonians 1:6)  The same word appears here.  The idea is to set our affections upon following the Lord.  Paul was saying be followers of them, in that they were following the Lord without any hesitation.  A child will follow their parents anywhere because they trust them.  This is how we are to follow the Lord, by trusting Him implicitly.
 
Eph 5:2
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.
 
Sweetsmelling - Aroma
Savour - Scent or Fragrance
 
Remember when we discovered the definition of biblical love?  Here we are counseled to walk in love as Christ loved us.  The rest of the verse goes on to say that we are to walk in such a way that we imitate Christ as He was an offering and sacrifice to God.  In the Old Testament, when a burnt sacrifice was properly done, God called it a sweet savour.  “And he shall take away all the fat thereof, as the fat is taken away from off the sacrifice of peace offerings; and the priest shall burn it upon the altar for a sweet savour unto the LORD; and the priest shall make an atonement for him, and it shall be forgiven him.”  (Leviticus 4:31) This is what the Christian is to be.  We are to walk as Christ walked with the idea that we are walking sacrifices and offerings unto the Lord.  (Romans 12:1)  “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”  We are a sweet savour unto the Lord because of the sacrifice of Christ on behalf of His Elect.  As Christians we must always be prepared to give of ourselves for the work of the Kingdom.  A sacrifice that was only partially burned was not accepted because it was not done according to the law of God.  A Christian that is partially committed to Kingdom work is fully committed to the world. 
 
Eph 5:3
But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
 
Fornication - Immorality or Prostitution
Uncleanness - Impurity
Covetousness - Greed
Becometh - Suitable or fitting
 
In Ephesus there was a great temple to Diana which was the cult of the virgin.  However, temple prostitution was common around these cults.  The Bible is warning the Ephesians to avoid fornication in any sense.  Not only are we warned against physical fornication but when we heed false teachings and teachers which draw us away from God, we are committing spiritual fornication which can be just as deadly.  It is a sorry thing that many Christians are involved in both physical and spiritual fornication, simply because they have allowed themselves to be carried away by their fleshly desires instead of being ruled by the Holy Spirit.
 
Then Paul speaks of uncleanness which is impurity.  Here again we may allow ourselves to become impure in our Christian walk by accepting the doctrines which may appease or neutralize the true teachings of Scripture.  We may also become impure in our minds by taking in all kinds of pollution we see on the TV or over the internet.  Impurity in our minds will cause us to let down our guard and will eventually neutralize us until we are no longer usable in the Kingdom of God.  This is one thing that we must fear worse than death and that is to be a forsaken Christian (not loss of salvation) in the area of not being used for the Glory of God.  Each Christian is saved and must serve in some capacity.  To be shelved, should be a sign to us that we are walking in the wrong direction.
 
Then Paul goes on to speak of greed.  How many people have spent thousands of dollars and countless hours just to try and get rich quick through some pyramid scheme.  The worse part about these pyramid schemes is that they try to integrate faith with their company product line.  Too many have swallowed that lie and have come away disappointed.  The Bible teaches us that we are to be contented with what we have.  “Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.”  (Philippians 4:11)  God gives us what we need to live on.  Why He makes some people super rich and others super poor is known only to Him.  We must trust Him with our finances as He stated that He will take responsibility in our lives.  God makes some people super rich so they can put many people to work when they open up factories.  Contentment gives great peace by not causing us to look beyond what God has supplied. 
 
Then God says that these things are not suitable for those who are His Saints.  This is because the true riches are not on this earth.  We are not saved to become earthly junk collectors, but we are saved to give ourselves in the work of sending forth the Gospel.  If a lot of money is needed, God will supply it.  Now this doesn’t mean that hobbies like coin collecting or stamp collecting constitute greed.  The greed comes in when a person sets their eyes on wealth.  God is saying these attitudes or actions must not be prevalent among the Saints.  In fact, never mind being prevalent, God is saying it shouldn’t even be among you once.  The problem is that if we try a sin once, there is normally a second time which may cause us to develop a stronghold.  These things do not represent outwardly what happened inwardly.
 
Eph 5:4
Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
 
Filthiness - Baseness or indecency
Foolish talking - Silly talk or talk of fools
Jesting - Vulgar or improper jokes
Convenient - Fitting or proper
 
Paul continues his admonition to the Christians to warn us against what is not proper or fitting for a believer to do.
 
Paul first tells us that we are not be involved with anything filthy.  This could be pornography, immorality, or anything which comes from the baseness of the darkness of sin.  It can also be indecent conversation when it becomes part of a person’s make up, then they go from words to actions.  This is why we are to avoid all baseness.
 
Then we are warned against silly talk.  Have you ever heard a bunch of people on the job speaking like a bunch of idiots.  This is what is basically in view.  “But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.” (Matthew 12:36)  This is the danger of silly talk in that those who are unsaved will give an account for every word they speak.  This is why there must be a difference in speech between the Christians and the world.
 
Then we are warned about vulgar or improper jokes.  This is prevalent among many Christians who see nothing wrong in an off-color joke.  Now there is nothing wrong with good humor when it is clean.  For example, Henny Youngman told the following joke,  “A friend of mine went to the doctor and the doctor gave him six months to live, he couldn’t pay his bill so the doctor gave him six more months.”  Now clean humor is not wrong but when we begin to start delving into evil humor, then we are asking for chastisement.  Something else that is quite prevalent among Christians and that is religious jokes which include the name of God.  His name must never be used in any type of levity.  His is a holy name and we must reverence it.  “He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name.”  (Psalm 111:9)  This is a great verse teaching the doctrines of Grace but if you notice the end of that verse concerning the name of God.  We never hear world religions using the names of their leaders irreverently, so why should the redeemed of God mock the very one who saved us?  When we do that, we are talking the talk of fools.
 
Eph 5:5
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.
 
In this particular verse, Paul is using these sins found in a person’s life symbolically to teach us that any sinner will not have any inheritance in the kingdom of God.  Now it must be understood that the Bible is using these sins in the life of those who are unregenerate.  What is being spoken of here, is that those who have never become saved and are still walking in their sins, cannot be part of the kingdom of God. “Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.”  (1 Corinthians 15:50)   If a Christian commits one of these sins above, that does not nullify their salvation.  We are being told that those who are still in those sins cannot be a part of the Kingdom of God.  If someone claims to be a Christian and is walking in sin, then their fruit shows they have never been regenerated.  The inheritance is speaking of the entrance of Heaven.  “And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless. {13} Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” (Matthew 22:12-13) In this parable Christ is basically saying that this man has never become saved and is not allowed to partake of eternal life.
 
It is also interesting that Paul uses the phrase , “kingdom of Christ and of God.”  Many in the world who are partaking in their false religions have rejected Christ as being Savior, thinking they can get to God without Him.  The Bible is making sure we know that unless one is regenerated they cannot enter the kingdom of God.  The Kingdom of Christ, God, and Heaven are all synonyms for the same Kingdom.  There are not three separate Kingdoms in Scripture.  The Kingdom of God cannot be entered except through the Lord Jesus Christ.
 
Eph 5:6
Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
 
Vain - Empty or worthless
 
We are being told here that we are not to allow ourselves to be deceived.  There are many today who preach that Heaven is attainable without Christ and that God will take into account all your good works.  These are the vain words which deceive countless millions into the infernal regions.  Sin is what is going to send the wrath of God upon the unbelievers on the last day.  The Christians have been redeemed from the wrath of God and never have to worry about facing it.  “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,”  (1 Thessalonians 5:9)  Dispensationalists try to teach that this verse speaks of Christians being raptured before the time of a physical Great Tribulation.  That is an absolute untruth.  The wrath spoken of in the 1 Thessalonians verse, is the wrath of God on the unbeliever on Judgment Day.  “For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?” (Revelation 6:17)  The Bible is being very clear that unless one is regenerated by the blood of Christ, they are under the wrath of God, both now and for all eternity.
 
Eph 5:7
Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
 
Partakers - Joint partakers
 
Here is a great warning to the believers. We should not partake or engage ourselves in any of the sins of the world.  The word “partakers” actually carries with it the meaning of “joint partakers.”  This means if you are sinning in the world, then you are a partner of the world.  This means you will lose your testimony. “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”  (1 John 2:15)  This also means that you could face the same physical judgments that the world faces.  Cirrhosis of the liver for drinking!  AIDS for sexual sins!  Lung Cancer for smoking!  Death for Drugs!  Jail for criminal activity!  These are the natural consequences of these sins and if you are a true Christian, add to that the chastisement of God.   The wisest thing for the Christian to do is to stay away from the sinful pleasures of this world.  God has the authority to bring home a sinning Christian if He so chooses.  “Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.”  (John 15:2)  Notice in this verse it speaks of “in me,” which is speaking of the believer.  The unbeliever is never in Christ until salvation.  Don’t concern yourself with your worldly friends.  They will soon go away if you continue to remain faithful, mine did.  “For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: {4} Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:”  (1 Peter 4:3-4)  God saved us out of the world and we must never plan to go back.  “And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.” (Revelation 18:4)  We are delivered from the kingdom of Satan and God is warning us to not be “partakers of her sins.”  In other words, don’t dress up for sin.
 
Eph 5:8
For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
 
Sometimes - Once
 
This verse is a great contrast.  Every Christian that has been saved out of the world has been delivered from a life of sin.  We were once all bathed in sin and we ordered our lives accordingly.  Now, we are no longer children of darkness but children of light by the grace of God.  “While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.”  (John 12:36)  Since we are now in the Kingdom of Christ, we must not go back to the kingdom of Satan to try and seek fulfillment.  Instead we are to walk as children of light.  “Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.” (Romans 6:4)  The problem is that if we find gratification in the sinful pleasures of the world, then we may not have been saved.  Salvation is Transformation!  It is not a reforming of our former life.  It is the refusal to continue in the sinful former life because the world does not hold the sway it once did.  Remember how Paul was crucified unto the world, this is how the Christian must be.  When we walk in obedience to the Lord, our testimony of regeneration will radiate.
 
Eph 5:9
(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
 
Continuing the thought from Verse 8 in that we are children of light, we are to exude these fruits of the spirit.  “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, {23} Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”  (Galatians 5:22-23) The world walks in darkness but those who have become saved are to walk in truth which results from the inward transformation making us righteous individuals.  Since the Holy Spirit indwells the believers, He is also the source of these fruits of righteousness.  A fruit cannot come into existence without a tree or vine.  The fruits of righteousness which the believer lives in, cannot come out of their own heart unless they have been transformed by the Holy Spirit.  Once that takes place, then fruit appears in the Christian.  “I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.” (John 15:5)
 
Eph 5:10
Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
 
Proving - Examining or scrutinizing
Acceptable - Well-pleasing
 
As we continue to walk in the spirit of righteousness, we are to examine or scrutinize what is well-pleasing to the Lord.  If we do this, then we will be able to avoid the sinful pitfalls which cause people to stumble.  Our entire Christian walk is to be from one examination to another.  We must be very discerning in the way we walk and we are to walk very cautiously, so we will not get tangled up in the ways of the world again.  Walking in the fruits of the Spirit is pleasing to the Lord.  We need to gauge our life by asking the question, “is what I am doing or planning, well-pleasing unto the Lord?”  If we can say yes with biblical confirmation, then we are on the correct path.  What is acceptable unto the Lord is then acceptable unto us!
 
Eph 5:11
And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
 
Unfruitful - No fruit
Reprove - Refute or Expose
 
Part of our responsibility as Christians is to be able to discern between evil and good.  This verse is teaching us that not only are we not to have any fellowship but instead we are to expose or rebuff the works of darkness.  This is done so other Christians will know what they are to stay away from and will not become snared.  There are many false teachings which are causing Christians to go astray plus there are many that unbelievers are involved in.  Notice that this verse also refers to the fact that these evil works can produce no godly fruit.  This is why the Christian must be extra discerning in this day and age.  Fruit that Christians must produce is other Christians.  If we become involved with things like, “save the whales” or something like that, we will never bear any true fruit.  This is why Christians should be heavily involved with Missions since we are commanded to get the Gospel out to the World.  “And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”  (Mark 16:15)   Christians who are involved with ministries that expose false teachers and teachings, are probably the most misunderstood people in the church.  They are also the most vilified since they will wear the tag of “negativism” or “judgmental.”  These are the ones who possess the gift of teaching and you can identify the one with true gift of teaching by noticing how they filter every teaching through Scripture.  Those who judge teachings by other teachings or theology books, do not possess the gift of teaching since they are, in essence, comparing the teachings of man to the teachings of man.  If you really get down to it, how much Godly teachings versus ungodly teachings are there in the world today?  Not only the world, but what about the church?  If you have someone in your church with this gift, don’t kick them out, use them, that is why God sent them to you.
Back