Hello!
I trust you all are challenged to be a holy people this week. God has blessed us with spouses and a family as an ‘accountability’ group each day. I trust you are opening up to that group without falsehood as we talked about in Chapter 4 (v 25).
This week we will be continuing the study in Ephesians 5 and I will work from where we left off at verse 7. We finished verse 7 in class but didn’t finalize the point.
Read Ephesians 5:3-20 in its entirety.
Paul has epitomized the Christian behavior pattern as “a life of love” (v. 2). Now he turns to another theme “Live as children of light” (v 8). But they can be “light in the Lord” only because Christ is the world’s true light (v 14). Note what we covered a few weeks ago about us being a reflection of Jesus even to the angels bringing more glory to Him as we are.
Read verse 7 –
What are we supposed to do with those that act the way discussed in v 3 to 6?
This is an unambiguous admonition that rounds off the paragraph begun at v.3. Christians are not to get mixed up with those who have excluded themselves from the kingdom by their impurity. The word “partners” (symmethochoi) is the same one Paul used in 3:6 to describe the way in which the Gentiles now share in the messianic promise.
Do you think we will be able to live entirely separate from those who live outright defiance of God? Why or why not?
Does this verse tell us to become munks or similar? Why or why not?
Read verse 8 –
Remember what we discussed in class a bit. The entirety of light and 1 John 1:5 where there is NO darkness in God. To live as Children of light we have to get rid of darkness. What does that mean to you?
Here Paul enlarges on the contrast between darkness and light. As in 2:1-3 and 3:17-24, he reminds his readers of what they once were. One word suffice by way of summary – “darkness”. Not only did we live IN darkness: we WERE darkness. But we have been rescued from the dominion of darkness and inherit the kingdom of light (1 Cor 1:12, 13). We are not only to live in the light but ARE the light. This is possible ONLY in union with Christ who is Himself the light. Calvin writes “Apart from Christ Satan occupies everything”. Barclay says “Henceforth they must behave as those who are at home in the light”.
Are you at home in the light? Why or why not?
Read verse 9 –
Light is known by its effects. When the light of Christ shines in the live of believers it produces what?
These qualities counteract the dark influence of malice (4:31), injustice and falsehood (4:25). Goodness (agathosyne) is the achievement of moral excellence combined with a generouse spirit. Righteouseness (dikaisoyne) was understood by the greeks as giving all their due. Among a wide range of meanings “truth” stands for genuineness and honesty. It is not only something to be said but something to be done.
Read 1 John 1:6 –
How does this verse coincide with the Ephesians verses?
Read verse 10 –
Do you want to live in the light? Really?
Literally “finding out” [dokimazontes] what is well pleasing to the Lord is what is asked here. The verb has to do with testing of metals and so can mean to discover by examination, verify, or approve. Here and in 1 Timothy 3:10 the examination seem to be appropriate translation. Those who live as children of light will be continually endeavoring to ascertain what is the will of God in every situation so that they may satisfy Him.
Examining your life TODAY – as you read this – what situation comes to mind that challenges if you want that situation to be something YOU want or something HE wants?
Read verse 11-20-
List out what you are to do:
List out what you are not to do:
Discuss with your spouse or accountability partner what this would mean in your life and examine a situation you are challenged in right now.
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