We were designed from the beginning to be God’s image bearers. God is a Spirit, so he created us to reflect Him. Adam and Eve failed, and we inherited that fall and all of the evil that came from it.
Jesus came as God in human form and walked perfectly. With His death came life for those who believe and with this life comes the Holy Spirit which gives us the power to imitate Jesus, who in turn reflected God and was God in the flesh.
1 John 3:16 – lay down your life for the brethren just as He did. Paul did not spell it out like John did, but it is the same idea.
Jesus gave Himself up for the elect. When Paul says “us” he is talking about the believers.
“A fragrant offering and sacrifice to God”. You can see this in how the sacrifices were to be handled in Leviticus 1. And the priest shall burn all of it on the altar, as a burnt offering, a food offering with a pleasing aroma to the Lord. 1:9.
The Hebrew expression, “nichoach rayach,” means something like this: “an odor of rest to the Lord.” In other words, it’s an expression that means, essentially, that as Yahweh looks at the sacrifice which is offered in payment of a debt owed to Him, He rests! He finds it an odor of rest. So, instead of executing His judgment against the person who has offended the throne of Yahweh, He rests, satisfied. The penalty is paid, so that He no longer desires and finds it necessary to execute His judgment. “An odor of rest.” – David B Curtis Commentary on Ephesians
Read Ephesians 5:3-4
This is a contrast to verse 2. The first two verses talk about self -sacrifice and now starting in verse 3 Paul’s message turns to self-indulgence.
Vs.3-4 – All sexual sin, sexual impurity and lust is to not be practiced nor even talked about in circles among the saints. Including filthy talk, foolish talk which is someone who mocks God’s Word or crude joking. But instead, Thanksgiving. Why would Paul say Thanksgiving right after talking about sexual impurity?
“Thanksgiving is what you experience when you believe that Yahweh gives you only what is good for you and withholds no good thing (single or married!). It’s what you experience when you trust Him that every circumstance of your life is designed for your good and His glory. So, thanksgiving is the alternative to a life driven by cravings for what you don’t have (whether sex or money). Thanksgiving is almost a synonym for the Christian’s life.” – David B Curtis commentary on Ephesians
Read Ephesians 5:5-6
First, believers cannot lose their salvation, so this is not talking to the Christians in the Lycus Valley nor to Christians today. Who is Paul talking to?
He is talking about people who do not believe. They are living in the futility of their minds Ephesians 4:17
No matter what they say do not believe them for they are of “the sons of disobedience and will fall under God’s judgement.
The Ephesians Christians were hearing a lot of noise not just about Christ, but many other religions claiming to be the one true faith. Empty words. In other words, lies.
Read Ephesians 5:7-9
Vs. 7-8 – Do not become partners with them or partakers in their evil ways. “for at one time you were darkness”. These unbelievers living in immoral, lust filled ways is darkness to the world. As Christians they and we have been filled with light through Jesus Christ and been given the truth. We should shine with the truth and expose the darkness so the unbelieving world might become light through the realization of their shameful behavior. Christians should display restraint and peace to the darkness of the world. At one time the people of the Lycus Valley (see preface to Ephesians) were in darkness. Ephesians 2:1-2. You were dead in your trespasses and sins. Which you formerly walked according to the course of this world. Colossians 1:13. He rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the Kingdom of His beloved Son.
Darkness is without God. Without God’s Word. Without God’s truth. Without Jesus we would never understand the ways of God and be excepted and receive the Spirit that opens our eyes to the reality of who God is.
Vs. 9 – The KJV says the fruit of the Spirit. Light is the more supported word from the original Greek. The fruit of the light is good, right, and true.
Goodness – Paul says good. Greek word agathosune meaning generosity. We are to be generous.
Righteousness – Paul says right. To be wholesome and helpful. Have integrity.
Truth – Paul says “true”. Honesty, equity and live in the reality of the truth from God.
Read Ephesians 5:10-14
Vs. 10 – Learn what is pleasing to the Lord. The Christians of the Lycus Valley did not have the scriptures as we have today. We can read God’s Word and learn how to please the Lord. These Ephesians needed to listen to Paul’s words and especially to the Spirit inside them to really walk and live as a Christian. The NT was not available to them. That is probably why Paul quotes the OT to them. To help them understand how to learn the ways of God. A God that up until their conversion was foreign and unknown to them all.
Vs.11 – Take no part in the dark ways of unbelievers. Instead expose their sinfulness. Christians are the light to the world that those in darkness may see for the first time in their lives.
Vs.12 – 14 – The things they do in secret should not even be spoken of.
Paul may be alluding to the libertine rites of many mystery cults. If they were made public, they might lose their glamour and appeal. We see this in Acts 19:18. Nothing in the text requires a reference to mystery cults. “However, it is not by accident that the term orgia used in mystery rites, has developed semantically into our word orgies”. The Epistles to the Colossians, to Philemon, and to the Ephesians (The New International Commentary on the New Testament) Pg. 375. Such things are unspeakably shameful.
13-14 – God has exposed the sins of these pagans and their immoral sexual sins, and those that believed have come into the light. Awake O Sleeper…This is a quote from Isaiah 60:1 and is a text about salvation for those of the elect.
Read Ephesians 5:15-16
Look carefully then at how you walk. Blepo is the Greek word for carefully and it means to see. See that you walk carefully with exactness. David B Curtis commentary on Ephesians
making the best use of the time because the days are evil. Paul is saying seize the opportunity do walk in the light of Christ and be wise in your dealings with non-believers. The days are evil is another eschatological statement by Paul.
There are 2 ages within the Biblical text. The Mosaic Age and the Messianic Age. The Hebrews called it the “olam hazeh” or “this world” is characterized by darkness, wickedness, sin, and death. It is called “night.” The “Olam Haba,” or “the world to come,” as it was called by the rabbis, was known as a time of joy, peace, light, eternity; it is known as “day.” Also, see my Galatians study where Paul talks about the present evil age.
Read Ephesians 5: 17-21
Vs. 17-18 – Paul says “therefore” so we need to ask what it is there for. He is referring back to the days of the Old Covenant ending (the Mosaic Age) and the New Age is coming, so do not be foolish and walk the ways of the people around you but understand the will of the LORD.
Do not get drunk. Wine or anything else. Be children of light and not darkness for it is at night that drunkenness occurs. 1 Thessalonians 5:6-8. Lay aside deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Romans 13:12-13.
Vs. 19-20 – Paul told the Colossians the same thing in 3:16. Songs and music move people, motivates people and it lifts people up. Even if you don’t sing and sit in a room where people are singing your spirit is lifted especially when it is hymns to God. David sang, “But let all who take refuge in You rejoice, Let them ever sing for joy; and spread Your protection over them, That those who love Your name may exult in You”. Psalms 5:11
Paul is telling them to focus on lifting up one another through playing music, singing melodies to the LORD.
Through these melodies and music give thanks to God the Father fall things in the name of Christ Jesus. It is through Him the Father gives all. You have everything as a Christian because of God, and it is because of the atoning work on the cross you can approach with boldness and give praise and thanks.
Vs. 21 – This word “submitting” is misleading. Paul here is asking the Christian to serve. Be in service to one another out of fear or better term reverence to Christ.
When Christ was in the upper room, and He told his disciples to love one another as I have loved you. This is what Paul is talking about. Serve one another. Jesus was not submitting to His disciples but showing them how to serve. We should always serve our fellow brothers and sisters.
Crack A Bible 