Verses 1-2 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; 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.
Review verses 25-32 in the previous chapter to understand how a follower of God/Jesus behaves, remembering that it was the love of Jesus that fullfilled the requirements for a blood sacrifice to pay for the sins of every living man and living woman so that a relationship could ocurr between the LORD and those people who respond to His call on their lives. Each Christian believer should be so grateful to the LORD for what He has done that it is not difficult to obey His commands and to please Him. Each Christian believer owes the LORD Jesus Christ their very life, both here in this world and in the one to come.
Verses 3-5 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; 4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. 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.
The Greek word translated as “fornication” is “porneia” from which comes the English word pornography. It means adultery, homosexuality, lesbianism, bestiality, or any form of sexual behavior that is contrary to that ordained by God between a man and a woman in a marriage relationship, and which is an offense to God.
The Greek word translated as “uncleanness” is “akatharsia” and it means that which is impure which can be both physical or moral in nature.
The Greek word translated as “covetousness” is “pleonexia” and it means a greedy desire to have more. The Apostle Paul is stating that there should not be any sin of any kind in the LORD’s Church. He further elaborates that even the believer’s speech should be pure, without obscenities and joking or inappropriate humor. The believer needs to use words that build up others and that glorifies the LORD. “For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by they words thou shalt be condemned.” Matthew 12:37
The Greek word translated as “whoremonger” is “pornos” and it means a man who prostitutes his body to another’s lust for hire, or a male prostitute. Notice that this word does not mean a harlot or female prostitute. So the Apostle Paul in verse 5 above seems to be referring to men. Perhaps this is because of the culture at Ephesus that Paul encountered with the worship of Artemis or Dianna, the fertility goddess. Regardless, those people engaging in immoral acts, greedy behavior, or idolatry were/are guaranteed to be excluded from the Kingdom of Heaven and eternal life with the LORD Jesus.
Verses 6-10 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. 7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them. 8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: 9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) 10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
Vain words are those that are devoid of truth. Metaphorically it can mean words that a man uses to boast of his faith, but his fruits of faith are absent. There is the claim of being a Christian believer, but evidence of this claim may be difficult to find. Many people have infiltrated churches and caused disharmony, and these people are often referred to as wolves in sheep’s clothing. They look the part and use Christian terminology, but their fruits are not goodness and righteousness and truth. Yet church members will follow these fake believers because their words are pleasant and deceiving.
Verses 11-14 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. 12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. 13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. 14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
Application: The Greek word translated as “reprove” is “elegcho” and it means to convict, refute, to bring to light, to expose, to show one his fault, or to demand an explanation. It is a Christian believer’s right and duty to confront and expose error and sin, both in the Church and in society. By exposing them, the power of Satan and of those people he is using to advance his agenda is weakened. Then others can see the deception and lies being presented.
Verses 15-16 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
To walk circumspectly means to walk exactly, accurately, and diligently. The Apostle Paul is referring to the Christian believer’s walk with the LORD. Each day needs to be one that puts the LORD first and the believer second. This will insure success. When self gets the priority and the LORD does not, the believer opens his walk up to attacks from evil spirits. The times being lived by believers today are extremely evil, and demonic activity is increasing daily in intensity. “Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.” Revelation 12:12 Walking close to the LORD will give the believer the wisdom necessary to remain righteous in an unrighteous world.
Verse 17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
Walking circumspectly will help the Christian believer know and understand what the LORD wants from him/her each day.
Verses 18-21 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; 19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; 20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; 21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
This writer would like to find a prohibition from God in His Scripture regarding alcohol use, but cannot. Why? Because alcohol harms and kills individuals and families: physically, emotionally, psychologically and most importantly, spiritually. But when analyzing the statistics regarding the negative effects of alcohol consumption, it is clear that it is the excessive use of it that causes harm. God knows this and commands that people not engage in excessive use whereby they become drunk. It is impossible to be under the influence of alcohol which alters brain activity and also be one with the Holy Spirit/Ghost. Therefore, each believer must decide if drinking wine or other forms of alcohol is something he/she can do and remain sober and unaffected by its chemical contents.
Application: Wine in Jesus’ day and the times in which the Apostle Paul was writing was fermented grape juice and therefore it had to have had an alcoholic content. This writer is not aware that what today is termed “hard liquor” was invented yet. Regardless, it appears that God does not command believers to not drink, but just to not drink in excess. Therefore, believers should not pass judgement on other believers should they chose to have a glass of wine with their diner or a can of beer with their hot dog. The decision to drink alcoholic beverages or to not drink them should be made individually after consulting the LORD Jesus Christ and then following the leading of His Holy Ghost/Spirit.
Verses 22-24 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. 24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
Note: The verses above have been interpreted and used incorrectly and negatively with the results being situations in which women have been placed under total control of their husbands, regardless of whether the husbands are righteous or not, and thus creating negative feelings on the part of women both towards male authority and towards God, and creating feelings of superiority in the men using these verses incorrectly. Remember that in God’s kingdom He is the head, and all His children are equal and are to work together in harmony with each other and with the LORD.
The Greek word translated as “submit” is “hupotasso” and it means to subordinate, to subject, to subject one’s self, to obey, or to yield to one’s admonition or advice. It is a voluntary attitude of giving in, cooperating, assuming responsibility and/or carrying a burden. The operative word here is “voluntary”. This submission is not forced upon one another. The wife wants to submit just as the nonbeliever wants to submit to the authority of the LORD Jesus Christ and become a follower. Why? Because of the love the husband has towards his wife which should mirror the love Jesus has towards nonbelievers and believers alike.
Verses 25-27 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
When a man loves his wife unconditionally and with no “strings attached”, she will want his leadership. He will want her opinion and participation in the decision making process. Harmony will be in the marriage. Just as Jesus loves people unconditionally, the husband is to love his wife in the same manner. Just as Jesus gave His life for His people, the husband is to do the same. In some cases, physical life has been given to save the life of a spouse, but metaphorically dying to self and putting one’s wife first is a spiritual and emotional act that pleases the LORD and demonstrates pure love.
Verses 28-33 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. 29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: 30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. 32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband. (Ephesians 5)
No one mistreats their own body unless driven by evil spirits to do so. Millions of dollars are spent annually by people trying to keep their bodies young, healthy, and fit. The fitness industry is growing and flourishing. When people feel good, they usually reflect that good feeling in their interpersonal relationships at home and at work. It is much easier to love others when physically doing well, and much harder to do when physically feeling unwell or in pain. God, through the Apostle Paul, commands men to treat their wives like they treat their bodies, with love, care, respect and concern. Then the marriage will be a testimony to the nonbeliever of the love of Jesus and of His spiritual kingdom. Just as a man and a woman are to become one (in their physical union and in their emotional and spiritual union), so the Church of Jesus Christ is to be one with each other and with the LORD. The marriage relationship is to mirror the spiritual relationship Jesus Christ has with His people.