Part 7 - Misunderstood (landscape)

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Ephesians: The Crown Jewel Part 7 – Misunderstood Ephesians 5:1-21 Overview Paul wrote this letter into 2 main sections. The first 3 chapters are mainly doctrine and theology – Paul’s teaching about what God has done in Christ. The last 3 chapters are mainly application – how we now live out this new life we have with God through trusting in and following Jesus. Last week, Paul turned to the specific behaviors and actions in our lives that begin to change because of the work God is doing in and through us – what he called the new life. What we saw, though, was not just getting better at certain behaviors, but a total transformation. He laid out how the liar becomes a truth-teller, how the thief becomes an honest worker so that he can be generous toward others. This is the transformative work that God does through Christ in the hearts and minds of people who trust and believe in Christ. And those two aspects – heart and mind – were the very elements of our lives that must be transformed if our actions, attitudes, behaviors, and morals are to be changed as well.

Ephesians 5 In this next section, Paul continues to challenge us to become imitators of God – basically, that our lives would be formed to look like the God who created us and the Father who rescued us. Again, Paul addresses certain areas that should not be consistently present in the life of a believer.

Before we get to them, here’s what I want you to understand. The process of transformation [sanctification] doesn’t happen overnight. It’s a lifelong journey – with ebbs and flows. There will be good days, weeks, and seasons and there will be bad ones as well. However, the trajectory of growth is consistently moving closer and closer to maturity, in all areas of our lives. He will state that the only way for this to happen is for everything to be brought into the light – every area of our lives exposed to the light/truth of God. And, the only way this happens is through a dirty little secret – a word that most people completely misunderstand.

Intro Living in the South, we get accused of all kinds of things. Marrying our cousins, not wearing shoes, unable to drive in the snow, and my all-time favorite – poor usage of grammar and language. Lose vs Loose. Done vs. Did. To vs. Too. Seen vs. Saw. People!!! We, in the southern parts of the U.S. have a difficult time with some of the most basic words in our language. There are also a few common words that many people misunderstand. • • • • •

Accept vs. Except. Affect vs. Effect. Ironic vs. Coincidental. Imply vs. Infer. Comprise vs. Compose.

Accept means to receive something willingly. Except signifies exclusion. Affect means to influence something/someone. Effect means to accomplish something. Coincidental is something done or happening by chance. Ironic has several meanings, all of which include some type of reversal of what was expected. (If you break your leg the day before a ski trip, that’s coincidental. If you drive up to the mountains to ski, and there was more snow back at your house, that’s ironic.) To imply means to suggest something without saying it outright. To infer means to draw a conclusion from what someone else implies. (As a general rule, the speaker/writer implies, and the listener/reader infers.) Comprise means to include. Compose means to make up.

5:1-2 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. As he mentioned in the previous verses, Paul has the understanding that we [as believers] are to imitate God in every way – including our conduct. We do not do that to earn acceptance from God as employees, but out of relationship as children. The expectation is that the longer with walk [live] in relationship with our Heavenly Father, the more our actions, attitudes, and behaviors begin to be patterned after His. Paul, then, lists a few general instructions for living a holy life.

5:3-5 But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

Some people struggle with these differing, yet similar words. However, there is one word that is categorically [across the board] probably the most misunderstood word used in the Christian verbiage. It’s the evil little word that starts with an S.

It would be easy to read this and receive it in a very condemning way, taking the statement at the end out of context. Paul is not implying that anyone who has committed one of these sins, even as a believer, is tossed from the kingdom of God.

Submission

His reference is to those who are living habitually in sin. Those who claim to be alive in Christ, transformation has taken place in a way that they cannot find rest or peace in the consistent practice of such things.

5:6-7 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them. Do not let anyone fool you into thinking that you can trust Christ and remain unchanged! A common deception throughout church history has been the notion that professing Christians can lead unrepentant, sinful lives after conversion to Christ and not suffer the consequences. ESV Study Bible At the end of this statement, Paul includes a warning about friendships. He understands that whomever we choose to associate with will have a direct and decisive impact on [and influence over our lives]. And Paul is not alone in this assumption. Show me your friends, and I’ll show you your future. Your friends determine the quality and direction of your life. Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm. Proverbs 13:20

5:8-14 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Those things of evil, darkness, and ungodliness – the things that used to define us – are not to be hidden but are to be exposed and brought to light. Not in gossip or slander, but with honesty, grace, and truthfulness. This is not just the evil things in the world, or the sinful things that others struggle with, but also those issues and sins within our own hearts. Paul reveals a process that occurs. When things are exposed – brought out of darkness, out of isolation – they become visible. They become seen and apparent. They are no longer in hiding. And when something is no longer hidden, it must be addressed and dealt with. As a result, those things [sins and struggles] that once were darkened and living in isolation – through the process of discovery and openness – they become light. Not just exposed to the light, but actually become light itself. Meaning – they are not just out in the open for everyone to look at, but because they have been exposed [brought out of isolation] there is more urgency, desire, confession, and repentance which causes the ungodliness to undergo transformation [sanctification over time] that leads to holiness in that particular area.

5:15-17 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. Be careful then, how you choose to use the time. Instead of living carelessly & foolishly, take every opportunity to live a godly and holy life. This is accomplished by understanding what the will of God is.

5:18-20 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ Again, we could easily take this out of context and make it stand alone. Yes, Paul is directly teaching that being drunk is against the will and plan of God for life. But notice the command in context with everything else Paul has been teaching over the past couple of chapters. The emphasis is on being filled with / controlled by the Spirit. This is the ultimate goal of every believer – that our lives [and every part of them] would be filled with and controlled by the Spirit of God. Instead of singing joyful &loud songs because you’re being controlled by spirits [or anything else for that matter], our lives are to be so filled with God’s Spirit that we are joyful, peaceful, happy, content. Now, in light of that, the word that everyone seems to misunderstand.

5:21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. One of the main ways that everything Paul has talked about in this chapter – becoming and imitator of God, bringing dark things out into the light, and being continually/daily filled with the Spirit of God – is through submission to one another. It’s the dirty little secret that no one really understands or likes to talk about. When we become part of the family of God, we are in submission to Him and to another another. This does not mean that someone has free reign in your life to examine and nit-pick every area of it, but it does mean that you have opened yourself up to at least someone [and Paul will tell us who specifically in the next section we will dicuss]. One of the main ways for the dark things in my life to be brought into light is through submission to another believer. I willingly open my life [vulnerability] to someone else in the sense that I give the complete ability to question, challenge, and exhort me privately in love – according to [in line with] the will and principles of God [accountability].