Here is my commentary on Ephesians 5:12-13. I am publishing these once or twice a week, but you can read all of the available articles at our web-site, http://www.new-life.org.au

Ephesians 5:12-13

“It is shameful to mention what such people do secretly, but everything exposed by the Light becomes visible.”

We live in an age where it is no longer shameful to mention what those who are controlled by Satan do in secret.

Shame is a feeling of being less than normal, of being unworthy of society, because of what we have done, or sometimes because of what has been done to us.

Western society has broadly lost all sense of shame or guilt when it comes to sexuality. Quite the reverse, in gact, when every form of potential sexual deviancy is celebrated. In a new form of tyranny, those who refuse to celebrate deviancy are shamed.

In 2020 one of the most popular songs in the USA was WAP. It would be shameful to mention what WAP stands for. I viewed the video of the song and I was overwhelmed by a feeling of being violated by some lurking evil that goes beyond the perverted sexuality of the song.

Paul says that shameful deeds are done in secret, in the dark, but the light of Christ will shine into the dark places and show up the deeds of darkness.

This is different to the current situation in which we live. There are many shameful deeds that are exposed, but rather than being transformed by the process of exposure, they are celebrated and become even more brazen. It is as if a beam of dark energy is at work rather than the light. This energy motivates and excites people to ever more wicked ways.

As Paul states earlier, we are children of the light, that is the true light of Christ. We are the light of the world.

When the true light shines on the deeds of wickedness, they are shown up for what they really are. The practitioners of such darkness then have an opportunity to repent of their actions.

The light then serves two purposes.

1. The light reveals the truth of what is really there. The false light tolerates and celebrates “diversity”, but it only reaches the most shallow levels. The true light penetrates to the heart of sin and exposes its true nature.

2. The light reveals the hearts of people so that God’s judgement is seen to be fair. Those who embrace the light repent of their sinful ways and turn to the Lord. Those who reject the light continue to pursue the ways of sin.

In John 3:19-26 we read: “ This is the judgement, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. For all who love evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. Those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.” (New Revised Standard Version)

Some will be saved. Some of those who are in the darkness welcome the light, and they recognise the truth of sin and of salvation.

Key points in these verses:

• The deeds of darkness are shameful
• Our culture celebrates the deeds of darkness
• Followers of Jesus carry the light that reveals the reality of sin
• The light reveals both the truth about sin, and the truth about those who are in the darkness.

Here is my commentary on Ephesians 5:11. I am publishing these once or twice a week, but you can read all of the available articles at our web-site, http://www.new-life.org.au

Ephesians 5:11

“Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.”

Christians are the children of light, and so must have nothing to do with the deeds of darkness.

The deeds of darkness, that is sin, do not produce fruit. We might think that just as the Spirit produces fruit in the believer, then sin must also produce its own kind of fruit, even if it is a disgusting kind of fruit.

Paul is thinking of a plant left in a dark place. It not only produces no fruit, but will itself wither and die.

Sin does not produce anything that is worthy of eternity. Quite the opposite, in fact. The product of sin will be thrown into the fire to be burnt (see John 15:6, where Jesus talks of the fate of the branch that produces no fruit).

Sin produces results that might seem fruitful in the world, but will not last beyond this life. Since we are children of light not of darkness, we must have nothing to do with such things.

This is not “moderation in all things”, but ”have nothing to do with them.” While we are allowed to enjoy the fruits of creation which God has given us for our benefit, when it comes to sin we are to completely avoid it.

Christians have in the past, and continue into the present, to have disagreements about where the line between light and darkness should be drawn. Some avoid alcohol in faith while others drink alcohol in faith. Some have certain dress codes, while others do not have the same dress codes – all in order to please the Lord.

Where it is clear that certain practices are condemned in the Bible, we must have nothing to do with them. This is forbidden territory for christians. We must live lives of light not darkness.

While we are to avoid the fruitless deeds of darkness, we must not avoid the people who walk in the darkness. We are called to be salt and light in the world, even while we live by different rules and values. We must be friends of sinners, as Jesus was, while avoiding the sin.

To expose the deeds of darkness means we let the light of God shine on them. Paul is thinking here that, as we live in the ways of Jesus, the contrast between us and the people of the world will expose the ugly reality of sin.

We do not have to lecture the ungodly about their ways, although there is room for public proclamation of righteousness. In other words, the church must find ways of describing the kingdom lifestyle without pointing the finger at those who live differently.

Paul sees the role of Christians as shining the light of Christ so that people start to see that their own lives are dark and fruitless. This should raise the question of how people get the power to live exemplary lives, and then to them wanting to follow Jesus as the result.

This exposing the deeds of darkness is simply shining a spotlight that enables people to see clearly that their lives are indeed fruitless.

As John points out, there are people who love the darkness rather than the light because their deeds are evil (John 3:19-21). There are people in the world who are so committed to their evil deeds that no amount of light will convince them to change. They see the light as a painful thing and flee from it. This in itself exposes the darkness.

Christians are called to be imitators of Christ. We find out what pleases the Lord and delight in it so that our lives become winsome and attractive to those who welcome the light.

Key points in this verse:

• We are to have nothing to do with the deeds of darkness
• Sin produces no fruit for eternity
• As we live in the light of Christ, we will expose the deeds of darkness
• Not everyone welcomes the light

Here is my commentary on Ephesians 5:10. I am publishing these once or twice a week, but you can read all of the available articles at our web-site, http://www.new-life.org.au

Ephesians 5:10

“Find out what pleases the Lord.”

The children of light do not just sit back and let the light flow through them as passive vessels, like a window. In all parts of the Christian walk, we have a partnership with the Holy Spirit. We do things in cooperation with God.

So Paul tells us now that we must “find out what pleases the Lord.”

The word translated as ”find” has a sense of continual testing and proving – as a metal or alloy might be tested. This suggests an experimental approach, a continuing testing of where the Lord is leading us.

There are some boundaries laid down for us in the Bible. We can find out some general expressions in the Ten Commandments and in the ministry of Jesus. These supply, if you like, the boundaries for what pleases the Lord.

Within these boundaries there is infinite scope for discovering what pleases the Lord. And as the word “ test” indicates, there may be times when in our creative approach to serving the Lord, we may fail, finding instead what displeases God . But that’s not a bad thing, as it helps to define where the boundaries are.

Each of us has been called and created to serve the Lord and to fellowship with the Lord in a unique way. Our spiritual DNA is unique, so our own way of pleasing the Lord may be different to others .

Religion prescribes only one way, the “Appropriate Way”, to worship God. But in our creativity and in the way we are created, we should all find a way to worship and serve that is designed just for us .

Prayer is the starting point in this. if I do not talk to the Lord about what pleases Him, then I’ll never find out what He wants.

Even our way to pray needs to be set free from the confines of religious practice. Some people pray sitting down, others walking, still others lying prostrate. All of these ways of praying are pleasing to the Lord.

When we give generously to a person in need, that pleases the Lord.

When we pray for healing or for a really big miracle and we believe that God can do it and wants to do it, that is pleasing to the Lord. Whenever we do something in faith, the Lord is pleased.

When we talk to our neighbours about Jesus, just from the sheer joy of loving him and not out of the sense of duty, then the Lord is pleased.

When we speak up for the oppressed and downtrodden, then the Lord is pleased.

There is so much that pleases the Lord because he is proud of his children.

Each day there will be opportunity to discover what pleases the Lord. Every day will bring us chances to pray and praise, to love our neighbour, and to be like Jesus.

Each day I need to ask the Lord “what will I do that pleases you today?” Each day it will be different, because God is always taking us into new places, with new people and new tasks.

This is not duty, this is joy! it is not “I have to please the Lord,” but “ I get to please the Lord!”

This process starts with Scripture, the word of God, but it is completed in prayer and relationship with the Holy Spirit.

Key points in this verse:

• Finding out what pleases God is an ongoing process
• We each have a unique way to delight the lord
• It is relational not religious

Here is my commentary on Ephesians 5:9. I am publishing these once or twice a week, but you can read all of the available articles at our web-site, http://www.new-life.org.au

Ephesians 5:9

“For the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true.”

A note on translations:

All the modern translations of the Bible translate this verse as “ the fruit of the Light.” The King James version and New King James Version translat it as “the fruit of the Spirit.”

In Greek, as in English, the words are quite different in sound and in meaning, so how did we get to this point of two very different translations possibilities?

There are many ancient manuscripts of the various Scriptures still available to us. There were no printing presses or other mechanical means of copying text back at the time when the Scriptures were written and copied. It was all by hand. Also, the scriptures of the New Testament were in great demand, and so a lot of copying was being done.

Sometimes people make mistakes. Sometimes people made “ improvements” as they went.

Somewhere along the line, somebody appears to have changed “ fruit of the light” to “ fruit of the Spirit” perhaps confusing this verse with Galatians 5:22.

Even though this change crept into some very early manuscripts,the overwhelming majority have “the fruit of the light.”

The KJV. and New KJV have opted for the “ fruit of the Spirit”, based on the best evidence from 500 years ago. Most modern translations think “ the fruit of the light” is the more likely form of the original words written by Paul.

Whichever version we follow, the meaning is basically the same whether attributed to “the light” or to “the Spirit.” What is important is that various translators can come to different conclusions from the best of motives.

The light is God. in Christ we are light ( see previous verses). The fruit of the light, then, is the outworking of God in our lives. Just as fruit grow naturally on any healthy plant, the light should produce certain fruit in our lives.

Paul has written at some length about the lives of the people who live in darkness. There is a fruit of this kind of living that christians must avoid if they are to walk with the Lord.

Now he tells us three qualities of the fruit of the light .

Firstly, the fruit of the Light is found in all that is good.

The word “good” here means virtuous and profitable. It suggest a moral dimension to our lifestyle.

To say that the fruit of the light is found in goodness means that the christian is to live a life that is morally upright and which is good for the person and also for those around him. The light shines in the darkness and is shown by the good life of christians.

For all that our society increasingly opposes the church’s teaching, it is equally amazed at acts of unimaginable forgiveness exercise by christians towards those who hurt them

Secondly, the fruit of the light is found in what is right.

The word here is the same as that often translated righteous. In other words we are to be seen as without corruption or sin.

Some Christian see the fact that God forgives our sins and makes us righteous in Christ as an excuse to continue to sin. If we have the light in us, then the fruit of the light will make us righteous in nature as well as in our status before God.

Thirdly, the fruit of the light is found him what is true.

Truth is a very under-valued concept in our post- modern culture. By redefining truth to be purely subjective, we have deleted the meaning of the word.

Some objective truths remain. Even if you are certain that it is not your truth, gravity will accelerate you to the ground at 9.8 metres per second squared .

This fluidity of truth that says what is true for you may not be true for me is an undermining of any basis for society. If we cannot count on 2 + 2 is always equal to four, then science, engineering, construction, business, agriculture, relationships, and law will all collapse.

Paul says that as children of light, the fruit of light will be seen in what is true. We will be people of integrity who do what we promise and live by the values we espouse.

Key points in this verse:

• Bible translations can vary without being deceptive or false
• Christians are to grow the fruit of light in their lifestyle
• Fruit, spiritual or natural, come as a result of a healthy plant or person.

Here is my commentary on Ephesians 5:7-8. I am publishing these once or twice a week, but you can read all of the available articles at our web-site, http://www.new-life.org.au

Ephesians 5:7-8

“Therefore do not the associated with them, for once you were darkness but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of the light.”

We must have nothing to do with disobedient people on whom God’s wrath is coming down. (Ephesians 5:6)

This does not mean that we should try to separate ourselves completely from the world. How can the light shine in the darkness if the light shuns the darkness?

It does mean that we need to be careful about our friendships. We must ensure that the people who are disobedient to God are not the people who are influencing our thoughts and our values.

This is always a delicate balance for christians who are called to be “in the world” but not “of the world.”

We were once darkness but now, in the Lord, we are light.

This is a binary state – we are either light or darkness, for Christ or against Him. There are no grey areas.

Before we were united with Christ, we lived in the darkness. We shared the nature of darkness – the sin and depravity of the world.

As children of darkness, we set our own destiny and lived by our own values. We were headed for eternal judgement, which is the fate of all who choose the darkness over the light.

Then Jesus came into our lives. The darkness was overtaken by the light. We made a quantum leap, a leap of faith. We crossed over from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light.

All of this was by the grace of God. We had little say in it except to agree that we needed salvation.

In Christ, we are now light. The light of Christ shines from us into the darkness. The darkness cannot overcome light.

Some people feel that they are not very good at being light in the darkness. It is true that some seem to have a brighter light than others, in that they live an exemplary Christian life.

If you had ever been in a pitch black space, such as a cave, where there is literally no light, you may have seen a match or candle lit. What would seem to be a very weak light in the middle of the day, has great brightness in perfect darkness.

Even the weakest of christians shine as beacons in the darkness of the world. As long as we are trying to be faithful to the Lord, His life will shine through it.

This light is “in the Lord.” He is the source of light that flows from us and shines in the darkness. The brightness of the light, the amount of light that shines, is proportional to the power of the presence of Christ in our lives.

Sin can dim the light. Sin is like a film of grease on a lamp. It does not extinguish the light, but it does make the light less clearly seen. It may blur the focus, making the light of Christ less distinguishable. It might add colours that are not meant to be there.

Therefore, Paul tells us that we must live as children of the light. It seems odd that many who have crossed over from darkness into light still live by the laws and customs of the kingdom of darkness.

If we have truly been born of the Spirit then the works of the Spirit will grow in us. For some this is a rapid process, but for many it is a long, slow process of daily turning to the Lord.

Over time, we will see the fruits of darkness diminish in our lives, and the fruit of the Holy Spirit should increase.

Like many things in the walk with the Lord, this is both the grace of God together with hard work on our part. We have to decide to walk as children of the light, while also remaining humble to receive the power to change.

Key points in these verses:

• We must not allow the people of darkness to influence our own attitudes and deeds
• We were once darkness, but God lifted this up into the kingdom of light
• We must live as children of the light
• Do not be discouraged if you feel that your light is inadequate. Keep trusting the Lord.

Here is my commentary on Ephesians 5:6. I am publishing these once or twice a week, but you can read all of the available articles at our web-site, http://www.new-life.org.au

Ephesians 5:6

“Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes on those who are disobedient.”

Paul wants us to beware of those who seek to deceive with empty words. The wrath of God will be poured out on those who are disobedient and continue to practise the various sins he has previously listed .

Empty words are words that have no substance to them. They are soothing phrases or comforting words, which ignore the reality of sin in the Christian community.

We can be deceived in matters of doctrine or lifestyle by outright lies. There have been many of these in the history of the church, and the church has had to deal with them vigorously. For example, early heresies about the nature of God, and of Jesus Christ were debated at great lengths in the councils of the church before definitive decisions were made.

If a preacher comes along and says that Christ was not truly human, then we know that they are trying to deceive us. If a pastor proclaims that it is acceptable to have two wives or be unfaithful to your spouse, we know that this is deception.

Empty words are different because they are seductive rather than obviously untrue. At times they may be true in general, but the application might be twisted. “ God wants the best for you” is true, but this does not mean He wants you to have the best houses, cars, or clothes.

Some preaching is little more than inspirational speaking in a christian disguise. The so-called “ feel good message” or “ seeker sensitive sermon” is deceptive because it does not address sin, redemption, or fellowship with the Lord.

In contrast to “ empty words” Paul told the Corinthians that he did not come to them with mere words alone but with the preaching of the Cross and with the power of miracles (1 Corinthians 2:1-5).

The danger of fairy floss preaching is that it lulls believers into thinking that they are leading a godly life while continually walking in habitual sin.

The wrath of God will fall on those who are disobedient.

Does this mean that God may judge his children? How can anyone be sure that they are saved?

The original Greek of this verse says “ he wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience.” In other words, there are people who might portray themselves as children of God who are in fact children of disobedience.

When we continue to walk in habitual sin that the Spirit of God and the Word of God have brought to our attention, then it is possible that we are not truly born again. This is not referring to the occasional stumble, but to a whole- hearted embrace of sin that we have carved away from the life of righteousness .

Jesus said that there will be people who worked miracles in His name, prophesied or cast out demons yet he never knew them. (Matthew 7:21-23).

This point is crucial. We live in an age when many people have been raised in church or who have prayed a prayer at a meeting to receive Jesus, but they have never entered a life of surrender to Christ. Consequently, their life is as sinful and rebellious as any non- christian. Our deeds reflect our hearts. A good tree produces good fruit, and a heart surrendered to Christ will produce spiritual fruit.

Those who have not given their hearts to the Lord, in the deepest sense of that phrase, are subject to the wrath or judgement of God. They will not be saved unless they repent and ask God for forgiveness in the name of Jesus and then live entirely for Him.

Do not be deceived by empty words and improper promises. God will not be mocked.

Key points in this verse:

• Deception can come through bad or false teaching
• Empty words deceive by offering false comfort and a sense of security that is not warranted.
• If we are truly saved, our lives will grow to be more and more like Jesus

Here is my commentary on Ephesians 5:5. I am publishing these once or twice a week, but you can read all of the available articles at our web-site, http://www.new-life.org.au

Ephesians 5:5

“For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure, or greedy person – such a man is an idolater- has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.”

The warning against sin here is particularly strong. Paul certainly wants us to understand that these sins which may not seem to be so grave as, for example, murder or robbery, they are still subject to God’s wrath .

“For of this you can be sure” means there is no doubt, no equivocation, none of those “ grey areas” which we like to insert into God’s black and white judgements.

No immoral person can inherit God’s Kingdom. Any form of marital infidelity or sexual misconduct is anathema to God. All of the sexual deviations that can be imagined undermine the sacredness of marriage and the stability of families.

The world condones, even celebrates, such sins of the flesh, but God condemns them. They elevate the flesh about the spirit, sensuality over spirituality.

The message of Ephesians is that we are holy people, set apart for God. To be holy means that we must turn away from sexual sin.

Likewise, impure people will not enter the kingdom of God. Impurity suggest a mixture. We want a little bit of the world and a little bit of religion. Impure people like to think they can have Christianity as an added extra to their lives without giving up the pleasures of the world.

God is constantly seeking to refine us or purify us. He is looking for a people who are totally dedicated to Him. He will use any means possible to burn the dross out of our hearts.

Life can be hard, but for christians there is always a purpose in suffering. Often it is the fire of refining.

God cannot stand impurity, half-heartedness, or lukewarmness. This is a state of heart that deceives us into believing that sin is not so big of a deal for the christian. After all God will forgive. But God will only forgive when we can come to repentance, and if we justify our sin we will see no need to repent of it.

A greedy person will also have no part in God’s Kingdom. To be greedy is to be an Idol worshipper. A greedy person trusts in the power of their money or other possessions to keep them safe.

Jesus referred to the god of mammon. There is nothing intrinsically wrong with being wealthy, but when our heart is captivated by money or when our trust or our identity is in our wealth, then we have turned material possessions into a false god.

A greedy person finds it hard to let go of their money, to give to the poor, or to support the mission of the church. Such greed can be fatal as Ananias and Sapphira discovered (see Acts 5). Dependency on money stopped a rich ruler from following the way of Jesus.

The people that are described in this verse have no inheritance in the Kingdom of God and of Christ.

We might think that Paul is saying that these people who have presumably professed faith in Christ will get to heaven, but only by the skin of their teeth. They will have no inheritance so they will be like homeless people on the streets of Heaven.

In 1 Corinthians 3, Paul talks about the things Christians build being tested by fire. He says that some people will enter the Kingdom with nothing of value. However, these are not greedy, impure, or immoral people. They are born again christians who have failed to build anything that is of value in eternity. They were not so much greedy or immoral as misguided or lazy or selfish.

This verse simply restates what is a common theme in scripture. A heart that is truly united to Christ will result in a changed lifestyle and a change of focus.

Do we have to be perfectly sinless to enter God’s Kingdom? No, but we do need to be pursuing God, heeding the Spirit of God, and obedient to the word of God.

Key points in this verse

• Immorality impurity, and greed are condemned by God
• Greed is a form of idolatry
• People who follow these things have no part in God’s Kingdom. They will not enter Heaven

Here is my commentary on Ephesians 5:4. I am publishing these once or twice a week, but you can read all of the available articles at our web-site, http://www.new-life.org.au

Ephesians 5:4

“Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk, or coarse joking which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.”

Paul now turns to the specific speech which should mark the conduct of christians.

In our current culture, we have a very low standard for speech, both in private and public settings. It is not uncommon to hear people shouting words which are generation ago were considered obscene and unsuitable for public utterance.

Political and community leaders have been heard using expletives when they mistakenly thought the microphones were turned off.

Even in church meetings, words which 10 or 20 years ago would have raised eyebrows are spoken without any discomfort.

We have freed up epithets related to sex (although a new form of secular puritanical censorship is emerging that says a new set of words are unacceptable) and banned racial descriptions.

The people of God and not controlled by legalism or political correctness. We are, however, to let our speech be directed by a sense of what is “ fitting” or appropriate for the holy saints of God.

Paul says certain forms of speech are “ out of place.” These things are not sinful or morally wrong. They are simply not suitable given our position in God’s Kingdom.

We do not have a list of words that must not be spoken, as these vary from place to place, culture to culture, time to time. Instead, we need to ensure that our thoughts and the words we speak out loud are led by the Holy Spirit.

The word obscenity here refers to speech that would make a morally sensitive person ashamed. Earlier Paul said that some things should not even be mentioned amongst them.

It is hard to pin down what might be intended here without indulging in the thing being forbidden. It could be assumed that various sexual deviances and practices might be included.

This is not to say that Paul is prohibiting discussion of homosexuality, for example. It is important to say that certain activities are not permissible. Where we might cross the line is where we indulge in too much detail or idle speculation .

“Foolish talk” is the sort of meaningless rubbish that a drunken person might babble.

A lot of social banter might come under this category. A little humour might be considered suitable for breaking ice and oiling social interactions. However if our conversation is limited to reciting Monty Python’s “Dead Parrot” sketch then the Holy Spirit may be lacking.

Instead of merely allowing conversation to remain at a shallow surface level, we should allow our interactions to be used for mutual edification, encouragement, and exhortation.

“Coarse joking” is a form of humour which derives amusement at the expense of others. We might think initially of sexual humour, but it includes every form of jesting which puts people down.

The point is that we are meant to be honouring people who are made in the image of God and for whom Christ died. How do we derive laughter at the cost of any person?

Instead of these forms of speech which Paul says are “ not suitable,” we should practice thankfulness.

Everything we have is a gift from the Lord. “Every good gift comes from above,” James tells us.

Any fool can tell a dirty joke or engage in meaningless twaddle. The person of faith will seek to elevate his or her thinking and speaking in order to honour God in all things. In 1Thessalonians 5:16-18, Paul tells us to “ rejoice always, pray constantly, and give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

It is God’s will that we learn to rejoice and give thanks in all circumstances. Whereas the unsaved cannot see a reason for what happens in life, the christian can always see God’s hand in their lives and find reasons to give thanks.

This is not a wilful denial of pain and suffering in life. Rather it is a contentment and celebration that in all things God is with us.

Key points in this verse:

• Some forms of speech and not suitable for the people of God
• We need to build up others with our words, not tear them down
• We should make thanksgiving a feature of our speech

Here is my commentary on Ephesians 5:3. I am publishing these once or twice a week, but you can read all of the available articles at our web-site, http://www.new-life.org.au

Ephesians 5:3

“But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality or of any kind of impurity or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people.”

A more literal translation of this verse is: “ But fornication, and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is fitting among the saints.” (NRSV)

These things, according to Paul, should be so far from our normal thinking that we who are the holy ones of God should not want to even mention them, much less commit them.

It’s might be asked, how can we avoid thinking about sexual immorality, impurity, and greed, when these are rife in our society. Well, they were common enough in the Roman Empire as well. The lusts of the flesh have always and In most places been a stumbling block for Christians.

At the very least, we should make sure that we live a life worthy of our high calling as children of God, putting Jesus first in all things.

We should review our entertainment sources. So many forms of entertainment normalise attitudes of sexuality and greed which are opposed to the holiness of God.

We should monitor our conversations and ensure that our speech does not revolve around sex or desires for new cars, faster computers, and better houses in better neighbourhoods. These are not things that should be at the centre of our thoughts and discussions.

Sexual immorality or fornication refers to the undermining of marriage. Men and women are meant to be faithful to their partners for life. The traditional marriage vows speak of “ forsaking all others for as long as you both shall live.”

Our society glamorises infidelity. Having an affair, hooking up, a bit on the side, booty call, are common terms which denote a generally permissive attitude to sex beyond marriage. Marriage is often seen as confining, boring, and suffocating. Seeing someone else can be liberating, refreshing, exciting.

On the contrary, Paul will, later in this chapter, describe marriage as being a representation of Christ’s relationship with the church. It is impossible to conceive of Christ abandoning the church to have a different covenant with a different group of people. This goes against His nature. Similarly, sexual immorality goes against the nature of God’s holy people, the saints.

The phrase “any kind of impurity” takes the standard further. Here it is not just about unfaithfulness in marriage, but any kind of sexual desire or practice which lies outside of the covenant of marriage.

We might throw into this category such things as pornography, sexualised banter, double-entendre, homosexual acts, prostitution, and much more.

The church is meant to be pure and holy, and a representation of the original pre-Fall state of Adam and Eve.

Our aim should be to pursue Christ, and when we pursue these other things, we miss the mark of our holy calling.

The word covetousness implies a ruthless kind of greed that tramples over the rights of other people in order to gain what is wanted. The classic cases of this in scripture King David’s desire for Bathsheba (2 Samuel chapters 11-12) and Ahab’s desire for Naboth’s vineyard (1 Kings chapter 21). In both cases, covetousness leads to unforeseen consequences, escalating quickly to murder.

The original sin in Genesis was to covet something that God had forbidden. “When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate.” (Genesis 3:6, NRSV)

These things (sexual immorality, impurity, and covetousness) are not fitting the God’s holy people. They relate to the fleshly nature, the old nature which is supposed to be crucified when we come to Christ.

We should not approach these things from a legalistic point of view, laying down laws in a new form of Pharisaism. The solution is not to “mortify the flesh”, but to look to Christ. As we gain a more perfect and exalted vision of Jesus, and make pursuing Him our prime objective then all of these desires will just fade away.

 

Key points in this verse:

• There are some things which Christians should be careful in talking about in their gatherings
• Sexual immorality, impurity, and covetousness should become removed from our thoughts
• We need to monitor our own speech, our entertainment, and our desires to ensure that we are not pursuing the desires of the flesh
• The solution does not lie in legalism, but in putting Jesus Christ at the centre of our thoughts and desires

Here is my commentary on Ephesians 5:2. I am publishing these once or twice a week, but you can read all of the available articles at our web-site, http://www.new-life.org.au

Ephesians 5:2

“And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”

We are to walk in love as Christ loved us. The Christian life is not a series of negatives which constrain our behaviour with boundaries of what we are not permitted to do.

The overarching command is to love God, to love our neighbours, even to love our enemies.

Paul encourages us here to make love such a part of our ethical system that it becomes the focus of our walk along the road of life. We are to walk in love footstep by footstep, day by day, loving those whom we meet.

When we practise love, what is a difficult concept at first becomes a part of our lives. This is not to suggest that love ever becomes mechanical, but the habit of concentrating on others becomes automatic.

This love again is God’s love, the love of Christ or agape love. Christ’s love is unfailing, eternal, and unchanging just as God is unfailing, eternal and unchanging.

In Christ we see how love is acted out at the human level. Christ gave Himself up for us .

Firstly Christ gave Himself up when He left the glorious throne in heaven and became a human being. He took on weakness and the various limitations of being in a body. He was subject to all the appetites of the flesh and also its demands.

Christ gave Himself up by subjecting Himself to the Jewish law, the law of Moses. He who was without sin still had to offer the various sacrifices that were ordained to reconcile sinful people to a holy God.

Christ gave Himself up by humbling Himself under the authority of religious and civil leaders. He was so much greater than they were, yet he obeyed them .

Finally, Christ gave Himself up at the cross. He was beaten, mocked, tortured, and nailed to a cross. Crucifixion was not only an intensely painful way to die, it was a shameful punishment. It was so shameful, in fact, that Roman citizens were not permitted to be crucified.

Christ gave up His divine right to be above such suffering. He gave up any human right to be vindicated and set free, despite the obviously fabricated charges brought against Him.

On the cross, Jesus bore the brunt of the Father’s wrath against sin. This was infinitely greater than the common suffering of all who were punished by crucifixion. The divine Son of God who had known an eternity of intimacy with the Father now found Himself forsaken by God.

Christ carried the burden of every sin committed, every offence against God’s righteousness, since the time of Adam, stretching to our own time and beyond. He suffered the eternity of Hell in six hours on the cross.

Christ gave Himself up to suffer on our behalf. He suffered physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

In His suffering He became a fragrant offering and a sacrifice.

In the Temple, and before that the Tabernacle, there was an altar where fragrant incense was offered continually to the Lord. The smoke from this incense was considered to be pleasing to the Lord.

So Paul tells us that Christ’s death on the cross was a fragrant offering, similar to the smell of incense wafting up to heaven.

Incense is not of itself pleasing to God. A stick of incense is just a stick. It is only when it is burnt that the incense is released. In a sense, the incense must die to release the fragrant offering that pleases the Lord.

In a similar way, the death of Christ released a fragrant offering to the Father. This offering was the reconciliation sinful humanity to the holy God. The achievement of that purpose, which stretched back even before creation, pleased God.

Christ’s death was more than a pleasant smell. It was a sacrifice. Sacrifices achieve various things in the Old Covenant, but the most important of them is atonement.

Atonement means that the death of an animal is accepted on my behalf as payment for my sin. I deserve to die for dishonouring God, but he chooses to accept an animal’s death instead.

The Old Testament describes very detailed procedures for the type of sacrifices required for various sins, as well as the method of slaughter for the animal.

The principle is simple- one sin equals one sacrifice.

Then on the Day of Atonement the sins of the whole nation were laid on the head of a goat which was driven into the wilderness.

Over and over, and in many different ways, the Lord impressed on his people the gravity of sin and their need to be made right with Him.

Now Jesus who is over and above any created being, has been offered as an atonement, the sacrifice, for our sin. He is the Lamb who takes away the sins of the world.

Every sin of every person who ever lived, and who will ever live, has been put to death with Christ on the cross.

He died so that we can live. Because of Christ’s sacrifice my sins are forgiven. I am justified and made holy so that I can enter the presence of God for ever.

We were headed for hell with no hope of rescue, but Christ died and set us on the pathway to Heaven, where we will live with God forever.

This is how much God loves us. He sent his one and only Son to be our sacrifice and our fragrant offering. Because God loves us so much, we two must walk in the love of Christ.

Key points in this verse:

• Walking in Christ’s love prevents us from viewing the Christian life as just a set of rules
• Love can become a way of life when we practise Christ’s love
• Christ gave Himself up for us in His birth, in His life, and above all in His death
• Christ’s death is a fragrant offering pleasing to the father
• Christ’s death is a sacrifice which atones or pays for our sins for eternity