Walk in Love.

Ephesians 5:1 -20
1  Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 
2  And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.
3  But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; 
4  neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. 
5  For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 
6  Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 
7  Therefore do not be partakers with them. 
8  For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 
9  (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 
10  finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. 
11  And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. 
12  For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. 
13  But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. 
14  Therefore He says: "Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light." 
15  See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 
16  redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 
17  Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 
18  And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, 
19  speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 
20  giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

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We can never fulfil these recommendations or commands of the Apostle Paul by following men.
There is no use looking to men for our role models, for if we model ourselves on men, we will surely fail.
This doesn’t mean that there aren’t any good men, or that there hasn’t been any great Christ like Christians. If we are to imitate a man, it must be the ways in which he imitated Christ.

Paul said in Philippians 3:17  Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. 

This does not mean that we should imitate him, as much as what he was doing, which was imitating Christ.
What Paul meant was, imitate me in the same way that I imitate Christ.
 

1  Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 

If we do this, there is a possibility we can fulfil what Paul was saying earlier in Ephesians 4:13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;

We are to walk in the same love wherewith Christ loved us.
 

2  And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.

The Greek word for this love is Agape (Ancient Greek ἀγάπη, agapē) is a Greco-Christian term referring to unconditional love, "the highest form of love, charity" and "the love of God for man and of man for God".

John 15:13 Greater love (Agape) has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.
 

In contrast to this, Paul points out that to engage in selfishness, practices that are opposite to sacrificial love.
One commits these acts when thinking only of oneself.

3  But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; 
4  neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. 

Fornication: is the word Pornea, from where we get pornography. It means all kinds of sexual sin.
Consensual sexual intercourse, between people who aren't married to one another.
This encompasses adultery and all forms of pre-marital sex. ... The Bible strictly forbids fornication.

Uncleaness: Another word that covers, “sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these” (Gal 5:19-21).

Covetousness: eager or excessive desire, especially for wealth or possessions:

Filthiness: Foulness; dirtiness; filth; nastiness. Corruption; pollution; defilement by sin; impurity.

Foolish Talking: sinful or tasteless talk, for example, "jesting" in vulgar double-entendre.

Course Jesting: Indecent or vulgar jesting, improper jokes. Sexual innuendo.

The idea is that one doesn’t avoid these things to become a Christian but because one is a Christian, these are not appropriate and show only selfishness and self gratification and not love.
 

5 For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 

This causes a problem for a lot of Christians. We all know that Christians are not perfect and can fall into sin.
If we read what Paul says in vv3 and 4, Paul summarises that those who live like this are not true believers.
Ephesians 2:2 explained that those who persist in sinful living are under the influence of Satan, not Christ.

Paul, in this verse, is making a distinction between those who "walk" in these kinds of sins, and those who are part of the kingdom of God.
Some people think that Paul is implying that those who fall into such sins will lose their salvation.

However, when we look at the whole teaching of scripture, we see that this cannot be the case.
 

Rom 8:38  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 

Rom 8:39  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

While this single verse, Eph 5:5 seems to suggest that these sins can separate one from salvation, other passages certainly show Paul's view, that nothing can separate the believer from God.

In the context of Ephesians, Paul is making a distinction between the lives of believers and unbelievers.
Believers are supposed to live in a completely different way than unbelievers.

Whilst a believer may be overcome with temptation, it will not be his or her normal practice of life.
If one is born again, that person has been given the gift of eternal life. John 3:16.
Paul is making it clear here in Eph 5:1,  that because of this fact, the believer should behave in a way that imitates God, which is turning away from these sinful things.
 
Of course Christians sin. It is very clear in the teaching of scripture.

1Jn 1:8  If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 
1Jn 1:10  If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. 

However, we also know that repentance brings forgiveness.
1Jn 1:9  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 

The Salvation we have, can never be lost.
 

Joh 10:28  And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 
 

What is being referred to here, in Eph5:5, is persistent sin and that is why the Apostle Paul is using the word in chapter 4:21, "If".

Eph 4:21 if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus: 

We must separate ourselves as children of God from this way of life.
We must avoid being drawn into the sinful practices of the world.

Eph 5:6  Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 
7  Therefore do not be partakers with them. 

We were saved out of the world. We also were in darkness, blind and without the light. But now we have been saved.
God chose to reveal Himself to us through the Word, by the Holy Spirit. God caused His light to shine in our heart, so that we no longer need to walk in darkness.

8  For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 

We have been grafted into the vine, which is Christ and Christ’s life flows through us. We now have the ability to produce the fruit of righteousness. The fruit of the Spirit. Galatians 5.

Gal 5:22  But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 
Gal 5:23  Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 

Eph 5:9  (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 
10  finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. 

It is these things that are acceptable to God.

We are not to join in with the works of the flesh but rather expose them.

11  And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. 
12  For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. 

Sometimes it is easy to expose such things, just by being different shows them up for what they are.
When we refrain from joining in with course conversation. When we refuse to go to certain places or participate in actions that are obviously of a dubious nature, we will stand out.
Our lack of participation very often causes guilt feelings in those that continue in these things.
When light is introduced into a dark place, things are exposed.
Jesus said, ”You are the light of the world” Matthew 5:14.

Just by saying, “I can’t do that, it is not the Christian way”, sheds light on those deeds.
 

13  But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light. 

This why it is important for Christians to be alert and be awake.

14  Therefore He says: "Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light." 

Spurgeon quote:
“This sleepiness in the Christian is exceedingly dangerous, too, because he can do a great deal while he is asleep that will make him look as if he were quite awake.”

· We can speak when we are asleep.

· We can hear when we are asleep.

· We can walk when we are asleep.

· We can sing when we are asleep.

· We can think when we are asleep.

“The man who is asleep does not care what becomes of his neighbours; how can he while he is asleep? And oh! Some of you Christians do not care whether souls are saved or damned… It is enough for them if they are comfortable. If they can attend a respectable place of worship and go with others to heaven, they are indifferent about everything else.” End of quote.
 

Many Christians believe that we are living in the last days and the signs certainly make it seem the case.
If this is true, we must not sleep. We must stay alert and use the time that is left, wisely.
Jesus said:

John 9:4 We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming, when no one can work.

This is what Paul is saying here in Ephesians.

Eph 5:15  See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 
16  redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 
17  Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 

We haven’t time to waste. The days are short and God is drawing His people to Himself.
How will they hear without a preacher?

We are the body of Christ, we need to be strong. It is essential for each of us to participate in the work of evangelism. Always being ready to give an account of what we believe.

1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defence to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;

We must be sober, remain alert, and be filled with the Spirit.

18  And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, 

This “be filled” has the connotation of “be being filled”. A constant infilling, which means emptying ourselves of anything that could mar the flow of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

Not neglecting the meeting together, sharing, reading, studying, and praying.
The idea of building each other up in our faith, strengthening each other and maintaining the body of Christ.

19  speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 
20  giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
 

By doing these things and going into the world to be witnesses to the power of the gospel to those in darkness.

Acts 2:47 Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

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