Therefore do not become partners with them; 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),

I briefly alluded to verse 7 last time. The wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience because of the kinds of things that Paul listed earlier in the chapter. Then in verse 7, Paul says that for this reason we should not participate with them in the things that they do.

In verse 8, he gives an additional reason. At one time, or in other words, before you were born again, you were darkness. But now you are light in the Lord.

There is a difference in a person’s life when he or she is regenerated by the Spirit of God. Before the new birth, we are in darkness. Afterwards, we are light. In 2 Corinthians 5:17, God tells us that if we are in Christ, we are new creatures. The old has passed away and the new has come.

Since we are children of the light, we should live what we are. We should walk as children of light. There should not be a discord between who we are and how we act. The two should match. Since we are children of light, we should live like it. That’s the goal. Be who you are in Christ.

Verse 9 begins with another “For.” All of what has just been said is because the fruit of light … In other words the results of the light being present in a person’s life, is found in all that is good, right, and true.

Light leads us to the truth because light is truth. And we are not speaking of light as a feeling that we might feel drawn to. Our feelings have nothing to do with it. The word of God is light. It is the only light. That’s why Jesus said, “If you abide in my Word, you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.”

Exported from Logos Bible Software, 8:06 AM May 12, 2021.

Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

We’ve come now to verse 6. Paul begins with the command, “Don’t let anyone deceive you with their empty words.” In the first part of the warning, he tells us not to allow deception. In other words, we are supposed to be able to detect deception when we hear it, and then we are to prevent ourselves from believing the deceptive rhetoric.

This is not always easy because deception often comes in the form of smooth and sophisticated language. We are to be so steeped in the Word of God that deception is easy to pick out. This means taking the time to be in the Word and to be meditating on it frequently.

In the remainder of the sentence we learn why we should not be deceived. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the disobedient. What things is he talking about? I think he is referring back to verses 3-5. Sexual immorality, impurity, covetousness, and the like are not proper for Christians. We already discussed that. But here in verse 6, Paul is telling us that there will be people speaking smooth words who will try to tell us that these things are so common and characteristic of us human beings, that they are not all that bad. But the truth is, these sinful deeds are the reason the wrath of God will be coming.

In verse 7 he says “Therefore, do not be partners with them.” Do you really want to involve yourself in the same activities the godless are practicing, when you know that those very activities are what triggers the wrath of God to come upon them? What would that do to your testimony? And what would be the irony on judgment day when your friends see you released from judgment because of the blood of Christ, and they themselves are being condemned; and they know that you participated with them in the same sinful activities?

This is cruel at many levels. You knew all along that what you all were doing was going to bring judgment, and yet you, knowing the remedy and means of salvation, still participated with them in the activities that would condemn them. That is cruel on its face!

God says that the kind of activity described in this passage should not be named among us, it is not proper for saints, and these very activities are what is bringing judgment on the world. Steer clear!

Exported from Logos Bible Software, 3:56 PM May 4, 2021.

Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.

In verse 4, Paul continues his list of things which should not be present in a Christian’s life. Here he mentions filthiness. Another word would be baseness. The Greek word is derived from words that mean shameful or disgraceful. It refers to anything, either words or deeds, that deviates from purity.

Next comes foolish talk. The Greek word here actually has the word moron in it. It is moronic speech. Speech that is foolish. Often we speak foolishness when trying to be cool or funny. We need to be careful about such talk.

The next one is crude joking. Some versions say coarse jesting. Obviously we want to stay away from filthy or dirty talking, but some of what is referred to here is just empty jesting. Sometimes we want to be cute or funny and so we make off-handed comments that are not particularly uplifting, and, which sometimes can cause embarrassment or discomfort.

According to this passage, these things are out of place. They are never appropriate. But remember, we are not only to take off, but to put on. So instead of these kinds of talk, there should be the giving of thanks. In other places in the Bible we are told that our speech should only be for edifying, building up of another person.

This section should really challenge us to think before we speak to make sure what we are going to say is fitting, proper, and helpful.

Exported from Logos Bible Software, 9:39 AM April 14, 2021.

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.

We have now arrived at Ephesians 5. Verse 1 begins with “Therefore.” Because of all that has been said, there are some resulting behaviors and admonitions that are the natural consequences of what has already been said.

The first is, be imitators of God. There are a lot of things and people that we tend to imitate. Someone said that imitation is the best form of flattery. Much of what we imitate is for the purpose of gaining prestige or favor with a certain group or to be seen as sophisticated and “with it.” But here, we are told to imitate God. Copy God. Have attitudes like God has. Obviously, this is quite the challenge because God is so much higher, more powerful, and perfect than we are. But that is to be our goal. That what is meant when the Bible calls us to be godly.

And then in verse 2, we are to walk in love. To walk in love means to live a life where love is the central attitude and motivation. God says that we are to love God first of all, and then love our neighbors as ourselves.

Since we are to be imitating God, this verse says that we should walk in love as Christ loved us. He is our example. How did He love us? He gave Himself up for us as a sacrifice to God — a fragrant sacrifice that was acceptable to God as the payment for the sins of the world.

This kind of love should make us thankful, certainly, but it should also be an encouragement to love others, forgive others, and in as many ways as possible, model Christ for them.

Exported from Logos Bible Software, 9:43 AM April 3, 2021.

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

In verses 31 and 32 we come to the next set of put off and put on. Verse 30 lists the things to put off, and verse 32 lists what is to replace them.

First, bitterness. This has to do with a resentful, embittered spirit. This is a spirit that doesn’t want reconciliation or resolution of a problem between believers.

Next, wrath. This is outbursts of rage, vindictive anger that prompts rage that flares out at someone.

Anger – a less dramatic form of wrath that may be more contained, but nevertheless does damage not only to the person the anger targets, but to the person who has the anger.

Clamor is a more vocal outcry of one person against another. It is usually fairly public and accusatory.

Slander is abusive, scurrilous speech aimed at demeaning and undermining another, sometimes with false accusations. The Greek word is blaspheme.

Malice is vicious, wicked, and spiteful attitudes and speech. The word behind it is evil or wicked.

All of these are to be removed. The ESV says let all of these be put away. The verb is passive and so the idea is to let this stuff go. There is no need to hold on to it. I think we know this is not easy. Our sin nature runs deep. But we are to allow the Scripture and the Spirit of God, and the counsel of godly friends to work in such a way that these things can be put away.

Verse 31 gives us the content for the replacement of these wicked attitudes.

First kindness. I think we all know what that means. Kindness should be a trait that is in the forefront as we interact with others.

Tenderhearted, which means we should have compassion and sensitivity toward others.

And finally, forgiving one another. We do not have to wait for an apology or repentance on the part of the other person. Our whole demeanor should be one of forgiveness. Why? Because God has forgiven us infinitely more than any perceived slight we might have felt from another person.

The principal in this chapter has been: Put off. But then put on.

Exported from Logos Bible Software, 10:14 AM April 1, 2021.

And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

In verse 30, Paul adds to the characteristics of the new man, that we should not grieve the Holy Spirit of God.

The fact that the Holy Spirit can be grieved is one of the evidences of the fact that the Holy Spirit is a person, not a force or influence.

Grieve means to pain, grieve or vex. Sometimes it is translated made sorry, or sad. The Christian should not behave in ways or have thought patterns that grieve or sadden or trouble the Holy Spirit. We learn and know how the Holy Spirit thinks by reading and meditating on the Scriptures. The more we are in the Word, the more we will be able to recognize those attitudes in us which are likely to cause grief to the Holy Spirit. Once identified, we should apply all of the biblical principles we know to avoid those behaviors and thought-patterns. It is a process of renewing the mind.

Paul goes on to tell us that it is the Holy Spirit who has sealed us for the day of redemption. There is coming a day when we will be fully redeemed. There is the fact of our current redemption as well, but in the day of redemption, we will be fully redeemed not only from the power and guilt of sin, but of the very presence of sin as well.

The Holy Spirit seals us to protect us until that day so that it is impossible for us to fall away or be snatched out of the Father’s hand (John 10:28-29). Paul had already written the Ephesians about this in 1:13 telling us that we “were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.”

In 1 Corinthians 1: 21-22 we read: “And it is God who establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.”

Guarantee means down payment. When you put a down payment on a car, the idea is that if you change your mind and decide not to go through with the deal, the  seller gets to keep the down payment. There is no way that, having given us the Holy Spirit as a down payment, God is going to renege (back out) of his promise.

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

Here is another put off and put on. Put off speaking those things which are corrupting, worthless, or rotten. He says do not allow such words to proceed from our mouths.

That’s hard, isn’t it. Our mouth often speaks before our mind get in gear. God say that we should have enough control so that this does not happen.

What then should be put on in its place? We should speak those things that are good for building up, fit the need of the moment, and extend grace to those that hear.

Talk about a challenge! He says, “Only.” Those are the only kind of words that we should permit to come from our mouth. Before we speak, we must think, “Will this help build up the person, does it fit the need of this moment, and does it extend grace?

Ecclesiastes 5:2 says: Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few.  

Proverbs 10:19 says: When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.  

I think the admonition is: speak less, listen more, and think before you speak.

Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need.

Continuing his discussion of putting off and putting on, Paul says that the thief should no longer steal. Stealing is to be discarded. what is to be put on as its replacement?

Something must always be put on to replace what has been taken off. In this case he tells us that we should labor, and do honest work with our own hands.

But there’s more to it than that. Not only should we labor, and do honest work, but we should do this so that we would have something to share with others who have needs.

When a person is needy, there are two options. Either work with ones own hands or be helped by someone who God has enabled someone to be able to share. Sometimes it’s a combination of both, isn’t it. Someone may work and still come up short and can be helped by others who have more.