LIVING A NEW LIFE IN CHRIST-09 (Ephesians 5:1-21)

EPHESIANS 5:1-21

Question:
Why do you think some children imitate their parents?
    – They are around them more than anyone else?
    – They want to be like them?

Question:
If a lost person asked you what it means
to be an imitator of God, what would you say?
    – Striving to become like God.
    – We know some things about Him.
    – Learning to serve Him and serving others.
    – Living a life so others can get a glimpse of Him through us.

Question:
Why should believers be imitators of God?
    – We are to become His light to the world.
    – As we become more like Him,
      the less desire we have of worldly things.

Question:
How can we know if we are imitating God?
    – Read His Word and compare ourselves to His characteristics.
    – See if we are practicing obedience.

Question:
How can we determine if a certain lifestyle is right?
    – Does it please God?

EPHESIANS 5
VERSE 1.
Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children

“Be imitators” is a command to become like God.
As God’s children, we are expected to imitate Him.

Question:
How does a parent feel when a child is imitating him or her?
    Note:
    Knowing that they may imitate us,
    shows the importance of our responsibility as a parent.

VERSE 2.
and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and
gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

The first characteristic of God to be imitated is “love”.
Our example is Christ – His love for us led Him to the cross.

Question:
Do you think Jesus knew His destiny from the beginning?
If so, it just emphasizes the depth of His love.

“fragrant offering”
    – Some Old Testament sacrifices were referred to
      as having a “sweet smelling fragrance” (this
      expression meant His sacrifices were pleasing to
      God). When Christ offered Himself to God on
      our behalf, it pleased the Father.

Our sacrificial love toward others also pleases God.
We need to help others and be encouragers to them.
    What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if
    someone claims to have faith but has no
    deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose
    a brother or a sister is without clothes and
    daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go
    in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does
    nothing about their physical needs, what good
    is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is
    not accompanied by action, is dead. (James 2:14-17)

Questions:
Wonder how many Christians focus their lives on pleasing
God daily? Wonder how many Christians think about doing
just one thing each day that pleases God?

VERSE 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.

In contrast to Christ’s unselfish love, Paul warns believers
against “sexual immorality”, “impurity”, and “greed”.

Note:
Not only are believers to avoid these self-gratifying
activities, but Paul says there should not even be a
hint of these in the lives of believers.

Question:
Why do you think he was so emphatic
about avoiding these types of activities?
    – It is an indication of selfishness?

VERSE 4.
Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse
joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.

People often deal with the subject of sex by either
ignoring it, or joking about it. Christians should
be thankful for this gift from God, and keep it in
its proper place.

VERSE 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.

Immorality, impurity and greed rules peoples’ lives to the
point they become their gods – this is why Paul called them
idolators. Paul says that those with these characteristics are
not followers of Christ. This is not the kind of lifestyle that
typifies those of God’s kingdom.

Question:
Have you ever been in a situation where certain thoughts
or actions have gained a stronghold in your life?

VERSE 6.
Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of
such things, God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient.

Paul is saying that deceivers will try to tell us there is
nothing wrong with sin. They try to give us false hope
and assurance.

Paul says they are using “empty words” and they ignore
the fact that “God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient”.

Question:
Why would a loving God pour out His wrath?
    – It serves as discipline for the good of the individual?

VERSE 7.
Therefore do not be partners with them.

Believers need to avoid a lifestyle of immorality, impurity
and greed because it displeases God and it also calls for
His judgment.

Question:
When Paul says, “do not be partners with them”, what
do you think he means? Do you think he means avoid
all association with them? Why, or why not?
    – We should not participate with anyone
      in anything that displeases God.
    – If we avoid every association with others, then how
      could God use us in any evangelistic or missionary efforts.

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

Because of their changed lives, the Ephesians were
identified as “light in the Lord”.
Note:
As believers, we should be indentified this way too.
As imitators of God (verse 1), we need to live so
others can see the light of Christ in us.

Question:
What are some ways they can see Christ in us?
    – Our actions, our habits, our words,
      our convictions, our faithful worship, etc.

VERSE 9.
(for the fruit of the light consists
in all goodness, righteousness and truth)

In case we are wondering what it means to live in the light,
Paul says it is a life characterized by goodness, righteousness
and truth.

Note:
These qualities leave nothing to be ashamed of
in a person’s life. Believers are to live this way.

Question:
What is wrong with lying?
    – A person ends up lying to themselves. They could be
      lost, but have convinced themselves that they are saved.

VERSE 10.
and find out what pleases the Lord.

Paul says we should continually evaluate our behavior
and lifestyle to see if they are pleasing to the Lord.

Note:
God’s Word gives us the guidelines.

Question:
Do you think most believers know when
they are doing things that do not please God?
    Question:
    If so, then why do they do them?
        – Because they enjoy it and allow their selfish
          desires to overrule their obedience to God.

Question:
Do you think most believers know what pleases God?
    Question:
    If so, then what prevents them from doing them?
        – Stubbornness?
        – Selfishness?
        – Influenced too much by worldly pleasures?

VERSE 11.
Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness,
but rather expose them.

Question:
Why do you think he refers to them as “fruitless deeds”?
    – They are of no benefit to God’s mission
      and they provide no lasting satisfaction.

Paul says we are not only to avoid these deeds,
but we are to “expose them”.
    Note:
    Our way of exposing them is to point out that
    they are harmful, fruitless, and unproductive.

VERSE 12.
For it is shameful even to mention
what the disobedient do in secret.

Question:
What would you say about this verse in our world today?
    – People today openly discuss and commit
      sins that used to be whispered about.
      Question:
      What would you conclude about our society?
          – No shame.

VERSES 13-14a.
But everything exposed by the light becomes visible,
for it is light that makes everything visible. This is
why it is said: “Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead,

Paul refers to a simple principle: darkness is exposed
by the light. Light can overpower the darkness, but
darkness can never overpower the light.

Question:
Since Paul has been talking about the deeds of
darkness, what would be the light that exposes them?
    – Christ; scriptures; Christians.

VERSE 14b.
and Christ will shine on you.”

Based on Isaiah 60:1, what was possibly an early
Christian hymn, is a call to carry the light of Christ to others.
    “Arise, shine, for your light has come,
     and the glory of the LORD rises upon
     you. (Isaiah 60:1)

Note:
If believers do not serve as a light
to the deeds of darkness, then no one will?
    Question:
    Do you agree or disagree with the statement above?

    Question:
    Why would no one else be interested in being the light?

    Question:
    How can we serve as the light?

    Note:
    We were all dead in our sins before Christ “shined on us”.

VERSE 15.
Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise,

Paul tells the Ephesians (and us) that we must
use caution in the way we live, and the choices we make.

Note:
This is a challenge, but on a positive note, if we live
consistently, we can lead others to Christ, just by
the way we live.

VERSE 16.
making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.

Paul says we must be ready for, and sensitive to every 
opportunity to let the light of Jesus shine through us.
Question:
Wonder how many Christians take this responsibility seriously?

VERSE 17.
Therefore do not be foolish,
but understand what the Lord’s will is.

Paul reminds believers that we can (and are expected to)
live wisely in a sinful world.

“understand what the Lord’s will is”
Question:
How can we know His Will unless we study
His Word and build a personal relationship with Him?

Note:
In the next 4 verses,
Paul mentions some specifics about the Lord’s Will.

VERSE 18.
Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery.
Instead, be filled with the Spirit.

He warns about the dangers of drunkenness.

“debauchery”
    – Living in a wasteful, extravagant, squandering manner.
      Question:
      What group of people does this make you think of? Why?

    Note:
    Drunkenness and wasteful living often
    lead to the loss of possessions and self-dignity.

Question:
What are some reasons for drunkenness?
    – Depression.       – Feel good.
    – Celebration.      – Being sociable.
    – Addiction.          – Passed down habit.
    – Relaxation.       – Angry and/or upset.
    – Escape problems/reality.

Question:
What is the problem with using alcohol for each of these?
    – It doesn’t fix the problem.

Paul says that we should be “filled with the Spirit”,
instead of indulging in harmful excesses.

Note:
God wants His children to live wise and controlled lives;
and to depend on His Spirit to provide what we need for
the situations we face.

VERSE 19.
Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual
songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord,

Paul commanded the Ephesians to
“speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs”.

Question:
Why do you think he gave them this command?
    – Godly communication is a sign of wise living?
    – They would lift up and encourage each other?
    – Praising God in song can dim their focus on the world?

VERSE 20.
always giving thanks to God the Father for everything,
in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Another expression of wise living is thanksgiving.
Paul said to give thanks (to God) for everything.

Question:
How can we do this in the face of life’s problems?
What would motivate us to do thank God for everything?
    – We are saying to God that we know He is in control.
          And we know that in all things God works
          for the good of those who love him, who
          have been called according to his purpose.
          (Romans 8:28)

Note: 
God is not insensitive to our hurts and problems. When
we thank Him in the midst of our circumstances, we show
a trust in His ability to work through our situations to
bring about good results.

VERSE 21.
Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Question:
What do you think he meant by “submit to one another”?
    – Show care and concern for each other?
    – Be kind, selfless, caring instead of
      being rude, selfish and self-centered.

Note:
This is not the world we live in. Our culture is focused
on self-gratification with disregard to the feelings of others.

SUMMARY:
– Sacrificial love meets the needs of others;
  it seeks what is best for others.
      – Greed seeks more and more for self
        (even at the expense of others).

– Pure and uplifting speech imitates God.
      – Impure speech degrades and demoralizes.

– Light exposes sin.
      – Darkness hides sin.

– Wise living includes:
      – Godly communication.
      – Singing praises.
      – Thanking God for all things.
      – Submitting to one another.

– Questions we should ask ourselves:
      – Is my life distinctively different
        from the ways of the world?
      – Does my life reflect God’s wisdom and His ways?

CHALLENGE:
– Look for opportunities this week to:
      – Speak the truth to someone from God’s Word.
      – Sing praises to God.
      – Give thanks in a difficult situation
        (even when being thankful doesn’t make sense).
      – Show an attitude of submission
        (selflessness instead of selfishness).

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