A Walk through Ephesians - Pt 21

 

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. 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, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. (Ephesians 5:15–21 ESV).

 

Our reading today continues the Apostle Paul’s instruction for believers to live distinct, careful, and holy lives that contrast sharply with the surrounding secular culture. This is one of those verses that the King James Version uses a word that is very interesting in the English translation of the first verse: “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise” (v. 15). In the original language (ἀκριβῶς) it may be translated as exactly, accurately, carefully, or diligently. Helps Word Studies says, “The root of this word (akrib-) refers to gaining exact information with the highest level of accuracy ("exactness") and is acquired by probing investigation to provide a comprehensive circumspect (precise) view in strict adherence to the facts.” I believe the apostle chose this word to emphasize that the life of believers is based on opinion or worse, false teachings. So, he says there are some core themes the apostle touches upon.

 

First, he says we are to look carefully at our choices. Believers must evaluate their choices and consider consequences rather than living carelessly. This is the basis of the often-cited idiom “look before you leap.” Some things often sound so appealing that we are tempted to rush headlong into them only to realize that the consequences are destructive.

 

Second, he says we should make the best use of time. Because the cultural climate is evil and hostile to God, Christians should treat time as a precious, fleeting resource. I often encouraged others to realize that time is the only non-renewable resource we possess. Doing that we can plan the use of our time accordingly. We budget our money far better than we do our time; and, that’s often a mistake.

 

Third, we should understand God's will. Wisdom means grasping God's overarching purpose to unite all things under Christ and applying it practically in daily life. This may be one of the most challenging things about the believer’s life. Since we do not have the same perspective as God, it is often difficult to see purpose in all of our circumstances until much later. This is when we must trust the goodness of God, knowing that His desire is to produce only good in our lives.

 

After Paul writes these larger principles, he says some things that are a bit more specific. He says we are to avoid drunkenness. Drunkenness is a destructive mark of the ungodly world and explicitly forbidden. He also says we should be filled with the Holy Spirit. Instead of being controlled by substances, believers are to be constantly directed and empowered by the Holy Spirit. This leads us to be filled with worship and gratitude. The Spirit-filled life naturally overflows with communal singing, mutual encouragement, and constant thankfulness to God the Father. And then, he concludes with the admonition toward mutual submission. It is a calling to all church members to put others first out of reverence for Christ. This will set the stage for specific household roles that follow.

 

How does your life measure up against these principles?

 

A Walk through Ephesians - Pt 20

 

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. 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; 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. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” (Ephesians 5:3–14 ESV).

 

The Apostle Paul knew that the Ephesian believers would need some practical understanding of what this new life in Christ should be. A part of that is in our reading today. The context becomes very important today as we seek to understand the message for us. Remember that Ephesus was a very paganistic culture. The believers had come from various religious and cultural backgrounds. Much as we are today. So, he calls them to understand what it means to be a repentant sinner living in grace. John Calvin is very helpful in this truth. He writes:

 

“When men have repented, and thus give evidence that they are reconciled to God, they are no longer the same persons that they formerly were. But let all fornicators, or unclean or covetous persons, so long as they continue such, be assured that they have no friendship with God, and are deprived of all hope of salvation.”

 

There is a difference between those who profess Christ, seek to put to death the flesh, and occasionally sin, and those who profess Christ but celebrate their sin. The latter group — the impenitent — has no share in the Lord’s kingdom. On the other hand, Jesus receives with open arms those who hate their evildoing, even if they sometimes fall (cf. 1 John 1:8–9).

 

We should remember this when we consider Scripture’s teaching on the fate of the sexually immoral. Only “the sons of disobedience” receive the wrath of God (v. 6). Sons typically bear many of the physical and personality traits of their parents; thus, the sons of disobedience have their father’s nature. They reflect their lineage consistently, relishing their sin, even demanding that others approve of it. These individuals show no desire for repentance, and they have no place in Christ’s body. Converted people, however, have “become children of God” (John 1:12). They are “partakers of the divine nature” (2 Peter 1:4) and are being slowly conformed to it over their lifetimes. Such individuals resist temptation, hate it when they sin, and never seek approval of their transgressions. We gladly welcome these men and women in our churches, for they are recovering sinners just like us.

 

There are men and women struggling with sexual sin in all of our congregations. They want to please God and are seeking to mortify the flesh, and we should do all that we can to help them. This means creating an atmosphere where repentant sinners feel that they can share their burdens without being seen as unworthy. If we are honest about our own sins without seeking to excuse them, other repentant sinners will feel welcome among us.

 

A Walk through Ephesians - Pt 19

 

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. (Ephesians 5:1–2 ESV).

 

The Apostle Paul now turns to a more general result of the grace of God. We are enjoined to “walk in love” (v. 1). In response to the free gift of salvation that God offers us and enables us to receive, Christians are called to live a life of gratitude that displays itself in good works (cf. Ephesians 2:8–10; 4:17–24). Paul paints the contours of this life in broad strokes in yesterday’s reading (Ephesians 4:25–32), emphasizing the importance of truth-telling, purity in speech, restraint, kindness, and forgiveness. Today’s passage describes life in Christ even more succinctly. Simply put, we must “be imitators of God, as beloved children.”

 

It should be noted that the first verse of today’s reading is the only verse in Scripture to command us explicitly to imitate the Lord. Nevertheless, throughout the Bible we find passages from which we may deduce our Father’s desire that His people would copy His character, insofar as creatures are able. Leviticus 19:2, for example, calls us to model our holiness after the holiness of God: “You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.” Jesus also tells us to be kind, for that is the way in which our Creator treats His creatures, even those who are ungrateful (cf. Luke 6:35–36). Since we are made in God’s image, all human beings have the capability to imitate Him. Due to the fall, however, only those who belong to Christ — the perfect representation of God (cf. Colossians 1:15) — can now put this imitation into practice.

 

Of course, being creatures, we cannot imitate the Creator in every way. We cannot make something out of nothing, nor are we sovereign over all. The ways in which we imitate God are primarily ethical in nature. The church father Jerome comments: “Admittedly much that God has done we humans can hardly be said to imitate. But in the way he is merciful to all and rains on good and bad, so we may pour out mercy upon all we meet” (ACCNT 8, pp. 172–173).

 

That our imitation of the Lord is chiefly ethical is confirmed in the second verse of our reading, where we are commanded to “walk in love, as Christ loved us.” This love was supremely demonstrated in His willingness to give Himself up for our sake, to pay the price necessary to save us. God’s love cost Him much — the death of His only begotten Son — thus, costly love is what pleases Him most. Imitating our Creator means that we will pay a price — that in love we will have to surrender our own well-being at times in order to advance the good of others.

 

A Walk through Ephesians - Pt 18

 

Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. 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. 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. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 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. (Ephesians 4:25–32 ESV).

 

Today we will examine one of the most important passages in Scripture on Christians and anger. I must confess this passage is one of the most challenging for me to apply practically and consistently. I have often told people that I do have a “long fuse” but the explosion at the end of it is like that which took place in Hiroshima and Nagasaki at the end of WW2! It is not pretty, nor is it Biblical. Even after five decades of personal work, it still presents itself from time to time.

 

We do have an incredible model in the life of Jesus. He has shown us that being angry, in itself, is not evil. The Apostle Paul takes this idea a step further. Paul tells us not only that we are permitted to be angry, he also says there are times when we must be angry. That the Lord would command us to be angry at times is understandable when we consider biblical ethics. In the same letter Paul summarizes what we need to know about Christian virtues by telling us to be “imitators of God” (cf. Ephesians 5:1). Our Father in heaven can only be perfectly holy if He gets angry when His righteous standards are violated (cf. Deuteronomy 32:4; Isa. 6:3). If we are to imitate Him, we too must get mad at those things that make God angry. We must grow incensed when we see the weak and helpless exploited, because the Lord’s wrath is kindled against the oppressor (cf. Exodus 22:21–24). Hypocrisy in our lives and in the church must disturb us because of Jesus’ anger at those who honor Him with their lips only (cf. Matthew 15:8; 23).

 

Yet we are imperfect, and while we must sometimes get angry, we must also take care that we do not sin in our anger (v. 26). Every time we are mad, we should check ourselves to see if we are upset at the things God hates. Otherwise, we may be angry without just cause and give opportunity to the Devil (v. 27). Anger is the emotion most prone to sinful abuse, and this is why Paul also tells us to put anger away in this same passage (v. 31). This is not a contradiction of earlier verses. Paul is only recognizing that our anger, even if it is godly at first, is too often perverted into feelings of malice instead of a longing to see offenders repent. When this happens, we are in danger of giving root to the bitterness that destroys (cf. Hebrews 12:15).

 

Finally, though evil should anger us, we should not pour wrath on others. Jesus castigated the Pharisees because of their hard hearts (cf. Matthew 23), but He was kind and gentle to the adulterous woman because she was humble and contrite (cf. John 7:53–8:11). We cannot condone sin, but we must also imitate our Savior and seek to restore the repentant in lieu of showing wrath.

 

We can too easily fall back under the sway of sin, which makes our hearts “deceitful beyond all things” (cf. Jeremiah 17:9). We can trick ourselves into thinking our anger is godly when it is not pleasing to the Lord. Being honest with other Christians is essential in differentiating between godly and ungodly anger. If you are mad today, confess this anger to the Lord and seek the wisdom to know whether it is justified. Then, seek the good of the person with whom you are angry.

A Walk through Ephesians - Pt 17

 

Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. But that is not the way you learned Christ!— assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. (Ephesians 4:17–24 ESV).

 

I have often heard people exhort believers to “let go and let God.” There is a great danger in this advice. It can lead to an entirely passive belief for their sanctification (growth in holiness). The best intentions lie behind this advice. After all, we know that our works contribute nothing to our righteous standing before the Lord (cf. Galatians 2:15–16; Ephesians 2:8–9); thus, many people think that giving ourselves a role in sanctification comes perilously close to denying grace.

 

Certainly, it is easy to confuse the process of sanctification with the once-for-all declaration of justification. Even Protestants might believe, implicitly, that our works secure our place in heaven or make God love us more than believers who are “further behind” in their sanctification. To avoid this problem, we simply need to maintain the biblical distinction between justification and sanctification. It is unnecessary to deny our role in sanctification altogether. God’s justification of a person, the starting point of Christian living, relies solely on the work of Christ (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:21). Sanctification, as our reading explains, requires cooperation between the Lord and individual believers.

 

God’s “job” is to renew our minds. Note the passive voice (v. 23): we are to “be renewed [by the Lord].” He performs the work of inward transformation, renewing our affection for Him and giving us an ever-deepening understanding of His ways. The Lord works through the circumstances of life and the path of our journey to accomplish this, but only He can perform the work of transformation. The Apostle Paul encouraged the Philippians to be grateful for the Lord’s work, for His power guarantees that we will fulfill our role and advance in holiness (Philippians 2:12–13).

 

Our job is to live out God’s transforming work and “put on the new self,” which means putting His ways into practice. In other words, it is to live in conformity to Christ. Gregory of Nyssa was one of the fourth-century Cappadocian Fathers who helped codify the language of orthodox Trinitarianism. He comments on Ephesians 4:24: “There is but one garment of salvation, namely, Christ. Hence the “new man” created in God’s likeness is none other than Christ. One who has put on Christ has thus put on the new person created in God’s likeness”. That is how we achieve balance in our sanctification!

 

A Walk through Ephesians - Pt 16

 

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. (Ephesians 4:11–16 ESV).

 

Having referred in the abstract to the gifts that Jesus has given to His people, in today’s reading the apostle Paul identifies several of these gifts specifically. Actually, he does not refer to what we ordinarily consider spiritual gifts but rather spiritual offices. Yet this is not unusual, for he also mentions specific offices when it discusses the giftings of Christ through His Spirit to His church (cf. 1 Corinthians 12:27–30). The lists in these two passages, along with the lists of gifts found elsewhere in the New Testament, are representative and not comprehensive. They are given to indicate the types of blessings Christ gives to His people, not to define every grace Jesus might give to the covenant community.

 

Today we see five specific offices (v. 11) — apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, and teachers. We should remember that these two groups constitute the foundation of the church laid in the first century. Since the foundation has already been established, some theologians believe there is no longer any need for apostles and prophets as in the early church. As far as an “officer of the church” these interpreters may be correct; however, I believe that a part of the problem of some denominations is that there is no sense of administration in the use of these giftings. My good friend and mentor, Bill Shamburger, said many times that “anything with more than one head is a monster, and anything without a head is dead.” There is great wisdom in that statement. I believe there are those in our community that are gifted to be such leaders.

 

He also mentions evangelists. These are those who are especially gifted to proclaim the gospel persuasively and intelligibly. Although they carry out their work primarily among unbelievers, there is an ongoing need for believers to hear the message of the evangelists. Timothy, after all, was exhorted to do the work of an evangelist even though his ministry was primarily to an established church (cf. 2 Timothy 4:5). We do not lose our need for the gospel at conversion; rather, we must hear it repeatedly so that we might turn daily from our sin and rest on Jesus alone for forgiveness.

 

Lastly, the apostle mentions shepherds (or pastors) and teachers. They are mentioned side by side because both types of officers provide instruction. Yet while all pastors are teachers, not all teachers are pastors. Teachers and pastors alike clarify and apply Scripture to their hearers (cf. 2 Timothy 2:2), but pastors have more of a leadership role than teachers, especially in soul care. Imitating the Good Shepherd, pastors guide us through hazardous terrain to green pastures (cf. Psalm 23:1; Peter 5:1–3).

 

Notice the reason for these giftings: “… for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God” (v. 11). Every child of God is gifted with the Holy Spirit and though Him we find that specific part of the entire body that is essential to wholeness. Far too few people today recognize how important they are to the health of the community of faith!

A Walk through Ephesians - Pt 15

 

But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” (In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.) (Ephesians 4:7–10 ESV).

 

Our reading today is one of the most difficult passages to definitively interpret. We do know that it serves as a vital theological transition in the Apostle Paul's letter, moving from the overarching corporate unity of the Church to the individual diversity of spiritual gifts. However, theologians have debated the “descension” and “ascension” of Jesus. So, we will look briefly at these verses from a reformed perspective and draw a brief conclusion to encourage us as we look at the gifts God bestowed on His church.

 

Because of the brevity of this format, we will look at Christ’s ascension today. It benefits us in many ways. First, it marks His formal assumption of His kingly office. Because the Son humbled Himself, took on our flesh, and fulfilled His mission, the Father highly exalted Him (cf. Philippians 2:5–11). Having eternally enjoyed an authority equal to the Father’s with respect to His deity, Christ ascended to heaven to execute authority over all in His humanity as well. The God-man now reigns over all, putting all His and our enemies under His feet (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:25). This is no small thing, but there is more.

 

Christ’s ascension also furthers the good of His people. The Apostle tells us that Jesus ascended above all the heavens “that he might fill all things” (vv. 9–10). John Calvin comments on this filling, explaining that “while [Jesus] is removed from us in bodily presence, he fills all things by the power of his Spirit.” According to His human nature, Christ is in heaven, for that is where His human body and soul are present. But through the Holy Spirit, Christ is present with His people here on earth.

 

Calvin continues: “Did [Christ] not fill them before? In his divine nature, I own, he did; but the power of his Spirit was not so exerted, nor his presence so manifested, as after he had entered into the possession of his kingdom.” So, it is better for us that Jesus is not presently among us in the flesh. Jesus Himself said, “It is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you” (John 16:7). For the Holy Spirit (the Helper) to fully exercise His ministry among God’s people, Jesus had to ascend to heaven. His ascension and His sending the Spirit mean we are in the last days before the renewal of creation (cf. Joel 2:28–32; Acts 2). Moreover, by His Spirit, we can now fellowship with the whole Christ, in His deity and in His humanity, for by the Spirit Christ bridges the distance between us and His physical body in heaven. Christ is omnipresent according to His divine nature, so He has always been at hand everywhere. But until Jesus ascended to heaven and sent His Spirit, only the people who came into direct contact with Him as He ministered in Galilee and in Judea encountered Him in His humanity. Since His ascension, we can fellowship with Christ in His humanity no matter where we live.

 

This is the great gift and strength we may possess for every circumstance and difficulty of life. Because He has ascended, victorious and Lord over all things, now we have One who is always with us to give us that same power and victory. Nothing we face can ever do more than hurl empty threats toward us. And, as we will see later, we have also been equipped with the necessary armor to ward off all of those attacks! What a GREAT God we have! Grace is not an empty word!