Study Nine - Children Of Light

Bible Studies at Bristol Road Baptist Church

Life in the Body of Christ

EPHESIANS STUDY NINE : Children of Light Chapter 5: 1-20

David A. Green BD June 2003

Ephesians Life in the Body of Christ

Study No. 9

Children of Light Chapter 5 verses 1-20 5 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 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. 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. 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 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.a 6 Let no-one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7 Therefore do not be partners with them. 8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, 14 for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: “Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” 15

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. 19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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Ephesians Life in the Body of Christ There are three sections to the passage before us this evening – of which the first is by far the most memorable. verses 1 and 2 verses 3 – 14 verses 15 – 20

be like Him children of light wisdom and worship

(We shall be revisiting the section on the Holy Spirit and worship in a later study – as I felt the fellowship has need of a more in-depth discussion of these themes. So tonight we shall see it as a conclusion to the theme of “Living as Children of Light”.)

Before we step into the study itself, you may like to consider one remarkable feature of the passage – and that is the quotation in verse 14b. “Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” There is a considerable body of opinion that takes this to be an early Christian baptismal hymn or liturgy. We can’t trace an OT origin with any certainty (Isa 60 1 and Isa 26:19 are the most likely candidates.) – and the poetic form of the words is as significant as the content. My own view – for what it’s worth, is that this is another hymn or credal statement like the one we have already identified in Chapter 4 verses 5 and 6: “One Lord, One faith, One baptism; One God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.”

The passage before us begins with a beautiful but immensely challenging summary of the heart and habit of the Christian Life: 5 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 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. It is all about family likeness, family love, and family worship.

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Ephesians Life in the Body of Christ

A.

LIKE HIM — The heart of the Christian Life in action v1,2

5 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 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. There is sufficient here for our whole study – but we’ll content ourselves with an overview of these two verses which provide the root and hope of our conforming. As dearly loved Children As Christ loved us… As a fragrant offering The essential command here is “be imitators” – and the original is the word from which we derive our word “mimic”. As children… It is one of the embarrassing realities of family life that we see ourselves in our children. Children may inherit some of those features – but they learn a great deal by imitation. Here Paul does not think of it as an embarrassment but as something he positively encourages us to do habitually. In the previous section we saw how the command is tied to the theological reality of being “in Christ” – here we see the command tied to the relationship of sons and daughters of God. This is a LOVING, a LIVING and a GROWING relationship with Him that is worked out in our relationship with the rest of the family – with each other. As Christ loved us… “Live a life of love…” my goodness! What a standard! But then it was so in the Master’s teaching wasn’t it? Beginning with His love for us it reaches out into the community at large by way of the church to demonstrate in practical ways and in genuine affection that we who belong to Him as children love one another and seek to demonstrate His love to the world.

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Ephesians Life in the Body of Christ In His earthly life – and of course supremely in His work upon the cross – Jesus constantly demonstrated His great love towards us – not in some sentimental way but in a robust and consistent attitude. As a fragrant offering and sacrifice before the Lord… This is an unusual turn of phrase suddenly presented. Yet I suggest the phrase would have had meaning to those to whom Paul wrote. They knew the significance of incense even in the pagan world, and they would have known from their teaching as Christians of the OT sacrifices and how Jesus was our Passover. The notable thing about this phrase is the fact that obedience to the command makes a mark on our surroundings as well as ourselves. You cannot miss the fragrance of incense – it captures your senses and makes you aware that worship is intended and sacrifice too. As we shall see in a few minutes when we reach the end of this section, worship is never far away from both ethics and evangelism. Here he wants us to know that we are required to live in a manner that pleases the Lord whom we worship, that provokes attention in the world at large, that demands sacrifice and commitment and leads on to witness. Peter has the same emphasis in his first letter: 2:9 But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 11 Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. 12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

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Ephesians Life in the Body of Christ

B.

Children of light

verses 3-14

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. 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 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. 6 Let no-one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7 Therefore do not be partners with them. 8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, 14 for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: “Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Once again Paul refers to the background immorality and sexual sins of the region of Asia Minor to which he writes. He addresses the need of his hearers to adopt a life style that is in sharp contrast to the standards of the place and time. If you look down the verses you will see the range of subjects he touches on: sexual immorality and impurity obscenity and coarse language (such things are altogether under God’s judgement) don’t associate with such don’t enter into any partnership with such

instead expose them.

As we saw before, the Ephesian Christians would have to cope as we have to cope with an evil age in which personal morality has declined. Paul gives us the central thread of this argument in verses 8 – 10 Study Nine - Page 6 of 10

Ephesians Life in the Body of Christ 8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light …10 and find out what pleases the Lord. Then he uses that unknown quotation to round it all off: “Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” I want you to notice first of all what Paul says here about our TALK. This is something he has already addressed in the earlier passage. He returns to it here to remind his friends that the wrong type of talk should be replaced with the right kind of talk. The wrong type of talk is describe here in verse 4 – (a parallel passage is found in Colossians 3 v 8) obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking We have little difficulty identifying the first – but we notice that Paul has something to say about two other forms of conversation Foolish talk – comes from a root meaning drunken or senseless = foolish and is like the others to be seen in a sexual context. Coarse joking – includes witty talk which is elsewhere (particularly in the Greek philosopher Aristotle) commended as a virtue. The world sets a high price on wit – particularly that kind which has subtle innuendo and is more popular in intellectual people – or praised in modern day comedy – but for the Christian a much higher standard is set. What Paul wants is to supplement this negative instruction with something positive: v4

rather thanksgiving

v12 “not even mentioning what the disobedient do in secret”

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Ephesians Life in the Body of Christ The balance between exposing the deeds of wickedness – and yet not being preoccupied in conversation with such things reminds us of a frequent double standard that applies in many Christians. We speak up in criticism of such things – but secretly enjoy being able to talk about them. The over-arching teaching here is the two POSITIVE INSTRUCTIONS embedded in the passage: v 10 find out what pleases the Lord v 14 Wake up… There’s a PROCESS and an APPLICATION – and it’s interesting to note that Paul writes about “finding out what pleases the Lord”. Once again Paul uses a word that has currency in the world of Greek philosophy. The word for “find out” by testing in a moral situation. Some things are not as straightforward as is often claimed. There are areas of ethics which make great demands on the individual to untangle the difficult moral questions of our day – in much the same way as the philosophers and teachers of the age in which Paul lived studied hard to give guidance. Some things are self evidently wicked – Paul has been listing those things. Other things must be learned by study of the Word and by experience. Paul also uses this phrase in: 1 Thes 5:21, Phil 1:9,10 and Romans 12:2. What matters is that we actually make the effort to find out. So Paul concludes with what must be a quotation from the ancient liturgy “Wake up!..” possibly a baptismal phrase. It reminds us of the passage in Romans which led to the conversion of S Augustine 11 And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armour of light. ROMANS 13 v11~~

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Ephesians Life in the Body of Christ It is a real danger – falling asleep. (And not just in long Bible Studies either!) We are lulled into false security – and rhythm of surrounding sin causes us to become drowsy. We try to stay alert – but the effect is often hypnotic. WAKE UP! We need a resurrection change – and Christ has seen to that! And if we wake up He will shine upon us. The true light that lightens the world – that makes everything clear will epiphany – shine on – us.

C.

Wisdom and worship

verses 15-20

15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. 19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (As I said earlier – I will be revisiting this section in the next study God willing in August 20th – which I hope will give you more opportunity for discussion and input. Right now I want to see these verses in their present context.) It seems that Paul has difficulty moving away from more references to conversation and social behaviour. He encourages his hearers to apply what they have learned and come to worship with music and thankfulness. Central to this advice is his instruction concerning the infilling of the Holy Spirit in verse 18 which Paul applies with an astonishing contrast with drunken behaviour. He counsels them to FIND AND APPLY WISDOM No doubt this wisdom comes from the foregoing verses and the theme of v 10 “find out what pleases the Lord”. This teaching is also found in Colossians 4:5 : 5 Be wise in the way you act towards outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Here he emphasises the need for vigilance as much as knowledge. Study Nine - Page 9 of 10

Ephesians Life in the Body of Christ You are to live as someone who belongs to the Family of Christ – who is trying to imitate Him in daily life. You are to be constantly finding out, from the application of Scripture to your everyday situations, what pleases Him. This kind of wisdom watches for dangers – and for opportunities: 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. and finally… He tells them to WORSHIP and work together with MUSIC and THANKFULNESS 19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. See Col 3:16 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Notice that in Ephesians the emphasis starts out “speak to one another…” He is giving us a subject matter and a suitable manner to converse and relate to each other within the Church. I notice that the music is the music of the heart that rises in praise to the Lord! I don’t need perfect pitch for this. We’ll leave the detail of these words to our later discussion study. The suggestion seems to be that we should be talking to each other in song. Commentators don’t agree about whether Paul is using “making music” in a figurative or literal sense – but of this there can be no doubt – music has a unique place in human experience – and in the working Church. Let’s not argue needlessly about what sorts of song to use in worship – but get on living the Christian life in a melodic way. That way we will produce a new work pleasing to God and attractive to outsiders : “Christian Life – The Musical”. David A Green BD June 2003 Study Nine - Page 10 of 10