Ephesians 5:1-12

Followers of God

Eph 5:1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;

"And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."( Eph 4:32 )

Eph 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

The first mention of a sweet savour, was the sacrifice of Noah.

Gen 8:20 And Noah builded an altar unto the LORD; and took of every clean beast, and of every clean fowl, and offered burnt offerings on the altar.
Gen 8:21 And the LORD smelled a sweet savour; and the LORD said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man's sake; for the imagination of man's heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done.

We are to be living sacrifices, a sweet smelling savour to the LORD. (Rom 12:1,2) Think of this as we begin each day; to the saved we are a blessing but to the ungodly we are as the convicting presence of the Holy Spirit.

2 Cor 2:14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.
2 Cor 2:15 For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:
2 Cor 2:16 To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?
2 Cor 2:17 For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.

How can we willingly sin if we are the savour of righteousness in Christ Jesus?

Eph 5:3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;

Fornication is any sex outside of the marriage bed. Uncleaness of actions or thoughts such as pornography or unhealthy acts and attitudes.

Mat 5:29 And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
Mat 5:30 And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.

Covetousness is greedy desire to have more. Jesus spoke of this;

Luke 3:14 And the soldiers likewise demanded of him, saying, And what shall we do? And he said unto them, Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely; and be content with your wages.

You may say, well, no one is perfect, everyone does these things. Beware lest you fall too far and find yourself in God's final judgment. Easy salvation follows with a life given in obedience to our Lord's commands. If you do not follow, perhaps you never belonged to him?

Eph 5:4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.

1 Tim 1:4 Neither give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which minister questions, rather than godly edifying which is in faith: so do.
1 Tim 1:5 Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned:
1 Tim 1:6 From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling;

Eph 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
Eph 4:23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;Eph 4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.

Unfortunately some ministers appeal to the flesh with foolish talking and jesting, ommiting the gospel and the power of God's word. We can be guilty of sillyness too. What does the seeker find when he enters our Internet chats, or our Church fellowship meetings?

2 Tim 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
2 Tim 4:4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.
2 Tim 4:5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

Eph 5:5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

Heb 13:4 Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.
This is further amplified in Revelation.

Rev 21:7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
Rev 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

All liars; can we see how important the truth is? There are so many false cults and religions; all are following lies. We must keep the torch of God burning. We must speak the truth in love, warning those on a lying path; warning idolaters, sorcerers and pimps that they are headed towards the wrath of God. It is important that we take our callings seriously. When a seeker comes in desperation, do we give him foolish talk? Do we condemn them? Hold back; talk and listen and wait for the Spirit of God to guide you as you speak the truth of God.

Eph 5:6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
Eph 5:7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.

We need discernment, everything must be examined by the light of God's word. The Holy Spirit brings to mind the word of God, so we must study and to fill our hearts with the truth of God.

2 Cor 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
2 Cor 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
2 Cor 10:6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

We do not join in their folly but first we must be obedient servants so that we may use His authority to correct the disobedient and bring them to God's truth.

Eph 5:8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

We are no longer the children of darkness.

Col 1:12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
Col 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
Col 1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

John 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
John 3:20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
John 3:21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

Take up your lamp, fill it with the oil of the Holy Spirit and follow your Lord Jesus in love and obedience.

Secret Shame

Eph 5:9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)

The fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23) is good, righteous and pure, not as the works of the flesh.

Eph 5:10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.

Evidencing in your life what is acceptible to God. Think of your life as the evidence the Lord uses to show himself to the world.

Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Gal 6:4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.

1 Th 5:21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
1 Th 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.

Eph 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.

Don't associate with evil sinful behavior, but rebuke and convict those who do, even as the Holy Spirit convicts you when you sin. We are not to give condemnation, but we are to stand for what is right and not go along with those who sin as the world.

2 Cor 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
2 Cor 6:15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
2 Cor 6:16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
2 Cor 6:17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
2 Cor 6:18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

Eph 5:12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.

Rom 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Rom 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
Rom 1:23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
Rom 1:24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
Rom 1:25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

We are still in this flesh body, so we must be careful not to fall into sin. Grace is no reason to be sinning. Do not go into darkness.

Luke 8:16 No man, when he hath lighted a candle, covereth it with a vessel, or putteth it under a bed; but setteth it on a candlestick, that they which enter in may see the light.
Luke 8:17 For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.
Luke 8:18 Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.

We cannot hide the light of God that we have and go secretly into sin. It will be found out and for sure the Spirit of God in you will be grieved. We are to be pure, the light of God in a sin darkened world.