Ephesians Week 6
Ephesians 5
5 1 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and walk in the way 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 person 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 It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. 14 This is why it is said:
“Wake up, 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 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Instructions for Christian Households
21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
22 Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing[b] her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— 30 for we are members of his body. 31 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.”[c] 32 This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
Ephesians 6
6 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— 3 “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.”[a]
4 Fathers,[b] do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.
5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. 6 Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. 7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, 8 because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free.
9 And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.
The Armor of God
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.
Final Greetings
21 Tychicus, the dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know how I am and what I am doing. 22 I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage you.
23 Peace to the brothers and sisters,[c] and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.[d]
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Ephesians
5:13-17 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and
everything that is illuminated becomes a light. 14 This is why it is
said: “Wake up, 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.
Understanding the will of the Lord, is virtually
identical to Paul's earlier charge for believers to walk "trying to learn
what is pleasing to the Lord' God's will includes not participating in
unfruitful deeds of darkness (Eph 5:11),
being careful how we walk, wisely not unwisely (Eph 5:15),
making the most of our time (Eph 5:15),
not being foolish (Eph 5:17) as well as continually being filled with God's
Spirit, being thankful, submitting to one another, being loving husbands, being
obedient children, being disciplining fathers, being obedient slaves and being
non-threatening masters. God's
will is best discerned from God's Word as taught by God's
Spirit.
How does knowing God’s word help you know His will?
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Ephesians 5 22 Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do
to the Lord. 23 For
the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the
church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24 Now
as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their
husbands in everything.
A Christian husband tenderly and selflessly loving his wife
as Christ loved the church, while a Christian wife joyfully submitting to and
respecting her husband, always seeking his good. The marriage
relationship pictures the relationship
between God and His people. In the Trinity, all three Persons are equally God
and yet to carry out the divine plan, the Son submits to the Father and the
Spirit submits to the Father and the Son. There is perfect love and harmony
among the members of the Trinity . Likewise,
the husband and wife are equal as persons before God, sharing in the grace of
salvation (Gal. 3:28; 1 Pet. 3:7). But there is an order of authority
and submission to reflect the divine image.
Taking these verses in mind, what do you understand about
wives submitting to their husbands?
Ephesians 5: 25-30
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church
and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing[b] her by the washing with water through
the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church,
without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and
blameless. 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their
wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves
himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they
feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— 30 for
we are members of his body.
Jesus demonstrated His own love for us on the cross, while
we were sinners and hostile toward God. Christ's love for us was demonstrated
in action. The Holy Spirit enables us to love like this now?
Spouses, how would you describe your love toward your spouse
this past week? Sacrificial or selfish?
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10 Finally,
be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that
you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and
blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the
powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the
heavenly realms.
What are some of the signs that we are in a spiritual battle
each day? Why must we stay aware that there are spiritual wars around us?
6
Ephesians 6: 13 Therefore put on the full armor of
God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your
ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm
then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the
breastplate of righteousness in place.
The believer needs to be strengthened in the inner
man, letting our mind be affected by the truth, and letting the Spirit guide us
and live His life through us. Stand firm by being in His word, obeying His word
(the belt of Truth), repenting quickly and remembering the Righteousness Christ
gave each of us (the breastplate of righteousness).
Which do you need to “pick up” or remember to battle the
enemy, the Belt of truth or the Breastplate of righteousness?
Ephesians 6: 15 and with your feet fitted with
the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to
all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all
the flaming arrows of the evil one.
Feet fitted with the gospel of peace means we must keep the
gospel as the firm foundation on which Christians are to stand. Faith offers
complete protection and makes advance possible. Where there is faith, there is
nothing to fear. And what is faith? It is believing what God has said, for no
other reason than that he has said it. It is taking God at his word. It is
accepting his teaching, obeying his commands, heeding his threats and laying
hold of his promises. Where there is faith, defeat is unknown. The soldier who
has it is never floored by anything. Faith is invincible.
Which do you need to be more intentional to “put on” each
day, remembering the gospel or building your faith by choosing to believe what
God says is true?
Ephesians 6: 17 Take the helmet of salvation and
the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
A Roman soldier who lost his helmet was in danger of
receiving severe head wounds which would render him ineffective and in danger
of further injury. Similarly, a Christian who has no assurance of salvation
cannot resist Satan. The word of God
serves both for attack and to stop the thrusts of the enemy. Christ used it in His temptation. Hiding
God's Word in our hearts by Memorizing Scripture allows us to have it in mind
so we can ward off Satan's attacks (Ephesians
6:10-18). When the Devil tempted Jesus in the wilderness, Christ withstood
him by quoting the Scriptures (Matthew
4:1-11). Likewise, when we are tempted to disobey God, we can recall what
we've learned and choose to obey.
Which do you need to strengthen, remembering your salvation
in Christ or filling up on His word so you have a sword to dismantle the
enemy’s lies?
Ephesians 9: 18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all
kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep
on praying for all the Lord’s people. 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak,
words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the
mystery of the gospel, 20 for
which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it
fearlessly, as I should.
Paul requested prayer support. Why do we often
not reach out for prayer support when it is readily available to us?
Ephesians 6: 21 Tychicus, the
dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so
that you also may know how I am and what I am doing. 22 I am sending him to you for this very
purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage
(parakaleo) you.
Later parakaleo means
exhorting, admonishing, encouraging, call to one’s side, call to one’s aid. Our
English word "encourage" means “with heart.” To comfort or encourage
in a sense is to give them new heart. Shallow sympathy makes people feel worse/
true spiritual encouragement makes them feel better. It brings out the best in
people.
In classic
Greek parakaleo was used of exhorting
troops about to go into battle. Parakaleo always means enabling a person to
meet some difficult situation with confidence.
What things do fellow
believers do that make you feel encouraged?
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