SECTION THREE 5:3-21 DIVISION FIVEChapter 5:22-6:9Natural Responsibilities There is a natural, divinely authored, order to the responsibilities that are evident in the world of man. That order spans the entirety of creation and is patterned after elements of God's own character. What is true of the... [ Continue Reading ]
(5:1,2) "Therefore" means, "because you are children of God, be like (imitate) your Father". This does not say that we are to imitate Christ. Rather, we are to imitate the Father, who made it His purpose to reveal (manifest) His Son. So, too, are we to live in such a manner that Christ, who lives in... [ Continue Reading ]
(5:3) Now comes the character of "holy people". (The NAS has "saints") and the meaning is "ones set apart", in this case, set apart to God's purpose. In imitating God, purity of life is expected. A life free of even a suggestion of "sexual immorality...or (sexual) impurity, or of (sexual) greed." "I... [ Continue Reading ]
(5:4) "Obscenity" means invoking God's name in a declarative fashion, presuming to express His will towards another or some thing that you deal with. "Foolish talk" consists of words without foundation in truth or substance, i.e., words that express ideas contrary to the revealed will of God. "Coars... [ Continue Reading ]
(5:5) "For" introduces a reason. You are to avoid the patterns of life just listed above for a primary reason--Because a person who exhibits a life of sexual immorality, impurity, or greed "is an idolater" and sex is his god. He is, therefore, excluded from "the kingdom of Christ and of God.... [ Continue Reading ]
(5:6) The admonition of v.4 is continued here in "empty words".obscenity, foolish talk, coarse joking = empty words... [ Continue Reading ]
(5:8) Note in this verse that it does not say that you once walked in darkness. Rather, it says that "you once were darkness". This is not referring to a behavior, but a quality of being. What we once were, we are not now! Now, "you are light in the Lord." This is completely positional and locative.... [ Continue Reading ]
(5:9,10) Light produces fruit, not from behavior, but from its very nature. "Fruit" is singular. "Goodness, righteousness, and truth" are all part of the singular fruit of light. As we live as the light which we are, we will "discover what pleases the Lord" whose we are.... [ Continue Reading ]
(5:11-14) I find it interesting that behavior was not mentioned in discussing the "fruit" of light. Rather, here in the discussion associated with "darkness" we find attention focused on "deeds". It reminds us that "men love darkness better than light, for their deeds are evil" thus, we are to "expo... [ Continue Reading ]
(5:15,16) "Wisdom" is the application of biblical principles to your personal experience. Anything else would be living according to the dictates of the Old Nature, driven by the father of deceit. Here, "opportunity" refers back to "how you live". Too often, we read into that instruction "witnessing... [ Continue Reading ]
(5:17) "Therefore" (a conclusion is presented) "do not be foolish" (and live as unwise, "but" (a contrast is presented) "understand". "Understanding" is what you gain from application of biblical principles to your experience. It is tested knowledge that has become objective fact in your own persona... [ Continue Reading ]
(5:18) Drunkenness dulls your ability to make cogent decisions and leaves you vulnerable to the Old Sin Nature. Rather than letting that take over your life, "be filled (pres impe- continuously) with the Spirit." It is the control of one's mind that is important here, the ability to make decisions.... [ Continue Reading ]
(5:19,20) Let your outward expression, "speak to one another", be consistent with your inner life--"make music in your heart to the Lord." And, there should always be a prayer of "thanks to God the Father" on our lips. It is important to note that prayer and thanksgiving are again directed to the Fa... [ Continue Reading ]
(5:21) Submission, is deference to another's needs and direction. We should be in a mind-set of pliability and compromise where methods are concerned and absolutely firm where principles are concerned. If we are oriented to someone else's needs, rather than our own, we will be most likely to imitate... [ Continue Reading ]
(5:22) There should be no question as to an individual believer's submission to the Lord Jesus. Paul says here that the wife is to be submissive to her husband in precisely the same manner. That does not mean inferior, but willing to be led by her husband.... [ Continue Reading ]
(5:23,24) The reason is clear--"...as Christ is the head of the Church, His body" so too, is the husband "the head" of his wife. In the matter of submission to authority or leadership, this position of responsibility to lead is all-inclusive. Note that there is no accommodation for lack of education... [ Continue Reading ]
(5:25) Husbands are commanded to "love your wives". "Love" is agape in the Greek. This is source love that requires no particular response on the part of the one loved. It is a unilateral command and is patterned by the love that the Lord Jesus had for his Church when He "gave Himself up for her". I... [ Continue Reading ]
(5:26) The object of Christ's love for His church was to "make her holy". "Holy" means "to set apart to a purpose." The purpose of the Church is to represent Christ and demonstrate His love as the object of His affection. "Washing" is "baptizing" and speaks of identification. The Church is now ident... [ Continue Reading ]
(5:28-30) Now, just as Christ loves the Church, His Body, husbands are to "love their wives as their own bodies". This is not to extol self-love, but self-less love; love that is unbridled, not meted out but is immeasurable, love that declares its object worthy of all adoration.... [ Continue Reading ]
(5:31) Paul borrows the command of God to Adam in Genesis that made the marriage bond the primary union for man on earth. Man and woman who come together in marriage have "become one flesh" before God. It remains to be seen how little we understand of this rule of life. One glimpse is seen in how br... [ Continue Reading ]
(5:32,33) We are reminded that this whole discussion is in reference to "Christ and the Church", but, it presents very practical application to that which must prevail between husband and wife in the marriage of believers.... [ Continue Reading ]