The subject pursued in these fourteen verses is to show Christ's supreme example of self-sacrifice, purity, and reproof of darkness by light.

1. LOOK ABOVE THYSELF TO FOLLOW GOD, 5:1-2

Ver. 1. Be ye therefore imitators of God, as beloved children.

The argument passes unbroken from the previous words. Become then imitators of God in respect to freely giving and forgiving and loving one another. This can be done because those who are renewed are beloved children and have one common Father, who paid the ransom by giving His own Son. All human duties for those who love God are subordinated to one standard.

Ver. 2. And walk in love, even as Christ also loved you, and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for an odour of a sweet smell.

We can easily walk in love if we can realize the fact that God has forgiven us. We have been told that we are to walk in love. “Even as Christ loved you.”� So walk. This is the true standard of life. “God commendeth His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us”� (Rom. 5:8). God the Father gave (John 3:16); God the Son gave, and this high standard the Apostle sets before us. When Christ died He gave His life, not as a model for our imitation, but as a ransom for our redemption (1 John 2:2). So if we walk in love, we follow Him and count not our lives dear unto ourselves, “for whosoever will save his life, shall lose it, but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the Gospel's, the same shall save it”� (Mark 8:35). All the sacrificial offerings of the old dispensation pointed forward to one true sacrifice for sin and was fulfilled in Him who gave Himself up for us.

“To God for an odour of a sweet smell.”� This refers to the offerings made unto God as described in the book of Leviticus, which are all fulfilled in the one offering of Christ. It is that which is inhaled, an odour of a sweet smell (Cp. 2 Cor. 2: 15). Here we also are a sweet savor of Christ, to the world of saints and sinners in our self-forgetting devotion and sacrificial service.

QUESTIONS

• How may we become imitators of God?

• Why are they called dear children?

• Give meaning of “walking in love.”�

• How much has Christ loved us?

• What expressed God's satisfaction of the offering and sacrifice in Christ?

2. LOOK WITHIN THYSELF AND THINK OF PURITY, 5:3-5

Ver. 3. But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as becometh saints.

Those who dwell in the love of God and are followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, such as fornication, and uncleanness, should not even be named among them. The sweet smelling savour of the sacrifice of Calvary, so pleasing in Heaven, that sweetness of life on earth, which drives away selfishness and passion comes only to those who are pure in heart. Lust, we are sure, cannot breathe in the sight of the cross.

“Or covetousness,”� which expressed the greed in commercialism. The covetous commit idolatry with their money, and the lustful with their flesh. The covetous man imagines that because he restrains himself from many vices, he is safe. Covetousness is something more difficult to recognize, hence more perilous to the soul (Col. 3:5). Covetousness: the Greek word occurs in 4:19 and there translated in the authorized version “greediness.”� The root idea is to grasp after another's own, whatever it may be, money, property, or person.

“As becometh saints.”� Saints are those who contend for the faith once delivered unto them. The saints are active representatives of the Lord Jesus Christ. They have their standing in Christ and their walk must be in harmony with the Head. A very good scripture to study in connection with this verse is 2 Peter 3:11, “Seeing then, that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of person ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness.”�

Ver. 4. Nor filthiness, nor foolish talking, or jesting, which are not befitting (convenient): but rather giving of thanks.

The vices must all disappear. Impurity of action or speech, talking and jesting are to disappear as completely as covetousness and the grosser vices. These are not befitting. They do not at all harmonize with the character of saints as described in God's Word. Foolish talking is that of a man who is insensible to the graver aspects of human life. This can only come by and through the Old Man and allowing the Devil to have the rule over one's life. Those who live near the throne of God will not enjoy the association of those who are engaged in this kind of conversation. A person engaged in loose speech, easily becomes vulgar, and loose speech easily becomes foolish speech. Instead of being engaged in this conversation there should be a giving of thanks.

The Ephesian Christians had come out of heathenism and to them the service of false Gods was the one sin which represented the dark and evil life from which they had been delivered by the power and grace of God. Paul told them that the covetous man is an idolator. He is unredeemed from his old heathen life and has not passed in as a member of the Body of Christ.

Ver. 5. For this ye know of a surety, that no fornicator, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, which is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

Here Paul adds another and stronger reason why the vices mentioned should not be even named among them. If they share the sins of these unregenerate, they will also share the doom. This you can learn by observation as well as from the Scriptures, that such as are guilty of the vices named herein are not in possession of the Blessed hope. Every fornicator, unclean or covetous man, by so doing, is known as an idolator and therefore hath no inheritance. Who is an idolator? This class is to be named in connection with each of the sins mentioned before. It is not the covetous man alone who is idolatrous, lusting after this world, and if to God covetousness is more specially idolatry, then the other sins are but more subtle forms of this. Paul told the Ephesians that they had obtained an inheritance (1:11) and received its earnest (1:14), and yet here he tells them that they have no inheritance if they are guilty of this uncleanness, showing that what they thought was regeneration was not regeneration.

“In the Kingdom of Christ and of God”� means when God and Christ is ruler, and people belong to Him. Then fruits of the Spirit are manifested which are just the opposite to those described in this paragraph. Those who walk after the flesh have no place in the Church of Christ.

QUESTIONS

• What are the things not to be named among saints?

• What kind of conversation is condemned here?

• What was to take its place?

• Are these vices committed by people who know the truth?

• What was the inheritance of Ver. 5?

3. LOOK TO GOD FOR DIRECTION AND BE LIGHT BEARERS, 5:6-14

Our attention is called here to the difference between the heathen and Christian way of life. This is set out by the familiar figure of light and darkness.

Ver. 6. Let no man deceive you with empty (vain) words; for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the sons of disobedience.

Human sin began (Gen. 3) with exactly such deceit—vain words, and they are the subtlest ingredients still, in the secret of temptation. The vain words here are the same as the words that are empty. The Apostle, in Ver. 5, has warned us that the inheritance obtained by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ can only be secured by being separated from the things that lead to darkness, and for this reason we should be able to discern the words that speak for truth and those that are but empty and deceive.

“For because of these things cometh the wrath of God.”� In our study in the book of Romans (1:16-19) Paul presents the revelation of the righteousness of God for those who will walk in His light. He also presents the revelation of the wrath of God which comes upon the disobedient. There is but one way by which to escape the wrath of God and that is to accept God's Son as our redeemer, who has by His own death, set us free from the penalty of the law. Obedience unto God brings us light and righteousness. Disobedience brings upon us the wrath of God and darkness. We are instructed in the Scripture that we are not to be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. The only fellowship that God does approve of is our fellowship with those who are obedient unto Him, and upon whom His wrath is not abiding.

Much has been said in these verses about false teachers; the false teachers who are going about trying to establish their own righteousness and are constantly finding fault with the Word of eternal truth. These are the persons who are deceiving us with empty words. The empty words are words void of truth, life and Spirit. They are words made up of but the shell and have not the kernel, the underlying fact, connected with them.

Ver. 7. Be not ye therefore, partakers with them.

Those who are disobedient and are under the wrath of God. The warning is very much needed in these days of worldliness. There is so much being offered for religion that when rightly examined is disobedience and darkness. The only way we can be sure of attaining His righteousness is to keep free from association with the sons of disobedience. The reference to punishment is the foundation of the warning against companionship with them.

Ver. 8. For ye were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord: walk as children of light.

Here the Apostle presents the reason taken from their experience of grace. This when rightly understood should keep us not only from association, but from any desire to be as we once were. The future participation depends upon present character. We are not to cast in our lot again with the unclean and covetous. We have renounced their ways and their doom. We do not want to have any further association with them. We have exchanged darkness for the light enjoyed by the saints. If we want to enjoy the inheritance that is promised us, we cannot return to our old sins. If we have light, we must walk in the light and by doing so we will reach the realm of greater light.

“But are now light in the Lord.”� That is, you are not only to come into the light yourselves and to walk worthy of the light, but you are to be light unto others.

“Walk as children of light.”� This is to manifest a man's standing in the Lord Jesus Christ. If we represent ourselves unto others as enjoying the light, we must walk in that light and by walking in it we will help those who are in darkness to see the difference between persons walking in light and those walking in darkness.

What belongs to the walk in the light? (1) Fellowship with God in Christ; (2) Laying off all ungodly doing; (3) Living according to God's good pleasure.

Ver. 9. For the fruit of the light is in all goodness and righteousness and truth.

The children of the light are referred to the fruit of the light in order to incite them to a corresponding walk. This shows us what the character of the children of light must be.

“In all goodness and righteousness and truth.”� Fruit is in the singular and yet three kinds of fruit are mentioned (Gal. 5:22, 23). “The fruit of the Spirit”� is followed by nine, in order to render prominent its unity in contrast with the “words of the flesh.”� Then in Phil. 4: 8, “Whatsoever things are true.”� They are the virtues of the Christian man. You are in the light of the Lord. Now walk as children of the light. How shall we walk as children of the light? The Apostle tells us, in goodness and righteousness and truth. Let these be fruit of the light and manifest it in these three ways. And if you live this way you will find out what it is to please God. If you do this, your life will be entirely free from the works of darkness.

Ver. 10. Proving (searching out) what is well-pleasing unto the Lord.

We prove what is acceptable unto the Lord by walking as children of the light and advertising it by bearing the fruit which is named in the former verses. Wherever this fruit appears we know that this light has been, though its ways are past finding out. The test of a thing being right or wrong is its being acceptable or unacceptable to the Lord. The proof of a thing being acceptable unto the Lord would be the approval given to it by the divinely enlightened conscience of the righteous man.

“What is well-pleasing unto the Lord.”� The Christian is one whose course is continually proving* and testing the will of God in practice, investigating not what pleases himself, but what pleases God. Let us judge ourselves that we be not judged by the Lord. Let us not count wrong a trifle. Let us never imagine that our defect of one kind will be atoned for by excellence in another. “May your whole Spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ”� (1 Thess. 5:23).

Ver. 11. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather even reprove (convict) them.

In the following verses (11-13) we have a warning against fellowship with evil workers. We as Christians are light bearers and ought to influence the surrounding darkness by the light which God has given us as Christians.

“The unfruitful works of darkness.”� Works which contrast in character with the good and righteous and true works which are the works of light (Gal. 5: 19-22).

“But rather reprove them.”� If we follow the instruction given by the Apostle Paul, we have to do more than not to be in fellowship, we must reprove in order to do our duty as children of the light. This will require Christian courage, but there are many who are, through association and approval, becoming partakers of the darkness instead of being positive in reproof.

Ver. 12. For the things which are done by them in secret it is a shame (indecent) even to speak of.

This is the general reason for reproof on the part of those whose duty it is to reprove.

“Things done in secret,”�—things done by the Gentiles; the open and manifest forms of evil in which they invite their Christian neighbors to join (Ver. 11). Silent abstinence is not enough. It is a shame and a disgrace to our common nature and a grievous peril to the young and innocent, to fill the public prints with the nauseating details of crime. There is only one way by which the darkness can be manifested and that is through the light. The daily life of Christian men among men of the world is a perpetual reproof that tells against secret sins, even when no words are spoken. Everyone who walks in Christ's steps and breathes His Spirit is carrying on against these sins a stronger warfare in silence than by spoken arguments. However, Christian reproof must not be neglected by children of the light.

Ver. 13. But all things when they are reproved are made manifest by the light: for everything that is made manifest is light.

“But all things”� denotes what is described in Ver. 12. You who were once darkness, once wandering in pleasures and lusts of the heathen, you were without hope and without God. Now the light of the Gospel has disclosed the darkness in which you once were and then dispelled the darkness, and so you are enjoying the light, and the heathen who are in darkness will need the light that you possess so God can bring them out of darkness. The world is in the night of sin, and the world will always be in that darkness, therefore it is necessary that men and women use the light that others may see their light and through it glorify God.

“For everything that is made manifest is light.”� If you use your light properly, it will become punishment unto the wicked and when this takes place, that which is secret will be made manifest unto them, become pain and its scandalousness recognized. If light is manifested then men can be made to see the true nature of their sins and will forsake them.

Ver. 14. Wherefore he saith, Awake, thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall shine upon thee.

God is now speaking. Listen to His voice. “Awake thou that sleepest.”�

Paul re-utters the promise of the old covenant from the lips of the new, and from the prophetic Scriptures, the things concerning the salvation of Christ as sounded in the Apostle's ears, and conveys them to the world.

The Jewish Church is set forth as in a state of darkness and death and we have an exhortation by the prophet to walk and become light for that light is the glory of Jehovah. Now if that is true from the Old Testament, why is it not suitable for what we are discussing here concerning the Christian Church. Paul is speaking under the influence of the Holy Spirit and brings about the Spiritual meaning of the passage. There are a number of Scriptures that are similar in teaching to the one just quoted (Isa. 60:1; Rom. 13:11, 12; 1 Cor. 15:34; 1 Thess. 5:6).

“Arise and call upon thy God.”� This is a solemn warning to every Christian man and Christian woman making up the Body of Christ.

“Awake thou that sleepest!”� Wake up, look around, see what the conditions are that are not in harmony with the Word of God. “Arise, shine, for the light has come and the glory of the Lord has risen upon thee”� (Isa. 60:1). The people that walk in the darkness have seen a great light.

“And arise from the dead.”� The sleeper is inactive and one who is dead. The promise intimates, “And Christ shall give thee light.”� The figure is that of morning when day breaks and man see the sunlight. Christ Himself is the daylight and makes the day that enlightens us; the light that we have been speaking of as the power to waken the sleeping dead.

QUESTIONS

• Why should people be deceived by empty words?

• What class of people are under the wrath of God?

• Do you realize the difference between the darkness and the light referred to in Ver. 8?

• Name the three fruits of the Spirit.

• How can you prove by the fruits of the Spirit what is suitable unto the Lord?

• What is our duty to those who are producing unfruitful works of darkness?

• What is the condition of those who are asleep, according to Ver. 14?