Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians
Part 21
We will conclude today the larger section of Ephesians that began in Chapter 4:17 with what Wiersbe has entitled Walk in Purity. In our lesson last week (Ephesians 5:3-14), we discussed what it means to Walk as children of Light and I hope you agreed that only happens when we allow Jesus, Who is the Light, to shine in and through us. It never happens when we try to "make it happen"!
Let’s read our verses for today:
Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. (Ephesians 5:15-17)
In our verses this week, Paul encourages believers to be careful how they walk. I am reminded of what Paul said on another occasion when he wanted to be sure the believers at Colossae and Laodicea, and in fact even us today, didn’t get deceived by what it means to live the Christian life:
For I want you to know how great a struggle I have on your behalf and for those who are at Laodicea, and for all those who have not personally seen my face, that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I say this so that no one will delude you with persuasive argument. For even though I am absent in body, nevertheless I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good discipline and the stability of your faith in Christ. Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude. (Colossians 2:1-7)
Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him…
How did the believers at Colossae, Laodicea and all those who had not seen Paul personally but had heard about Jesus, receive Christ Jesus the Lord? What actually took place?
They placed their confidence in Jesus…trusted Him to be their Savior and Lord. What would have happened if they had never heard the name of Jesus?
Is there a certain "formula" they followed to accomplish this?
I touched on this a bit last week, but want to expand the concept a little more today. Regardless of the words we choose to use, the connection between God and man is a relationship. Wayne has gone to great lengths to stress that true Christianity is not a religion; it’s a relationship. Since we are talking about a relationship, where both man (self/ego) and God are involved, the question becomes a matter of emphasis. I see three possibilities:
| Are self and God equal in the relationship? God does His part and I do mine and both parts are about equal? |
| Is the focus (emphasis) primarily on self (egocentric)? God has made the provision for everybody, but it’s what I do as opposed to what others fail to do that makes the difference? See how easy it is for Christians to feel superior to others? |
| Is the focus (emphasis) primarily on God (theocentric)? God has made the provision for everybody, but apart from the magnetism of God’s love that draws humans toward Him, no body does the "right thing". Psalm 14:3, 53:3 and Romans 3:10-12 all pretty much say that. The theocentric approach concludes that only God makes "the right thing" happen and only God determines what the "right thing" is…the emphasis is on what HE does…He alone determines whether a person is saved, not some "formula" that man can deduce from Scripture. Of course God does not force His gifts on anyone, but the emphasis is on the Giver, not the activity of the recipient in accepting the gift. |
I’ve never seen a Christian focused upon himself who didn’t either feel superior to others because of what he knew or had done, or feel hopeless because of his failures to do what he knew was right. We’re all just like Peter…when we keep our eyes on Jesus we can walk on the water, but as soon as we look away, either to ourselves or to others, we sink. It wasn’t the water that held Peter up…it wasn’t Peter’s decision to step out of the boat that held him up…it wasn’t his commitment to follow Christ that held him up…it was Jesus that kept him from sinking! Wayne says, "Peter didn’t step out on the water; he stepped out on the word…Jesus said, "Come" and Peter obeyed.
Is there a difference between conversion and regeneration?
 | Conversion is the result of human will…we make a decision. |
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| Regeneration is the supernatural work of God…He comes to live inside us. |
When my emphasis is on God, my heart is not filled with feelings of superiority but is overflowing with gratitude because my confidence is not in me, but in Him.
What does it mean to walk not as unwise men but as wise? Describe wise walking vs. unwise walking.
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| Wise walking is by faith and focuses on Jesus…unwise walking is by site and focuses on me and my circumstances. |
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| Wise walking draws others to see Jesus…unwise walking draws attention to me. |
What does it mean to make the most of your time?
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| Be efficient and productive for God, anxious to accomplish all you can? |
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| See where God is already at work and ask Him to let you join in? |
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| Be led by the Spirit…resting in Him? |
What is the will of the Lord?
I did a quick study of the phrase
The "will of the Lord" is phrase often heard in Christian circles in a variety of ways, ultimately, however, it is whatever God wants it to be! It’s His will…never mine! He never conforms His will to mine; I must always conform my will to His.
Here’s a limited list of some things the Bible says about the "will of God":
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| It is that which is good and acceptable and perfect (Romans 12:2) |
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| It sometimes brings joy (Romans 15:32) |
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| It sometimes brings sorrow and repentance (2Corinthians 7:9-10) |
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| It sometimes brings suffering (1Peter 4:19) |
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| It silences the ignorance of foolish men (1Peter 4:6) |
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| Those who do it will live forever (1John 2:17) |
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| Those who live by the Spirit do it (1Peter 4:6) |
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| It brings sanctification (1Thessalonians 4:3) |
With this lesson, we finish the section entitled Walk in Purity.
Is it fair to say that Walking in Purity is doing the will of God?
Our next section of Ephesians is entitled Walk in Harmony…we will discover that when Christ is living inside us, other relationships are much more peaceful and satisfying.