Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians
Part 22
As we begin this next section of Ephesians, we’re going to be covering some of the most practical applications of Paul’s understanding of what it means to be "in Christ". It’s not all that hard to discuss the "ideal" in an abstract way, but in this section, the "rubber hits the road" as we explore our closest relationships. The poet William Cowper called the home "the only bliss of Paradise that hast surviv’d the Fall," but too many homes, even Christian homes, are more like an outpost of hell instead of a parcel of paradise.
I believe the reason so many "preacher’s kids" have become calloused and cynical is that they seldom saw the "message from the pulpit" lived out in their home. Frankly, a "Christianity" that doesn’t dominate our domestic relationships doesn’t have much practical value for our life here on earth and the "world" won’t be very interested in "what we have". The unity of the people of God that Paul described (Eph. 4:1–16) must be translated into daily living if we are to enjoy the harmony that is a foretaste of heaven on earth. Once again, we are faced with a choice of how this can be accomplished.
I’m sure that by now, some of you are getting tired of me always giving you the same choice: egocentric or theocentric, but I don’t know what else to say…the truth is the truth. Most of us have tried the egocentric approach with little success…why not try a different approach? The best option is the Holy Spirit of God! It is only through the power of the Holy Spirit that we can walk in harmony as husbands and wives (Eph. 5:22–33), parents and children (Eph. 6:1–4), and employers and employees (Eph. 6:5–9). The "Christ Life" is the only possible solution that will demonstrate that "God’s way" is the best way.
I recently had an email conversation with a local pastor and he quoted Matthew 7:13-14 to "prove" his point:
Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.
What do you think these verses are saying?
Lets look at the context…
Jesus is often called "the greatest teacher the world has ever seen"…how does that concept fit with these verses:
And the disciples came and said to Him, "Why do You speak to them in parables?" Jesus answered them, " To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been granted. For whoever has, to him more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him. Therefore I speak to them in parables, because while seeing they do not see, and while hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. In their case the prophecy of Isaiah is being fulfilled, which says, ‘ You will keep on hearing, but will not understand; You will keep on seeing, but will not perceive; For the heart of this people has become dull, With their ears they scarcely hear, And they have closed their eyes, Otherwise they would see with their eyes, Hear with their ears, And understand with their heart and return, And I would heal them.’ But blessed are your eyes, because they see; and your ears, because they hear. For truly I say to you that many prophets and righteous men desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it. (Matthew 13:10-17)
As far as I can tell, everything Jesus did that has been recorded while He lived here, was done either to fulfill a prophecy, to bring about His crucifixion or to show us what God the Father was like. He gave Paul the responsibility for telling us how to live the Christian life…in Christ.
Let’s look at our verses for today:
And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father; and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ. (Ephesians 5:18-21)
Why do you think Paul contrasts being drunk with wine and being filled with the Spirit?
If a person is drunk with wine, he is controlled by the wine. Similarly, if a person is filled with the Spirit, he is controlled by the Spirit. Both have the effect of removing our natural inhibitions, but only the Spirit will produce Godly behavior.
There are three other verses in the NASB95 where wine and spirit appear together:
 | But Hannah replied, "No, my lord, I am a woman oppressed in spirit; I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have poured out my soul before the Lord. (1 Samuel 1:15) |
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| For he will be great in the sight of the Lord; and he will drink no wine or liquor, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit while yet in his mother’s womb. (Luke 1:15) |
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| Therefore when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, " It is finished!" And He bowed His head and gave up His spirit. (John 19:30) |
Another, and perhaps more revealing, section of scripture where both wine and spirit are used, not in the same verse, but in the same incident, is found in the second chapter of Acts:
When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance. Now there were Jews living in Jerusalem, devout men from every nation under heaven. And when this sound occurred, the crowd came together, and were bewildered because each one of them was hearing them speak in his own language. They were amazed and astonished, saying, "Why, are not all these who are speaking Galileans? "And how is it that we each hear them in our own language to which we were born? "Parthians and Medes and Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the districts of Libya around Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—we hear them in our own tongues speaking of the mighty deeds of God." And they all continued in amazement and great perplexity, saying to one another, "What does this mean?" But others were mocking and saying, "They are full of sweet wine." (Acts 2:1-13)
What is "dissipation"?
The KJV translates it "excess", but it comes from the Greek asotia, (a is the first letter of the Greek alphabet and means "not" or "without" when used at the beginning of a word; sozo means "to save", "deliver", or "preserve from danger"). The noun form of the word is asotos and means a prodigal, one who spends too much, who slides easily under the fatal influence of flatterers and the temptations with which he has surrounded himself into spending freely on his own lusts and appetites.
What is the difference between being "baptized by the Holy Spirit" and being "filled with the Holy Spirit"?
What single word would you choose to describe the phrase, "speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord"?
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| Happy? |
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| Joyful? |
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| Encouraging? |
Is the phrase, "always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father" to be taken literally?
Perhaps one of the most difficult concepts for believers to incorporate into their daily lives is the idea of always being thankful, even when circumstances don’t unfold the way they would like. "Resting in Him" is much easier to discuss than to live!
Paul says that believers will be joyful and thankful when they are filled with the Holy Spirit, but he goes even further by adding, "and be subject to one another in the fear of Christ". Being submissive is a "hot" topic and we’ll spend more time next week digging into this Biblical concept, but as with every area of Christian living, it can be approached either egocentrically or theocentrically…the results are quite different!!
What does Paul mean by the phrase "in the fear of Christ"?
The word translated "fear" is the Greek word phobos, from which we get our English word phobia and can mean to terrify or frighten, but it can also mean to reverence or honor. In the context here, "fear" conveys the idea of respect, a reverential sense of accountability to Christ. But once again, we must be careful not to take the egocentric approach…the Biblical concept of submission can only come from God, never from a human effort.
If our homes are to ever reflect anything of heaven, the occupants will have to allow Jesus to express joyfulness, thankfulness and submissiveness in and through their lives.