Ephesians 5:1-21 (2)

Pastor Jonathan Hansen

Ephesians • Sermon • Submitted 2 years ago

Ephesians 5:1–21

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Premise:

Be imitators of God; have nothing to do with immorality, impurity, covetousness, or wickedness of any kind, because you are light, do what light does.

Opening:

Introduction of the Text:

Reading of the Text:

Ephesians 5:1-21, Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children,2 and walk in love, just as Christ also loved us and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.3 But sexual immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints;4 nor filthiness and foolish talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.5 For this you know with certainty, that no one sexually immoral or impure or greedy, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.7 Therefore do not be partakers with them,8 for you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light (for the fruit of that light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth),10 trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.11 And do not participate in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead even expose them.12 For it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret.13 But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light.14 For this reason it says,

“Awake, sleeper,

And arise from the dead,

And Christ will shine on you.”

15 Therefore look carefully how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.17 On account of this, do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;20 always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father;21 and being subject to one another in the fear of Christ.

Behold, the Word of God. Let’s pray.

Prayer:

Pray for God to work in and through my words.

Pray that God would open the hearts of His people to hear hard truths and commands.

Pray that God would sanctify us and give us the strength to do what He commands.

"O Lord, command what you will and give what you command" St. Augustine

Transition:

Augustine’s Prayer and Why I Open in Such a Way.

"O Lord, command what you will and give what you command" St. Augustine

God Commands Us To Be and Do Many Things, and This is Good!

These Commands Are Binding On Us Today.

Colossians 4:16 “16 When this letter is read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and you, for your part read my letter that is coming from Laodicea.”

These Commands Are Easy To Understand, But Hard to Live Out.

We Need God to Give Us What He Commands.

The Text:

Context:

Walk Not Like Gentiles, Walk Like the Saved.

4:17-24, Therefore this I say, and testify in the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind,18 being darkened in their mind, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart.19 And they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness.20 But you did not learn Christ in this way—21 if indeed you heard Him and were taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus—22 to lay aside, in reference to your former conduct, the old man, which is being corrupted in accordance with the lusts of deceit,23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your mind,24 and to put on the new man, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth.

1. Lay Aside Falsehood, Speak the Truth.

2. Be Angry and Do Not Sin.

Be angry about what God is angry about and nothing else.

3. If You’re a Thief, Get a job and earn honest money.

4. Let No Unwholesome Talk Come Out of Your Mouth.

5. Put Away All bitterness, wrath, clamor, slander, and malice.

6. Be kind, tender hearted, forgiving to one another.

We are studying Paul’s next bank of commands in light of this major command.

Be Imitators of God, as Beloved Children.

5:1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children,

1 Peter 1:15-16, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your conduct;16 because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

Walk in the Love of Christ.

5:2, and walk in love, just as Christ also loved us and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.

List of Sins to be Completely Separate From.

5:3-5, But sexual immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints;4 nor filthiness and foolish talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.5 For this you know with certainty, that no one sexually immoral or impure or greedy, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

Ephesians 4:19, And they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness.

Sexual Immorality.

Explanation:

Argumentation:

Any Impurity.

Explanation:

Argumentation:

Any Greed.

Explanation:

Argumentation:

Filthiness or Foolishness of Talk.

Explanation:

Referring to sexually dirty speak or empty, idiotic speach.

Argumentation:

Coarse Jesting.

Explanation:

Referring to the twisting of anything into a dirty, perverse joke.

Argumentation:

Fart jokes are likely not what Paul had in mind here.

Why?

No One Who Does Such Is Part of the Kingdom.

5:5, 5 For this you know with certainty, that no one sexually immoral or impure or greedy, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

Certainty:

Spurgeon, “What a sweeping sentence! This is indeed a sword with two edges. Many will flinch before it; and yet, though they flinch, they will not escape, for Paul speaks neither more nor less than the truth when he declares that “no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.”

1 John 1 for more info on how this is lived out.

They Are Idolatry.

These Things Bring On the Wrath of God.

5:6, 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

Do Not Be Partakers With Them.

5:7, Therefore do not be partakers with them,

Argumentation:

The People of God Should Never Ever Be Part of Something Where God’s Judgement is Falling or Will Fall.

Fear God, Not Man.

For You Were Formerly Darkness, But Now Are Light in the Lord.

5:8, ,for you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light

Walk as Children of Light.

5:8, walk as children of light.

Scripturally, light represents truth and holiness.

Walk like what you are.

How Do Children of Light Walk?

5:9-12, (for the fruit of that light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth),10 trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.11 And do not participate in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead even expose them.12 For it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret.13 But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light.

All Goodness and Righteousness and Truth.

5:9, (for the fruit of that light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth)

Trying to Learn What is Pleasing to the Lord.

5:10, trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.

Not Participating in the Unfruitful Works of Darkness.

5:11, And do not participate in the unfruitful works of darkness,

John MacArthur, “(to participate in) may also be translated “to become a partaker together with others.” The child of light should not become involved in evil even by association.”

Instead, Exposing Them.

5:11, but instead even expose them.

John MacArthur, The Christian’s responsibility goes further than not participating in the sinful ways of the world; he is instead even to expose them. To ignore evil is to encourage it; to keep quiet about it is to help promote it. The verb here translated expose (from elegchō) can also carry the idea of reproof, correction, punishment, or discipline. We are to confront sin with intolerance.

Argumentation:

We do not merely lay low, we expose darkness.

The Darkness Must Be Exposed, Because It Is So Vile It Is Disgraceful to Even Speak Of.

5:12-13,12 For it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret.13 But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light.

Argumentation:

Spurgeon, “Then drag them to the light! There will be a great howling when these dogs of darkness have the light let in upon them, but it has to be done.”

We Are Not to be Vile in Our Language, But We Are to Expose Vile Evil.

Christ Will Shine On You.

5:14, 14 For this reason it says,

“Awake, sleeper,

And arise from the dead,

And Christ will shine on you.”

Paul is Alluding to Three OT Passages.

Isaiah 26:19. Your dead will live;

Their corpses will rise.

You who dwell in the dust, awake and shout for joy,

For your dew is as the dew of the dawn,

And the earth will give birth to the departed spirits.

Isaiah 51:17.

Awaken yourself! Awaken yourself! Arise, O Jerusalem,

You who have drunk from the hand of Yahweh the cup of His wrath;

The chalice of reeling you have drained to the dregs.

Isaiah 52:1. Awake, awake,

Clothe yourself in your strength, O Zion;

Clothe yourself in your glorious garments,

O Jerusalem, the holy city;

For the uncircumcised and the unclean

Will no longer come into you.

Awake, do not be asleep to the Evil around you.

Arise from your former death.

The Promise of Christ’s Life.

This Takes Wisdom.

5:15, Therefore look carefully how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,

Fight Hard, The Days Are Indeed Evil.

5:16, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

Understand What The Will Of God Is.

5:17, On account of this, do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Argumentation/Application.

We Must In Wisdom and Righteousness Expose Evil as Light.

Spurgeon, “Then drag them to the light! There will be a great howling when these dogs of darkness have the light let in upon them, but it has to be done.”

Practical Exposure of Demonic Evil.

MacArthur, “Simply refusing to participate in a dishonest business or social practice will sometimes be such a strong rebuke that it costs us our job or a friendship.”

“Often, of course, open rebuke is necessary. Silent testimony will only go so far. Failure to speak out against and to practically oppose evil things is a failure to obey God. Believers are to expose them in whatever legitimate, biblical ways are necessary. Love that does not openly expose and oppose sin is not biblical love.”

“We should be so mature in biblical truth, and in obedience, holiness, and love that part of the natural course of our life is to expose, rebuke, and offer the remedy for every kind of evil.”

Transgenderism.

Transing the Kids.

Because these things are vile even to speak of, I will go into very little detail about the process, but will go into as much detail as I am able to in this sacred gathering about the repercussions. Many hospitals are prescribing irreversible hormones and puberty blockers to pre-pubescent children. Many are even doing “gender affirming surgeries” on children as young as 12. Notably, Vanderbilt Transgender Clinic in Nashville openly admitting to doing these things and were seemingly proud of it until called on it and facing backlash.

Two Quotes:

-my own voice is killing me-

CRY FOR HELP - MEDICALLY TRANSITIONED REPLIES ONLY

I hate my voice. Every time I open my F• mouth I sound like a freak. I've ruined my life with my stupid decisions I made as a kid. The doctors ruined my life by allowing a barely functioning, mentally ill child, with severe ocd, and then diagnosed bpd, go on hormones that would completely change my body. I can manage to get the pitch of my voice up relatively decently, to the point where it's always in the androgynous or low female range on a vocal pitch app. But there's always something that seems off. It never sounds female, always like a very high pitched, stereotypical 'gay male' voice, or a male trying to force a female voice and failing. I'm tempted to just stop talking altogether. In my worse moments, all I want to do is to tear out my vocal cords and be done with it. I'd been on T for around 2 years, although it was relatively sporadic and I wasn't very consistent with either the gel or the shots at all. I've only just managed to get off the hormones now, as the shots I was on were every 3 months. Thankfully, not a lot else changed whilst on T. No facial hair, no facial changes, and I never went through with any surgeries (l'm still only 17). I've tried watching yt videos like transvoicelessons, and absolutely nothing in the videos make any sense and I don't find them helpful in the slightest. Im legitimately suicidal because of the decisions I made as a kid. It's all my F- fault. I don't know how long I can keep doing this.

-can't live like this anymore but I don't want my mom to suffer even more-

CRY FOR HELP

I’m a 17 year old girl with a flat chest, a deep voice, a visible Adam's apple and some facial hair. There's no reason for me to continue to live. I destroyed my life and I feel like all hope I have is stupid for me to have. I don't think any person will ever wanna date me. Before all this people were into me but I destroyed that. Now no one is ever gonna like me. There's nothing I can really do without getting reminded of my past and how much I miss it. I feel ashamed of what I did. I'm scared people will never let me do decisions on my own anymore. I was just a kid and I would have needed someone to help me accept myself but my therapist didn't question my „transness". I can't stop thinking about the life I could have had. I also think other people will now believe that they are something better then me. I love my mom. She is an amazing mom. She stopped me the first time from transitioning but the second time she was also brainwashed and sadly thought that when all these professionals say it's the right thing to let your kid transition then it must be the right thing. She thinks it's all her fault but it isn't. I wanna kill myself but then she will feel even more miserable. How can I kill myself and let her know that I want her to be happy. I’m 17 why do I have to think about ending my life. It's too much for me to handle.

There's no joy in my life anymore.

This is what gender affirming care looks like.

The Schools Are Aiding in This, Even Here.

Teachers and Schools are going public in aiding this and even hiding it from parents. Some have even created online chat-rooms where adults can speak with children about their sexuality. These chat-rooms have quick escape features so that parents will be unaware. Pre-schools have actual pornography in their libraries teaching kids how to perform various sexual acts.

This is what is happening when Schools become “Open and Affirming” or “LGBTQ+ Safe Spaces.”

Make NO mistake, the judgement of God will fall on this. It is already falling on this. God is turning them over to their own sin and it is eating them alive.

Do Not Be Where God’s Judgement is Falling or Will Fall.

Do Not Participate In Institutions Where God’s Judgement Will Fall.

Do Not Subject Your Children To the Judgement of God!

Leave These Institutions Prophetically.

Why? God’s Judgement is Real.

Call to those in Darkness That God’s Judgement Is Falling.

Where is your line?

Schools have functioned under Marxist principles since the 50’s or 60’s. They have been teaching completely contrary worldviews to the Christian faith for just as long. They have been indoctrinating kids openly since the 90’s. Now they are supporting radical sexual and gender destructive ideology. Where is your line? You may say, “It is is important for us to keep our kids in there for now.” But where is your line? Will your line be when your daughter is raped in the showers at a sports event like in Loudoun County, Virginia? Will it be when your son comes home as a girl and demands you respect “her” pronouns? Will it be when the School brings in Drag Queen’s to read books to your kindergartner? Where is your line exactly? I want to know where the line is precisely. You have to know where it is. To the letter, you must know.

And once you figure out where your line is, ask the better question. Where is God’s line. Where is the line where you are being a derelict parent and abandoning your responsibility before God. Is God happy your kids are being taught completely contrary to His revealed truth? Is God happy your kids may be taught how to perform sex acts in elementary school? Is God happy your children might be or likely are surrounded by or taking part in wickedness. Remember, they are seen as members of the Covenant. They are seen as His children. “But we must be lights in there. We have to be in the system to speak to it.”

It Is a False Dichotomy To Say You Have To Be In Something To Speak to it, or Call Out of It.

We are not out of this world. We are in the world but not of the world. But to be in the world is not to be in every aspect of the world. Do I have to be a member of a human trafficking ring to call those in it to the gospel? Do I have to be part of the Hell’s Angels in order to witness to them? Do I have to be present for the murder in order to say it is sin? Do I have to be in the operating room of the abortionist to say it ought not happen? Do I have to pay for the abortion in order to say, “This is wrong?” Do I have to let the pedophile loose with my child in order to say they shouldn’t touch kids? You don’t have to stick your head under the wheel of a semi truck to know it’s bad for your health.

The early Christians did not visit the prostitutes in order to witness to them. They did not bow down to the Ephesian goddess in order to witness in the courts. They refused to be present when false gods were worshipped. They would stand outside of the pagan temples, or go in at various times to worship. They would not participate in the worship in order to call people to repent. They would refute and debate and publically condemn all the evil of the Ephesian systems.

It is a false dichotomy to say we have to be something in order to speak to it. I don’t have any kids in the school system here. Yet I can still work with those kids who are in it. As we look t getting a new meeting location, one of the first things I have a desire to do is begin working with the kids and youth. Create a space for them to come and be ministered to. We have opportunity to work with FCA. There are multiple ways to witness, love, speak to, share the gospel with, and be light in the current culture without sacrificing yourself or your kids on the pagan altar.

Do Not Partake in Darkness, Expose it.

Call to Repentance.

Matthew 4:17, From that time Jesus began to preach and say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

The Days Are Evil, But God Can Redeem The Evil and Save Great Sinners.

John Newton, Slave ship captain, wicked man, redeemed by Amazing Grace. “Although my memory's fading, I remember two things very clearly: I am a great sinner and Christ is a great Savior.”

Transition:

Closing Commands.

Do Not Be Drunk With Wine.

5:18, And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit,

Argumentation:

Drinking is Not a Sin, But Being Drunk is a Sin.

Wine is a Sharp Blessing.

Psalm 104:15, 15

And wine which makes man’s heart glad,

To make his face glisten more than oil,

And food which sustains man’s heart.

Ecclesiastes 10:19, Men prepare bread for laughter, and wine makes life glad, and money is the answer to everything.

Psalms, Hymns, Spiritual Songs.

15:19, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;

Col 3:16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with gratefulness in your hearts to God.

Our Music is to be Theological.

Give Thanks Always in the Name of Christ to the Father.

15:20, always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father;

Setting the Stage for the Coming Passage.

Be Subject to One Another.

15:21, and being subject to one another in the fear of Christ.

Transition:

Communion:

1 Corinthians 10:14-17, 14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.15 I speak as to prudent people. You judge what I say.16 Is not the cup of blessing which we bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not the bread which we break a sharing in the body of Christ?17 Since there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread.

This was not an easy message to prepare or preach. I wrestled with the Holy Spirit all week on this text. I wrestled and struggled with my own heart. I said nothing this morning out of anger or malice, but love. I love you all. I love this community. I love this town. I love this state. And this week, I have been broken over this passage. I feel utterly empty. So, if I could speak from the heart for a moment; One of my fears in modern church is that we miss the beauty of the sacred. This is a sacred moment. This is a blessed moment. We are going to take of this sacred meal together. It is a real communion with Christ. This is not physically the body and blood of Christ, but it is Spiritually the body and blood of Christ. He is in a real way, here with us. This is in a real way the body and blood of Christ. I cannot tell you how much that comforts me after a week of wrestling with a hard and painful message.

I fear too often modern worship feels like a car sales pitch. Beloved, I am not trying to sell you anything. My heartfelt desire for you is that you would come to this place to have a real encounter with the divine. I know how hard life is. I know how many of you must be going through the struggles of life in pain and loneliness. I know how much difficulty there is in this life. I want you to come here and hear from God. Yes, to be convicted, challenged, uplifted, encouraged, strengthened and more. And all of this happens because it is real. I want you to see that this is real. This gathering is genuine and real. It is a meeting with Christ.

As your pastor, I love you. I care for you. I open the word every week, begging God to feed you through a week and broken instrument like me. I do not want you to merely come to church to hear my words. I long for you to come here in worship of God, and to leave having met with Him. I long for your to leave having heard from Him in His Word. I long for you to have gathered to worship Him in the midst of a crazy , dark world and leave having been with Christ. My heart felt desire as your pastor is that you would not feel like this is merely a social club, or something of the like, but a place of true worship and healing. We live in a cheep and plastic culture where nothing is genuine. So much of our life feels shallow and hollow. But here is something real. Here is the body and blood of Christ. Here is something more real than most anything else we encounter in life.

The truest of all truths is personified in the act of communion. We are sinners in a dark world, but we are saved by the body and blood of Christ, shed for us. Here, we gather and drink of the cup of blessing, as Paul calls it. I long for you to be blessed in this cup. We share in this and for a moment, we have reprieve from the struggles of this life. We are reminded of the grace which is ours in the blood of Christ. We are not working to earn the love and grace of Christ, it is freely ours. Salvation is not of our works. It is given to us freely in the body of blood of Christ. And this act is a reminder of that. I pray that when you leave this place, you are reminded of this, encouraged by this, sustained by this, uplifted by this, and strengthened by this. The grace of Christ is ours. We are free, washed clean, and unified together as one body in Him. What a joyful reminder!

This is why this act is reserved for Christians. We are the elect, the called out ones. We are the ones who were formerly darkness but now are light in Christ. We were formerly dead, but have been made alive. We are the ones who were formerly outcasts, but are now brought near. Therefore, If it is your confession that Christ is Lord, and that you are saved by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone, I invite you come as unified, redeemed, sacred, saintly, beloved, believers in Christ.

1 Corinthians 11:23-26, For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was being betrayed took bread,24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.”25 In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the death of the Lord until He comes.

Closing Doxology:

Closing Benediction:

Ephesians 4:32 “32 Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.”