Ephesians 5:1

Ephesians 5:1 says, Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;  Paul calls on us to follow God as His dear children.  We are not called to be simply servants of God, though we should always be ready to serve His calling for us.  We are called to follow as dear children, which we are if we accept Christ as our Savoir and Lord of our lives.  Verse two adds, And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour.  Paul calls on us to walk in love because Christ loves us and become the only acceptable sacrifice for our sins.  This is the reason we are to reach out to all others in love.  Verse three continues, But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;  Paul begins to list some things that followers of Christ should not be guilty of.  Some are easily avoidable but notice that covetousness is totally an action of our thoughts, and I believe that these others mean not only in our actions, but in our thoughts as well.  Verse four states, Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.  This includes the things we say, even those things said in jest.  We often want to justify what we say by claiming that we were only kidding, but I believe that Paul is telling us that even if we are simply kidding, we are not to say things that are harmful to others.  I don't believe that Paul was saying that we cannot have humor in our lives, but if we do that it should not be of harm to anyone else.  Paul tells us that in the way we live and speak that we should do it giving thanks to God.  Verse five adds, For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.  Paul tells us that as followers of Christ certain things can no longer guide our thoughts and actions.  If we are living by the leadership of the Holy Spirit, we will not be guilty of these things.  Verse six continues, Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.  We are not to be deceived by vain, or empty, words.  I believe that this would be anything that adds to or takes away from salvation by faith in Christ alone.  Though we are saved forever by Christ, that still does not mean that our actions cannot bring God's wrath, or displeasure, into our lives.  Verse seven says, Be not ye therefore partakers with them.  Paul tells us that we are not to live by the vain words of anyone or to follow those who speak them.  I believe that to avoid this we must be grounded in the word of God and led by the Holy Spirit.  Verse eight adds, For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:  Paul reminds us that we are a new creation, no longer the children of darkness, but now the children of light.  We can only become children of light through faith in Christ.  As followers of Christ, we are to walk, or live, to shed His light in the world.  Verse nine continues, (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)  Paul tells us why we are to be a light of the world.  We are the fruit of the Holy Spirit, and we are also to bring forth fruit by reaching others with the gospel of Christ.  This is all done in goodness and righteousness and truth.  Verse ten states, Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.  We can only prove what is acceptable to the Lord by following the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  Verse eleven adds, And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.  I believe that Paul was speaking of those who try to change the gospel.  They are unfruitful because they are not living by the light of Christ while claiming to.  Verse twelve continues, For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.  Those who profess to be followers of Christ but live without His truth in their lives hope to keep their actions secret. We as followers of Christ are to live open, honest lives under leadership of the Holy Spirit.