Ephesians 5:22

Ephesians 5:22 says, Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.  Paul in the next few verses addresses the relationship between husband and wife.  He first calls on wives to submit themselves to their husbands as to the Lord.  This would imply that he was speaking to a wife who was a follower of Christ, otherwise she would not submit to Him.  Verse twenty-three adds, For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.  Paul based this all on both husband and wife following Christ.  As head of the church, Christ lived to benefit others and died to redeem them. If a husband loves his wife the same way, and they are both committed to following God's will, the there should never be a problem.  Verse twenty-four continues, Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.  If the church, the followers of Christ, is subject to Him as it should be, then those believers should never have a reason to question the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  When a wife is married to a fellow believer, then she should never doubt that he has her best interest at heart.  Verse twenty-five declares, Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;  If a husband wants to fulfill his calling as the head of the household, then he must put the welfare of his wife first, just as Christ did for the church.  Verse twenty-six adds, That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, Paul was referring to Christ and the church in this verse.  Christ sanctifies and cleanses the church by washing its members by the word of God.  God's word points us to salvation through Christ's blood shed for us on the cross.  Christ washes the church, His followers, clean and they do not cleanse themselves.   Verse twenty-seven continues, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.  When we as believers in Christ truly follow the will of God as revealed by His word, we will be holy and without blemish.  This is due to the sacrifice of Christ and through the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit.  Verse twenty-eight states, So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.  I do not believe that Paul was implying that a husband can be saved for his wife, nor can he make her perfect before God.  I believe Paul was saying that the husband should love with a love that wants all the best for his wife before God.  Husbands are called on to love their wives as they love themselves.  Verse twenty-nine adds, For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:  Paul was speaking of normal, rational people who are following God's direction in life.  We may be able to cite examples of people who have hated and harmed themselves, but it is never under the leadership of God.  Verse thirty continues, For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.  This is another reminder that Paul was writing to those who had accepted Christ as their Savior and Lord.  Those who believe are members of the body of Christ.  Verse thirty-one states, For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.  Paul tells us that when a man is grown that he should leave his parents and get married.  This is not a command for everyone to be married but is a statement of what should normally occur.  Paul tells us that the husband and wife become one flesh.  Verse thirty-two says, This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.  Paul said that what he had been saying might be a great mystery, but that he was speaking of Christ and the church, and I believe relating that to the relationship between a husband and wife.  Verse thirty-three adds, Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.  Paul calls on husbands and wives to love each other with a God like love.  Nothing less is going to bring happiness and satisfaction in marriage.

Ephesians 5:13

Ephesians 5:13 says, But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.  Paul tells us that the light of Christ makes manifest all things.  We see that all things are made manifest by the light of Christ and that those actions that are not consistent with God's will shall be reproved.  Verse fourteen adds, Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.  Paul says that we are to wake from our spiritual slumber when we are followers of Christ.  We are to rise from the dead, not physically but spiritually.  Verse fifteen continues, See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,  Paul advises us to walk circumspectly.  I believe he is simply warning us to walk in the light of the Lord.  Our actions are to bring the light of Christ to the world, and we cannot do this by proclaiming the gospel and living by the dictates of the world.  We are to walk in the wisdom of God and not the foolishness of the world.  Verse sixteen states, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.  We are to use our time wisely, witnessing for Christ, because the days are filled with evil.  This is nothing new but was true in Paul's day as well.  We may believe that the world is worse today than it has ever been, but a look back in history will tell us this isn't true.  We just have a greater ability to hear about it.  Verse seventeen adds, Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.  When Paul advises us to not be unwise he tells us how to avoid being so.  Paul tells us that by understanding what God's will is we can avoid living lives that lack wisdom.  We may be wise in all the ways of the world, but if we do not follow the will of God for our lives we are without true wisdom.  Verse eighteen continues, And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;  We can debate the drinking of wine and whether it is morally wrong or not, but we cannot debate that getting drunk is wrong.  Paul tells us instead of looking to wine to bring us pleasure, or maybe relief from the stress of the world, that we are to look to the Holy Spirit.  I do not believe that we can ever overindulge in the Holy Spirit.  Verse nineteen says, Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;  Paul states some of the outcomes of being filled with the Holy Spirit.  We will sing praises to God and have a melody in our hearts to the Lord.  The heart was seen as the source of emotions in Paul's day, so I believe that he was saying that we should have all our emotions focused on worshipping God.  Verse twenty adds, Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;  Paul tells us to always give thanks to God, and not to just thank Him when things are going well.  When we are truly always giving thanks to God there can be no room for doubt, fear, or anger to name a few emotions.  Verse twenty-one continues, Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.  I believe that Paul is telling us that when we submit to God's will that we each individually will want what is best for others.

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.

Ephesians 4:25

Ephesians 4:25 says, Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.  Here, Paul begins to speak of some of the characteristics of the new person that we become in Christ.  Paul tells us that we are to put away lying and to speak in truth to our neighbor.  This does not just mean just those that we live close to, nor those that we go to church with, though there is certainly that aspect of the warning.  We are certainly members of the same body of Christ when we become Christians, but we cannot have one set of standards when dealing with Christians and another when dealing with the rest of the world.  We are to speak in truth in all situations, even if it does not seem to be what is best for us.  Whatever we say or do must be directed by the Holy Spirit and must bring honor to God.  Verse twenty-six adds, Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:  I do not believe that Paul was telling us to be angry, but he was telling us how to keep anger from being a sin.  If we become angry with someone, we need to deal with that anger that day and not allow it to affect our actions for days to come.  We might say that we are not to hold a grudge.  It is surprising how often those who are followers of Christ allow something that happened years ago affect their relationship with someone today.  Verse twenty-seven continues, Neither give place to the devil.  The first thing we have to do is recognize when we are tempted to give the Devil a place in our lives.  We need to recognize that the Devil does not come to us as a man who is all red, with a tail, horns, and a pitchfork, but instead comes in the most tempting form.  I believe that we make it harder at times to keep from giving the Devil a place in our lives by portraying him as totally evil in his appearance.  The Devil is deceitful by nature and appeals to people in the most tempting way.  Verse twenty-eight states, Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.  Paul calls on us to not steal but to work, not only for our welfare but to help those in need as well.  We may not want to acknowledge it, but there are times when people simply cannot find work that pays enough to meet all their needs, if they can find work at all. There are also many ways to steal, like cheating on taxes or even doing as little as possible at work.  We as followers of Christ are to set the example by being honest in all our dealings with other people.  Verse twenty-nine adds, Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.  When Paul tells us to not let any corrupt communication come out of our mouth, we often think of profanity, but I believe that he is speaking of much more.  For example, when we gossip, we are guilty of corrupt communication, as we are when we speak badly about whole groups of people.  We are to speak in such a way that we honor God and edify those around us.  If we as followers of Christ do not show the love of God to the world who will?  Verse thirty continues, And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.  Paul tells us that when we do any of the things that he had just said to not do that we grieve the Holy Spirit.  I believe anytime that we live by the standards of the world we grieve the Holy Spirit.  Verse thirty-one says, Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:  Paul did not call on us to put away these things toward some people, but to put them away toward all people.  I believe it is impossible to allow Christ to live through us and look with hatred or contempt on anyone.  Verse thirty-two adds, And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.  We are to be kind and forgiving to one another.  I believe that Paul means more than just to those that we like, but to even those who may treat us wrong.  I believe this because Paul tells us that we are to do so because God has forgiven us.  Christ did not die just for a select few, but for all who would accept His gift of salvation by faith, including those who nailed Him to the cross.  This is to be the kind of love that we show the world.

Ephesians 4:17

Ephesians 4:17 says, This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,  Paul told the Christians at Ephesus, those who were Gentiles, that they were no longer to walk as other Gentiles.  Those who were not followers of Christ walked in the vanity of their minds.  I believe that Paul was saying that those who were not Christians followed after empty ideas.  Verse eighteen adds, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:  I do not believe that Paul was saying that those who didn't believe in Christ failed to do so because God had darkened their understanding, but that their own refusal to believe in Christ was a result of their own will.  When someone refuses to accept Christ as Savior and Lord, then they are alienated from God because of their own blindness to the truth.  Verse nineteen continues, Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.  Paul tells us that those who refuse to believe in the gospel of Christ are given over to the desires of the flesh.  Paul said this leads to a life ruled by the desires of the flesh.  Verse twenty declares, But ye have not so learned Christ;  Paul tells us that if we are living by the desires of the flesh that this is nothing that we have been taught by or learned from Christ.  If we are truly following Christ, then we cannot be ruled by the desires of the flesh.  We are held to a higher standard.  Verse twenty-one adds, If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:  If we have not heard of and accepted and been taught by Christ, then we will be ruled by the desires of the flesh.  Paul said that truth exists in Jesus.  I believe that truth is that there is no other way to salvation but to accept the sacrifice that Christ made on the cross for our sins.  When we do this, the Holy Spirit will lead us to a greater understanding of how to live by faith.  Verse twenty-two continues, That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;  We are no longer to speak as we did before we were saved.  Now, everything that we say should come from the love of God for everyone.  We cannot just condemn the non-believers, but must speak the truth of the gospel to them, both with our words and our actions.  Verse twenty-three says, And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;  If we are following Christ, we need to have a new spirit in all our thoughts.  We are to be directed by the Holy Spirit in our thoughts and actions.  Verse twenty-four adds, And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.  We can no longer live ruled by the desires of the flesh, but we have become a new person in Christ.

Ephesians 4:8

Ephesians 4:8 says, Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.  Paul said when Christ ascended that he led captivity captive.  What had held people captive before was sin.  The law of God could not free those in Paul's day and cannot free us from that captivity today because we cannot live up to the requirements of the law.  Christ removed that captivity to sin and everlasting separation from God when He rose again.  Verse nine adds, (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth?  Paul said Christ Who ascended was the same Christ Who descended into the lower parts of the earth, or the grave.  Through His death, Christ took on all the sins of people for all time, but the true victory came with His resurrection.  Verse ten continues, He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)  The Christ of the ascension is the same Christ as the One of the crucifixion and burial.  By His death, burial and resurrection, Christ defeated sin and spiritual death for all time.  At the same time, Christ gave to those who are His followers spiritual gifts necessary to accomplish His work until He returns.  Verse eleven states, And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;  Whatever our calling might be today, it is a gift from God, and we are empowered by God to fulfill that calling.  Verse twelve adds, For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:  Paul tells us why we are given these spiritual gifts, and it is not for self-glory.  We are given our gift or gifts for the perfecting of the saints, those who accept Christ as Savior and Lord, and for the edifying or growing in knowledge of living by faith. Verse thirteen continues, Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:  Paul continues to speak of growing in the unity of faith and the knowledge of Christ.  As we grow in unity of faith, we prove the measure of the fullness of Christ in our lives.  If we are continually in conflict with other Christians, whether it is between two believers in particular or two congregations in general, we are not exhibiting much growth in Christ.  Verse fourteen says, That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;  Paul tells us that when we grow in the knowledge of Christ that we are no more like children who are easily swayed in their beliefs by those who are good at manipulating others.  There seems to be a tendency in the church today to follow the examples of the larger churches, especially if they have a popular preacher.  We need to instead ensure that we are following the leadership of the Holy Spirit when we worship God.  Verse fifteen adds, But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:  Paul said that when someone is a follower of Christ that that person should speak the truth in love, not only to other believers but to everyone we meet.  When we do this, we will begin to grow in our spiritual lives, under the authority of Christ as the head of the church. Verse sixteen concludes, From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.  Paul was speaking of unity in Christ and our growing in faith in these verses, and he said that when we put Christ first that love for others and unity in Christ would be the natural outcome.  We as followers of Christ must always put the will of God first, as individual Christians and as a group of believers.  When we do, we will grow in our knowledge of what it means to be a follower of Christ in the world today.

Ephesians 4:1

Ephesians 4:1 states, I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,  Paul declares himself to be a prisoner of Christ.  Those in power may have believed that they had Paul imprisoned, but Paul said he was simply a prisoner of the Lord.  We likewise need to be held prisoner to the will of God that we might walk worthy of the vocation to which God calls us.  The underlying calling of any Christian is to live for the glory of God and to share the good news of salvation through Christ.  As I have said before, as followers of Christ we cannot divide the world into the sacred and the secular.  Whether gathered together in worship or out in the world during the week, our lives are to be a constant witness for and worship of God.  Verse two adds, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;  We are not called to live in the riches of the world and by showing off our superiority to others, especially fellow Christians.  We are to live humbly in our faith and be guided by a love of others.  This ability comes only by accepting Christ through faith and living under the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  Verse three continues, Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  Paul tells us that we are to endeavor, or to work, to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  Since Paul says we are to endeavor to do this, I believe that means that it might not always be easy to accomplish.  Sometimes it may be very difficult to live at peace with our fellow Christians, but we should try hard to make sure that it is never because of our attitude.  This does not mean that we are always to just claim that it is not our fault, but that we are indeed living under the leadership of the Holy Spirit and reaching out to others in love for them.  Verse four declares, There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;  Paul stated this point many times.  There may be many local fellowships of believers, but we are all a part of the same fellowship of Christ.  We should feel just at home in one true fellowship of believers as we do in any other, as long as they and we are really worshipping God under the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  Verse five adds, One Lord, one faith, one baptism,  Paul was writing to those who were facing the question of whether the Jewish and the Gentile Christians were equal.  He declared that there was but one faith, one Lord, and one baptism.  We today must proclaim the same truth.  The way we worship may vary, but the One we worship never can.  Verse six continues, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.  In Paul's day, and even today, the Jewish people felt that they alone had a relationship with the heavenly Father.  Paul said that all who came to the Father through the sacrifice of the Son really had that relationship.  The nature of where we are born or what family we are born into can never bring salvation to nor exclude a person from salvation.  We should be united since we are all God's children if we accept Christ through faith.  Verse seven concludes, But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.  We are given salvation by the grace of God.  This is a gift that cannot be earned.