Ephesians 5:1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
The word followers is the word mimétés which is where we get our word mimic. It means imitate. It is only used a few times and is an easy word study. This is some information about the word.
8mimétés: an imitatores
Original Word: μιμητής, οῦ, ὁ
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: mimétés
Phonetic Spelling: (mim-ay-tace')
Short Definition: an imitator
Definition: an imitator, follower.
2 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 sweetsmelling savour.
The sweet smelling savour could simply be translated an aroma.
Here is how some others handle it.
The NIV and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
NLT Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.
Here it is from the Greek
Bullinger translates it as TCB odor of a sweet smell
3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
I love how God in his word not only tells what not to do but he tells us what to do instead.
In verse 4 the words filthiness, nor foolish talking these are the only usages of these two Greek words in the bible
5 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.
Verse 5 is talking about inheritance not salvation. we always have salvation it was what God gave us, nothing we do got us saved so by logic we can also not undo it by our works. After all if you give someone a gift you do not get it back because they misuse it, such as you give them a pen and they use it as a hoe in the garden. Let us stay clear on that point. It is talking about the rewards you get for walking the word not your salvation. For those of you who want to believe that it is talking about losing salvation where is the line where you lose salvation, we all fall short no matter how hard we try not to mess up we do. So what if we fail to ask for forgiveness I have lived for God for forty years what if I think a bad thought and don’t ask for forgiveness and die does that mean I become a French Fry?
As we stand and do what the word of God says we build those rewards. The inheritance based on how we lived. Everyone who makes Jesus the Lord of their life and believes God raised him from the dead gets that parking spot in paradise it’s up to you where it is located right by the building or in row 155,348,302.
6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
The Children of disobedience is not talking about the example just prior to this but the person who was given the chance to believe and said no. I don’t believe God raised Jesus or in God at all. Remember this book is written to those who already believe and are working for God.
The word disobedience comes from the Greek word apeitheia which
as many of you know means they know better but they just they don’t care.
7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them
I like how the NIV translates this it gives a truer sense of what this verse is saying: Therefore do not be partners with them.
8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
It says don’t be partakers or partners with them. We are not one of them. In verse eight is clearly says you were (past tense) one of them therefore you are no longer one of them . We have the ticket and we are working for God. We are not suppose to turn around and rejoin the darkness.
9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
Verse 9 is a parenthesis it is put there as a means of explanation and is not a part of the text you can read straight from verse 8 to verse 10. In fact verse nine seems to confuse the issue rather than add to it. There is a reason for that. The word spirit is a terrible translation it should be translated light. It is not the word pneuma it is the word phōtos which means light. Also you see how the rest of the text fits with verse 9 now with that translation. Most of the other translations translate it light instead of spirit.
We are again to prove the what is acceptable. It says the same basic thing in Romans 12:2 it next says to have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness which is restating what it says in 2 Corinthians 6:14 and 1 John 1:6. We are to fellowship with others who are walking the word. The word fellowship means to share fully not just chat about whatever they are talking about at the water cooler.
Does that mean I can talk to no one at work because they might not believe? No in fact just the opposite applies you show them, by how you live and act, what a living epistle is. You do not act as if you are above them or better than they are remember it was the goodness of God that draws people and it wasn't all that long ago you were in the same position they are in. Don’t become a Pharisee don’t look down on anyone just give them the word as opportunity arises.
12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.
13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.
14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
We were dead don’t ever forget that we arose from among the dead. Christ gives us the light it is up to us to take it. No one can do that for you you must do it for yourself. We have an individual God and he works with you he never operates with a group base but much the same as any parent he treats each of us as an individual not part of the whole.
15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
Our time here is limited don’t waste it. We are to be wise we look for the word in all that we do. We know the days are evil we are suppose to make the best of the time we have, we don’t get a second chance at living now.
We should not get drunk but instead be filled with holy spirit and use it in your prayer life. That means to speak in tongues.
20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
You know one of the best ways to see everything from a new light is to be thankful. To often we dwell on our problems not that I’m saying put on rose colored glasses just even with everything going wrong in your life there is always something you can be thankful for. How about that ticket to park in paradise?
21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
Verse 21 sets the context for the rest of the chapter and into the next chapter as well. We are to submit ourselves one to another without regard as to who we are or who they are.
22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
Now keep in mind what was said in verse 21 through all of this. Here is a question to ponder what if hubby isn’t walking the word? What if he is some kind of knuckle head? Do you follow them away from Christ? As long as the man is walking it is fine to follow.
Don’t ever see this as men are better than women Acts 10;34 says that God is no respector of persons be it men, women, black, white, asian, indian, or whatever.
23 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.
24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
It still says back in 21 we are to submit ourselves to each other.
25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
27 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.
28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones.
31 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.
32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
Eph 5:33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.
The context continues on into chapter 6 so we will do the same.
6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right.
2 Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise;
Here is what verse two is talking about
Exodus 20:12 Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.
3 That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.
4 And, ye fathers, provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.
As a father I’m not suppose to provoke my children.
The word parorgizó means provoke to anger. It is made of 2 words para which is a preposition and orgizō to provoke to anger.
5 Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;
6 Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;
Ecc 9:10 Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.
7 With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men:
8 Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free.
9 And, ye masters, do the same things unto them, forbearing threatening: knowing that your Master also is in heaven; neither is there respect of persons with him.
That is where the context ends we will pick it up again again next week at things up here next week.
Comments
Post a Comment