Imitate God, Walk in Christ’s Love and Live in God’s Light
Ephesians 5:1-14
I. Imitate God.
1
Therefore be imitators (KJV: followers; lit: be mimickers) of God as dear children.
The word therefore takes us back to 4:32, which tells us that we are to be kind, tenderhearted and
forgiving of others just as God in Christ has forgiven us. To imitate God then means to forgive others
as He forgives us. We imitate Him by forgiving others because we are His dear children. As children
imitate or follow the example of their parents, we seek to be like God, our heavenly Father.
II. Walk in Christ’s love.
2
And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a
sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.
And walk in love = Live a life that is characterized by love (agape), which is genuine care and
concern for the well-being of others – concern that translates into deeds done on their behalf.
As Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us = Christ is the supreme example of love
because He gave Himself as a sacrifice to God on our behalf, i.e. for our salvation.
For a sweet-smelling aroma = The OT animal sacrifices were burnt offerings accompanied by
incense. Both had a sweet smelling aroma. This signified that Christ’s sacrifice on our behalf was
pleasing to God because it secured our salvation.
III. To imitate God and walk in Christ’s love means that there are certain things acceptable to the
world that are not acceptable to us as God’s people.
Verses 3-7 speak of certain things that are the opposite of living in Christ’s love. Let’s walk through
these verses noting what they are and why they are unacceptable to God and His people.
3
But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is
fitting for saints.
Fornication = in the Greek, the general word for all sexual sins, including adultery, sexuality outside
marriage (both mental and physical) and homosexuality Uncleanness = impurity or indecency of
any kind Covetousness = a jealous longing for things that belong to others Let it not even be
named among you, as is fitting (becoming to) for saints = Such evil should never be a part of our
lives. They are not fitting or proper or becoming for God’s holy people in Christ.
Paul continues in v.v. 4-7 naming other sinful conduct.
4a
neither filthiness = obscenity/indecency; nor foolish talking = silly talk; nor coarse jesting =
4b
4c
course or lewd joking
which are not fitting (KJV: convenient) = not proper
but
rather giving of thanks = Let thanksgiving and gratitude to God come out of our mouth rather than
ugly words. The best way to avoid foul language which comes from a foul heart is to be thankful to
God for all things. Foul things will then have no place in our lives.
In v. 5, Paul says that those whose lives are characterized by evil have no inheritance (part) in God’s
Kingdom.
5a
For this you know = The word know is a perfect tense verb. This means something is settled in our
minds. What is that? Paul tells us in the next part of verse 5.
5b
that no fornicator (KJV: whoremonger; those who practice sexuality outside the marriage
covenant) unclean person (impure person morally) nor covetous man (one who jealously longs for
what belongs to another), who is an idolater (has made an idol or god of what he desires to have)
5c
has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God = People whose lives are characterized by
evil are not a part of God’s Kingdom, which is His eternal rule in the universe. They will not get to
heaven because their evil lives reveal who they are.
Paul underscores the seriousness of a life of immorality in v.v. 6-7.
6a
Let no one deceive you with empty words (KJV: vain words; words without any real meaning) =
Don’t let anyone make you think that an immoral lifestyle is acceptable to God. Many church people
today have accepted living together outside of marriage.
6b
For because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience = Those
who disobey God’s moral laws and defy His will can expect His wrath and just judgment. They are
children of disobedience, i.e. they disobey God as a way of life.
7
Therefore (since God’s wrath against sin is real), do not be partakers with them = Do not join in
with those who live such a lifestyle. This does not mean that we should have no association with or
contact with them. If that were the case, we could not witness to them. Rather, it means that we are
not to allow ourselves to participate in their sinful behavior.
IV. Live a life that is characterized by God’s light.
8a
For (because you once lived like the world) you were once (KJV: sometimes) darkness = The word
were (once) is an imperfect tense verb and conveys the idea of an ongoing way of life. Their ongoing
way of life was darkness, i.e. spiritual and moral darkness.
8b
But now you are light in the Lord = Now you are no longer characterized by moral and spiritual
darkness. You are now light in the Lord, i.e. your life is characterized by the Lord’s light - moral and
spiritual traits that show you are in the Lord who is light and purity.
Verse 8c says that since you are now light in the Lord, walk as children of light. This means to live a
life that shows you are children of God’s light. Why? V. 9 tells us. (for the fruit of the Spirit (Light in
most manuscripts) is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth). This means that God’s light
produces goodness, righteousness and truth. These are the opposite of darkness and sin.
Vere 10 is directly connected to v. 8c. It says, Walk (live) as children of light, finding out (KJV:
proving; discerning, coming to an understanding of) what is acceptable to the Lord (what God accepts
and is well-pleasing to Him).
Since how we live is very important, Paul continues in verses 11-14 speaking of living in God’s light
rather than the darkness of sin.
11
And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness but rather expose them.
Have no fellowship = no participation with . . . The unfruitful works of darkness = what moral and
spiritual darkness produce that adversely affects us and others
But rather expose them =
Reprove them, i.e. show by the light of Christ in you that such things are not acceptable to the God of
light.
Why must we expose or reprove the unfruitful works of darkness?
12
For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them (those in darkness) in
secret. It is shameful to even talk about the evil that is done in secret.
In verse 13, Paul says that God’s light reveals that which is evil and unacceptable to Him.
13
But all things that are exposed are made manifest (made visible) by the light (God’s light), for
whatever makes manifest is light (God’s light reveals truth.) On judgment day, all evil will be
exposed for what it is by God’s light. Nothing escapes His search light!
In verse 14 Paul quotes a mixture of OT passages to call those in darkness to awake out of their
spiritual sleep and deadness and come to the light of Christ.
14
Therefore He says: “Awake, you who sleep, arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.”
The only hope for those in spiritual darkness is Jesus Christ! His light alone dispels the darkness of sin
and evil! While education is helpful and a certain amount of material goods is necessary to live, they
cannot give us eternal hope! Christ alone is our hope, our life, our joy! Are our lives centered on Him?