Ephesians Chapter 5 is about following in God’s example. Paul opens this section of the epistle by giving the Ephesians instructions about keeping pure and staying away from sexual immorality.
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Living in Christ
Paul said in Ephesians Chapter 5 that everyone should walk in love and follow the example of Jesus Christ as God’s children. He warned them about being foolish, immoral, and obscene, as these things had no place in God’s kingdom.
Things such as greed, impurity, or even immoral joking were not acceptable either according to Paul. Those living in Christ, he said, should only engage in thanksgiving and other holy things. They should not allow for others to deceive them with empty words as this is when God’s wrath will come.
Living in the Light
Paul told the people at Ephesus that they were once in the darkness. However, through Christ, they were brought out into the light. This meant that they should act like they are of the light and stay away from things that were not accepted by God.
Everything that becomes exposed to the light will be visible for everyone to see. As a result, Paul said, they should be careful of how they lived so that they will be good examples with nothing to hide. He also said that they should be wary of the things happening around them because the days are evil.
Rules for Wives and Husbands
In the last part of Ephesians Chapter 5, Paul instructed the people on how they should be within their own houses. He said that wives should submit to their husbands and husbands should love their wives as Christ loves the church.
Also, Paul told the husbands to love the wives as much as they love themselves because in God, they are one being and no longer separate. Finally, Paul told them that they should respect one another. The two have become one flesh, just as Christ was now one with His church.
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Ephesians 5 (King James Version)
1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
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.
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.
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.
6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
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.
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.
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;
20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
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.
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.
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.