Walking in Love

Ephesians 5:1-7

Impersonations of famous people takes talent and is often funny. Elvis is perhaps the most impersonated person of fame in the world. Brother Arthur came into church one day wearing one white glove. I had to ask if he was the black Michael Jackson. In Ephesians chapter five Christians are encouraged to be impersonators of God.

Paul commanded the saints of Ephesus, “therefore be imitators of God” (5:1a). The Greek word translated “imitator” is mimetes and is the origin of the English word “mimic.” The verb mimic means to copy another person’s speech, actions, or behavior. Paul frequently tells Christians to imitate his behavior (1 Th. 1:6; 2 Th. 3:6; 1 Cor. 4:16; Phil. 3:17), but this is only when his life is compatible with God’s will. Peter commands Christians to be holy because God is Holy (1 Peter 1:16). When impersonators are done mimicking, they return to themselves. However, Christians are to permanently and personally take on the attributes of God’s holy nature.

God is to be mimicked by His “dear children” (5:1b). Children naturally imitate parents. Children learn more from watching and mimicking than anything else. The children of God take on the character of their Father.

God’s walk is to be imitated. The term walk means “a way or manner of behavior in life.” Christians are to “walk worthy of the calling” and ”no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk” (4:1;17). In Ephesians chapter five Christians are commanded to walk in love, walk in light, and walk in wisdom. Because God is love (1 John 4:8) we walk in love. Since, God is light (1 John 1:5) we walk in the light. And God is truth (1 John 5:6), therefore we walk in wisdom.

Paul’s command for Christians to “walk in love” (5:2a) is not just a one time action. Instead, it means they are to keep on walking in love. This is done by looking to Christ’s example: “as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma” (5:2b). Christ’s love is a pattern of divine love. His was a giving love. He handed himself over to those who would crucify him. He demonstrated a forgiving love. Great proof of God’s love is the giving of undeserved forgiveness (John 3:16; Rom. 4:8; John 15:13). In fact of lack of forgiveness shows a lack of love (4:31). Furthermore, Christians love because of Christ’s love.

In the remainder of this paragraph Paul gives six ways in which a Christian demonstrates his walk in love. First, He walks in love by not engaging in sexual sins (5:3). Three sins associated with sexual sin are singled out as things a Christian must avoid. The same list of terms is found in Colosians 3:5. He begins the list with “fornication” from the Greek word porneia from which the English word “porn” is derived. This general term includes a variety of sexual sins: premarital sex, sex with someone else’s spouse, homosexuality, etc. These were very common in the ancient world of the New Testament. The Temple of Aphrodite in Athens was built with funds from religious prostitutes. Many pagans worshiped the multi-breasted idol of Diana in Ephesus. Today, many refer to fornication as “making love” in a “love nest” and producing a “love child.” Even romantic love is associated with sexual immorality. This is seen in songs, novels, movies and TV.  It is emotional, lustful desire. True love does not rejoice in wickedness but is the opposite of conditional and self-centeredness of man’s love-making.

The next phrase is “all uncleanness.” It comes from the Greek akatharsia which means not cathartic or clean . It may refer to those who openly practiced homosexuality and prostitution. However, it may refer to anything that would be impure or defiling behavior.

Finally, those who imitate God by walking in love will not practice covetousness. “Every form of sexual immorality is an expression of the self-will, self-gratification, and self-centeredness of greed” (MacArthur 200). Therefore, Christians are not to be greedy for someone else’s body. By desiring what is not theirs and can never be theirs. For example, not coveting his neighbor’s wife (Ex. 20:17).

Two reasons are given for avoiding these three sexual sins. First, such behavior is never to be tolerated: “let it not even be named among you.” Not even a hint of these sins. It is what R. Kent Hughes calls the Cookie Jar Syndrome: “‘My hand is in the cookie jar resisting temptation!’ The fact is, no one can resist temptation with his or her hand in the cookie jar” (Hughes 155). Obviously, this is not saying we cannot speak about sex or sexual sin. After all, Paul did and wrote these letters to be read and discussed among the saints at Ephesus. The second reasons is these sins are incompatible with holy men and women: “as is fitting for saints.” We are “set apart from the world,” so we cannot act like the world. New Testament Christianity has the highest moral standard of sexual purity than any other religion. “Birds of the feather flock together” but we are not vultures feasting on the decaying flesh of sinfulness, but majestic eagles souring in the heavens.

Secondly, a Christian’s walk is different from the rest of the world in that he does not engage in dirty sex talk (5:4). “Two indications of a person’s character are what makes him laugh an what makes him weep” (Weirsbe 45). Once again Paul uses three words to help illustrate what he is prohibiting. “All three refer to a dirty mind expressing itself in dirty conversation” (Stott 192) First, “filthiness” which is used in Colossians 3:8 and means dirty speech or talk. This is verbal pornography. Today people talk “off-color” jokes and repeat the lyrics of Hip Hop Gangster rap which grossly degrades women.

The next phrase is “foolish talking” The Greek word is a compound of “moron” and “to speak.” So it means to talk like a fool.

The third phrase used to prohibit sex talk is “coarse jesting.” A quick-witted person who can turn anything into a sexual innuendo. Humor can be good. “A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones” (Proverbs 17:22). “Medically a good laugh is like ‘inner jogging,’ according to American Health magazine, which suggests a ‘Laugh Deity,’ We ought to ‘laughercize’” (Hughes 157). These have turned a good thing bad.

After giving three words to illustrate the dirty sex talk Christians must avoid, a reason is given: “which are not fitting.” This type of speech is not suited for the conversation of a Christian. Many flirt with the boundaries of acceptable talk. They become vulnerable to temptation. Such talk is inconsistent with those who call themselves Christians or holy (4:29; Col. 4:6).

Another way to walk in love is by giving thanks. An alternative to speaking with dirty sex talk is to replace it with thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is an expression of unselfishness. Sex is good and to be received with gratitude. Thanksgiving promotes healthy pure ideas about sex. Joking degrades it.

Christians walking in love by realizing sexual immorality and sex talk has its consequences (5:5). Such a sinner “has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.” He currently lost his hope of heaven. Repentance is the only means of maintaining eternal life.

In verse six is the warning: “let no one deceive you with empty words.” Those who walk in love will not be deceived about God’s Wrath on sin. False teachers love to proclaim that sin is okay and tolerable. God does not overlook sin. It is commonly heard that, “Well, boys will be boys.” Others will argue: “God is love and would never damn you to hell for a little affair or just a harmless joke or two.” Some have taught that freedom in Christ meant freedom from laws and rules. Half-truths must be rejected as a whole lie. Sin is never to be seen as good clean fun or an excusable shortcoming.

The reason Christians are not to fall for this deception is: “for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.” Notice the term “wrath” is present tense meaning God’s wrath is not just coming in the future but is now coming upon these sinners. As when God punished Israel’s fornication with the Midianite Women and 24,000 died of a plague (Num. 25). Or when God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen. 19). Walk in love like God and you will have no need to fear His wrath.

Finally, Christians are to walk so as not to participate in fellowship with the wicked: “therefore do not be partakers with them.” We are not to associate with those who walk in fornication, talk dirty or downplay the seriousness of both. Do not support, aid or abet this talk, walk or attitudes of tolerance. Stay away from those who do these things, talk that way and make excuses for ungodly behavior. Do not partner up with any three of these. “Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits’” (1 Cor. 15:33).

– Daniel R. Vess