Ephesians 1:1~6:24
INTRODUCTION TO EPHESIANS STUDY , Ron Ward
FOLLOW GOD'S EXAMPLE
Passage: Ephesians 5:1~14
Key verse: 1
1. Walk in love (1,2)
In the previous chapter, Paul urged believers to keep unity and to live in holiness. To do so, they need to follow God's example described in chapters 1-3 and walk in love. Christ followed God's example by loving sinners and dying on behalf of them who had no love for him. His love and sacrifice became a fragrant aroma to God. In the same way, as followers of God's example, we must be willing to demonstrate sacrificial love for others that is a fragrant offering to God. Love, to be real before God, must cost.
2. Live as children of light (3-14)
In the lives of God's people, there should be no place for evil practices such as immorality, impurity, greed, obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking that invite God's wrath. We are changed people who are no longer darkness, but light in the Lord. So instead of backsliding into darkness, we should live as children of light who seek for the fruit of the light such as goodness, righteousness and truth, and for what please the Lord. God created everything to bear fruit and our life-fruit will be determined by how we live.
Prayer: Lord, help us walk in love by following Jesus' example and to live for the fruit of the light.
One Word: Just as Christ loved us and gave himself for us
In the previous chapter, Paul urged believers to keep unity and to live in holiness. To do so, they need to follow God's example described in chapters 1-3 and walk in love. Christ followed God's example by loving sinners and dying on behalf of them who had no love for him. His love and sacrifice became a fragrant aroma to God. In the same way, as followers of God's example, we must be willing to demonstrate sacrificial love for others that is a fragrant offering to God. Love, to be real before God, must cost.
2. Live as children of light (3-14)
In the lives of God's people, there should be no place for evil practices such as immorality, impurity, greed, obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking that invite God's wrath. We are changed people who are no longer darkness, but light in the Lord. So instead of backsliding into darkness, we should live as children of light who seek for the fruit of the light such as goodness, righteousness and truth, and for what please the Lord. God created everything to bear fruit and our life-fruit will be determined by how we live.
Prayer: Lord, help us walk in love by following Jesus' example and to live for the fruit of the light.
One Word: Just as Christ loved us and gave himself for us
