Ephesians 5:2

And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Ephesians 5:2

Back at the end of chapter 4, Paul instructs his readers to forgive one another, as God in Christ forgave you.  Similar to that, we are given another instruction here in chapter 5 verse 2.  We are told to "walk in love" on the basis of Christ's example of love for us.  He loved us and gave himself up for us, so that is how we are to walk in love.  AMP specifies a lot in this verse, "and walk continually in love [that is, value one another—practice empathy and compassion, unselfishly seeking the best for others], just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and sacrifice to God [slain for you, so that it became] a sweet fragrance".  Love is relational, so it has to do with our interactions or relationships with others.  It is how we value and treat others, seeking their best.  In any case, the best way to get a clear picture of this is looking at Christ, who loved us and gave himself up for us.  He died for us.  Specifically, he became an offering and sacrifice to God (for us).  I guess this is what it means to value one another and seek their best.  In any case, he is our example and we need to look to him.

Ephesians 5:1

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.

Ephesians 5:1

In chapter 4, Paul tells his readers not to live like the (unbelieving) Gentiles.  We are told to put off our old self and put on our new self.  Paul details a number of things we are to no longer do, like lie, and steal.  Chapter 4 ends with the instruction to "be kind to one another, tenderhearted, as God in Christ forgave you".  Chapter 5 begins with the word "Therefore".  Many parts leading up to the end of chapter 4 seems to tie in to this "therefore" at the beginning of chapter 5.  In particular, when Paul points to Christ's forgiveness at the very end of the chapter is quite fitting to how Paul begins chapter 5.  We are to no longer live like the Gentiles, putting off our old self and putting on our new self.  In particular, forgiveness is important, especially considering how we were forgiven.  This leads to the instruction for us to be imitators of God.  I guess it's natural that if we are to not be like unbelieving Gentiles, we should try to imitate God.  He has forgiven us and so we must forgive others.  This is part of the way in which we imitate God.  Why else are we to imitate God?  Verse 1 ends with "as beloved children".  NLT puts it this way, "Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children".  AMP puts it this way, "Therefore become imitators of God [copy Him and follow His example], as well-beloved children [imitate their father];".  NLT seems to say that it is because we are his children that we are to imitate God.  AMP is very similar, perhaps highlighting the manner in which we are to imitate God (as well beloved children).  When we are to think about how we are to live, we are to imitate God.  When we think about how we are to imitate God, think about the way in which a child who is well loved imitates their father.  The child is not scorned or despised, so the child probably looks up to their father and admires him.  I think as children grow up, they tend to imitate their father-figures.  We know that God loves us, so it's not as if we have to try to fabricate the fact that we are well-loved children.  He loves us, and as his children, it is natural that we imitate him as it is natural that well-loved children imitate their parents.  Let us imitate him.

Ephesians 4:25-32

Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

-Ephesians 4:25-32

This section directly follows Paul's words "to put off your old self", and "to put on the new self".  I think this section is focusing on the idea of putting off the old self.  So, what follows is a long list of a bunch of things that followers of Christ are to no longer do.  To cease from these things is what it means to be putting off our old selves.

The first thing is truthfulness.  Do not speak lies to your neighbor.  Paul makes it clear that this is important because "we are all members of one another".  This is probably pointing to the idea Paul mentioned earlier about being members of the same body.  If that's the case, the person we are not to lie to is our brothers in Christ.  It probably still stands that we are not to lie to anybody (including outside the body of Christ), but I think here Paul is focusing on our interactions with other followers of Jesus.

Next, we are not to sin in our anger.  I've heard that we can infer from this that it is possible to be angry and not to sin.  To be angry doesn't necessarily mean that you are currently sinning.  However, it is clear that we need to beware of sinning while we are angry.  This is made even clearer by the fact that Paul warns that anger can give the devil an opportunity in our lives.  One way to avoid this is to not stay angry for very long, or as Paul puts it, "do not let the sun go down on your anger".

Stealing is wrong, so we are told not to steal.  Paul encourages to rather do honest work.  The purpose of this is so that they can have something to share with the needy.  This is directly opposite stealing.  Instead of taking something that is not yours from someone else, you are to be prepared so you can graciously give to someone who needs what you have.

Our speech and talk is of concern as well.  What we say should not tear down, but instead should build up.  It is easy to hurt others with what we say.  Another thing that our mouths do is curse or use foul language.  The opposite of these things is building up, which is what we should instead be using our speech to do.  The purpose is to be a blessing to others, to build them up instead of tearing them down.

Lastly, there are all kinds of bad things (bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, slander, malice) that we are not to have.  These things are part of what we put off.  What we put on instead is kindness, tenderheartedness, forgiveness.  With the encouragement of forgiveness, we are reminded that God in Christ forgave us.  We have received forgiveness, so we should also be forgiving to others.

Perhaps I was partly wrong in saying that this section focuses on the putting off.  It is partly true, but it seems that these things that Paul talks about us having to put off, he offers something we put on instead.  Perhaps the focus of what he is saying is what we put on instead, not really what we put off.  I think that's what Paul is encouraging his readers (and us).  Don't just avoid lying, but tell the truth since you are speaking truth to another member of the same body.  Don't just stop stealing, but work hard to have something to give someone in need.  Don't just stop saying bad things, but work on using your words to be an encouragement to others.  Though, this idea isn't quite as clear with what Paul says about anger, though it is still a good idea to avoid being angry for long.

I did miss out verse 30 and in a way perhaps this was good.  Perhaps the heart or guiding light of all of this is seeking to please God instead of grieving his Spirit.  How do we grieve the Holy Spirit?  The way that we live can grieve the Holy Spirit.  The push to please him is what should encourage us to speak the truth and build other up with our words.

Ephesians 4:17-24

Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. But that is not the way you learned Christ!— assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

Ephesians 4:17-24

Paul begins this section by telling his reader not to walk as the Gentiles do.  Now, this may be a bit confusing since we don't really refer to Jews and Gentiles anymore.  It is also confusing because many of us are Gentiles and some of us Gentiles are followers of Jesus and wouldn't be doing the things Paul describes the Gentiles to be doing.  However, AMP adds a distinction in their translation, "that you must no longer live as the [unbelieving] Gentiles live".  Now, this makes a little more sense to me because I'd assume that for the most part, believing Gentiles do not live like these Gentiles that Paul is describing here.  Though it is true that we all sin, followers of Jesus live differently.

Beginning to read here starting in verse 18, I am reminded by what Paul has mentioned earlier in this letter.  Talking about the depravity of unbelieving Gentiles is similar to the previous lives of followers of Jesus in chapter 2.  They really are lost and moving in a direction that is opposed to God rather than for him.  This way is different from the way that believers learned about Christ.  The teaching about Christ is in opposition to the way unbelieving Gentiles live.  Paul lays out what the teaching of Christ consists of: "to put off your old self", "to be renewed in the spirit of your minds", and "to put on the new self".  It is very clear that those who desire those things the unbelieving Gentiles do are not following the way of Jesus.  Even more so is the fact professing followers of Jesus who live like unbelieving Gentiles are in opposition to the initial (and core?) teaching that they first learned about Christ.

Ephesians 4:15-16

Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.

-Ephesians 4:15-16

Verse 15 begins with the word "rather" to differentiate a contrast to what was said previously.  So, instead of being children tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine, there is a change coming in what Paul says here in verse 15.  Paul encourages his readers that instead of being drawn along by all sorts of different things, they are to "grow up in every way into him who is the head".  To be swept away by human cunning is opposite to growing up into him.

Throughout the book of Ephesians, there is made mention of an analogy of a body.  We, the members of the church, are like the members of a body.  We may be part of the arm or the leg or the stomach, but we are all part of this body.  Most importantly is the fact that Christ is the head, which Paul makes very clear here at the end of verse 15.  The head is very important, and we read in verse 16 about how the head is what "makes the body grow".  We are to grow into him who is the head, and it is that very head that helps us to grow.

I wonder why the words "speaking the truth in love" are mentioned at the beginning of verse 15.  Perhaps this is also part of the contrast to what comes before verse 15.  Perhaps in opposition to "every wind of doctrine", "human cunning", and "craftiness in deceitful schemes", we are to speak the truth in love.  These things are opposite to the truth, so truth must be spoken.  However, love is very important, as we read in 1 Corinthians 13.  If we have not love, we are just a clanging gong or resounding cymbal.  Love is so important, that this section ends with, "(the head, Christ) makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love".  We are to grow into him (Christ) and we are to grow in love.  Perhaps these two things are one in the same, or not without the other.  In any case, we are to speak the truth in love, growing into Christ.  He is the one who makes us (the body) grow so that we (the body) build ourselves up in love.

Ephesians 4:13-14

until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.

-Ephesians 4:13-14

So, there are gifts given and the purpose is to "equip the saints for the work of ministry" and "for building up the body of Christ".  Now, the equipping and the building up is for another set of purposes.  I guess Paul is explaining yet another link down the chain.  The eventual goal is to "attain the unity of the faith", and to attain "the knowledge of the Son of God" and maturity.  I guess this means to say that our equipping for work and building up the body as a whole will result in bringing us together and growing us in our relationship with God through how much we know him.  Thus, in unifying and growing in our knowledge of God, we mature and grow.  Looking at it the other way, when we are divisive and when we don't know much about God, it could be said that we are immature.

There is yet another link down the chain that Paul speaks of.  Equipping for work and building up the body results in unity and knowledge, resulting in maturity.  Maturity leads to a solid foundation against that which is not of God.  Maturing, like a child who grows up into an adult, means we are not susceptible to "every wind of doctrine", "human cunning", "craftiness", and "deceitful schemes".  The other image given by Paul is that of a boat at the mercy of the waves, being tossed back and forth.  We are not to be like an immature child and we are not to be like a boat at the mercy of the waves.  Maturity leads to us not succumbing to "every wind of doctrine" like a boat succumbing to the waves or like a child who is easily deceived because he or she doesn't know any better.

Back in verse 13, it begins with the word "until".  That has me stuck, because I'm not too sure what to do with it.  Does it mean that once these things happen, the building up and equipping will cease?  If that's not the case, does that mean that we will never attain the unity of faith or knowledge of the Son of God.  I can see merits in these different points of view, but I can't make heads or tails on any of them.  Perhaps it's most important to know where we're supposed to be heading and why.  Though we may or may not reach it is something I'm not sure of what is meant here in these verses.  But, God's goal for us is to grow up, unifying and growing in our relationship with him.

Ephesians 4:11-12

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,

-Ephesians 4:11-12

What is the grace given that Paul spoke about back in verse 7?  Paul tells us about that here in verse 11.  What's given is the gifts or gifting of apostles, prophets, evangelists, etc.  People in the church were gifted differently from one another.  Certain people excelled at certain things according to God's gifting.  While it might be interesting to look into each individual gifting, I don't think that's the point of this passage.  Instead, we learn the reason for these different giftings as a whole.  There are two purposes given, "to equip the saints for the work of the ministry" and "for building up the body of Christ".  When thinking or using these giftings, I think it's important to remember the purpose.  If it's not being used for it's intended purpose, then it's not being used properly.

Ephesians 4:7-10

But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ's gift.  Therefore it says,
“When he ascended on high he led a host of captives,
    and he gave gifts to men.”
(In saying, “He ascended,” what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower regions, the earth? He who descended is the one who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)

Ephesians 4:7-10

Paul has told his readers about unity and oneness with regards to God, faith, baptism, etc.  But, Paul wants to be clear that not everything can be applied to this "oneness" idea.  He points out that there are gifts given that are different for each person.  To back up his point, Paul refers to Psalm 68:18.

Now, before Paul continues his thought on these gifts, he pauses to talk about how the verse in Psalms says "he ascended".  Paul tells his readers that the very fact that he ascended means that "he also descended".  This verse is referring to Jesus, who descended to earth.  He descended and he ascended.  Not only did he ascend, but he "ascended far above all the heavens".  The purpose of this is "that he might fill all things".  This "filling" reminds me of some earlier passages.  As I did a quick search to refresh my memory, I noticed the end of chapter 1.  Christ was raised from the dead and seated at the right hand of the Father.  His seating was far above all things, which sounds similar to what Paul is pointing out about how he "ascended far above all the heavens" in Psalm 68.  Ephesians chapter 1 ends with the fact that Christ "fills all in all", or "fills all things everywhere with himself" (NLT), or "fills and completes all things in all [believers]" (AMP).  Christ is the one who fills and completes all things with himself.  It is for that purpose that he descended and ascended.

Ephesians 4:3-6

eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.

Ephesians 4:3-6

I find this somewhat complicated, but let's just look and see what God's word has to say.  The last thing mentioned by Paul in this small section at the beginning of chapter 4 is a call for his reader to be "eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace".  Paul goes on to talk about this in more detail, "There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call— one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all".  Paul is telling his readers about a "oneness" in many important aspects.  This is to support his encouragement to maintain unity.  So, to walk in a manner worthy of the calling is to walk in unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.  So, is there more to this?  Perhaps this is simply warning against divisions or being divisive people.  We are to be "eager" to maintain the unity.  More specifically, it is unity in the Spirit.  We are united by the Spirit, which is the guarantee or deposit.  It is a mark of the Christian and there shouldn't be divisions between those who have the same spirit, serving the same God by the same saving faith.