Ephesians 5:22-24

Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.

Ephesians 5:22-24

Now we come to the part where Paul addresses husbands and wives.  How are they to live immitating God and walking in love when it comes to their relationship with one another?  Well, first Paul talks about wives.  Wives are to submit to their husbands.  That's actually pretty simple and does not need much expaination, and yet it does.  Women and wives can be taken advantage of.  Women can be abused by their husbands and it happens far too often.  It doesn't help that men are typically phsically stronger than woman.  So, before we move on with what the bible says here about wives submitting, we need to acknowledge the sinfulness of men and recognize that there are situations where following Paul's words here are very difficult.  In all things, we pray for wisdom and guidance, especially in difficult situations when it is hard to follow God or to know exactly one is to submit to their husbands.

With regards to this whole submission thing, it doesn't help that submission to one's husband is "as to the Lord".  AMP puts it "as [a service] to the lord".  One who submits to their husband is one who does it ultimately for God.  God tells wives to submit to their husbands, so they do that ultimately for the sake of God and to honor God.  Yes, it is also of benefit and for their husband, but that isn't the ultimate reason.  God is the one we follow and the one we esteem higher than all others (including our spouse), so it is God's will and purpose that we place above even those we love.  Yes, their wills can line up, but when it doesn't, one is often faced with the difficult choice of choosing between two people that he or she loves.  In this case, there may be times when it is difficult to love your spouse, but to submit to them ultimately out of love for our heavenly father.

Why are wives to submit to their husbands?  The reason is because the husband is the head of the wife.  The husband may not be smarter than the wife.  The husband may not be more respectable than the wife.  The husband may not be a better leader than the wife.  However, God has already declared that the husband is the head of the wife.  If you dont like that, you can take it up with God.  Now, there is an interesting things that Paul describes here.  The picture of husband and wife is the same as the picture of Christ and the church.  Christ died to save his bride, the church.  Christ is the head of the church, who is his body.  In the same way that Christ is the head of the church, the husband is the head of the wife.  The church submits to Christ, and in the same way, wives are to submit to their husbands.  And, in case you weren't sure what he's talking about, Paul makes it clear: "so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands".  Once again, I can't imagine how increadibly difficult this may be in certain situations.  I only ask and pray that God gives wisdom and guidance to those in difficult situations.  I don't think that this means wives are allowed to not submit to their husbands when it is difficult.  In fact, it is precisely when it is difficult that we need to follow what God is calling us to.  Instead, we should seek God to grant us wisdom to know what to do in difficult situations.  I heard a preacher speak on this topic saying that in cases of abuse, you don't submit, you go to the cops.  I guess that would be the same for other forms of abuse.  You may appeal to the authority of the church in different circumstances.  In any case, I pray for wisdom.

It is difficult for me to relate to this since I am not a wife.  However, it encourages me to be a better husband.  Wives have an immensely difficult task in submitting to their husbands.  Yes, they chose him, but it is still difficult to submit to a man, since we are fallible, sinful and stupid.

Ephesians 5:15-21

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Ephesians 5:15-21

I guess there's quite a few things here.  The earlier instruction is for his readers to walk in love.  Paul has also just finished telling them about the idea that things are exposed by the light and that we are children of light.  In "light" of this, we are to be careful about how we live.  We are instructed to be wise, to make the best use of our time, to understand the lord's will, to not be drunk but instead filled with the Holy Spirit, singing to the Lord, giving thinks always, and submitting to one another.  These are all good and important things that also tie in to walking as children of light.  As one walks in these things, it probably gets more and more difficult to walk in darkness.  Living with thankfulness to God or with a worshipful heart toward God is probably hard to do while living in darkness.  As Paul is encouraging his readers, let us carefully watch the way that we live.

Ephesians 5:8-14

for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,
“Awake, O sleeper,
    and arise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”

-Ephesians 5:8-14

"for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord".  For those following Jesus, they were once darkness but now are light in the Lord.  This is the way followers are to live, walking as children of light.  AMP adds, "[live as those who are native-born to the light]".  Live as if you are that way and always have been that way, even though you once were darkness.  Paul tells his readers more about this light.  As AMP puts it, "(for the fruit [the effect, the result] of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth),".  That is what the light consists of and that is what children of light are to walk in.  Moreover, the goal is to do what is pleasing to the Lord, which is why Paul instructs his readers towards that goal.

Children of light are to expose the works are darkness and not participate in them.  How?  I suspected that they were to be addressed or confronted; however, the next verse tells us "For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret".  So, why would Paul ask his readers to expose the darkness then tell them that it is shameful to speak about them?  The answer is that Paul is thinking of a different approach of exposing the works of darkness.  Again, looking to AMP, "Do not participate in the worthless and unproductive deeds of darkness, but instead expose them [by exemplifying personal integrity, moral courage, and godly character];".  Paul goes on to say that things become visible when exposed by the light.  So, Paul is instructing that by living a life of integrity and godly character, one will expose the works of darkness.  This kind of living is light and the light exposes that which is darkness.  Let us be encouraged to live with integrity, moral courage and godly character.

As a final reminder, I ask myself again, "who or what is the light?".  We are told "Christ will shine on you".  Christ is light and he is the one who enables us to walk as children of light.

Ephesians 5:6-8

Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light

-Ephesians 5:6-8

We must beware of one who deceives with empty words.  NLT gives context to the deception, "Don't be fooled by those who try to excuse sins" and so does AMP, "Let no one deceive you with empty arguments [that encourage you to sin]".  This makes sense, since Paul is warning his readers against these sin.  It would stand to reason that talking about deceivers in this context would mean those deceiving people away from what Paul is encouraging.

With regards to these deceivers, there is a clear warning.  Paul makes it clear that those following the deceivers are those who the wrath of God falls upon.  It is those who try to excuse these sins (in their own lives and in the lives of others) that are owing to God's wrath (which is a scary thing!).  This is actually the reason why Paul's readers are warned against following these deceivers.  It is precisely because it leads to being the objects of God's wrath that one is warned against being an encourager of sin.

Paul goes on to speak a little more to this deception.  Specifically, he warns his readers to "not become partners with them".  We are not to do what they do or be associated with their sinful behavior.  This is fairly similar to what Paul just said about not being deceived by them.  So, why are we not to partner with them in their sin?  The reason is because you are light in the Lord.  Followers of Jesus are those who used to be darkness, but now are light.  He has saved you and redeemed you from your deadness.  If this is the case, we are to "walk as children of light".  This probably goes hand in hand with imitating God and walking in love.

Ephesians 5:1-6

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

-Ephesians 5:1-6

In light of Paul's instruction to be imitators of God and to walk in love, his readers are warned about "sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness".  They are also warned about filthiness, foolish talk or crude joking.  All these things are not to be found in the life of an imitator of God.  Instead of having these things in your life or doing such things, one is to instead be a doer of thanksgiving.  Thankfulness is to replace sexual immorality and crude joking.  Paul makes his point very clear by stating that those who are sexually immoral or impure or covetous are also those who have no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.  These people should not expect to "go to heaven", though many hold this belief.  People may live avoiding sexual immorality, but be covetous and believe he or she is still going to heaven.  Someone may even say at their funeral, "she was a good person and she's in heaven now".  The truth is that no one is righteous.  If that's the case, who can be saved?  You should already know that it is only by grace through faith in Jesus Christ.  Then, what's the point of Paul warning his readers about these sins.  I think that Paul is warning people not to continue in sin.  Being an imitator of God and walking in love means to do away with foolish talk.  In fact, it seems as if there were some leading people astray with this false belief.  Paul, telling us about imitating God and walking in love, warns his readers against these sins, then warns against deceivers.  These deceivers are probably those promoting the idea that you can be an imitator of God and still walk in sin.  This is very dangerous and something Christians needs to beware.

Now, this is something you and I need to take very seriously.  I think it's easy for me personally to just think I'm above this and know this already.  Perhaps it's at that very moment that I am ensnared by such a dangerous trap.  Pride could take over or perhaps I could get lazy and think I'm impervious to these sins.  No, I need to flee from them and keep my eyes fixed on Christ.  He is best and is the one who fills all in all.