WALKING AS WE HAVE LEARN OF CHRIST
INTRODUCTION
A. In the Ephesian letter the word “walk” in its present tense occurs 7 times & once in its past tense. The term is used figuratively to describe a person’s manner of living.
a. they had “walked” in the past “according to the course of this world” (2:2) & as the Gentile world in general “walk”
b. since God remade them in Christ, they were to “walk” in good works (Eph.2:10)
c. they were to “walk” in a consistent manner to which God had called them (Eph.4:1)
B. From chapter 4 we learn that Christians are to “walk” as they have learned Christ. This entails:
a. a total spiritual makeover (4:22-24)
b. be honest (4:25)
c. controlling our anger (4:26,27)
d. do honest work (4:28)
e. bridling the tongue (4:29)
f. not grieving the Holy Spirit by being bitter, uncontrollably angry, angrily shouting, evil speaking & harboring ill-will (4:30,31)
g. we are to be kind, tenderhearted & forgiving (4:32)
C. In the fifth chapter Paul describes the Christian’s “walk” as one of love, carefulness, & submissiveness (Eph.5).
I. WALK IN LOVE
A. (Eph.5:2) When we “walk” in love we are most like God – “be imitators of God as dear children” (v1).
B. Not much is more flattering to show someone you respect them by trying to be like them.
C. Notice that Paul does not appeal to law, since they were not under law, to tell these Christians not to live immorally, but to the principle of love (Eph.5:3-14)
II. WALK CAREFULLY IN WISDOM
A. (Eph.5:15) Christians are not to wander through life unconcern about how they are using their time. Unlike a fool who wastes his time, Christians are to be “redeeming the time, because the days are evil.”
B. Paul tells Christians how they can use their time wisely.
a. seek to understand God’s will (v17)
b. put God’s Spirit in you instead of wine (v18)
c. be a teacher & encourager & worshipper through songs (v19)
d. be thankful (v20)
e. be submissive (v21)
III. WALK IN SUBMISSION
A. (Eph.5:21) The submissive attitude of the church is to be observed in the wife (v22-24).
B. To help evoke a submissive attitude within the wife, husbands are to love their wives as Christ loves the church (v25-31).
C. (Eph.5:32) The union that exists between Christ & his people is best illustrated by marriage.
D. (Eph.5:33) By following the divine instruction we should have a submissive spirit.