Ephesians 5:1-16

Identity and Calling as

Children of God

Overview

• Follow God (example of love)• Forsake ungodliness • Find and define the Father’s will

• Finish well

Follow God (example of love)

Ephesians 5:1-2 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.

1. Command: follow God’s example of love (be imitators)

2. Motivation: reminder of the love we are shown

Forsake Ungodliness

Ephesians 5:3,4 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; 4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.

- Incorrect response to love- Fornication, uncleanness, covetousness

- Correct response: Thankfulness

Forsake ungodliness

5 For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

• People involved in these things show no sign of thankfulness to God– No evidence of God in their

lives, they are not heirs

Guard against sin’s deception

Ephesians 5:6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them. 8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light

• Don’t be deceived into going along with them in sin

• Walk according to your identity: light

Guard against sin’s deception

• Be more afraid of sin than appearing legalistic

• Guard against sin’s influence as much as

sin

Find and define the Father’s will (Light)

• Ephesians 5:9-13 9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them [works of darkness]. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. 13 But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light.

Functions of light

– Makes seeing possible– Aluminates safe passages or

dangers in one’s path

As Children of the light • We discover the will of God• We expose the dangers of evil in our

world

Finish Well (wise sons and daughters)• Ephesians 5:14-17 14 Therefore He

says: "Awake, you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light." 15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Finish well

• Sleep: passing time in complete idleness• Spiritual sleep: passing time while remaining

spiritually idle – no growth, no ministering to others, a waste of time

• Wake up! Make the most of every opportunity– Because the days are evil, it’s the worst time

to be asleep!

Finish well, not as fools

Who is a fool?

- The prodigal son

- Someone who freely wastes something precious that has been entrusted to him or her

- Every child of God who wastes time

Know your identity and calling as a child of God

• Know the love we are shown• Forsake the sin• Find and define God’s will• Finish well (you’ll never regret it!)