As we turn to Ephesians 4-5, we move to the “walk” portion of the letter. In chapters 4-5, Paul offers extensive instruction to the Ephesian believers about what it means to follow Jesus together, individually, and in their families. Let’s look at some of the specific learnings we gain from these two important chapters.
First, Paul reminded us to live out the calling we have received, which is a calling to unity. Next, Paul told us Jesus had given specific gifts of leadership in the church: apostles, prophets, evangelists, and pastor/teachers. The role of these leaders was to “equip the saints” (saints here means believer, not a “stained-glass” member of a small class of believers) to do the work of ministry. The purpose of this process was to build up the Church, and to mature, so we will all be like Jesus. As Paul gave these commands, he also reminded the Ephesian believers, when we live this way, we won’t be fooled by the tricks of the devil or of people, but will speak the truth in love and will grow up in every way to Him who is our “head,” that is Jesus. Paul closes out chapter 4 and moves to chapter 5 by offering a “laundry list” of actions we must do and those we must not do if we are going to walk in the “light.”
While each of the commands is important, when we get to Ephesians 5:15-21, we find Paul reminding us to make the most of the time, because the days are evil. He commands us to “be being filled” with the Holy Spirit, and as a result we will worship and praise God, give thanks to God for everything in Jesus’ name and submit to one another out of reverence for Jesus. The reason I put “be being filled” in quotes is because Paul’s command was written in the present passive imperative in Greek, which means the action is to be ongoing, not a one-and-done action. Being passive, it means we can’t do it on our own. He didn’t tell us to fill our selves, but to be filled. That means we must open ourselves to the Holy Spirit’s filling, but the Spirit is the one who fills us.
Paul closes chapter 5 with an extensive analogy, which speaks of how husbands and wives are to live together in marriage. The analogy is Paul is also talking about Jesus and the church, His “bride.” The key focus is husbands are to love their wives as Jesus loved the church, and wives are to submit to and respect their husbands as the church is to do the same to Jesus. The commands are impossible without the power of the Holy Spirit, but when we live them out in the power of the Holy Spirit, the world gets to see God’s intention both for marriage and for His Church!
As we move to Ephesians 6, Paul offers instructions for children, and how they are to live toward their parents. Then he tells fathers how to live toward their children. Next, he tells slaves how they are to live toward their masters, and how masters are to live toward their slaves. While we could all wish Paul would have condemned slavery, the instructions remind everyone that slaves and masters are brothers, and that we all serve Jesus as our master.
The bulk of Ephesians 6 focuses on the spiritual war we face, the armor we must wear both to protect ourselves and to go into battle against the devil, and a call to prayer, and specifically praying in the Spirit as a means of overcoming the devil, and as a support to Paul’s efforts to do the same. These verses remind us the devil is real, and while he is powerful, we are assured of victory, when we defend ourselves with the right “armor,” and attack with the sword of the Spirit – God’s word!
As we return to the Gospel of Luke, let’s remind ourselves Luke was not a disciple. He was a doctor of Gentile background. His emphases bear that out. In Luke 1, Luke tells us both of Zechariah’s visitation by an angel to tell him he and Elizabeth, his wife, would have a son, who would prepare the way for the Messiah, and of Mary’s visitation by the same angel, to receive word she would become the mother of Jesus. The chapter is filled with long poetic passages, speaking of God’s glory, God’s grace, and God’s plan to redeem His people. It closes with John being born and the world, unknowingly at the moment, being poised to receive the birth of her Savior!