The Epistle to the Ephesians (Special English Edition) Prepared by William S.H. Piper, D.D. For Rogma International, Inc. (All Scripture quotations from the KJV of the Bible) Copyright 2001 by Rogma International, Inc. All rights reserved. WALKING THROUGH EPHESIANS INTRODUCTION Ephesians is both deeply doctrinal and extremely practical, just like the other epistles Paul wrote. The first three chapters speak mostly about doctrine. The last three chapters are full of teaching about the Christian life. Most of the verses about the believer s life are therefore found in the last chapters. The word walk as used in Ephesians and in this lesson, refers to your habits, the way you live, or the way you conduct yourself. The Epistle provides us with no excuse for failure to know the will of God about the way we must conduct our lives. We need to preach and teach the Gospel, but how we live is more important than how we talk. If you don t live like a Christian, people will not listen to what you say. IMPORTANCE OF THIS LESSON q Every sincere Christian ought to work hard to find the will of God for his life. q God has a will about everything we do or say. q This lesson will help you greatly in finding God s will for your daily life. THE LESSON I. HOW WE ONCE WALKED Ephesians 2:2-4 A. Remember that the word Gentiles refers to all people of every nation who are not Jews. 1. Ephesians is written mainly to Gentiles. Notice that you in Chapter 1 and in Ephesians 2:1. refers to the Gentiles. 2. But now notice the word we in Ephesians 2:3. Here the Apostle Paul, a Jew, refers to himself as well as all other Jews. It is clear that we includes both Jews and Gentiles. The phrase how we once walked applies to everyone. As sinners, without Christ, we all once lived according to the course (system) of this world (Ephesians 2:2). a) The world is an organized system. Satan controls the system of this world. The great majority of people are seriously looking for happiness without turning to God. b) In 1 John 2:16 The Apostle John talks about the world and what it includes. He clearly states, For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. B. How did we once walk? What was our way of life, before we received Christ into our hearts and were born again by the Spirit of God? 1. We did whatever this world that Satan controls does. We did not have the power of the Holy Spirit to command Satan. We acted according to the desire of our sinful flesh. We did whatever our eyes looked upon and what we wanted. 2. Our natural sinful pride also played a large part in how we walked. We did three things that appealed to our spirit and made us feel good about ourselves. a. We lived as sinners without Christ, according to the prince of the power of the air (Ephesians 2:2). The prince of the power of the air is just one of many titles The New Testament gives to Satan. Two other names that apply to this lesson are the prince of this world (John 14:30; 16:11), and the god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4). As the god of this world, Satan blinds the minds of every person who does not believe the Gospel. Remember how blind you were before you repented and received Christ? 1
1) As the prince of this world, Satan appeals to sinners. They want everything the world can give them, riches, fame, pleasure, and popularity. 2) As the prince of the power of the air, Satan tries to reach our sinful natures through every available means over the airwaves. One has only to turn on the radio or TV to witness the filth that is on the air today. It is easy to conclude that the prince of the power of the air has largely succeeded in controlling the broadcasting world, as well as every other means of influencing people in general. He is able to cross over any worldly boundary with his control of evil spirits throughout the atmosphere. Never underestimate Satan. He is not omnipotent (all-powerful), but he has great power. He is not omnipresent (present everywhere at the same time), but with a multitude of demons at his command, he is able to appoint them to do what he wants them to do. He can give his power to the demons and cause confusion and disorder all over the world. He is clever, wise, and deceitful. We need the shield of faith and the whole armor of God to stop his arrows of temptation and defeat him (Ephesians 6:11-17). b. As sinners without Christ we once walked among the sons (children) of disobedience. We lived according to the desires of our flesh. We wanted to fulfill the desires of the flesh and of the mind. In our sinful condition the anger of God was upon us, even as others (Ephesians 2:2-3). In addition to obeying the god of this world, we lived among sinners who are disobedient to Christ. They are without Christ, and without spiritual insight. They do not have courage to fight against the things that arouse their empty human desires. c. As children of wrath (Ephesians 2:3) all unbelievers are already condemned (John 3:18). They live under the anger of God (John 3:36). Believers must be very thankful for Ephesians 2:4-5: But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath made us alive together with Christ (by grace ye are saved). II. WALKING IN GOOD WORKS Ephesians 2:10 A. The verses before and after this passage make perfectly clear that no one is saved or justified by works. Ephesians 2:8-9 states clearly, for by grace are ye saved not of works, lest any man should boast. The key verse that settles this once and for all is Galatians 2:16, Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ, even we (Jews) have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the law, for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified. B. With this clear presentation of grace and faith as the only way of salvation, we must ask what Paul means when he writes, for we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God has before ordained that we should walk in them. If you are a born again believer in Christ, God, has made you a new creation in Christ, through the work of the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 5:17). God wants us to be a witness for that new creation. God want us work out our salvation (Philippians 2:12) by showing that we have been newly created in Christ. He wants us to show Christ in all of the things we do. Jesus said, Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven (Matthew 5:16). C. Remember, the text says we are to walk in them. That means you must do everything that you do to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31). Tell the good news to others. Be ready at all times to give a reason for the hope you have within you (1 Peter 3:15). You must always do the work of the Lord. Jesus said, the night cometh, when no man can work (John 9:4). D. Remember also, that in Ephesians 2:10, the Apostle Paul writes, God hath before ordained that we should walk in good works. What did Paul mean? The word Paul uses here means to prepare beforehand. God has predestinated, decided beforehand, that we should live a life that is full of good works. Yes, God saved us by grace alone, but the evidence of that salvation is a life lived according to the righteous will and purpose of God (Titus 3:8,14). 2
III. WALKING WORTHILY Ephesians 4:1 Ephesians 1-3 dealt mainly with doctrine. In chapter 4, we begin to see the practical aspects of the Christian life. A. We must show the greatness of God and our love for God by the way we live. We should obey the calling God has given us. We can also find the Greek word for calling in other verses, such as in 1 Corinthians 1:26, Philippians 3:14, and 2 Thessalonians 1:11. Paul is writing from a prison in Rome. He had established the church at Ephesus and he was very concerned for their welfare. He did not rebuke them or demand that they must do something. He writes tenderly, saying, I beseech you. He reminds them of the calling to which God called them. In the past they worshipped idols. Through Paul, they had responded to the message of God s grace. They had become saints by God s call (1 Corinthians 1:2). God had called them into His kingdom (1 Thessalonians 2:12). God had invited them to partake of all the privileges of the Gospel. Now Paul asks them and us and everyone who is saved, to live a life worthy of that calling. To live a life that is an example to everyone. B. In Ephesians 4:2-3, Paul lists five things that describe a way of living that shows obedience to God s call. Memorize these characteristics 1. Lowliness the basic ideas of the original word are humility and decency. God despises pride. It is at the top of God s hate list (Proverbs 6:16-17). It is easy for all of us to be proud, including professing Christians. It is easy to think of ourselves as important. It is easy to be selfish. Some people are proud of their riches, their success, and their position in life. Other people are proud of their family name, their children, their home, or their abilities. However, a Christian never walks around proudly! To live in obedience to the call to which we are called, we must see how completely unworthy we really are. 2. Meekness Years ago I heard a well-known preacher say, a meek horse is the broken horse that will pull the load of corn to market. It is good that God should break us so that we will submit completely to all the will of God. Meekness is not weakness. It is Christ-likeness. Jesus said Take my yoke upon you and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest to your souls (Matthew 11:29). A person who is meek does not fight back. He does not try to get even. He does not get angry when someone lies about him. Remember that all of these things and many more happened to Jesus too, but when He suffered, He did not talk against them (1 Peter 2:23). 3. Longsuffering Did you ever hear a professing Christian say something like this? If he does that to me again, I ll knock his head off! That is a common reaction by many people who say they know Christ, but it is the opposite of longsuffering. Remember that longsuffering is one of the fruits of the Spirit. Allow the Holy Spirit to control you (Galatians 5:22). Although you may be born again, you still have that old Adamic nature, it is this old nature that expresses itself in anger. The old nature causes jealousies and hurt feelings. We must consider the old nature as dead (Romans 6:11-13). We must put off the old man in order to live in obedience to our calling (Ephesians 4:22). 4. Forbearance Are there Christians in your life you just do not like? Because you don t like them, you speak evil of them, and never wish them well or pray for them. If this is true, you must listen carefully to Ephesians 4:32, Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ s sake hath forgiven you. Always try to see yourself as God saw you when He laid your sins on Christ at Calvary. If God can endure, forgive, and love all the sinners who have ever trusted Christ, then we should be able to endure the personalities, strange actions, and poor manners of some believers. 3
5. Endeavoring to Keep the Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace Some writers omit this strong advice because they do not thing it has anything to do with our walk worthy of the calling to which we are called. It is sad that they disregard this warning. If we wish to live in obedience to our calling, we certainly should fight for unity and peace among the children of God. The unity Paul tells us to fight for is not the unity of the Body of Christ, but the unity of the Spirit. The unity of the Body of Christ is God s business. He knows them that are His (2 Timothy 2:19), and He will take care of them forever as members of Christ s Body. In Colossians 3:15 we read, and let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you are called in one body. Satan has succeeded in sowing seeds of confusion and conflict all over this world so that today there is no unity in Christianity. There are numerous denominations and sects, as well as many different kinds of Baptists, Methodists, Presbyterians, Pentecostal groups, and Independent churches. There may be members of the Body of Christ (the true Church) in many of these groups. None of the groups individually or together make up the Church. The Church, the Bride of Christ (Revelation 21:2), is made up of every born-again believer since Pentecost. The unity of the Spirit, which we must fight for is the spiritual unity we should feel and promote among all of God s people. It is not difficult for believers to know another believer because the Holy Spirit lives in both of them. It does not matter what church or denomination he belongs to. If a man knows and loves Christ he is my brother in the Lord and I should love him and try to live in peace with him. We should not find fault with each other. We should not be proud, jealous, or anything that causes disagreements. IV. THE WAY THE NEW MAN LIVES Ephesians 4:17-24 You might find Ephesians 4:17 quite similar to the advice in Ephesians 2:2-10, which reminded us that before we knew Christ, we lived according to the way of this world and in obedience to Satan, the prince of the power of the air. The emphasis in that passage is on the richness of God s mercy and the greatness of God s love. Even when we were dead in sins God made us alive together in Christ and God saved us by His grace (Ephesians 2:4-5). In this part of our lesson, The Way the New Man Lives, the emphasis is not on the mercy, love, and grace of God. The emphasis is on the responsibility of every person who received Christ as Savior, and every person who received the truth concerning Christ when the Holy Spirit taught him. It is our responsibility to put off our old sinful nature called the old man in Ephesians 4:22, and put on the new man in Ephesians 4:24, which of course, is Christ. A. Ephesians 4:17 Walk not as other Gentiles walk in the vanity of their mind. The Ephesian church was mostly Gentiles. Here, Paul reminds them of how they live in the past in the vanity of their minds. In the language of today, the word vanity most often describes pride, or conceit. In the Scriptures, vanity refers to mental foolishness and useless considerations, such as imagining or believing things that are not true. B. Ephesians 4:18-19 In these two verses, the Apostle Paul makes clear the meaning of the vanity of their mind. 1. Sin darkened their understanding (1 Corinthians 2:14; Ephesians 4:18). 2. They did not know spiritual things because they were enemies of God. How sad it is that millions of people do not know that God wants to give them eternal life (John 10:27-28; 1 John 5:12). 3. They do not understand spiritual things because their hearts are blind. 2 Corinthians 4:4 says that Satan, the god of this age (or world) hath blinded the minds of them who believe not. 4. Because they were spiritually blind and they did not understand spiritual things, many became hardened in their sin. Because of this they did not feel sorrow for their sin. They gave themselves over to a wicked way of living that was full of sinful desires. 4
C. Ephesians 4:20 But ye have not so learned Christ This is a key verse. Christ is the answer. In Christ, our misunderstanding disappears. We are no longer enemies of God because of our ignorance and spiritual blindness. Our feelings of indifference and sinful natures gave in to a whole new life in Christ (Romans 12:2; Colossians 3:10; 2 Corinthians 4:16). Paul taught that in Christ God gave us everything we needed (Philippians 4:9), and we are all complete in Him (Colossians 2:10; Romans 8:32; 2 Corinthians 9:8). Paul continually pointed the Ephesians to Christ. In this short epistle of six chapters, the phrase in Christ is found 28 times. No wonder he could say to them, But ye have not so learned Christ. D. Ephesians 4:22-24 In these verses Paul tells us what he meant by that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk (Ephesians 4:17). 1. We must put off our old way of living, just as we would a dirty piece of clothing. Our way of life was sinful. We were full of deceitful desires. To God, even all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). The phrase old man is found in Romans 6:6, Ephesians 4:22, and Colossians 3:9. In Romans 6:6, Paul refers to our Adamic sinful nature which was crucified with Christ. We must consider it as dead (Romans 6:11). In Ephesians 4:22 and Colossians 3:8, Paul refers to the actions of that nature. 2. And be renewed in the spirit of our mind (Ephesians 4:23). Born again Christians are to have the mind of Christ (Philippians 2:5). We are transformed by the renewing of our mind (Romans 12:2). When you were saved, you received more than a new nature. You received a new mind. We must keep it new by our love for things above (Colossians 3:2). We must continually think about things that are right and praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8). 3. and that you put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. The Holy Spirit give the new man to the believer (John 3:5). Remember, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17). The life of a new man is a life of righteousness and true holiness. V. LIVING IN LOVE Ephesians 5:2 The true Christian shows love by the way he lives. Christian love is not sinful, sexual, or human love. It is the love of God shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5). Several Bible references tell us about the love of God in order that we can understand and appreciate the full meaning of this love. A. John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten son. God gives us this clear example of what the love of God does. It gives! It makes gifts sacrificially and generously. B. 1 John 4:10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his son to be the propitiation for our sins Propitiation (Sacrifice) is the work of Christ Godward on man s behalf. It is the mighty work on Calvary by which God s holiness and all of His rightful demands against us are fully satisfied. The Apostle John says, Herein is love. Love, then, is not only God giving something, but God giving the best He had for all of us including the worst of us. C. 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 No discussion of Christian love would be complete without reference to these verses. The Apostle Paul shows that love in a believer s life is more important than anything else. Verse 1 Love is greater than angels talking without love. Verse 2 Love is greater than prophecy, understanding mysteries, having faith to move mountains. Verse 3 Without love, I am nothing. Love is greater than feeding the poor or offering my body to be burned. Without love, such things benefit me nothing. Verses 4-8 Paul lists 19 characteristics of Christian love. Read these things and then try to make them real in your life. 5
VI. LIVING IN THE LIGHT OVER AGAINST LIVING IN DARKNESS Ephesians 5:8 Ye were sometimes darkness but now are ye light in the Lord: WALK AS CHILDREN OF LIGHT A. It is good to remember, if you are now saved, that at one time you lived in darkness (Ephesians 5:8). You were not only living in darkness, you were a part of the darkness. You lived in darkness and loved darkness more than light (1 John 1:6; John 3:19, 8:12). B Jesus said, I am the light of the world, he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life (John 8:12). A part of the meaning of living in the light is that you have confessed your sin, received Christ as your Lord and Savior and you know that He is present with you C everywhere (2 Corinthians 4:6; 1 Peter 2:9; Colossians 1:13; Acts 26:18). The darkness in which we all lived at one time resulted from spiritual blindness. In 2 Corinthians 4:4, we read concerning all who are lost, in whom the god of this age hath blinded the minds of them that believe not, lest the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. Satan, the god of this world (age), fights very hard to spread the darkness of unbelief. He cause people to reject Christ. D. Causes of the darkness in which we all walked at one time (2 Corinthians 11:3): 1. Unstable Christians Satan use false teachers to make sinners blind to the glorious gospel of Christ (2 Corinthians 4:4). 2. Unbelief Satan blinds those who believe not the Gospel. 3. Love of Sin John 3:19 says, men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. E. What is the darkness from which we must be delivered? 1. Hopelessness Ephesians 2:12 tells us that sinners are without Christ, having no hope, and without God in the world. 2. Lostness Paul writes, if your gospel be hidden, it is hidden to them who are lost (2 Corinthians 4:3). Jesus came into this world to seek and to save lost souls (Luke 19:10). F. How are we delivered from this darkness? 1. We are delivered from darkness when God steps in with His grace and power. Giving thanks to the father who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear son (Colossians 1:12-13). 2. God, who has commanded the light (of the glorious gospel of Christ) to shine out of darkness, hath shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 4:4,6). 3. In Acts 26:17-18, Paul said he was sent to the Gentiles to open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan unto God through the preaching of the Gospel of Christ. 4. By repentance (a complete change of mind and attitude) toward God, and sincere faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, God delivered us from the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of his dear son (Colossians 1:13; 2 Peter 3:9; Acts 17:30, 20:21; Galatians 2:16). G. What is the Light in which we must live? 1. The Light of Christ Himself (John 8:12) a) He that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. b) 1 John 1:7 If we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another. John is writing about living in fellowship with God. c) 1 John 1:5 God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. Christ is now in that light. To live in the light of Christ, then, is to live as though we are always in the presence of God. This life is in fellowship with God and with Christ. 2. The Light of the Word of God a) Psalm 119:130 The entrance of thy word giveth light; it giveth understanding to the simple. b) Psalm 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path. 6
3. The Light of Prophecy 2 Peter 1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy, unto which you do well to take heed as unto the light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts. VII. WALKING CAREFULLY Ephesians 5:15 In thinking about the seven ways that control or that are a model for our lives, living carefully must be considered the most important. Circumspectly means to be very cautious and careful about everything we do or say. It means also to consider carefully all related circumstances before acting, judging, or deciding. We can live carefully by following these guidelines from Romans 14. Memorize these do s and don ts. A. The Don t s of Romans 14 1. DON T get involved with another Christian who is weak in the faith and don t get involved in arguments over things that are doubtful (Romans 14:1-2). 2. DON T judge someone who does not see the matter of separation exactly as you do. Keep in mind that to his own master he standeth or falleth (Romans 14:3-4). 3. DON T do anything that might cause another Christian to stumble or cause him to be weak (Romans 14:13,21). 4. DON T let your good be evil spoken of (Romans 14:16). 5. DON T do anything that is against your own conscience, or anything about which you have doubts as to whether it is right for you as a Christian (Romans 14:22-23). B. The DO s of Romans 14 1. Make sure that whatever you are doing or planning to do is right. For a Christian, there is only one thing to do about anything, and that is the right thing. Let each man be persuaded in his own mind (Romans 14:5). 2. DO whatever you do as unto the Lord (Romans 14:6-9; Colossians 3:23). 3. DO all you can to build up and strengthen other Christians (Romans 14:19; Romans 15:2; 1 Corinthians 10:23). 4. Remember that at the judgement seat of Christ you stand alone. You must give an account of your own life, and not of the life of somebody else (2 Corinthians 5:10; Romans 14:10-12). 7