OUTLINE OF THE CHAPTER:

1. Walk in love (1-6)
II. Walk in the light (7-14)
III. Walk carefully (15-17)
IV. Husbands and wives, walk in harmony (18-33)

Ephesians five continues the idea of chapter four ...walk. How should we walk in our everyday ordinary Christian lives? Salvation brings change. It brings an internal change that should have an outward manifestation. It should not be something that is plastic or synthetic, it should be a change issued as a directive from your heart in tune with the Holy Spirit. Four more admonitions follow in this chapter.

I. Walk In Love - (1-6)

Walking in love teaches us these things:

A. Offering & sacrifice (2)

B. Be careful in your verbal conversation, some things are not becoming to the Christian. (3)

C. Rather give thanks (4)

D. Let no man deceive you. (6)

In verse 5 two kingdoms are mentioned, the Kingdom of Christ (millennium), the Kingdom of God - compare these passages: (Gal. 5:19-21; 1 Cor. 6:9-11; Col. 3:24; Col. 3:5).

II. Walk In The Light - (7-14)

We are to:

A. walk in the light (8)

B. Prove what is acceptable to the Lord (10).

C. Have no fellowship with darkness(ll)

D. Reprove their works (11)

 

III. Walk (Circumspectly) Carefully - (15-17)

We can walk carefully by:

A. Redeeming the time (16)

B. Understanding what the will of God is. (17)

 

IV. Walk In Harmony As Husband & Wife - (18-33)

A. "Be filled with the Spirit". The filling is characterized by (18-21):

[1]. Spiritual drunkenness (18)
[2]. Speaking to yourselves (19)
[3]. Making melody in your heart (19)
[4]. Giving of thanks (2)
[5]. Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God (21)

B. The Responsibilities of the Wife (22-24)

[1]. Submit to your own husband as unto the Lord. (22)
[2]. Be subject unto your husband in everything. (24)
[3]. Reverence your husband. (33)

C. The Responsibilities of the Husband (25-33)

[1]. Love your wives to the point of being willing to die for her. (25)
[2]. A husband should minister the Word of God to his wife. (26)
[3]. A husband should care for the physical needs of his wife by nourishing and cherishing her. (28,29)
[4]. The husband should leave his father and mother and be joined (cleave) to his wife.
[5]. Love your wives as much as you love yourself. (28,33)

Our spiritual union with Christ is pictured in the relationship of marriage. This is why God holds such a high premium on the marriage contract. Our relationship with Christ is eternal, who shall separate us? (Rom. 8:35-39) God designed marriage to work. (Rom. 7:1-4)