STUDIES IN EPHESIANS & COLOSSIANS STUART GREAVES FALL2012, COURSE NOTES #08: EPHESIANS 4:23-6:18 WALKING IN A MANNER WORTHY

I. HOLY, WITHOUT BLAME, BEFORE HIM IN LOVE A.

PT 2

It was determined in the eternal counsels of the Godhead before the Gen 1 that God would have a people who would love Him. The Father desired a people who would be His sons and a Bride for His Son and who would be: 1.
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Holy set apart, to be His people possessing the beauty of God (Eph 4-6) And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands for us; Yes, establish the work of our hands. Psalm 90:17 To console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they may be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified. Isaiah 61:2b-3 the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads. Revelation 4:4 Without blame enmity and hostility removed (Eph 4-6) There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. Romans 8:1
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4 Around

2.

And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, 14 having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. 15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it. Colossians 2:15
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Then I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren, who accused them before our God day and night, has been cast down. Revelation 12:10 he said, I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself. 11 And He said, Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat? 12 Then the man said, The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate. 13 And the LORD God said to the woman, What is this you have done? The woman said, The serpent deceived me, and I ate. Genesis 3:10-13

10 So

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3.
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Before Him in love having access as voluntary lovers, a counterpart (Eph 4-6) For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. 32 This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Ephesians 5:31-32 Jesus said to him, You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. Matthew 22:37-38

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B.

God determined from before the ages that He would have a people who would be voluntary lovers, holy (set apart and beautified) and blameless (intimacy without shame and animosity between them and God and among one another). Holiness in essence is love for God and one another. We are called to be before Him (1:3, 2:6) in love as we seek to live out the commandment of love the 1st and 2nd commandments. The mystery of God is unto having a people (Jew and Gentile) who will rule and reign with the Godhead in love. Paul gives three basic components to the mystery of God, which include the revelation of our eternal destiny, the value of the redeemed as Gods inheritance and the vastness of Gods power made available to the people of God. Chapters 4-6 are about how to respond to the mystery of God and how we are to walk out the reality of being holy, without blame and in love before Him.

C. D.

E. II.

PUT ON THE NEW MAN CREATED ACCORDING TO GOD 4:23-32 A. B. 4:23-24, we are to actively walk away from lusts and the things that stir lustful desires. At the new birth, the Holy Spirit comes to live in our spirit. The new birth is about much more than being forgiven, it emphasizes being born into a new reality of connectedness with the Spirit. The uncreated life of God dwelling in us is the core reality of the new birth (Jn. 3:3-5).
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he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him. (1 Cor 6:17)

C.

God deposited into our spirit the seed of His very being. The eternal uncreated life of God came to live in us. One purpose for this was to destroy the works of darkness in us. The person born of God no longer lives in habitual sin (as they formerly did) but wages war against it.

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8For

this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil. 9 Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him. (1 Jn. 3:8-9) D. God created us in three parts, spirit, soul and body. Our inner man or the hidden person of the heart is comprised of spirit and soul (mind, emotions, will). The outer man is our physical body.
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your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless (1 Thes. 5:23)

Our outward man is perishingthe inward man is being renewed day by day. (2 Cor. 4:16)
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Do not let your adornment be merely outward4 let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit (1 Pet. 3:3-4)
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Put on the new man who is renewedaccording to the image of Him (Col. 3:10)

E.

Principle: we walk in the Spirit by talking with the Spirit. The fundamental and introductory way to walk in the Spirit is by maintaining an active dialogue with the indwelling Spirit. This is key to our transformation and renewal. It is so simple that is causes many to miss it. Words quench or release (activate) the Spirit in us more than anything else. We talk to the Holy Spirit as the way to experience the release of His power in our inner man. He releases small measures of power on our mind and heart, but the power is real. We experience the Spirits power in small incremental ways like we do with food and water. The emotional resource of the Spirit or the power of God on our emotions has 9 different facets of the one diamond of our relationship with the Holy Spirit.
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F.

G.

The fruit (result) of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering (patience, NAS), kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. (Gal. 5:18, 22-23) H. Peter emphasized that all that pertains to walking in godliness is already in us and is activated or released by the knowledge of God (which includes experiencing or engaging with the Spirit).
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Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge (experience) of God3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain togodliness, through the knowledge (experience) of Him 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly greatpromises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature (character) (2 Pet. 1:2-4) I. We need to focus on the presence of the indwelling Holy Spirit in our war against sin. Many put their primary focus on the necessity of denying sinful desires. We walk in the Spirit or walk in the light as the condition for overcoming lust. We remove darkness by turning on the light.
5 Light

shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend (overpower) it. (Jn. 1:5)

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J. Eph 4:25-32 calls us back to the 4:2 calling: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. K. Vs. 25: purity of speech Vs. 26-27: in your anger do not sin and dont leave a foothold for the devil Vs. 28: work with your hands and walking in the spirit of generosity Vs. 29-30: do not grief the spirit and remove all unwholesome speech Vs. 31: do away with the spirit of anger Vs. 32: walk in tender love

The pursuit of the Sermon on the Mount lifestyle is what allows us to grow fruitful in the knowledge of God. The keeping of the knowledge of God is accomplished through lifestyleproducing encounter. It is not just a matter of study though study is a vital part of the pursuit of the knowledge of God. also for this very reason (the reason of having been empowered by the knowledge of God), giving all diligence, add to your faith(Heb 11 the gift of God that connects us with eternity) virtue (moral excellence i.e. eyes and speech), to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge (the knowledge of God) self-control, to self-control (self-government over ones soul and its desires) perseverance, to perseverance (persistence in the context of the oppositions of life) godliness,7to godliness (living a devout life, fasted lifestyle, spiritual disciplines) brotherly kindness (reality of affection and favor fitting for brothers), and to brotherly kindness love.(strong affection with personal ties Heb10:25-26) 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Peter 1:5-8

5But

III.

BE IMITATORS OF GOD 5:1-2 A. In the beginning God created humanity as image-bearers. As the result of the fall we fell short from the glory of God no longer able to reflect who God is to one another. One of the wonders of the plan of redemption is that by the power of Gods grace we can now again be transformed into His likeness. It is my opinion that 5:1 describes most concisely what the vision of fullness looks like imitating God. It is our glory to be like our Father in heaven; this is the very thing that Jesus calls His people to in the Sermon on the Mount. (Matt 5-7) 1
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B.

Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect. Matthew 5:48

See The Imitation of Christ by Thomas A Kempis

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C.
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Imitating God is synonymous with walking in love as Christ loved us by laying His life down for us, so we are called to lay down our lives for one another.

This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down ones life for his friends. John 15:12-13 In 5:8 Paul calls us to walk as children of the light which is the same as walking as imitators of God. The love that the Apostle calls us to imitate is the love of the cross of Christ, as Christ demonstrated when He offered Himself up for us. Paul describes the love of Christ as an offering to God and a sweet-smelling aroma which is what our love will be like if it is in accordance to the cross of Christ. We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. 15 Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. 1 John 3:13-14 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 1 John 4:7-11

D. E.

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IV.
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OBEDIENCE THE ARENA WHERE WE WALK OUT OUR LOVE FOR GOD CH 5:3-6:9

Jesus answered and said to him, If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. John 14:23 A. In 5:1 Paul calls the community the practical outworking of living a life holy, without blame and in love before God. Obedience is the arena where we walk out our love for God in the grace of God. There are several arenas of love given to us by God where we demonstrate and walk out our love for God The arena of our sexuality avoid fornication, uncleanness and walk in sexual purity (5:3)

B.
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But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints Ephesians 5:3 The arena of our finances avoid covetousness and walk in a spirit of generosity (5:3)

C.
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But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints Ephesians 5:3

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D.
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The arena of speech avoid filthy speech, foolish talk and course jesting and speak grace, thanksgiving and the gospel (5:4)

neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. Ephesians 5:4 The arena of friendship and fellowship keeping good company (5:6, 5:11, 5:21)
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E.

Do not be deceived: Evil company corrupts good habits. 1 Corinthians 15:33 Associate with those who will call you and cause you to run hard after the Lord (5:6)

1.
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Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Ephesians 5:6 Reprove compromise (5:11) And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. Ephesians 5:11
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2.
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does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth 1 Corinthians 13:6

3.

Submit to one another (5:21)

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submitting to one another in the fear of God. Ephesians 5:21

F.

The arena of time avoid time wasting, walking circumspectly and wisely in view of eternity
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So teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12

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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. (mystery) Ephesians 5:15-17 Look, this was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: She and her daughter had pride, fullness of food, and abundance of idleness; neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy. 50 And they were haughty and committed abomination before Me; therefore I took them away as I saw fit. Ezekiel 16:49-50 The arena of family walk in meekness (5:22-32, 6:1-4) 1. In marriage

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G.

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Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is head of the wife, as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body. 24 Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.

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Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. 28 So husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies; he who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as the Lord does the church. Ephesians 5:22-30 2. In parent-child relationships obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 Honor your father and mother, which is the first commandment with promise: 3 that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth. 4 And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord. Eph. 6:1-4

1 Children,

H.

The arena of the workplace do the will of God 1.

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To employees

Bondservants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; 6 not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, 7 with goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men, 8 knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free. Ephesians 6:5-8 To employers

2.
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And you, masters, do the same things to them, giving up threatening, knowing that your own Master also is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him. Ephesians 6:9

V.

PUT ON THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD A. The components of the armor of God are related to how we live our life holy, without blame and in love before Him. Paul tells us that the exceeding greatness of Gods power is for us and towards us (6:10) to stand strong in the life of obedience before the Lord in love. The life of warfare is the life of love, obedience and prayer. Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:10-12

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B. The battle that we fight is not against those who are around us but rather against real wicked and demonic forces in heavenly places. The way to wage war against these forces is by living the Sermon on the Mount lifestyle, which includes prayer (6:18). The armor of the Lord protects the life of the believer in the coming days which are evil. The purpose of the armor of God is stated in 6:13, which uses military terms while Matthew 7:24-27 uses architectural terms. take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Ephesians 6:13

C.

13 Therefore

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Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 25 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it did not fall, for it was founded on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand: 27 and the rain descended, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house; and it fell. And great was its fall. Matthew 7:24-27 In 6:10 Paul calls the saints to stand in the grace of God and then in 6:14 He breaks down the components of the armor of God in which we are to stand. To be strong means that we are to actively participate and cooperate with the grace of God.
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D.

You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy 2:1

E.

The armor of the Lord consists of: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. A belt truth A breastplate righteousness A pair of sandals walking out of a life of peace because of the mystery of the gospel A shield faith, confidence in the grace and the hope of God extinguishing arrows of uncertainty and accusations A helmet the revelation of the salvation we have in God A sword the Word of God All prayer a. Devotional prayer b. Intercessory prayer

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c. Supplication prayer
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Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints Ephesians 6:14-18

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