Sunday School Lesson

1. Ephesians 5:1-14
Walking in Love
November 3, 2019
First Baptist Church
Jackson, Mississippi
USA

2. What’s the number one thing?
https://www.allenschool.edu/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/number-1.jpg

3. The Glory of God!

4. 1 Corinthians 10:31 NKJV
31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you
do, do all to the glory of God.
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5. References
•MacArthur, John, The MacArthur Study Bible
(Nashville, Nelson Publishing, 1997).
•Palmer, Edwin H., The NIV Study Bible (Grand Rapids,
Zondervan, 1985).
•Missler, Dr. Chuck, Ephesians, Session 7, Koinonia
House Ministries, YouTube Channel.
•Got Questions Ministries. www.GotQuestions.org.

6. Introduction to Ephesians 5:1-14
•Paul’s letter to the church in Ephesus was written from
a prison in Rome.
•Paul wrote to describe to the Jews and Gentiles how
they are now “One” in Christ.
•This “one body of believers” is called the church with
Christ as the cornerstone.
•Christ lives in them through the power of the Holy
Spirit.

7. Outline of Ephesians
•Chapters 1-3:
‒Emphasis on the doctrine of Christianity.
‒What we are in Christ.
‒Our position in Christ.
•Chapters 4-6:
‒Our duty and responsibilities of Christian behavior.
‒Our response to Christ living in us.

8. Summary of Ephesians 4 – The Behavior of
Christians
•Ephesians 4:31-32 NKJV
31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil
speaking be put away from you, with all malice. 32 And
be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one
another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
•Remember: Ephesians was written to all believers!

9. Ephesians 5:1 NKJV
1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.
•“imitator” – Greek is ‘to mimic or copy.’
•KJV – follower.
•Imitators of God – to act “just as” God has.
•An example: Children imitating their parents or role
model.

10. Children imitating parents.

11. Children imitating parents.

12. What are we imitating of God?
•Love.
•Forgiveness.
•Mercy.
•Grace.
•Holiness.

13. Ephesians 5:2 NKJV
2 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.
•We are to imitate God and walk in love as Christ has.
•The importance of a sacrifice’s aroma is not the smell
but what the smell represents – the substitutionary
atonement for sin.

14. What is walking in love as Christ has?
•“Christ gave Himself for others.”
•Romans 5:8 NKJV
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in
that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
•Ephesians 4:32 NKJV
32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted,
forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave
you.

15. The OT Sacrificial Levitical Offerings to God.
1. The Burnt Offering. – Leviticus 1:1-17
2. The Grain Offering. – Leviticus 2:1-16
3. The Peace Offering. – Leviticus 3:1-17
4. The Sin Offering. – Leviticus 4:1-35
5. The Trespass Offering. – Leviticus 5:14-19
•The final offering that fulfilled these offerings was
Christ’s life, death and resurrection.

16. Christ’s sacrifice satisfied the offering
requirements.
•Hebrews 10:8-10 NKJV
8 Previously saying, “Sacrifice and offering, burnt
offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor
had pleasure in them” (which are offered according to
the law), 9 then He said, “Behold, I have come to do
Your will, O God.” He takes away the first that He may
establish the second. 10 By that will we have been
sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus
Christ once for all.

17. Christ in the Levitical Offerings.

18. The Goal of Ephesians 5:1-2
1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 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.
•What is the goal of being imitators of God and walking
in love as Christ has?
•Sanctification – to set ourselves apart from the world
and grow to become more Christ-like.

19. Summary of Ephesians 5:3-7
•Paul is describing the behaviors of those who are not
“imitating God” or “walking in love as Christ.”
•Paul is painting a picture of how not to live as a
Christian.
•Those who behave as described identify with the
world, and not with Christ.
•Remember: Ephesians was written to Christians!

20. Ephesians 5:3 NKJV
3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it
not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints;
• Ephesians 5:3a NIV
3a But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual
immorality,
• There is a direct connection between immorality and
covetousness (greed).
• They are both sins of selfish desires and lack of self-
control.

21. Ephesians 5:4 NKJV
4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse
jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of
thanks.
•The inappropriate sins of the tongue listed here
include any speech that is obscene, degrading, foolish,
dirty or suggestive.

22. Ephesians 5:5 NKJV
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.
•Ephesians 1:11a NKJV
11a In Him (Christ) also we have obtained an
inheritance,
•Inheritance – “What is given to one as a possession.”

23. What is our inheritance in Christ?
•The inheritance for believers in Christ is heaven!
•1 Peter 1:3-4 NIV
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus
Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth
into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus
Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that
can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept
in heaven for you,

24. Our “Inheritance.”
• Ephesians 1:13-14 NKJV
13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of
truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having
believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise,
14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the
redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of
His glory.
• Colossians 3:23-24
23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and
not to men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive
the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord
Christ.

25. What is Paul saying in Ephesians 5:5 about
those who have no inheritance?
•Paul calls this person an “idolater” – lives for self and
the pleasures of this world.
•Any person who unrepentantly lives a lifestyle of
immorality, impurity and greed will not be in Christ’s
kingdom (Heaven) because they are unsaved.
•A saved person (Christian) will not live a continual
lifestyle in known and unrepentant sin.
•Only God is the judge of this matter.

26. There is a difference between the Inheritance
of Heaven and Rewards in Heaven.
•Inheritance – Heaven for believers.
•Rewards – At the judgment seat of Christ (bema seat)
God will give out rewards (crowns) for our faithfulness
in service to Him.
•We will place these crowns at Christ’s feet
(Revelation 4:10-11).
•There are 5 identified crowns in scripture:
Righteousness, Life, Glory, Incorruptible, Rejoicing.

29. Timeline for Judgment Seat of Christ.

30. Good deeds by Christians will be rewarded.
• John 3:21 NKJV
21 “But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his
deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in
God.”
• Matthew 6:3-4 NKJV
3 “But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left
hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 that your
charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who
sees in secret will Himself reward you openly.”

31. Ephesians 5:6-7 NKJV
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.
•“deceptive empty words” – Worldly influences used to
draw Christians into sin.
•Satan is the source of deception, causing someone to
believe something that is not true.

32. Some Deceptive, Empty Words Satan whispers
in our ears.
•Everybody else is doing it!
•I deserve this; it’s my turn!
•God wants me to be happy!
•God will forgive me!
•Nobody else will know!
•We are not hurting anybody!

33. Summary of Ephesians 5:8-14
•Paul now shifts to a comparison of Christianity with
light and darkness.
•He wants Christians to see that their life has moved
from one of darkness to one of light.
•You cannot say you live in light, and then behave like
one who lives in darkness.

34. Ephesians 5:8-13 NKJV
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in
the Lord. Walk as children of light 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. 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.

35. What is “darkness” in the Bible?
• “Darkness” describes the character of the life of the
unconverted as void of truth and virtue in intellectual and
moral matters.
• The nonbelievers in Christ are in darkness.
• The realm of darkness is presided over by the “power of
darkness” who rules those headed for “eternal darkness.”
• Satan poses as an “angel of light.”
• 2 Corinthians 11:14 NKJV
14 And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself
into an angel of light.

36. John describes life in light vs. life in darkness.
•1 John 1:5-7 NKJV
5 This is the message which we have heard from Him
and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no
darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship
with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not
practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light as He is
in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and
the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all
sin.

37. Jesus describes darkness.
• John 3:18-20 NKJV
18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who
does not believe is condemned already, because he has not
believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19
And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into
the world, and men loved darkness rather than light,
because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing
evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his
deeds should be exposed.”

38. What is the eternal destiny of those who are
living in darkness?
•Matthew 8:12 NKJV
12 “But the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into
outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of
teeth.”
•2 Peter 2:17
17 These are wells without water, clouds carried by a
tempest, for whom is reserved the blackness of
darkness forever.

39. The goal of imitating God, walking in love as
Christ and walking in the light – Sanctification.
•Sanctification – set apart for special use; to make holy.
•John 17:17-19 NKJV
17 “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. 18
As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them
into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify Myself,
that they also may be sanctified by the truth.”

40. Christian Sanctification.
1. Positional Sanctification – We have been set free
from every sin by the blood of Christ.
‒ Acts 13:39 NKJV
39 and by Him everyone who believes is justified
from all things from which you could not be
justified by the law of Moses.
‒ God sees the righteousness of Christ when He
looks at us – our position before God
(justification).

41. Forgiveness of sin for the Christian.
•Christians continue to sin even though we are
justified before God.
•The past, present and future sins of the Christian
are forgiven and covered by the blood of Christ.
•1 John 1:8-9 NKJV
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive
ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess
our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins
and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

42. Christian Sanctification.
2. Progressive (Experiential) Sanctification – the effect
of obedience to the Word of God in one’s life.
‒ 2 Peter 3:18 NKJV
18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord
and Savior Jesus Christ.
‒ Ephesians 5:8 NKJV
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are
light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.

43. 2. Progressive Sanctification.
•Galatians 2:20 NKJV
20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer
I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life
which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the
Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for
me.

44. Christian Sanctification.
3. Complete or Ultimate Sanctification (Glorification).
‒ 1 John 3:2-3 NKJV
2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not
yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that
when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall
see Him as He is. 3 And everyone who has this hope in
Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
• In our glorified state, we will be separated from sin
and be totally sanctified.

45. Summary of Sanctification.
1. The positional sanctification (justification)
separates the believer from the penalty of sin.
2. The progressive sanctification separates the
believer from the power of sin.
3. The ultimate sanctification (glorification) separates
the believer from the presence of sin.

46. Ephesians 5:14 NKJV
Paul’s invitation to those living in darkness
14 Therefore He says:
“Awake, you who sleep,
Arise from the dead,
And Christ will give you light.”
• This verse is a paraphrase by Paul of Isaiah 60:1.
• Isaiah 60:1
1 Arise, shine;
For your light has come!
And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.

47. Jesus Christ is the Light.
•Are you walking in the light, or in the darkness?
•John 3:16 NKJV
16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only
begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should
not perish but have everlasting life.”
•John 8:12 NKJV
12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the
light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk
in darkness, but have the light of life.”

48. The Plan of Hope & Salvation:
John 3:16-17 NKJV
16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only
begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not
perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His
Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the
world through Him might be saved.”
John 14:6 NKJV
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No
one comes to the Father except through Me.”

49. The Plan of Hope & Salvation:
Romans 3:23 NKJV
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Romans 6:23a NKJV
23a For the wages of sin is death,
• Death in this life (the first death) is 100%.
• Even Jesus, the only one who doesn’t deserve death, died in this
life to pay the penalty for our sin.
• The death referred to in Romans 6:23a is the “second death”
explained in Revelation 21:8.

50. The Plan of Hope & Salvation:
Revelation 21:8 NKJV
8 “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral,
sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns
with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
• Anyone who’s lifestyle is one or more of the sins listed in Revelation 21:8,
will experience the “second death,” if they do not repent.
• To Repent means to turn around, to go in the opposite direction, to turn
away from sin and to come to Jesus.
Romans 5:8 NKJV
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still
sinners, Christ died for us.

51. The Plan of Hope & Salvation:
Romans 6:23b NKJV
23b but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our
Lord.
Revelation 21:7 NKJV
7 “He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will
be his God and he shall be My son.”
• Romans 10:9-10 explain to us how to be overcomers.

52. The Plan of Hope & Salvation:
Romans 10:9-10 NKJV
9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and
believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead,
you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto
righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto
salvation.
Romans 10:13 NKJV
13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

53. The Plan of Hope & Salvation:
Do you have questions?
Would you like to know more?
Please, contact First Baptist Church Jackson at 601-949-1900
or http://firstbaptistjackson.org/contact/