Sunday School Lesson

1. Ephesians 5:1-14
Walking in Love
November 3, 2019
First Baptist Church
Jackson, Mississippi
USA
What’s the number one thing?
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The glory of God!
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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2. 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.
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.
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.
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!
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.

3. Children imitating parents.
What are we imitating of God?
• Love.
• Forgiveness.
• Mercy.
• Grace.
• Holiness.
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.
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.
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.

4. 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.
Christ in the Levitical Offerings.
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.
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!

5. 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.
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.
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.”
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,
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.

6. 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.
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.

7. Timeline for Judgment Seat of Christ.
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.”
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.
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!

8. 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.”

9. 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.
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.”
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).
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.
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.

10. 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.”

11. 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.”
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.
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.
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.

12. 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.”
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/