FREE PREVIEW: Ephesians 5:1-20: Living as Children of the Light
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Introduction
Children naturally resemble their parents, and Paul calls God’s beloved children to resemble their Father. Continuing his description of the worthy walk, Paul now tells us to walk in love, to walk as children of light, and to walk wisely. In this rich passage he calls us to imitate the self-giving love of Christ rather than the counterfeit love of lust, to live as light that exposes the darkness rather than sharing in it, and to make the most of our days by being continually filled with the Holy Spirit.
I. The LOVE That Imitates God — Walking in Love, Not Lust (vv. 1–7)
“Be therefore imitators of God, as beloved children. Walk in love, even as Christ also loved us and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling fragrance” (Ephesians 5:1–2).
God’s children are called to imitate their Father, and the pattern of that imitation is the self-sacrificing love of Christ at the cross. Such love leaves no room for the selfish counterfeits of immorality, impurity, and greed, which the world calls love but which bring the wrath of God.
II. The LIGHT That Exposes Darkness — Walking as Children of Light (vv. 8–14)
“For you were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord. Walk as children of light” (Ephesians 5:8).
Believers do not merely live in the light; they have become light in the Lord. That new identity calls for a new walk — bearing the fruit of goodness, righteousness, and truth, refusing fellowship with the fruitless deeds of darkness, and letting the light of Christ expose and transform what is hidden.
III. The LIFE Filled with the Spirit — Walking Wisely (vv. 15–20)
“Therefore watch carefully how you walk, not as unwise, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil... be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:15–16, 18).
The wise believer makes the most of every opportunity and seeks the will of the Lord. Rather than being controlled by wine, he is to be continually filled with the Holy Spirit — a fullness that overflows in shared songs of worship, heartfelt praise to the Lord, and constant thanksgiving to God the Father.
Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain.
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