Walk In Love

Ephesians 5:1-21 5:3–4 Paul reminded believers that what we talk about and think about will eventually find expression in our behavior. When we are in Christ, our talk will change, as will our actions. 5:5 Paul did not say that no one who ever engaged in immorality or greed can enter Christ’s kingdom. Rather he said that no immoral, impure, or greedy person currently has an inheritance in the kingdom (1 Co 6:9–11). TWISTED SCRIPTURE Ephesians 5:19 Non-instrumental Churches of Christ, who teach that Christians should not use musical instruments in worship, have a difficult time with this verse, since most NT commentaries define the word “psalms” as songs accompanied by musical instruments. see Ps 150 as an example of the relationship between worship and musical instruments. 5:22, 24 Paul’s command for wives to submit follows the all-encompassing command to submit “to one another in the fear of Christ” (v. 21)—the last outcome or result of the filling of the Spirit (vv. 18–21). While a submissive wife is counter-cultural today, she was not so in Paul’s time. Moreover, while a self-sacrificing and loving husband sounds quite appropriate in our culture, he was radically counter-cultural in Paul’s time. Ted Cabal, Chad Owen Brand, E. Ray Clendenen, Paul Copan, J.P. Moreland and Doug Powell, The Apologetics Study Bible: Real Questions, Straight Answers, Stronger Faith (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2007). 1769.