Ephesians 6:19-24

and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.

Final Greetings
But that you also may know about my circumstances, how I am doing, Tychicus, the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord, will make everything known to you. I have sent him to you for this very purpose, so that you may know about us, and that he may comfort your hearts.

Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with incorruptible love.


As Paul closes his letter, we are reminded that he is a prisoner as a result of his obedience to God. Yet Paul does not ask for prayers for his freedom, rather that he will continue to be bold to speak the gospel even while in chains. I am often guilty of asking God to deliver me from my circumstances rather than pleasing that He would use me for his glory in my trials.

Paul sent Tychicus to give specific updates to the churches about Paul, sharing information about Paul’s wellbeing and ministry as well as encouraging the saints. Tychicus was from the Province of Asia, perhaps even from Ephesus itself! Tradition holds that he was one of the 70 disciples of Jesus and eventually became bishop of Colophon. Knowledge of Paul’s missionary work would strengthen the church of Ephesus in the same way that modern churches are encouraged by missionaries’ stories today. Paul closes with a benediction that his readers would have peace, love, and grace – a climate of the Spirit of God that would be present if the churches followed the precepts in this letter inspired by God.

It is crucial that in our darkness we affirm the wise, strong hand of God to hold us, even when we have no strength to hold him. This is the way Paul thought in Phil. 3:12 “Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.”

The key thing to see in this verse is that all Paul’s efforts to grasp the fullness of joy in Christ are secured by Christ’s grasp of him. Never forget that your security rests on Christ’s faithfulness first. Christ is faithful first!

It is HIS mercies that are new every morning (Lamentations 3:23). - John Piper

Ephesians 6:18

With all prayer and petition pray at all times in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints,

Pray without ceasing! No matter how strong the armor, our defenses our down without the power of prayer. No matter how fierce or calm the invisible battle seems, we are to be in constant communication with the Commander. Prayer gives us strength to continue and direction in how we are to fight. Without prayer and the direction of the Lord we will simply swing our swords around until we faint from fatigue.

John MacArthur defines prayer as “the soul of man moving in the presence of God.” We pray not merely for physical deliverance, but that the saints would persevere, the lost would be found, and those in spiritual bondage would be redeemed. Prayer is a spiritual discipline, and the more attuned we are to God the more natural prayer becomes. Every situation we encounter should cause us to either glorify and praise God, intercede for those in spiritual and physical need, or fervently confess sins revealed in our own lives. And when we do not have words we feel the Spirit groaning within us in communion with the Father. Prayer changes our hearts and helps us focus on the will of the Father and the kingdom of heaven. As the song says, “The things of this earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of his glory and grace.”

Ephesians 6:16-17

In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,

No matter how strong the attack we know that greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you! And how do we resist the devil? We take up our shield of faith, helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit. You may have seen the shield referred to here if you have watched movies from ancient Rome. The soldiers of the marching army would march together protected by these shields. When enemy archers shot arrows toward the phalanx, these soldiers would duck together behind the shields while the arrows hopefully bounced off. A flaming arrow would be soaked in pitch, and if it hit a target the pitch would splatter and start fires on anything flammable. Well made Roman shields would have leather or metal on the front that would extinguish the flames.

Just as these shields were more effective when the soldiers marched together, our spiritual shields are more effective when we march with fellow believers – holding each other accountable, encouraging one another, and watching each other’s backs. The dark forces of the earth will throw darts of temptation in a constant barrage, hoping that one will find a break in the shields to start a destructive fire in our lives.

Roman helmets would be either like the molded plumed helmets you see in movies or leather with metal attached. It protected the soldier from attack by a broad sword swinging down from above. As the forces of Satan try to smash us with doubt and depression, the helmet of salvation is our protection. We know that no matter what happens to us on earth, our hope is in heaven. We know that a place is prepared for us there. Our treasure and reward are not of this earth. We fervently believe that one day evil will be destroyed and good will triumph. Our salvation is secure.

The sword carried by Roman soldiers for hand to hand combat would be sheathed in the belt that held together their tunic. The sword of the Spirit is the word of God, and it is carried in the belt of truth. Swords are both offensive and defensive; they can strike a blow as well as parry. We must be knowledgeable about all of Scripture in order to use the weapon effectively. When Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness, Jesus immediately quoted verses from Deuteronomy that contradicted the tempter’s twisted theology. He didn’t have to pull up the ancient scroll app on his Smartphone and search for “temping the Lord your God.” Word here is rhema which means a specific utterance. You have to know the scripture that applies to the specific battle you are in. You can’t just go around quoting John 3:16 all the time and expect to battle effectively.

I don't know if we even understand the fullness of what it means to have the sword of the Spirit. I'm quite confident we don't. This incredible, matchless, incomparable book is the final weapon, the final element of armor given to the believer in the battle against Satan. And the sad fact is that so many Christians do not really know how to use it. We fall victim to Satan because of ineptness with the sword. Do you realize what kind of a book this is? Do you really realize what you have in your hand as you glance at its words and its pages? Let me just tell you. Let me tell you what the Bible claims for itself… This book can bring you to salvation and bring you to perfection. There is nothing other than that that is needful. So the Bible is infallible in total, inerrant in part, complete, authoritative and sufficient… effective and divine… What a person does with a Bible reveals his relationship to God. You can’t just pick your Bible up and flail it in the air. It’s not some great broad sword. It has to be used with precision - John MacArthur

Ephesians 6:13-15

Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE;


It’s a bit of an understatement to say that I am somewhat of a slacker when it comes to fashion. On the rare days when my only responsibilities are homeschooling and running the household I am often known to stay in my pjs all day. I would find it absolutely tedious to have to dress with the precision of a Roman soldier. This quirk among other facts would likely leave me not standing firm at the end of a battle.

I can be equally ambivalent about checking my spiritual armor, forgetting that each day this side of paradise is an evil day in which I will be under some sort of attack. When I begin my day in the Word and live through the power of the Spirit I have the ability to resist any attack. No matter how beaten I may feel after a battle, in the end I will stand firm.

I love the expression “gird up your loins.” The phrase is used in the book of Job when God addresses Job’s complaints and tells him to “gird up his loins like a man.” It is also used in Exodus when the Hebrews were told to eat the Passover with their “loins girded.” In biblical times men wore robes, and if you were going into battle or taking a journey you would want to tuck in the extra material to have it out of the way. So to “gird your loins” is to get ready and be prepared. And the “belt” that holds the material of your life together is “truth.” The Greek word aletheia can be translated as "unclosedness," "unconcealedness," "disclosure" or "truth". So we are to be sincere, with nothing to hide through hypocrisy or falsehood. The truth of God should strap together all the loose ends of our lives. This strap also held the weapons of a soldier, so truth holds our spiritual weapons.

A Roman soldiers’ breastplate would protect his most vulnerable areas whether engaged in hand to hand combat or being shot with arrows from afar. The heart was seen as the center of man’s thinking and his bowels the seat of emotions. So righteousness protects both your mind and your emotions. Righteous living based on a complete knowledge of Scripture protects believers in both these areas as we strive to live as Christ would live.

Thick leather straps were bound together to create a shoe that would protect a Roman soldier’s feet from being punctured and rendering him incapable of fighting. The shoes might also have spikes on the bottom to help the soldier dig in  and stand his ground. The feet of believers are protected with the “preparation of the gospel of peace.” As we are assaulted our shoes keep us firmly planted on the promises of God as revealed in the gospel, and we believe them to be true no matter what occurs in the battle raging about us. We have peace with God no matter what storms assail us In life.

From the cradle to the grave, life is war. Your soul, your mind, your body, your family, your career are fields of conflict. Until Satan is finally thrown into the lake of fire our peace with God will have to be a vigilant peace. Because Satan will certainly give us no peace if we are at peace with God. – John Piper

Ephesians 6:10-12

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.


In my opinion Pilgrim’s Progress should be required reading throughout the life of a Christian. In this book, the main character, Christian, suffers many trials on his way to the Celestial City. Midway through his journey he climbs the Hill of Difficulty and stops at the House Beautiful. After three days he leaves clothed with armor. Travelling through the Valley of Humiliation he battles for over half a day with Apollyon, the destroyer who is king of the Land of Destruction from which Christian had fled. After a fierce battle in which he suffered much injury, Christian wounds the monster with his two-edged sword, and the monster spreads his wings and flees.

This is a clear allegory for the spiritual battles surrounding us daily. Are your spiritual eyes open to those in darkness all around you? We often treat it with indifference, and those most invested in the war will often feel the battle more strongly. I wonder how things would change if we could see the battle with our own eyes as Christian did. We would most certainly take it more seriously. The power we need and the battles themselves belong to the Lord. We do not have the strength and resources to fight and win apart from Him. We are fighting a spiritual battle and therefore need spiritual weapons, the Christian disciplines listed in the following verses.

In the original Greek the phrase “put on” means put on once and for all, not put on when you hear the battle, or when you expect a fight, or in certain places, or on special days of the week. Although we are charged with using the armor and becoming more adept in it, we constantly are clothed for battle. Protected by the armor of God we are able to resist the devil, and he will flee from us. When we are not living our lives in the armor of God, the devil can exploit our weaknesses. Perhaps you can think of some who were used mightily of God but fell by the wayside because of just such a circumstance.

We struggle against rulers and powers and the world forces of the darkness. Political systems and religions around the world are led by those who follow the whispers of demons. Even some who masquerade as Christians or churches may be ruled by darkness and disavow such things as the deity of Christ or the truth of Scripture. The war rages around us, and we should grasp tightly our swords and open our spiritual eyes.

I like what old Uncle Bud Robinson said - he looked at the Christian life as a war and he said - All my life I'll fight the devil and when I've lost my teeth I'll gum him till I die. It's relentless. It never ceases to be warfare, living for Christ is not waltzing through a meadow picking daisies; it's walking through a mine field with snipers all around you. Snipers you can't see or perceive because they belong to a supernatural realm beyond your ability to conceive. This is war and the enemy is hell-bent on destruction of every divine purpose. 
– John MacArthur

Ephesians 6:9

Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him.


Masters are to do the “same thing”, so we return to the previous verses to see what is meant. Verse 6 instructs servants to do the will of God from the heart, so likewise masters are to do God’s will. The employer is to have a heart of service as well, as if working for Jesus. No matter how high your status you are to follow the principles of God – honesty, integrity, and compassion for your fellow man. Your employees know they are valued, and you have the reputation of valuing honesty over profit margins. You lead through example and gentleness, not through threatening. You reflect the leadership style of your Master – Jesus Christ. You show no partiality with your employees, seeking their best interests rather than your own power. The Spirit controls every aspect of your life rather than compartmentalizing your life into secular and sacred.

Although I am far removed from the corporate world, I am a master of sorts in my home. I lead my children and decide how the household runs. Do I lead with kindness or threatening? Do I have the purpose of serving my children and meeting their needs or am I more focused on checking tasks off my list. Do I reflect the forgiveness and patient teaching exhibited by Christ as He walked the earth? Do I make sure that my children feel no partiality from me? We can all take these concepts and see areas of needed improvement in our own lives.

Make it a rule, and pray to God to help you to keep it, never, if possible, to lie down at night without being able to say: "I have made one human being at least a little wiser, or a little happier, or at least a little better this day."   - Charles Kingsley

Ephesians 6:7-8

Rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free.


Human tendency is to want to get rich quick, work less, and make more. People buy lottery tickets and gamble, sure that the next time will bring the long awaited windfall. We feel we deserve more money for our work and demand higher wages and benefits through our unions. We feel that certain jobs are beneath us and then complain that foreign workers come in and “steal” our jobs. We demand more services from our government, and they print more money and borrow from other governments, devaluing the dollar, inflating prices, and causing us to demand higher wages and more government services. We buy now/pay later and just throw everything on our credit cards.

Even though some of these things may seem good in certain circumstances, is it God’s plan for Christians? Following the example of Christ we will be in submission to our employers, even if the boss is creep and the wages are low. 1 Peter 2:18 says, "Servants, be submissive to your masters with all respect not only to those who are good and gentle, but also to those who are unreasonable.” That’s tough! Our desire would be to get out of that job as quickly as possible and gripe and complain for whatever time we had to suffer through the job. If you are a believer then every day of your life is a living testimony. Whether you have a job you enjoy or a mundane job you have only to pay the bills, you are to work to glorify God that men will see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Christian laborers should have such a reputation of honesty, hard work, and integrity that we would be in demand by every level of employer.

God has created me to do him some definite service; he has committed some work to me which he has not committed to another. I have my mission - I never may know it in this life, but I shall be told it in the next. - John Henry Newman

Ephesians 6:5-6

Slaves, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in the sincerity of your heart, as to Christ; not by way of eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.


These verses once saved my marriage. Okay, that may be an overstatement, but they certainly brought me to a new understanding of my role as a Christian wife. Maybe the following fairy tale will ring familiar to some of you!

Long, long ago and not so far away, there lived a man and wife with two small children. The husband worked and paid the majority of the bills. The wife stayed home and homeschooled her preschoolers, tried unsuccessfully to keep a spotless house, cook meals from scratch, care for the yard, and juggle the family schedule. She began to feel overwhelmed and underappreciated. No form of communication, nagging, or cajoling could convince the husband to do what the wife felt was his share of the housework. One evening the topic resulted in an argument that culminated in the husband jumping in his Honda Odyssey on a quest to put some space between the spouses. While he was gone the wife cooled down and prayed, asking God to give her guidance. This scripture came to her along with the realization that if slaves were to obey their masters with sincerity, how much more should she do things for her loving husband with a kind heart. Whatever work was done around the house should be done as if for Christ, not as a list of chores or even as an attempt to please people, including my, I mean her, husband.

The word for slave or bondservant is doulous. It can also mean one who is devoted to another to the disregard of one's own interests. Working from previous verses, Paul has built quite the case for submission to others, regarding the interests of others above our own needs. In our society we are conditioned to want the latest things, feel that we deserve a big house and new car, and fight for as much recognition as possible. It is natural to feel this way. But as believers we live in the realm of the supernatural. Through the power of Christ we do good works without even the left hand know what the right is doing. We desire to build the kingdom of God rather than our own earthly kingdoms. We strive for humility over praise. We see others through the eyes of God rather than what they can do for us physically or emotionally. A wise person once said, “If you serve others for the reward of gaining their admiration and gratitude, then your reward will be fleeting and ultimately dissatisfying. If you serve others for the reward of bringing pleasure to your Father God's heart as you work side by side with him, then you will gain eternal rewards.”

The supreme test of service is this: For whom am I doing this? Much that we call service to Christ is not such at all....If we are doing this for Christ, we shall not care for human reward or even recognition. Our work must again be tested by three propositions: Is it work from God, as given us to do from Him; for God, as finding in Him its secret of power; and with God, as only a part of His work in which we engage as co-workers with Him.   - A. T. Pierson

Ephesians 6:4

Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.


Anytime I feel that my husband is “bugging” my children with I teasingly say, “Fathers, do not exasperate your children!” Even though this verse is addressed to fathers, the underlying principle can easily be applied to mothers, teachers, and anyone else in charge of disciplining children. Since children are required to "obey" in the previous verses it is only fair that the commands of the parent should be doable and not exasperating.

There are innumerable websites and books about how to best to instruct children, but here are a few principles that work in our family (or that we are working on… ahem).

1. Don’t be angry when you discipline. This one is hardest for me. When I discipline in anger I fly off the handle, am more likely to be physical instead of thinking through the most logical consequence, and usually end up apologizing later for something I have said or done. It is better to take time for everyone to cool down if necessary before deciding on consequences.
2. Try to make the punishment fit the crime. We do often use standard techniques such as my 5yo daughter losing pennies or my 2yo going to time out, but we try to make consequences logical. If my 2yo throws things, he has to pick them up (unless there is shattered glass everywhere… sigh). My 5yo may lose out on going somewhere fun or doing a fun activity if she misbehaves.
3. Bring them up in nurture and admonition (discipline and instruction). As often as possible we praise our children highly for doing things the right way. This morning as I was making my children’s breakfast, my daughter instructed her brother, “Let’s unload the dishwasher while Mommy makes our pancakes!” Believe me, that one received some exuberant praise from my lips! I also try to explain the reasoning when I say “no” to their requests.
4. Bring them up in instruction of the Lord. I need to do a better job at this, but using Scripture to back up why you expect certain behaviors helps enforce that they are both honoring you and God when they obey. A favorite for us is “Do everything for the glory of God” (my Col. 3:27 paraphrase). Sometimes I substitute the task and ask a question such as, “How can we play this board game for the glory of God?” My heart’s desire is that we begin to see how every action, thought, and word in our day can contribute to the building of God’s kingdom. I hope the faith of our family saturates every aspect of our life rather than lingering on the periphery.

One of the most important factors in how our children view God is in how the Christian adults in their life behave and whether our actions match our professed beliefs. We must walk with integrity in even the smallest aspects of our lives, especially when little eyes are watching. Christian adults have a responsibility to teach today’s children and youth how to live out faith in a way that is relevant and real. We must take more seriously how we are training our children instead of assuming that they will turn out okay since we bring them to church, do a devotion here and there, or even have them in a Christian school. It is a serious matter, and if we don’t put the time in then they will be sucked into the winds of the prevailing worldview and blown far off the straight and narrow path of redemption.

An old Chinese proverb says, "One generation plants the trees, and another gets the shade." We in this generation are still living in a little bit of shade. Our grandparents and perhaps even our parents, if we're old enough, planted some trees in the past and we are still enjoying some of the shade. But this generation is not planting any trees for the next. And they're going to find themselves in a blistering world with nowhere to hide. 

- John MacArthur

Ephesians 6:1-3

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.”


Continuing the theme of submission, Paul instructs children to obey their parents. Assuming that the parents are believers who are actually teaching them “in the Lord,” the children will grow to be not only spiritually sound, but contributing members of society who are more likely to live long in the land. I’ve said it over and over to my daughter, when she obeys us she is obeying the Lord; when she chooses to disobey she is not doing what she wants to do but what Satan wants her to do.

You see, I am the proud parent of a five year old who thrives on arguing with the skill of a trial lawyer. I expect obedience and have tried everything from timeouts to a penny system to losing my temper completely when she won’t do what I say. Recently I have required her and her 2 year old brother to nicely say “yes ma’am” immediately upon hearing a request from me. Then I expect to immediately obey. Miraculously those two little words have made a huge impact. Somehow verbalizing their respect for me has made them more prone to actually obey my requests.

No one has to teach children to misbehave, to hit, to be selfish, or to throw tantrums. Parents and others in a position to mentor children must continually teach things that go against the nature of our flesh – self-control, kindness, patience, love, forgiveness, etc. All Christian adults must model Biblical wisdom and teach the next generation through word and deed. Modern television shows and movies glorify sassy self-centered children and mock clueless parents. We must be very intentional with children and youth in the church in providing them with a biblical worldview and teaching them to live counterculturally for Christ. Teach them to not be conformed to this world (Rom. 12:2). Follow the command of Deuteronomy 6:6-7, “And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.”

Ephesians 5:33

Nevertheless, each individual among you also is to love his own wife even as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband.

From Dr. Emerson Eggrich:

"Note that this verse does not say that you must love or respect only if you receive the same. What it does say is that a husband is to love, and a wife is to respect.

Now we all need love AND respect. I am not saying that a husband does not need love and a wife does not need respect. However, because Ephesians 5:33 reveals that a husband must love his wife and a wife must respect her husband, we see a distinction that is full of significance. Maybe we can answer this way: though we all need love and respect equally, like we all need water and food equally, a wife has a felt need for love and a husband has a felt need for respect. God knew this in advance so He commands the husband to really work at loving his wife and commands the wife to work hard at respecting her husband…

Ephesians 5:33 is saying… A husband is to obey the command to love even if his wife does not obey this command to respect, and a wife is to obey the command to respect even if the husband does not obey this command to love…

“A husband is even called to love a disrespectful wife, and a wife is called to respect an unloving husband. There is no justification for a husband to say, ‘I will love my wife after she respects me’ or for a wife to say, ‘I will respect my husband after he loves me.

When a husband feels disrespected, he has a natural tendency to react in ways that feel unloving to his wife. (Perhaps the command to love was given to him precisely for this reason!)

When a wife feels unloved, she has a natural tendency to react in ways that feel disrespectful to her husband. (Perhaps the command to respect was given to her precisely for this reason!)

Without love, she reacts without respect. Without respect, he reacts without love—ad nauseam. Thus was born the Crazy Cycle!

When I put this all together, everything points back towards Ephesians 5:33: “Each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband” (NIV).” This is God’s design for marriage – He gives us this command because it works!

Ephesians 5:31-32

“Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.


Verse 31 is a quote from Genesis 2:24 and the first marriage between Adam and Eve. Husband and wife would become one flesh – as if two souls inhabiting one body. This ancient thought was firmly planted in the Jewish mind of the time, and even Jesus quoted it in His teaching. One man, one woman, for life was the concept, and anyone who stepped outside these bounds was severely punished (especially the women).

But as with many concepts in the Old Testament, the New Testament believers through Christ and the Spirit came to understand that marriage actually referred to a deeper meaning which was previously concealed. The true meaning is that marriage is a metaphor for the relationship between Christ and the church being joined in one body with Him as the head.

As humans we need metaphors and concrete examples to understand abstract concepts. That’s one reason Jesus taught so often in parables. One man, willing to do anything possible to protect and show his love for his wife, a living image of Christ’s sacrifice and love for the church, is joined to one woman, willing to submit and put her husband first, a living image of the church’s relationship to Christ. Both are constantly thinking of the other and living with the other’s best interest at heart. That's the deepest meaning of marriage. It's meant to be a living drama of how Christ and the church relate to each other. "As God made man in His own image, so He made earthly marriage in the image of His own eternal marriage with His people" (Geoffrey Bromiley).

“According to the Bible, the marriage act is more than a physical act. It is an act of sharing. It is an act of communion. It is an act of total self-giving wherein the husband gives himself completely to the wife, and the wife gives herself to the husband in such a way that the two actually become one flesh.” ~ Wayne Mack

Ephesians 5:28-30

In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, because we are members of his body.


Marriage is two becoming one flesh. So the husband who shows love to his wife also loves himself. (And if her needs are unmet you can believe that his probably will be, too!) Christian marriage should be a living image to a watching world of the union of Christ and the church.

Christ loves the church because we are the body of Christ! As Eve was created from the flesh of Adam, so the flesh of Christ was given to make us into new creations through his blood. Instinct tells us to protect and care for our own bodies, and Christ always protects and cares for the members of His body.

Even when we sin and face consequences, He loves and cares for us. Like a runner bringing the deficient parts of her body into submission and working them into shape, when we need spiritual growth we will be put in situations that allow us to exercise and mature spiritually. Our patience and love will grow through testing. Our knowledge of God will grow through the spiritual disciplines of reading Scripture and prayer. Christ doesn’t punish – he disciplines. There is a big difference. He nourishes and cherishes us and wants us to be all that we can be through the power of the Spirit!


God intends for Christian marriage to be a school of growth in grace, and it’s not until we realize that this is about something bigger than us that we’re set free to begin that journey. And the irony is when we start giving ourselves away to a bigger project than just our own happiness, guess what? It’s then and only then that we start experiencing the happiness that God has intended us to enjoy in the first place, because God has so ordered this world that it is only when we first seek His kingdom and His righteousness that we find all things. And when we seek ourselves first and our own happiness, we never find it, because God has made this world God-centered. And when we pursue Him, what we find is we find all the happiness that He has stored up for those and those only who pursue Him. - Dr. J. Ligon Duncan III

Ephesians 5:25-27

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.

After instructing wives to be subject to their husbands, Paul instructs husbands to love their wives in so completely and self-sacrificially that their wives never need worry about being dominated or suffering in their submissiveness. They are to love their wives as Christ loved the church – not to control or command but to serve and give himself up for her. Husbands lay down their lives in a model of Christ’s servant leadership. In most culture at the time Ephesians was written a man had complete control of his wives and daughters and could even take their lives. As a rule women had few rights. So this statement by Paul would be revolutionary. Men do not need to be taught to domineer, but through the example of Christ they learn gentleness, humility, and true unselfish love.

Today many men look at their marriages with the idea that as long as they are happy or having their needs met then they will stay married to their wives. But when they no longer feel happy or fulfilled they will look for someone else. It’s counterculture to love as Christ loved the church – to love whether or not you receive the same level of love in return. If you no longer love your wife then the problem isn’t that you aren’t being fulfilled – the problem is that you are sinning. According to these verses a husband is to love his wife even if she treats him as poorly as Christ was treated by those who hated and despised him. That’s tough stuff!

Christ’s purpose in His sacrifice was to sanctify the church so that we could be presented with no spot or wrinkle. John Chrysostom, the great preacher, said, "Hear the measure of love, if it be needful that thou shouldest give thy life for her or be cut to pieces a thousand times, or endure anything whatever, refuse it not. Christ brought His church to His feet by His great care, not by threats or any such thing. So do thou conduct thyself toward thy wife.” If a husband loves his wife in such a manner this will have a sanctifying influence on his wife and help bring her closer to Christ.

Biblical love is not an emotion… it is an act of self-sacrificing giving. –John MacArthur

Ephesians 5:21-24

submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Wives and Husbands
Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands.


There was a time in my life when I wouldn’t have touched this passage with a ten foot pole, preferring to focus on the fact that all Christians are called in v. 21 to submit to one another and glossing over the fact that wives are called to submit to their husbands. It is a beautiful idea for all believers to submit to one another and seek the welfare of other brethren above our own. But submission to a husband called up the idea of subservience and being of lower value. It was a much better idea to always have the upper hand in a relationship of any kind, making sure that you most often got your own way. I would have rather dismissed these other verses as more of a cultural phenomenon not transferrable to society today.

But a wife is called to submit to her own husband (not every man that comes across her path by the way mind you, just her husband). She is called to follow his leadership inasmuch as it is patterned after a Christian life. This doesn’t mean wives give up our opinions or voices. In love he should value your thoughts, and there is a mutual dependence on one another. And honestly, doesn’t giving up some of the control take some of the weight off our shoulders? Feminists have fought for our right to work and have equal rights, but it seems we have ended up only with our share of the work outside the home as well as more than our share at home. I know few who keep up well with the demands of both spheres; usually one suffers for the sake of the other.

Yesterday my husband and I went on a date to the US Whitewater Center in Charlotte. It was a dream come true for him to be able to go, and a nightmare for me when he bought me a ticket. The afternoon started out rainy and chilly. Thoughts of how freezing I would be when I inevitably ended up in the water were only barley edged out by my determination to fulfill my husband’s dream day and repeating 1 Corinthians 13 in my head. But oddly enough I was great in the kayak, didn’t hit the water, and actually enjoyed the trip down the river - even beating Jamie's speed much of the time!

I was NOT as calm as this lady!

The day warmed up, but I had to face my petrifying fear of heights as we conquered several zip lines and ropes courses. I didn’t fully trust the ropes or the workers, but I trusted my husband. There were several times that I was fairly certain I was going to plunge to my death, and only a look in his eyes and the sound of his encouragement could force me to take a leap of faith onto a swinging log two stories above the ground. That trust was an image of my trust in God. Where I am weak, He is strong. Jamie would give his life to protect me, God sent His son to redeem me eternally. No one loves me like my God and my husband; they have my best interests at heart. When I follow their leadership it shows my trust and reliance on them to a watching world.

To be right inside, to be right with God, and to be right with everybody else is the way to live. And when I am right with me I sing. And when I am right with God I pour out thanks. And I am right with you, I submit. – John MacArthur on Ephesians 5:19-21

Ephesians 5:18-20

And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

I waited tables in high school, college, and seminary. I saw my share of “regulars” who came in to sit at the bar several nights a week. Many seemed to be looking for escape, friendship, joy, and comfort. But peace can’t be found at the bottom of a bottle of Southern Comfort; it is found when you are filled with the Comforter!

The Greek here implies uncontrolled drunkenness (dissipation). At the time drunkenness would have been associated with pagan religion in Ephesus. Alcoholic beverages would not be as strong as today’s drinks, and pagan worshippers would drink heavily in order to reach an ecstatic phase of frenzied communication with the gods. Drunkenness can be defined as any point in which the alcohol takes over any part of your faculties. Whether Christians should completely abstain from alcohol can be debated, but drunkenness is clearly prohibited if for no other reason than keeping a clear head and focus on God. The word Paul used for drinking in excess is asotia, which originally meant to be hopelessly or incurably sick. Rather than escaping pain through numbing beverages or drugs, we should face our problems and see what God is teaching us through them.

Instead we should find our joy, comfort, and meaning in the Spirit. From the moment we believe we are indwelt fully by the Holy Spirit. Not only are we indwelt by Him, but “filled” can indicate being filled to the top, abouning in, or being directed by – as a sail filled with wind and directed in the right direction. Living as a man on earth, Jesus lived a life fully directed by the Spirit. He was never at a loss of where to go, what person to visit or heal, the right words to speak, or what to do. As believers we empty ourselves and are filled by the Holy Spirit. Only then do we have peace and direction in our lives.

As the daughter of a Music Minister I grew up surrounded by the songs of the faith. My children carry on the tradition and regularly break into song and dance. When we begin our day with songs like “This is the Day” or “Rejoice in the Lord Always” it is amazing how our day is flavored and started on the right foot. When joy fills our hearts it is natural to sing a song to the Lord! The melody need not be on pitch as long as it is in tune with the Father’s heart.

Paul’s life as an apostle was fraught with trials and difficulties. You too may not have a life of ease. But no matter what the day brings we are instructed to give thanks always and for everything. Not “in” every circumstance like in 1 Thess. 5:18, but “for” everything. All things can work for our good, and we are called to be thankful for the bad times as well as the good!

Ephesians 5:15-17

Therefore walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.


To walk circumspectly is to "live your days cautiously; with watchfulness every way; with attention to guard against surprise or danger". Trouble can sneak up on us when we get stuck in a routine, going through the motions without consciously thinking about our days. Our world is filled with subtle danger and deception, and like frogs in a pot we rarely notice the heat until we are boiling. Be vigilant! People can trip us up in our faith or ambush us without warning – an apropos thought for the ides of March!

The Bible defines a fool as one “says in his heart that there is no God” (Ps. 14:1). A fool exists apart from God’s divine principles and inevitably becomes his own god. "The way of a fool is right in his own eyes" (Prov. 12:15). He believes he can define right and wrong, truth and falsehoods – a common thought in our postmodern society with no absolute truth. He will "make a mock of sin" (Prov. 14:9). He spreads his opinion around as truth and leaves a legacy of foolishness to all who follow his influence. In contrast James wrote, “But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere” (3:17).

The word for “time” here is kairos, not chronos. It refers to opportunities rather than minutes and hours. We are called to redeem the daily encounters that can be used for the glory of God. In my own life I have both frittered away time and wasted opportunities. It can weigh down my heart, and I often fail to comprehend the forgiveness of God for these past situations. But rather than dwelling on my forgiven sin, I must seek out opportunities to be a part of God’s kingdom on earth, shining his light into the darkness.

I spend much of my time on the urgent. For me it might be a diaper change, getting a meal on the table, or getting everyone to our next calendar event. For you it may be meetings, deadlines, and so forth. I start a million things during the day, finishing little and often missing what the Father is really telling me to do. Jesus lived his life calmly, never in a rush. He sought to do only the will of the Father, even though there were so many other things he could have “accomplished.” Our days would be sweeter and in fellowship with the Lord if we took time to understand the will of the Lord for each day.

Much may be done in those little shreds and patches of time which every day produces, and which most men throw away. - Charles Caleb Colton

Ephesians 5:8-14

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light — for the fruit of the light results in all goodness, righteousness, and truth — discerning what is pleasing to the Lord. Don’t participate in the fruitless works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what is done by them in secret.  Everything exposed by the light is made clear, for what makes everything clear is light. Therefore it is said:
“Awake, O sleeper,
and arise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”


My five year old insists on sleeping in the light – not just a nightlight but full on run-up-the-electric bill light. No amount of logic or spiritual assurance can sway her from this. Turn out the light and thoughts of evil things hiding in the darkness switches on a panic attack. She feels safe in the light, knowing that it would expose any wolves lurking in her room or perhaps even banish evil in the first place.

Once you were darkness – not just in darkness, but a part of darkness itself. Now you are a light in the Lord. We are the ones who shine a light on the darkness in our culture. Not only should we refuse to participate, but we must activity dissent when evil exists and support what is good in the world. We cannot shut ourselves off away from society in some protective shell but must clearly expose evil through the light of Christ. The fruit of the light results in goodness, righteousness, and truth. All who walk in the light produce fruit, but some produce watermelons while others only generate shriveled up raisins.

Our culture teaches that there is no absolute truth and that faith is something separate from “real life.” This could not be further from the truth. Ignoring the cancer of sin permeating our world does not manifest God’s love – quite the opposite! We are called to walk as children of the light in every aspect of the world. Redeem the culture; change the world; build the kingdom of God with your light! “Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; Who substitute bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter!” (Isaiah 5:20).

The last line is probably from an Easter hymn sung by the early church. If you are not a believer then wake up from the dead! Step into the light! The best day lived in darkness cannot compare to the toughest day lived in the light.


dc Talk - In the Light from josiahtwitch1990 on GodTube.

Ephesians 5:5-7

For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them;


It would be easy to lift these verses from the context of the Scriptures and conclude that if Christians engaged in the listed activities they would lose their salvation. Instead the point is that if we are indeed members of the kingdom of God we will no longer engage in the activities of disobedience. We are no longer a part of them, so we shouldn’t partner with them. Such people do not share the inheritance of the kingdom, no matter how the sin is spun. Jesus said the same thing in John 3:3, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born anew, he cannot see the kingdom of God."

It can alternatively be easy to pat yourself on the back if you read these verses. After all, you may not be in illicit sexual sin or spend time craving your neighbor’s possession. But beware of seemingly small sins that fall into these categories. Do you think longingly about someone who is not your spouse? Do you escape into movies and books seeking to fill a romantic longing in your heart? Do you want the latest gadget, a newer car, a bigger house, better clothes, and a nicer body? Or are you satisfied and grateful for the blessings God has bestowed upon you? You may not have a small shrine in the corner of your living room, but if things of this earth pull your eyes from the things of God then you are nonetheless an idolater.

As John Piper put it, “So you can see how thanksgiving is the alternative to a life driven by cravings for what you don't have (whether sex or money). Thanksgiving says, in God I have all that is good for me, and I will not be driven to dishonor the worth of his name just to get a few sexual sensations or a few new toys… The root problem about being driven by the domination of earthly desires is that it dethrones God... Covetousness says that God is not adequate as a satisfying treasure, I must have money or I must have sex -- God will not suffice!”

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2

Ephesians 5: 1-4

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.


Imagine a Freaky Friday scenario in which you and God traded places for a day. Putting aside the fact that you might smite quite a few people and muck up the world pretty badly, would people notice a difference in the person walking around in your shoes? Is your life an imitation of God? Do you walk in love as Christ loved us? My children would experience true joy at a day of being taught by God in his gentleness and patience. I can only imagine the delight throughout the day as he revealed truth to them – a much different picture than the chaos that so often surrounds me.

But we would not be called to imitate God if it were an impossible task. Daily our lives should more closely mirror God’s image within us and exhibit the love of Christ. As earthly children naturally observe and mimic their parents so should we spiritual children imitate our heavenly Father. As Jesus regarded his earthly life as a pleasing offering, so in view of God’s mercy we become living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God as an act of worship (Rom 12:1). Christ’s love for us was so strong as to die for us when we did not deserve it – likewise we are to give our love, time, forgiveness, and even our lives for one another.

The opposite of imitating God and walking in Christ’s love is walking in sexual immorality, impurity, and covetousness. Not naming these sins does not mean that we ignore them when they are present – especially if they occur within the body of Christ. But when they are frequently named we grow desensitized to them. When our music, television, movie, and literature is peppered with sexual innuendo, coarse language, and greed for material possession we become desensitized and are no longer shocked by the things that grieve the heart of God. Filthy, obscene talk should never cross our lips or our outbox, no matter how funny the joke may be. Rather our hearts and tongues should pour out thanksgiving to God.

2 Corinthians 2:14-15 (ESV) But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing,