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| Chapter 5 |
| Bible Text | Notes and thoughts |
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1 ¶ Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; 2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour. 3 ¶ But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; 4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. 7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them. 8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: 9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) 10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. 12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. 13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. 14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. 15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. 18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; 19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; 20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; 21 ¶ Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God. 22 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. 24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. 25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. 28 So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. 29 For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church: 30 For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. 31 For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. 32 This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church. 33 Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband. |
v1-20 Continued New life, Copy of God. Salvation is a free gift but we must still live in a way which pleases God. v1 tells us we are His children. God is love, 1 John 4:7ff so we must copy our Father. v2 Christ, in love, gave Himself for us, an example of what our life should be like. v3,4,5 We find a list of those who will not enter the kingdom of God, we have become saints through Christ, (v3), so they should not be part of our life, Rom 1:18. If a believer has any of the above list in their lives then see 1 Cor 3:12-16; 1 Cor 6:9-12. v8-17 Children of light. God is light, 1 John 1:5. Then we should be full of light like Him, 1 Thess 5:5. We should be full of the fruit of the Spirit v9, Gal 5:22-23. Doing what pleases the Lord v10. Have no contact with things dark and evil v11, working against them v11-13. Do not sleep but be awake for Christ will give you the power and energy to go v14. Also He will show you things wrong in your life as His light shines in. v15-18 Do not waste time in living in a way that is wrong in God’s sight, always trying to know and carry out the Will of God, Col 4:5; Rom 12:2. v18-20 A Spirit filled Life. Paul warns against the worldly ways which may give short time of happiness v18a, but be filled with the Spirit, letting Him take full control of our life and out of this will come a life pleasing to God. Phil 4:6. 5:21-6:9 The Christian Family and house holds. The filling of the Holy Spirit must also be shown in our relationship to each other and our families. The Christian wife must give respect and loyalty to her husband. But the Christian husband must also care more for his wife than himself, a love which does not expect reward. Each must live a Christ like life. This must be the way the church relates to Christ. Parents must have good rules for their children and children must happily obey them. This passage does not say there are different positions for husbands and wives, we are told in God’s kingdom there is no such thing, Gal 3:28. v21 We must all be willing to submit to one another, not self seeking in all we do, this is done in reverence, awe to God. v22 Wives submit to your husband as to the Lord. v23-31 The husband is the head of the wife just as Christ is head of church, that means joined, united as one body. In Genesis 2:24 we are told that Eve was actually Adam’s flesh and blood, she was made out of what God took from the side of Adam. They are "One Flesh," Matt 19:5,6. Note v25, v28-29 Husband’s must love their wives as Christ loves the Church, He went to the cross for the church. Husbands must also love their wife as they love themselves. v32 We have been told for the reason for marriage from the Old Testament but now is shown what God had in His mind, the Mystery, when he set it up, it was to be like the future Christ and His Church. |
Easy English Translation
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