Bible Mastery - Ephesians 5:2-5

Thanks for listening to the Bible Mastery Podcast, brought to you by Teleios. In this episode, William and Jeanette Stewart will cover Ephesians 5:2-5.

The Bible Mastery Podcast brings you verse-by-verse teaching that’s clear, grounded, and life-changing. We take the Bible at its word—interpreting it in a normal, literal way—so you can uncover its deep truths about salvation, spiritual well-being, and daily living. Our goal is simple: to help you understand Scripture and equip you with the tools to interpret it confidently, without getting lost in noise or speculation.

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Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:01

Hello, and welcome to the Bible Mastery Podcast, sponsored by Teleos and hosted by co-founders Bill and Jeanette Stewart. Here, we give you verse-by-verse teaching from the truth of Scripture that's clear, grounded, and life-changing. Our goal is to help you understand the Bible and equip you with tools to interpret it yourself confidently and correctly. Thanks for joining us.

SPEAKER_02 0:35

I'm William Stewart, co-founder of Teleos. I'm here with my wonderful wife, Jeanette, and greetings.

SPEAKER_03 0:41

Hi, everybody. Nice to be with you again today, and nice to join you, Bill.

SPEAKER_02 0:46

Thank you. Uh, likewise, and thanks to everybody for joining us. We are in Ephesians 5, again, as a reminder, this great epistle divided into two parts of the first part about our salvation and the structure of the church, and the second part, the application of that, our Christian walk, written by the beloved Apostle Paul around 60 AD, one of the prison epistles written from Rome. We just covered a great verse about being a mimic of God. This is a sort of the end of a group of positive commands about uh what to do and not to do, mostly to do showing God's wisdom uh in uh how to live our lives. We now change pace just a little bit, and we're gonna do something strange today. Try to cover four verses. Don't laugh, Jeanette. And Jeanette, I think you're starting on verse two of Ephesians 5.

SPEAKER_03 1:51

I sure am. Bill, do you want to run through the usual reminders for people before we get started?

SPEAKER_02 1:56

No, I wasn't going to do that, but I'll do it. Well, you know, you can't please visit our website and uh like us and uh leave us a good review, ask a question, look at our Bible, look at the uh our disclaimer, and uh hopefully that will uh enlighten you a little bit and um sort of orient you. So how's that?

SPEAKER_03 2:19

You were just leaving those off because you want to try and do four verses.

SPEAKER_02 2:23

Well, I thought that people might just be getting tired of hearing them, so that's why I loved them off. But obviously, you weren't.

SPEAKER_03 2:30

So uh, you know, you go to the website and uh look at our discovery. Okay, enough hilarity. We do approach a wonderful verse here in Ephesians 5, too. Let me read it. It says, 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 savor. So, as we always say, context is important and conjunctions are important. But remember, in context, we finished chapter four, which basically told us as Christ forgave you, so you forgive others. And now we're seeing as Christ loved you, uh, we should walk in love. So it's it's nice symmetry there that this thought continues. And because the word starts, the sorry, the verse starts with the word chi, and there's really no separation from the thought that was started in verse one, that we mimic Christ, and as part of that mimicry or as miming him, then we walk in love. And again, the word walk doesn't mean one foot in front of another like you're walking, but it really is the concept of being circumspect, looking all around you. So I think a nice way for us to think about it is lifestyle. So he's saying, have a lifestyle in love as Christ also loved us. So the question will become then, how did Christ love us? Well, of course, we know it was unconditional, it was uh initiated from him. Um, but then he defines it further. He says, He loved us and, and I think this tells us how he loved us, he gave himself for us. So it says he gave himself as an offering and a sacrifice. So the first question we might ask is, oh, so does that mean we're supposed to offer and sacrifice ourselves as Christ did? And I think we need a little bit further understanding of what these words mean. So I have to tell you, um, in preparing for today, I learned something that I had never considered before. I don't know how I missed this, but it says that Christ was an offering and a sacrifice. So, how do those words or concepts differ? And this is, I think, a very uh subtle but important point. The idea of offering is the idea that you give a gift to God, something that maybe shows your devotion, your gratitude, your obedience. And the concept of suffering, sorry, of sacrifice is the idea of a blood sacrifice. So we know in the Old Testament, um, you know, animals were sacrificed as a substitutionary, looking forward to when Christ would die on the cross. So these terms are rooted in Psalm 40, I believe it's verse 6, and in Hebrews 10, where it tells us that God didn't take delight in sacrifices, but in Hebrews 10, we see that Christ was the ultimate sacrifice, and therefore sacrifices are no longer required. He's done it for us as our substitutionary sacrifice. So great concepts here. Before we go to the last phrase of a sweet smelling savor, Bill, let me invite your comments.

SPEAKER_02 6:13

I would just uh that that's a very nice review. I would say the word here for love is a very important word in the Greek, adope, and it means a giving love. It's not a self-satisfying love, it's not primarily an emotional love, it's a love based out of our obedience in 1 John 5, 2 and 3, out of knowledge of his word, Philippians 1, 9. And it's of course the it's the typical word for love in the Greek, and there are other Greek words for love that were used more commonly in secular Greek. So this is very particular and important to the Bible. Interestingly, this uh love to which he gave himself over and uh loved us, it's in what we call the eros tense in the Greek, this one-time, peculiar, completed tense, typically related. This is a tense birth tense, typically related to that of Christ's sacrifice on the cross for us and resurrection. So it's a one-time thing, it's over, it is done, and it's true, our salvation. And so they things related to the Christian life are, and we'll talk about this in the next few verses, are in a continuous present tense. Uh and uh it's a very it's a very clear differentiation to me, though the concept uh the importance of the errors theologically is controversial. Back to you, Janette.

SPEAKER_03 7:44

Oh, that's a really great addition, Bill. I usually think of the word love as meaning a love that seeks the best for the recipient of the love. So again, it's um uh what you said is is really true.

SPEAKER_02 7:56

And you always did that by being obedient, right? So God's word was exactly right.

SPEAKER_03 8:02

Yeah. So when we look at this then in relating in relationship to Christ, his whole life was an obedience um uh to God. You know, he he was obedient to the will of the Father to come and take on humanity and and live among us and and be our savior. So that would be his life, and then of course, his death, uh his atoning death for our sins, um, you know, satisfied God. So it's Christ's life and death both that are re uh reflected here.

SPEAKER_02 8:34

And then it says Which has to do with the offering, which you're just about to talk about. It was a satisfactory offering to God for all our sins.

SPEAKER_03 8:42

Yeah, yes. So it says the last phrase to God for a sweet smelling savor. So in other words, it's telling us that God was um the sacrifices were sufficient and they were um satisfying or pleasing, or they satisfied or or pleased God in that they were made. You know, when you think about burnt offering, um, you know, you think about the smell of of uh flesh being burned. So, you know, this is just it doesn't mean that we have to go out and um, you know, it it's um we're not supposed to, it doesn't mean that God smelled something, okay? It's metaphorical that he was satisfied. And so I I guess what the new thought to me here was that you know, offering and sacrifice sacrifice together represent Christ's life in obedience to the will of the Father and his death to go to the cross. So I learned from this. I I hope this is helpful to our listeners and viewers as well.

SPEAKER_02 9:46

Yeah, there's more detail about how this all pertains with the Old Testament sacrifices. There's a there's a linkage here to specific sacrifices, perhaps beyond the scope of this podcast. However, I think added to this is that our own lives in recognition of the sacrifice of Christ for us at the cross is uh our life is a sacrifice and a sweet spelling savor as well. And this comes uh from uh Romans 12:1 and Hebrews uh 13 15. So we we react to this and apply it to our own lives.

SPEAKER_03 10:24

Yeah, that's exactly right. And you know, that's what it means when it says mimic uh Christ and uh you know be circumspect and live your lives in love. So it's really talking about obedience and the sacrifice that we make to God by being obedient.

SPEAKER_02 10:40

Yes. So verses three to five.

SPEAKER_00 10:43

Go for it. The Bible Mastery Podcast. We appreciate all likes, follows, and share. To contribute to this podcast, please select support the show on the host page. Bonus material will be available on Patreon. For show notes, please visit our website, Bible MasteryPodcast.com. Please send us your comments so we can make this time even better for you.

SPEAKER_02 11:10

Okay, I'm gonna do three things here embodying Jeanette's comments as we go. I'm gonna read the verses. I'm gonna make a general comment about sin and point out, highlight several aspects of these verses uh in terms of uh just several points. I'm not going to detail all the sin uh and and define these. I figured for most of these, you probably know what they are. Now, I don't know how I got the list of sins, Jeanette. Maybe maybe I'm an expert, I don't know, but uh here we go.

SPEAKER_03 11:43

Take it away.

SPEAKER_02 11:45

So fornication and all the uncleanliness or covetousness, let it not be named among you as becoming saints, comes of saints, either filfiness or foolish talking or jesting, which are not convenient, but rather the giving of thanks. For this we know that no foremonger nor unclean person nor covetous man who is idolatry has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. So, what's Paul doing here? He has this list of sins, we're all aware of these. Why? Well, I think he's reminding the Ephesians who they work and not to do these things as a church, and I think individually, they should not be named among them. And I think it serves several purposes. One is it's a check for a believer who shows up any person who shows up at the church, uh, fits in, says the right things, uh, does the right things, yet still does these things and doesn't change to look at themselves and make sure they're really a Christian and have believed by faith alone in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. And then for believers, it's also a check as well that they're not doing these things. Now, I think where this list becomes confusing is that modern Christians look at this, they look at this list and go, I did this, and I've done many of them, uh, and feel bad and feel like perhaps God's rejected them because they've done it once or twice. Importantly, I think when the epistles talk about sin, they're talking about a continual sin, uh this present tense, a sin that characterizes a person's life. We all sin as Christians, we have an advocate with the Father uh in 1 John 2, 1, for when we do that. Uh, but I think for a Christian who's really has the Holy Spirit and is regenerated, they will come back, they ultimately produce fruit and behave. They may struggle with the sin their whole life, they will control it and bear fruit. Versus a non-believer in the church or outside the church won't change, and they may say they're fighting that sin, but ultimately that sin over time, and it may take time to determine this, it will ultimately control them. So, big difference here one-time sin, a crude believer, it's not what it's talking about here. This is a continual sin that characterizes a person's life, either a non-believer or a terror, as it says in Matthew 13, a person coming to church who's really unbelievable. So don't feel guilty for just doing this sin. That's your advice for struggling with it. That doesn't mean you're in trouble with God. What do you think? Comments?

SPEAKER_03 14:58

Yeah, thank you for that, Bill. I think that's a very good summary, and I would hone in on the word that you used is characterized. These sins should not characterize believers, because remember, when we uh believe and put our faith in Christ that he died for us, we are regenerated people. We are born again, uh, we are indwelled, sealed by the Holy Spirit. So we're transformed people and we're placed into the body of Christ. That old person is dead. So not that the new person, the new man can't sin because we do. We're not quite um in the presence of God in the future yet, where we will be completely perfected. Um, but it's the word characterized that I think is really a good way to think about this. You know, he's in context, he's talking about what our lifestyle should be, that we should mimic Christ. And Christ didn't do these things, so in mimicking him, uh these things should not characterize us.

SPEAKER_02 16:05

Yeah, very thanks for reiterating that. I think it's such an important point. So then having said that, let's look at several specific issues here. And Jeanette, you may have some beyond what I'm raising, but foolish what I think foolish talking and jesting can be uh confusing because as it's saying we should never joke. And you know, Jeanette and I are sort of have some bad jokes here on the podcast. Maybe we shouldn't do that, but uh you can leave a comment and let us know. But um, you know, where's the balance there? Well, what foolish talking I think it literally means in the Greek foolish talking. So that person who's loud and voiceless and calling attention to himself, saying stupid things, that that's not a good thing. And foolish or jesting, um jesting or low talk. How how do you how do you characterize this? Well, I think I've always struggled over this. So here's how I would define it, and Janet, please chime in. I think when somebody jokes, and I think it's not saying never to joke, it's you're joking like your speech in general needs to be for the other person. Otherwise, joking is self-serving, making yourself look good, making people other people the butt of jokes, uh, is joking that's demoralizing, um makes people feel bad. It's not appropriate. Joking that builds uh fellowship, laughing together in a positive way, joking that's encouraging. I think one type of uh joking that might fit this would be situational humor. That could be a good thing, and uh to help highlight points uh and or points in scripture and uh or to identify each other to themselves uh in a fellowship sort of way about the hardships of life sometimes, and they could be encouraging, it's good to laugh, and um so I think maybe that's the way to divide it. And I'm talking to you my church, Janet. What what do you say?

SPEAKER_03 18:24

Uh excellent points, and you know, as Proverbs says, uh laughter is uh good medicine, so God's not saying that we should always be serious and never never laugh. Uh and so I think maybe part of the key to this is the last phrase in that verse, it says, but rather giving of thanks. So but is uh Allah that um used here, and and so that's a complete contrast to what went before. So if we're not if we're not joking in a way that we're being thankful for the other person, which would probably fit into what you described, Bill, then that would be incorrect. So we need to do it with a heart of thanksgiving uh when we're making any jest.

SPEAKER_02 19:09

Yeah, I think it's also saying, you know, particularly with the conjunction a la but, the the second half is preferred otherwise. Joking's not appropriate if you've not built an atmosphere of vaccine. You know, that that's in a godly mindset. I think that gives us even further guidance. So good point. Last phrase I'll highlight is in verse five the kingdom of Christ and God. What is that? This is a unique phrase in scripture. So attributes given to God so often are given then to Christ, uh, usually in the New Testament. One is such a safe or Lord, I am, uh the first and the last. These are phrases given to God in the Old Testament or given to Christ in the new, and here we see this with the kingdom as well. I think this is one kingdom. This is the thousand-year reign of Christ, as shown us in Revelation 20, when Christ shall rule, but when your kingdom is done, both God and Christ sit on the throne in Revelation 22. So I think it's showing that both God and Christ reign, it's the same kingdom, and there's only one kingdom in scripture. Now that's controversial, you have to determine this yourself, but that's how I understand this. Do you have a comment there?

SPEAKER_03 20:42

I think that's a great uh explanation, you know, recognizing again that at the end of the thousand-year rule of Christ, then we go into the new heaven and the new earth, the new Jerusalem that descends from above. So I think the other word I would point out here, Bill, is inheritance. And of course, in the New Testament, uh, the inheritance almost always refers to salvation. So he's basically saying these people who are characterized by these sins, they don't have salvation. They're not going to be part of this kingdom.

SPEAKER_02 21:17

Yeah, good point. I would say inheritance in the epistles always means salvation. There might mean like an inheritance something in the gospels. I'd have to go back and check that. But I think the epistles is maybe much advice if we mean something else. So good. So what have we seen here today? Well, we've come off a great verse about being a mimic of God in verse one. We're reminded that he made this sacrifice of Christ, that was a satisfactory sacrifice for all our sins. And based, you know, in recognition for this, our own life is a sacrifice, and we walk in love, and then Paul. And where we came from, and we say the elegance, and we should not be carefulized by these sins listed in verses 35. And if we are, perhaps we should make sure we have actually complete faith in Jesus Christ.

SPEAKER_03 22:23

My summary statement is awesome. We actually did four verses.

SPEAKER_02 22:28

Pretty good, huh? You expressed that about the case.

SPEAKER_03 22:32

I sure did. These are great verses, really talking what characterizes us, how we do uh mimic Christ and how we live. So fantastic.

unknown 22:43

Thank you.

SPEAKER_02 22:44

Thanks be to God again for his sacrifice for us and his Russia saved us out. Saved us out in the street. Okay, thanks for joining us today. We'll look forward to uh next week, and we will uh continue characterizing our Christian life. Goodbye for now.

SPEAKER_00 23:05

Thank you all. Bye.

SPEAKER_02 23:06

Bye-bye.

SPEAKER_00 23:08

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Bible Mastery Podcast. Join us next week for another exciting episode.

SPEAKER_01 23:19

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