Two More "Therefores." On the great foundation of what we are and have in Christ Jesus--the foundation laid in the teaching of the first three chapters of this epistle--the apostle yet builds two more "therefore" exhortations. It must ever be kept in mind that without the foundation there can be no "therefores," and we cannot build; but, given the foundation, building upon it becomes our privilege and responsibility. If God has done what is declared in Eph. one, two, and three, if by faith in the gospel we have accepted His great work on our behalf, if we are what He says He has made us in Christ, and if indeed we have access to those infinite resources, "the unsearchable riches of Christ"--then the life described in chapters four, five, and six follows as the legitimate and reasonable fruit and outcome.

      The first "therefore" in Eph. 5 is startling: "Be ye therefore imitators of God as beloved children." (The word in the original for "imitators" is "mimetai" from which our word "mimic" is derived.) We are to imitate-whom? God Himself! That is a tremendous thought. We are to do like God--speak like Him, act like Him, represent Him, show forth His excellencies (1 Pet. 2:9). There are two kinds of imitation: a false, artificial, mechanical, outward imitation. Animals, particularly of the ape family, can be trained to imitate human ways and acts, and parrots to imitate human speech. This however, is forced and unnatural. But a child naturally can (and does) imitate its father from whom it has derived its life and nature. The children of God, His "beloved children," are therefore in position to copy His ways and to show forth the traits of His character. (Comp. Matt. 5:45.) The outstanding trait of God's nature and being is Love. Therefore His children are to exhibit this above all things. (1 Pet. 1:22, 23; 1 John 4:10-12.) "Walk in love." Of this, Christ, the Son of God, was the supreme example and perfect pattern--"even as Christ also loved you, and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for an odor of a sweet smell." And this we are to imitate.

      But the vices (mentioned in vs. 3 and 5) so common in the heathen world, in the midst of which they had grown up and had themselves once walked even as the rest (Eph. 2:1-3)--these are now to be outside all thought and consideration, put far off, not even to be mentioned among you "as becometh saints"; likewise "filthiness" (moral uncleanness of every sort) or foolish talking--flippant banter, frivolity, and nonsense so commonly carried on by "jolly" fellows, and [42] "jesting"--silly yarns and jokes, pointless and foolish, which so easily become coarse and suggestive, and which are not befitting the dignity and earnestness of a Christian. It is better far to give thanks. A solemn warning is attached to this exhortation. There were always some who held easy-going, "antinomian" views--an idea that "grace" is license and that the gospel relaxed the strict righteousness of the law, and allowed men to indulge themselves in sin without fear of final consequences. These are the folk who "turn the grace of God into lasciviousness." Again and again does the apostle warn against such a fatal mistake. "If ye live after the flesh ye must die," he writes to the brethren in Rome. (Rom. 8:13.) "Be deceived, God is not mocked," he says to the Galatians, "for whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap. For he that soweth unto his own flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he [and only he] that soweth unto the Spirit, shall of the Spirit reap eternal life." (Gal. 6:7, 8.) "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived . . . ." and there follows a list of vices none of the doers of which "shall inherit the kingdom of God." (1 Cor. 6:9-11.) It would seem impossible that professing Christians could overlook these solemn and oft-repeated warnings; but surely some do, and go, on in sin, flattering themselves that they are standing in grace--that the law cannot curse them because they are not under law, and that grace once obtained cannot be forfeited. It is a fatal delusion.

      "Be not ye therefore partakers with them," says the apostle. And why not? In answer he harks back to the "foundation" of which we spoke at the beginning of this lesson; their new position and privilege in Christ: "Ye were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord," so, therefore now "walk as children of light"--a thing that could not be asked of any who were still denizens of the realm of darkness. (Comp. Acts 26:18; Col. 1:13; 1 Thess. 5:5-8.) This theme of "darkness" and "light" runs down through verse 14, where it is seen that at God's call we may rise up, out of our darkness and Christ who is God's light, shall shine upon us.

      The final "therefore" runs from v. 15 to 21. Still therefore--because of what God has done for us, because of what we are, because of what God has made us in Christ, and all that He has bestowed upon us--because of that and in the power of that we are to walk in this newness of life. "Look therefore carefully how ye walk." Watch your steps. Use your eyes. Don't blunder blindly ahead. There are snares and pitfalls in the way. Like the retreating Nazis Satan plants land-mines and sets up "booby-traps" all along your road. Mind what you are getting into--what associations, what deals, what commitments, what entanglements; what [43] ways and habits also, you contract. Walk "circumspectly" therefore, not as unwise, but as wise. (And if any man lack wisdom let him ask of God who giveth to all liberally and upbraideth not. Jas. 1:5.) Use your time--or, as the margin (R. V.) gives it, "buy up the opportunity"--for the night cometh when no man can work. (John 9:4.) Nor waste your days and energies in some self-chosen activity, in tasks and struggles which God never did ordain. Many religious folk do that. Therefore be ye not foolish-going off on some fool's errand--but find out what God wants you to do, and do that. Remember the wise and foolish builders of Matt. 7. It has been well said that there are a hundred people who start out on some project of their own and ask God to help them, to hardly one who will seek out God's will and purpose and fall in to help Him.

      And don't depend on wine (or other stimulants) for your inspiration, but "be ye filled with the Spirit." The Holy Spirit when He has unhindered access and scope in the Christian's life, will produce an energy and an enthusiasm, that (as in the case of Paul and Silas in the Philippian jail, Acts 16) will fill your heart with joy and your lips with praise and thanksgiving, and redound unto sweet song ("psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord") that ministers blessing to others.¹

      And, finally, a brief weighty word, which has very much to do with that unity enjoined in chapter 4--"subjecting yourselves one to another in the fear of Christ." Instead of taking the rule, be willing to be ruled. Instead of insisting upon having things go your way, defer and submit to the judgment of others. We are not to give in to anything that is not according to the will of the Lord. But in all other things--on all questions of expediency, and matters in which we are as free to do one way as the other (as, for example in the case discussed in Rom. 14) we may bear and forbear, concede, and for love's sake, even fall in with the notions and preferences of others, being of the same mind one toward another." You say it would take a lot of grace to do that. Not more than the Lord will bestow on those who are minded to do His will. [44] That is why He does not want for elders men who are "self-willed" (Tit. 1:7) and head-strong. At the bottom of most the troubles and divisions that distress the church you will probably find some one who tries to force his way upon the rest, some other one who just as determinedly resists. When two goats meet on a foot-log there is sure to be trouble. The younger, says Peter, are to be subject to the elder; but immediately adds, "yea, all of you, gird yourselves with humility to serve one another." (1 Pet. 5:5.) What peace and harmony would result were we willing to subject ourselves one to another in the fear of Christ! For stubbornness feeds on opposition, and the spirit of contrariness and dissension dies where there is no resistance. And it is love that suffereth long and is kind, seeketh not her own, hopeth all things, believeth all things, beareth all things, endureth all things.

[LOE 42-46]