A Circumspect Walk

Ephesians 5:1-17

INTRODUCTION: We judge our walk against the walk of those around us. In fact, we often seek out those of lower a standard by which to judge in hopes of boosting our self-esteem. Instead, we ought to give serious consideration to the walks of those who walked in the first century church. The reality is that modern Christianity is much more akin to entertainment than the militant nature of its earliest days.

I. THE APOSTLE’S CONVICTION

A. The Time of Writing

1. The epistle was written sometime around 60 AD.
2. Approximately, twenty years after Paul’s conversion.
3. Only a handful of years prior to his death.

B. The Circumstances of Writing

1. “For this cause I Paul, the prisoner of Jesus Christ for you Gentiles,” (Ephesians 3:1)
2. “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord,” (Ephesians 4:1)
3. “For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.” (Ephesians 6:20)

C. The Expectations While Writing

1. Thessalonians
a. This epistle comes approximately ten years after Paul sent his first letter to the Thessalonians.
b. In that epistle, Paul plainly declared that he fully expected to be alive when Christ returned for the church.
1.) “We which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:15)
2.) “We which are alive and remain shall be caught up” (1 Thessalonians 4:17)
2. Corinthians
a. This epistle comes approximately five to ten years after Paul sent his first letter to the Corinthians.
b. In that epistle, Paul plainly declared that he fully expected to be alive when Christ returned for the church.
1.) “We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:51)
2.) “We shall be changed” (1 Corinthians 15:52)
3. Romans
a. This epistle comes a few years after Paul wrote to the believers at Rome.
b. In that epistle, Paul warned “that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed” (Romans 13:11; see also Romans 13:11-14).

II. THE APOSTLE’S CONCERN

A. The Sins of the Flesh (Ephesians 5:3, 5)

1. Fornication
2. Uncleanness
3. Covetousness

B. The Sins of the Mouth (Ephesians 5:4)

1. Filthiness
2. Foolish talking
3. Jesting

C. The Sins of Vanity (Ephesians 5:6)

1. The threat of deception
2. The power of vain words

D. The Sins of the Old Life (Ephesians 5:6b-13)

1. Be not partakers with the children of disobedience (Ephesians 5:6b-7)
2. Be not as those in darkness (Ephesians 5:8)
3. Reprove the works of darkness (Ephesians 5:11-12)

III. THE APOSTLE’S CHARGE

A. A Walk of Love (Ephesians 5:1-2)

1. Be followers of God, as dear children (Ephesians 5:1)
2. Walk in love (Ephesians 5:2)
3. Love is the best and first motive to any true and lasting Christian walk.

B. A Walk of Wisdom (Ephesians 5:14-17)

1. Time to awaken out of sleep (Ephesians 5:14)
2. Time to walk circumspectly (Ephesians 5:15)
3. Time to redeem the time (Ephesians 5:16)
4. Today’s Christian is distracted.
a. They are asleep.
b. They are not alert to the real issues.
c. They are wasting their time.

CONCLUSION: In a day of Christian concerts, Christian carnivals, Christian comedians, Christian clowns, Christian puppets, and Christian celebrity imitations, we need a reminder that biblical Christianity demands sobriety and circumspectness.