The Strand Study Bible

Written From Rome During Paul’s First Roman Imprisonment

1970

EPHESIANS

If you want to find decay, drama and dirt, look no further than your basis instincts ( the old man ). 4:26 Emotions ( Be ye angry ) are amoral; neither moral nor immoral. Jesus had the same emotions that we have, minus the sin (Heb 4:14-15). Thus, emotions in and of themselves are neither good nor bad. It is what we do with those emotions that determine whether we do right or wrong. Those who give Christ (God) the last say in their life through the Word are able to show emotion without sinning ( and sin not ). 4:30 According to this verse, the HOLY SPIRIT can be “grieved.” The SPIRIT OF GOD , therefore, is a person, not an influence or a force. His active interest and participation in the affairs of men proves that He has a personality (distinctive individual qualities that make up His person - I Cor 2:11 b ). Whenever God’s people sin with their tongue, they grieve the HOLY SPIRIT and quiet His voice within them. This, in turn, leads to a lack of assurance concerning one’s salvation, for it is the SPIRIT’S job to remind us that we are saved (Rom 8:16 and I Jn 3:24 & 4:13). The reason that Christians fail to hear the voice of the HOLY SPIRIT , reminding them of their salvation, is because they violate one of three areas within the Christian life ( I Jn 2:3 & 3:14 & 5:13). 5:3 These three self-centered vices: immorality ( fornication ), impurity ( uncleanness ) and greed ( covetousness ), are the opposite of the self-sacrificing love spoken of in verses 1-2. Since these vices portray selfishness and unconcern for others, a believer should avoid them at all costs ( let it not be once named among you ). Spencer Beard in Lies of Lust notes: That means you shouldn’t be near it at ALL! It means that if sexual immorality is the North Pole, you should be at the South Pole, as far away from it as you can possibly be. 1 5:5 There are some post-Jewish MESSIANIC movements ( Gal 3:1-3 ) that have tried to use this Scripture (no sinner… hath any inheritance in the KINGDOMOF CHRIST ) to prove that “works” are essential to keeping one’s salvation. They are not. What Paul is saying here is that there were some believers within the assembly at Ephesus who appeared to take advantage of their liberty in Jesus and professed Christianity as a system of belief, but not as a rule of life. Paul rebuked these kinds of believers and reminded them that, if they were going to Heaven, then they ought to act like it, i.e., those who are going to Heaven ought not to practice the sins of those who are not ( I Cor 6:9a and Gal 5:21 ). John F. Walvoord and Roy B. Zuck in The Bible Knowledge Commentary note: The wicked would have no share in God’s future kingdom because they were not related to Christ, the Heir (cf. Mark 12:7). The wicked would one day be judged by the saints (I Cor. 6:2) on the basis of their works (Rev. 20:13) which would condemn them. Yet the saints were acting no differently… Their future role should have radically affected their practice in the present (cf. I John 3:3). If they thought otherwise, Paul warned, they were deceived (cf. I Cor. 5:11; Rev. 21:7-8; 22:14-15). 2 5:14 Having substituted the name CHRIST for Jehovah , Paul understood full well whom Isaiah was refering to. NOTE - Isaiah 60:1 reads this way, “… and Jehovah ( CHRIST ) shall give you light .” 5:16 Anything that keeps you from passing out the Gospel to a lost and dying world is a poor use of your time. God’s looking for people who are more interested in spending time on the eternal perspective than Friday’s paycheck. 5:18 a God is not comparing drinking with being filled with the SPIRIT ; He’s contrasting ( be not ) drinking with being filled with the SPIRIT . Whereas a person intoxicated with alcohol acts in a manner that is evil, a person intoxicated (filled) with the SPIRIT acts in a manner that is good. The command here has nothing to do with a Christian’s right to drink alcohol as long as it’s in “moderation.” NOTE – God has always disapproved of men drinking beverages that ferment and cause instability in a person’s judgment ( Prov 23:31 & 20:1 and Jn 2:10 ). According to Proverbs 31:6-7 , alcohol was used for “medicinal” purposes, not social purposes. 5:18 b This word ( excess ) is the Greek word DσZτLD ( asotia ) and means “ riotous; outrageous conduct ” (Lk 15:13, Titus 1:6 and I Pet 4:4). 5:18 c The original Greek reads: [2 nd person plural / pres / imper / pass] but ye must continually be filled with [the] Spirit “… DOOD SOKUοXσθH HQ SQHXPDτL ,” NOTE – There are four observations that every believer needs to make concerning this verse: 1. The command is plural, not singular The parsing (or, break down) of the verb SOKUοXσθH ( plarousthe ) in the original Greek is second person plural ( ye ). Meaning, it applies to every believer, not just some spiritually elite group. Dr. Tony Evans in The Fire that Ignites notes: In many ways, the Holy Spirit is like the “lost member” of the Trinity. Some people admit they just don’t understand Him. Others profess to know Him well–while revealing their true ignorance by what they say and do. 3 The fullness of the SPIRIT is for all Christians because it deals with the power to witness (Acts 1:4-8). 2. The command is continuous, not a onetime request The verb SOKUοXσθH ( plarousthe ) is in the present tense, continual action . Meaning: We are to keep on being filled on a daily basis (Lk 11:9-13). 3. The command is an order, not an offer The verb SOKUοXσθH ( plarousthe ) is in the imperative mood, the mood of command . Meaning, God is not asking us to be filled;

He is commanding us to be filled. 4. The command is passive, not active