Living in light of your calling in Christ • Walk worthy of your calling (4:1) • Walk in holiness (4:17) • Walk in love (5:2) • Walk wisely (5:15) The Christian life is in stark contrast to that of unbelievers. The difference is like light and darkness (Eph 5:8).

Ephesians 5:15-21 v. 15 Be very careful, then how you live 1. Not as unwise, but as wise (v. 15b) 2. Not foolish, but understanding the Lord’s will (v. 17) 3. Not drunk with wine, but filled with the Spirit (v. 18)

“carefully” – accurately, precisely, not careless, not without thought. How we live matters. There are people who think once they are saved, how they live does not matter. It matters. We are to manifest outward in our lives what has happened inside. By God’s grace, you are freed from the bondage of sin and death. You are liberated to live a new life in Christ.

v. 16. ‘Making the best use of the time’ – lit., “redeem the time” the Lord gives us opportunities daily to live out our new lives, to build his kingdom, to reflect his character, give him glory

“The days are evil” – Controlled by the prince of the power of the air (Eph 2:2), who is opposed to God and his purposes. The days are evil – God’s people CANNOT sit idly by. The lost are living and dying in sin. The enemy steals, kills and destroys. He goes around like a roaring lion, seeking for someone to devour.

We MUST engage with the world. We MUST use our resources wisely. The church is the new humanity that God has created in Jesus Christ. We hold the answer to hopelessness. We know the way for the lost man or woman to be reconciled to God. We know the one Who is victorious over sin and death. “Redeem the time because the days are evil.” v. 17. Ties to OT Proverbs: the fool is careless, despises wisdom, refuses to acknowledge his dependence on God. The wise man understands the will of God – we learn what pleases God and live accordingly; from believing in God’s salvation through Christ to living a godly life.

v. 18. ‘do not get drunk with wine’ – a negative counterpart like wise/unwise, foolish/understanding, drunk with wine/filled with the Spirit

“Be filled with the Spirit” (v. 18) • Speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, songs (v. 19a) • Singing and making music to the Lord (v. 19b) from the heart • Giving thanks to God (v. 20) • Submitting to one another (v. 21)

V. 20. “giving thanks to God” ‘always or constantly’ Everything we have is from God. His blessings are innumerable. Even in suffering we have reasons for joy and thanksgiving. The opposite of thanksgiving: grumbling, complaining, taking blessings for granted

v. 21. ‘submit to one another’ – lit., ‘arrange under’ God has established order in the world. We are all subject to authority. All of us are under authority at work, the authority of government, even spiritual authority.

out of ‘reverence’ of Christ – lit., ‘fear’, not ‘terror’ of Christ, but recognition that he is Lord and will return as Judge of the earth.

Walk wisely – are there things the Spirit has been convicting you to stop? • Toying with sins? Or time wasters that leave you feeling empty? • Things you need to re-start? Prayer life? Reading or memorizing Scripture? • More intention on being a light at work or class, not blending into dark? • Redeem the time because the days are evil Be filled with the Spirit • Do you have a mouth of someone redeemed? Full of praise, worship, thanksgiving? • Lord, help me be thankful, remind me of your countless blessings • Let my mouth declare to others and to you of your goodness to me.

(Lk 2:10–11).