1-2 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
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 sweetsmelling savour.
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Walk as Christ ... This is a challenging assignment. For Jesus gave HIMSELF to die for sinners, for disobedient, for wicked people, not just for the righteous.
For HE is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. Luke 6:35
The only way I can see myself doing this is to recognize that I am about to react in the flesh and stop and pray, quickly, asking God to help me. Then it is possible, for God always helps me to stop my own flesh when I ask HIM.
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Ephesians 5:3-5 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
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In I Thess. 4, an "unclean" person is defined as one who defrauds another.
I Thessalonians 4:6-7 That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.
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Ephesians 5:6-8 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
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Some churches have strange doctrines telling the people no matter what they do after they become a Christian, it is "under the blood" of Jesus so they will be fine and are basically free to do all manner of things to which the Bible objects.
One purpose of scripture is to re-prove our doctrine. These verses in Ephesians 5 give us this opportunity to examine these doctrines by scripture and to conform our way to the Holy Scripture.
Here is what we should do with scripture:
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: II Timothy 3:16
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Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.
But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.
Wherefore HE saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
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Ephesians 5:15-21 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
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Ephesians 5:22-33 Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.
For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing.
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave HIMSELF for it;
That HE might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
That HE might present it to HIMSELF a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself.
For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the church:
For we are members of HIS body, of HIS flesh, and of HIS bones.
For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.
This is a great mystery: but I speak concerning Christ and the church.
Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.
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