Marriage, Sex and Sexuality 2 - Eph.5:8-20
Paul has been charging the atmosphere between two poles: a foundational conviction that we are loved by God in Christ; and that as God’s ‘dearly loved children’ we are called to pursue an increasingly faithful following of God’s example of love, holiness, purity and self-giving. Reminding us of the division that Jesus, by the Spirit, renders between light and dark in Gen.1:1-4, Paul teaches that proclaiming Christ results in the same radical division today. The world, including people, still divides into light and darkness.
Paul’s sense of urgency might still cause us to catch our breath. His relentless conviction that we should strive to dispel any shadow can feel a bit ‘extreme’ to us, more binary than we are used to. Where Paul sees light and dark, we tend to see nuanced shades, a spectrum on which it sometimes difficult to see exactly where dark becomes light. Yet his sense of the radical distinctiveness of the people of God, and the resolution with which we should pursue that distinctiveness, are unmistakable.
Paul’s insistence builds on what we were thinking about last week, but he lays reason on reason for us to share his urgency, rising to a sense of inevitability: we must live out the integrity of who and what we are (v.8-9); we have the opportunity to live in a way that pleases the Lord (v.10); deeds of darkness have no value (v.11); everything we have done will be exposed when we are resurrected to judgement (vv.13-15); if we aren’t very deliberate about how we live, we will simply be swept up in the darkness of our surroundings (vv.15-17).
Yes, but how? How can we live like this? Aspects of Paul’s answer might surprise us: it has to do with the intentionality with which we live, with our relationship with the Spirit in life and worship, with our familiarity with Scripture, with music and ‘psalms, hymns and songs’, and with gratitude.
Does the urgency in this passage, and its sense of clear choice excite you, or leave you feeling uncomfortable? Does it ring true to your experience of life… or does life feel more complex that Paul seems to allow for?
If we lived as Paul is suggesting, would we simply all end up in a Christian ghetto, isolated from any contact with the world? Is Paul risking a denial of much that is good in our culture and society?
What do you think characterises ‘darkness’ and ‘light’ (vv.8-9)? How would we recognise it in ourselves? …in each other? …in our world?
How can we ‘find out what pleases the Lord (v.10)? How does the idea that we can live in a way that pleases Him leave you feeling?
What does Paul mean when he teaches that we should expose ‘the fruitless deeds of darkness’ (v.11)? How do you feel about doing that?
Do you agree that it is shameful to ‘mention what the disobedient do in secret’ (v.12)? Why does Paul qualify his comments with: ‘in secret’? Why do you think the Lord is waiting until the Resurrection to expose truth (vv.13-14)?
How do wise people live (v.15, and foolish people, v.17)? How can we make the most of every opportunity (v.16)?
In what ways is ‘being filled with the Spirit’ both like and unlike being drunk on wine’ (v.18)? can you back up what you think from the Bible?
What is it about ‘psalms, hymns and spiritual songs’ that can help us live as children of light? Why speak, rather than sing (v.19)?
How can we encourage one another in thankfulness (v.20)? Why is it important to do so?
