Ephesians 5 – Expository Preaching and Study Guide for Church Leaders

Overview

Ephesians 5 continues Paul’s practical instructions for how believers should walk in a manner worthy of their calling (Eph. 4:1), with an emphasis on walking in love, light, and wisdom. This chapter calls for radical transformation in personal conduct, reflecting the holiness of God and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

Key elements include:

Imitating God as beloved children (v.1)
Walking in sacrificial love as Christ did (v.2)
Avoiding immorality, impurity, and greed (vv.3–7)
Walking as children of light, discerning what pleases the Lord (vv.8–14)
Living wisely, filled with the Holy Spirit, not controlled by worldly influences (vv.15–21)
Spirit-filled household instructions, particularly the relationship between husbands and wives, modeled after Christ and the Church (vv.22–33)

The theological significance is profound: Christian ethics are grounded in union with Christ, the new identity of the believer, and the Holy Spirit’s work in sanctifying God’s people.

Historical and Literary Context

Historical Background

Ephesians was written by the Apostle Paul while he was imprisoned (likely in Rome around A.D. 60–62). The epistle addresses the church in Ephesus, a major cultural and commercial city in Asia Minor steeped in pagan worship (notably of Artemis). This context of spiritual darkness and idolatry heightens Paul’s exhortation to holiness and distinct Christian living.

Paul writes to encourage Gentile believers in their new identity in Christ and to exhort them to live accordingly, especially in a hostile and morally decaying society.

Literary Structure and Genre

Ephesians 5 is part of the epistolary “application” section of the letter (chapters 4–6), following the doctrinal truths established in chapters 1–3. Paul uses imperatives, contrasts, and metaphors (light vs. darkness, drunkenness vs. Spirit-filling, husband and wife vs. Christ and Church) to teach godly living. The structure is both theological and pastoral, giving ethical instructions based on doctrinal truths.

Key Themes and Doctrinal Points

1. Imitating God (vv.1–2)

Believers are commanded to imitate God as His children—this implies adoption and a familial relationship with God.
Walking in love reflects God’s character, modeled perfectly in Christ’s atoning sacrifice.
Doctrinal point: Sanctification is both positional and practical—because we are in Christ, we live differently.

2. Holiness in Conduct (vv.3–7)

Immorality, greed, and corrupt speech are incompatible with the identity of saints.
True believers reject participation in darkness because of their inheritance in the kingdom (v.5).
Doctrinal point: Salvation leads to a changed life; fruitlessness indicates spiritual danger (cf. 1 Cor. 6:9–10).

3. Children of Light (vv.8–14)

Believers once walked in darkness but are now light in the Lord.
Light is symbolic of truth, righteousness, and exposure of sin.
Doctrinal point: Regeneration changes the heart; the Christian life is lived openly before God and man.

4. Spirit-Filled Living (vv.15–21)

Living wisely is marked by intentional, Spirit-led choices.
Being “filled with the Spirit” (v.18) contrasts with the loss of control through drunkenness and results in worship, gratitude, and submission.
Doctrinal point: The Holy Spirit indwells and empowers believers for joyful obedience, worship, and community.

5. Marriage as a Picture of Christ and the Church (vv.22–33)

Wives are called to submit to their husbands as unto the Lord, reflecting the Church’s submission to Christ.
Husbands are commanded to love sacrificially, as Christ loved the Church, giving Himself for her sanctification.
Marriage is a profound mystery revealing Christ’s relationship with His bride, the Church.
Doctrinal point: Marriage is a divine institution reflecting the gospel; gender roles are rooted in God’s design, not cultural trends.

Concluding Theological Emphases

God’s Holiness and Our Transformation: God’s holiness demands that believers reflect His character in all areas of life.
Christ-Centered Ethics: Every moral instruction is rooted in our relationship to Christ and His redemptive work.
Biblical Authority in Gender and Family Roles: Paul’s teaching on marriage upholds creation order and divine authority, rejecting modern relativism.

Verse-by-Verse Analysis of Key Sections

Ephesians 5:1-2 – Walk in Love

“Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”

Explanation: Believers are called to imitate God, rooted in their identity as His children (cf. John 1:12). The phrase “walk in love” mirrors Christ’s self-giving love—a direct call to sacrificial, active, and holy living.
Cross-reference: John 13:34 – “Love one another as I have loved you.”
Application: Love is not emotion-based but cross-centered. We are to offer our lives as fragrant offerings through acts of service and obedience.

Ephesians 5:3-7 – Rejecting Darkness

“But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality…”

Explanation: Paul uses strong terms to command a holy lifestyle. “Not even a hint” sets the bar of holiness high. Greed and coarse speech are equally condemned.
Cross-reference: 1 Thessalonians 4:3 – “It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality.”
Doctrinal Insight: Holiness is not legalism—it is evidence of regeneration.
Application: Christians are to avoid both sinful behavior and flippant talk that trivializes sin.

Ephesians 5:8-14 – Walk as Children of Light

“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light…”

Explanation: Believers are not just “in darkness” but were once darkness—a total transformation is implied. Now, they embody “light in the Lord.”
Cross-reference: Matthew 5:14 – “You are the light of the world.”
Doctrinal Insight: Sanctification is not optional but the outworking of the light of Christ within.
Application: Christians expose sin by living truthfully, not participating in hidden things of darkness.

Ephesians 5:15-21 – Be Filled with the Spirit

“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise…”

Explanation: Wisdom is walking according to God’s will, not worldly pragmatism. “Be filled with the Spirit” (present tense) means continual dependence and surrender.
Cross-reference: Galatians 5:16 – “Walk by the Spirit.”
Doctrinal Insight: Spirit-filling is the controlling influence of the Spirit in the believer’s daily life.
Application: Spirit-filled lives are marked by joyful worship, thankfulness, and mutual submission.

Ephesians 5:22-33 – Christ and the Church: The Model for Marriage

“Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord…”

Explanation: Paul affirms God-ordained order in marriage, where the wife submits, and the husband leads in love. The model is Christ and the Church.
Cross-reference: Genesis 2:24; Colossians 3:18-19.
Doctrinal Insight: Gender roles are rooted in creation, not culture. Submission and sacrificial love are mutual responses to Christ’s headship.
Application: Marriage reflects the gospel. Husbands and wives preach Christ through their love, humility, and faithfulness.

Theological Implications and Connection to Jesus Christ

Jesus as the Pattern of Love
- Christ’s sacrificial love (v.2) is the ultimate standard for Christian love.
- His offering pleased the Father (cf. Isaiah 53:10), making reconciliation possible.
Jesus as the Source of Light
- Believers walk as children of light because Christ is the Light (John 8:12).
- Through union with Him, they bear the fruit of righteousness.
Jesus as the Head of the Church
- The husband-wife metaphor exalts Christ’s role as Head, Lover, and Sanctifier of the Church (vv.25–27).
- The Church is cleansed through the Word and blood of Christ (cf. Titus 3:5).
Jesus as the Bridegroom
- The marriage metaphor in v.32 points to the ultimate wedding supper of the Lamb (Revelation 19:7-9).
- All earthly marriages are temporary reflections of the eternal union between Christ and His redeemed.

Connection to God the Father

Fatherhood and Identity (v.1)
- “Dearly loved children” emphasizes God the Father’s adoptive love. This affirms the Trinitarian nature of redemption: the Father adopts, the Son redeems, the Spirit seals.
- God is not a distant deity but a loving Father who calls us into relational obedience.
God’s Moral Purity and Holiness
- The commands to purity, righteousness, and wisdom reflect the character of God the Father (cf. Leviticus 19:2 – “Be holy, because I, the Lord your God, am holy.”).
- Imitating God means reflecting His attributes in our conduct.
The Father’s Plan for Redemption
- The marriage imagery and sanctification of the Church (vv.26–27) point back to the Father’s eternal purpose (Ephesians 1:4-5) to present the Church holy and blameless.

Connection to the Holy Spirit

Ephesians 5 makes several direct and indirect references to the ministry of the Holy Spirit:

1. The Filling of the Spirit (v.18)

“Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit…”

Explanation: The central command in verses 18–21 is to “be filled” with the Holy Spirit. This is not a one-time event but a continuous, ongoing surrender to the Spirit’s influence.
Contrast: Just as alcohol can control someone’s behavior, the Spirit is to guide, shape, and empower our actions, emotions, and thoughts.
Result: Spirit-filling produces joy (singing), gratitude (thankfulness), and mutual submission (v.21).

2. Fruit of the Light (v.9)

“…for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth…”

Insight: This echoes the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). Living in the light means bearing the evidence of the Spirit’s work in our lives.

3. Imitating God Through the Spirit (v.1)

Believers imitate God (v.1) by walking in love (v.2) and holiness (vv.3–7)—a walk empowered by the Holy Spirit, who produces Christlike character in us (cf. Romans 8:14).

4. Spirit-Led Relationships (vv.21–33)

The household code that follows is possible only through Spirit-filled living. True submission and sacrificial love are not natural to the flesh but are Spirit-enabled virtues.

Sermon Outline and Flow

Sermon Title: “Walking in the Light: Spirit-Filled Living in a Dark World”

Text: Ephesians 5:1-33
Purpose: To urge believers to reflect Christ by walking in love, light, and wisdom through the power of the Holy Spirit.

I. Walk in Love Like Christ (vv.1–2)

Point: We are called to imitate God by loving like Jesus—sacrificially, selflessly.
Application: Identify one way this week to serve someone without expecting anything in return.
Illustration: A story of someone who anonymously paid for groceries of a single mom in need—love in action.

II. Walk in Purity and Holiness (vv.3–7)

Point: Sexual immorality, greed, and coarse joking are incompatible with a holy life.
Application: Clean up entertainment habits. Confess and forsake hidden sin.
Example: A believer deletes all content from their phone that dishonors Christ.

III. Walk in the Light (vv.8–14)

Point: As children of light, we expose sin and walk in truth and righteousness.
Transition: Light transforms how we live, but how do we walk in it daily?

IV. Walk in Wisdom, Filled with the Spirit (vv.15–21)

Point: Wisdom is knowing God’s will and walking in it by the Spirit’s power.
Application: Replace grumbling with gratitude. Choose worship over worry.
Illustration: The contrast between a person controlled by alcohol and one controlled by the Spirit—clear speech, love, joy.

V. Walk in Christlike Love at Home (vv.22–33)

Point: The Spirit empowers wives to submit and husbands to lead in love.
Application: Evaluate your marriage. Does it reflect Christ and His Church?
Illustration: A husband washing the dishes after a long day, loving sacrificially because Christ served first.

Conclusion & Call to Action

Challenge: Are you walking in the flesh or walking in the Spirit?
Invitation: Ask the Lord daily to fill you with His Spirit.
Call to Action: This week, choose one of the “walks” to focus on—love, light, or wisdom—and write down a way you will practice it.

“Be filled with the Spirit.” Let this be our daily prayer, for in Him we have all we need to live godly in this present age.

Illustrations and Examples

1. Modern Analogy: GPS vs. Dead Reckoning

Walking in the Spirit is like using GPS—it adjusts us when we drift. Walking in the flesh is like dead reckoning—eventually you’re way off.
Application: Let the Spirit correct your course daily through the Word and prayer.

2. Personal Story: A Husband’s Sacrifice

A man worked two jobs and gave up his dream of travel to care for his ailing wife. When asked why, he said, “Because Jesus gave everything for me.”
Tie-in: Christlike love is costly, but beautiful.

3. Cultural Illustration: Light in a Power Outage

When power goes out, even a small flashlight becomes valuable.
Application: In today’s dark world, small acts of holiness stand out—honesty at work, modesty in dress, patience in traffic.

Application for Today’s Christian

Ephesians 5 provides a roadmap for living out the Christian faith in real, practical ways. This chapter speaks not only to personal holiness but also to relationships and community life. Here are key applications:

1. Discipleship: Follow Christ Daily

Imitate God by walking in love (v.1–2). Ask: “Does my life reflect Jesus in how I treat others?”
Practical step: Begin each day in prayer, asking the Holy Spirit to help you love like Christ—especially when it’s hard.

2. Personal Purity and Accountability

Avoid compromise in speech, media, and relationships (vv.3–5).
Practical step: Set boundaries around entertainment and internet use. Join an accountability group or discipleship circle.

3. Stewardship of Influence

Walk wisely, not wasting time but making the most of every opportunity (vv.15–17).
Practical step: Assess your daily schedule. Are you using your time, money, and gifts to honor Christ and serve others?

4. Spirit-Filled Living

Be filled with the Spirit, leading to joyful worship, gratitude, and submission (vv.18–21).
Practical step: Begin your day with Scripture and end it by thanking God. Practice submitting your will to His Word in the “small things.”

5. Christlike Relationships

In marriage: Husbands lead with sacrificial love; wives respond with joyful submission (vv.22–33).
In community: Treat others with humility, honoring Christ in every relationship.
Practical step: Ask your spouse or a close friend how you can love or serve them better this week.

Connection to God’s Love

Ephesians 5 is saturated with the love of God expressed through Christ:

1. Christ’s Sacrificial Love (v.2)

“…just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us…”

This is God’s love on display—not sentimental, but sacrificial. Jesus offered Himself as a fragrant offering, satisfying the justice of God and expressing divine mercy.

2. Sanctifying Love (vv.25–27)

Christ’s love for the Church involves cleansing, restoring, and preparing His bride for glory. This shows God’s deep desire not only to forgive, but to purify and restore His people to full fellowship.

3. The Father’s Adoption and Identity (v.1)

Believers are called “dearly loved children,” reminding us that God the Father loves us with a perfect, parental love. This is not earned but given in Christ.

4. Transforming Love

God’s love does not leave us in sin. Ephesians 5 calls us to live as people who are deeply loved and therefore deeply changed.

Broader Biblical Themes

Ephesians 5 fits into the sweeping story of Scripture by highlighting key themes:

1. Creation and Imitation of God

Humanity was made in God’s image to reflect His character (Genesis 1:26-27). Ephesians 5:1 calls us back to this purpose: to imitate God through love, holiness, and wisdom.
The original design of male and female, marriage, and union is reaffirmed in vv.22–33.

2. Redemption and New Life in Christ

The call to “walk in light” reflects new creation life (2 Corinthians 5:17). The old has gone, the new has come.
Christ’s work on the cross (v.2) fulfills the sacrificial system and offers final atonement for sin (Hebrews 10:12).

3. Covenant and Marriage

Marriage is not only a human institution but a covenant picture of Christ and the Church (vv.31–32). This ties back to the covenantal language of Genesis 2 and points forward to Revelation 19 (the wedding of the Lamb).
God’s faithful love for Israel and now for the Church is consistently expressed in marital imagery (cf. Hosea, Jeremiah 31, Ephesians 5).

4. Sanctification and the Spirit

Ephesians 5 underscores the ongoing work of the Spirit in making believers holy. This fits with the broader biblical teaching that the Spirit regenerates (John 3), sanctifies (Galatians 5), and empowers (Acts 1:8).

Reflection Questions – Ephesians 5

These questions are crafted to help individuals and small groups go deeper in understanding and applying the truths of Ephesians 5.

Personal Holiness and Walk with God

In what specific ways can you “imitate God” in your daily life (v.1)?
What does it mean for your life to be a “fragrant offering” to God (v.2)? Is there a specific area where God is calling you to greater sacrifice or obedience?
Are there any “hints” of impurity, greed, or unwholesome speech in your life that you’ve been tolerating (v.3–4)? How can you confess and turn from these today?

Walking in the Light

How has God brought you from darkness to light (v.8)? In what areas do you still need to walk more fully in that light?
What does “exposing the deeds of darkness” look like in love and truth—not in judgmentalism?
How do you test what is “pleasing to the Lord” in your decision-making (v.10)?

Spirit-Filled Living

What influences are shaping your daily life more—worldly distractions or the Holy Spirit (v.18)?
Are gratitude, worship, and submission evident in your home and church life? Why or why not?
What would change in your heart and relationships if you made it a goal each day to be filled with the Spirit?

Marriage and Relationships

If you are married, how does your marriage reflect the relationship between Christ and the Church?

For husbands: How are you loving sacrificially and leading spiritually (v.25–30)?
For wives: How are you submitting out of reverence for Christ (v.22–24)?

If you are single, how does this passage encourage you to honor Christ in relationships and community?
What does it mean to live in mutual submission with other believers (v.21)? How can you practice that this week?

Living on Mission

How can you use your time more wisely to serve God’s kingdom (v.16)? What distractions need to be removed or realigned?
In what ways are you reflecting Christ’s love and light to your family, workplace, and neighborhood?