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以弗所书［第五章］
Book of Ephesians 5

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以弗所书 第五章 |Book of Ephesians 5

【在光明中行事】


主讲：林国晶传道

14/08/2024

引言：

每一个基督徒都面临着一个选择：我们是愿意继续行在黑暗中，还是决心在光明中行事？今天的经文将帮助我们更好地理解如何在光明中行事，并让我们的生命真正反映出神的荣耀。

一、当凭爱心行事(v1-7)

1.当效法神(v1-2)

效法神是信徒生命中的一个重要原则，而效法神最重要的一点就是要像基督那样饶恕和爱人。基督的舍己之爱，是为了不配的罪人、献上自己作代价，「当作馨香的供物和祭物，献与神」（v2）。因此，保罗劝勉信徒「也要凭爱心行事，正如基督爱我们，为我们舍了自己」（v2）。

如同一个家庭中，孩子常常会效法父母的行为，他们看到父母如何对待他人，如何处理冲突，并自然地学习这些行为。同样，作为基督徒，我们被召唤效法基督。

2. 说感谢话(v3-4)

保罗在这里特别提醒信徒要远离淫乱、污秽和贪婪，这些罪行在当时的社会中很普遍，但却与基督徒的圣洁身份不相符。他还特别强调了言语的重要性，淫词、妄语和戏笑的话语都应该被感谢的话语所取代。因为我们的言语可以建造或摧毁一个人。

3. 切勿同伙 (v5-7)

保罗在这里警告信徒不要与那些行恶的人同流合污，因为他们在神的国度里是没有份的。他强调贪心与拜偶像是一样的，因为它们都将其他事物置于神之上。在现代社会中，贪心可能表现为对财富、地位或权力的不当追求，而这些往往会让人偏离对神的敬拜。

二、离黑暗入光明 (v8-14)

保罗继续劝勉信徒要脱离黑暗的生活，过一个光明的生活。作为光明的子女，我们的生活方式应该显出我们所信的神。光与暗的对比在圣经中常常用于象征善与恶，信徒被呼召要远离黑暗的行为，活出光明的见证。

三、在谨慎中行事 (v15-21)

保罗在这里提醒信徒要谨慎行事，要有智慧。愚昧人内心虚妄、心地昏昧，人生漫无目的，一生都在虚度光阴。然而，智慧人却知道自己的使命，他们必会充分利用时间，行神所吩咐的。我们生活在一个充满诱惑和挑战的世界中，因此我们需要格外小心，不要被世俗的价值观所迷惑。然而，谨慎行事不仅仅是避免罪恶，更是要积极追求属灵的成长和智慧。

四、夫妻相处之道 (v22-33)

1. 妻子顺服丈夫 (v22-24)

保罗教导妻子要顺服丈夫，就如同顺服主一样。妻子顺服丈夫的动机不是被迫、也不是不平等，而是因为「敬畏基督」（21节），所以「顺服自己的丈夫，如同顺服主」。

2. 丈夫要爱妻子 (v25-33)

a. 爱的标准与榜样 (v25-27)

保罗呼吁丈夫要像基督爱教会一样爱他们的妻子。这种爱是为爱而奉献；去爱，却爱无所图。基督对教会的爱就是舍命，因此丈夫也应该愿意为妻子牺牲。这种爱是先付出。这种爱是遭到拒绝，仍然去爱的。

b. 爱妻子如爱自己 (v28-33)

保罗进一步强调，丈夫爱妻子就如同爱自己，因为妻子与丈夫是一体的。真正的爱是看重妻子的感受和需求，关心她的幸福。他用基督救赎教会、使教会成圣、将教会献给自己，彰显出了基督的爱，是丈夫爱妻子的榜样，所以「丈夫也当照样爱妻子，如同爱自己的身子」（v28）。因此，信徒的夫妻关系只有反映出基督和教会的联合，才是合神心意的婚姻。

总结：

以弗所书第5章提醒我们，在生活的各个方面都要效法神，行在光明中，并且以爱和智慧行事。我们被召唤要过一个与世俗不同的生活，体现出作为基督徒的身份。无论是在言语、行为，还是在家庭关系中，我们都应遵循圣经的教导，展示出神的爱与光明。


Ephesians 5: Walking in The Light
GK611 Morning Devotion
14/08/2024
Morning Devotion Speaker: Ps Stella Ling

Introduction：

Every Christian is faced with a choice: are we willing to continue to walk in darkness or are we determined to walk in the light? Today's Scripture will help us to better understand how to walk in the light and have our lives truly reflect the glory of God.

1. When walking in love (v1-7)

(1) To imitate God (v1-2)

Imitation of God is an important principle in the life of a believer, and the most important aspect of imitation of God is to forgive and love others as Christ did. Christ's self-sacrificing love was to offer Himself as a price for unworthy sinners, "as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God" (v2). Thus Paul exhorts believers to "walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us" (v2).

As in a family, children often emulate the behaviour of their parents; they see how they treat others, how they deal with conflict, and naturally learn these behaviours. Similarly, as Christians we are called to imitate Christ.

(2) Speak words of thanksgiving (v3-4)

Paul here specifically reminds the believers to keep away from fornication, uncleanness and covetousness, sins which were common in the society of the day, but which were incompatible with the holiness of the Christian identity. He also places special emphasis on the importance of words, and that lewd words, presumptuous words, and jesting words should be replaced by words of thanksgiving. For our words can build or destroy a person.

(3) Do not be an accomplice (v5-7)

Paul here warns believers not to be partners with those who practise evil, for they have no part in the kingdom of God. He emphasises that covetousness is the same as idolatry because they both place other things above God. In modern society, greed may manifest itself in the improper pursuit of wealth, status, or power, and these often lead people away from the worship of God.

2. Out of darkness into light (v8-14)

Paul continues to exhort believers to turn from a life of darkness and live a life of light. As children of light, we should live in a way that reveals the God in whom we believe. The contrast between light and darkness is often used in Scripture to symbolise good and evil, and believers are called to turn away from the works of darkness and live as witnesses of light.

3. Acting in prudence (v15-21)

Paul reminds believers here to act with prudence and wisdom. The foolish man is vain in heart and faint in mind, living aimlessly and wasting his life. The wise, however, know their calling and will make the best use of their time to do what God has commanded. We live in a world full of temptations and challenges, so we need to be extra careful not to get caught up in worldly values. However, being careful is not just about avoiding sin, it is about actively pursuing spiritual growth and wisdom.

4. The interaction of husband and wife (v22-33)

(1) Wives submit to their husbands (v22-24)

Paul teaches wives to submit to their husbands as to the Lord. The wife's motive for submitting to her husband is not compulsion or inequality, but because of the "fear of God" (v21), she "submits herself to her husband as to the Lord".

(2) Husbands are to love their wives (v25-33)

a. Standard and example of love (v25-27)

Paul calls on husbands to love their wives as Christ loved the church. This love is a sacrificial love; to love, but loving without wanting any in return. Christ's love for the church was to lay down his life, so husbands should be willing to sacrifice for their wives. This love is giving first. This is the kind of love that is rejected and still loves.

b. Love your wife as yourself (v28-33)

Paul further emphasises that husbands love their wives as themselves, for wife and husband are one. True love looks to the feelings and needs of the wife and cares for her well-being. He demonstrated the love of Christ by redeeming the church, sanctifying it, and dedicating it to himself, and is an example of how husbands should love their wives, so "husbands ought to love their own wives as their own bodies;" (v28). Therefore, a believer's husband and wife relationship is only a marriage after God's own heart if it reflects the union of Christ and the church.

Conclusion：

Ephesians 5 reminds us to imitate God in all aspects of our lives, to walk in the light, and to act in love and wisdom. We are called to live a life that is different from the world and reflects who we are as Christians. Whether in word, deed, or family relationships, we should follow the teachings of Scripture and demonstrate the love and light of God.