Ephesians 5:1-7
Love That Imitates God
1Be imitators of God, therefore, as beloved children,
2and walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant sacrificial offering to God.
3But among you, as is proper among the saints, there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed.
4Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk, or crude joking, which are out of character, but rather thanksgiving.
5For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure, or greedy person (that is, an idolater) has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
6Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience.
7Therefore do not be partakers with them.
Berean Standard Bible
Paul calls believers to be imitators of God as beloved children. The command begins with beloved, not with fear. Children learn a family resemblance when they know they are loved, and Paul says God's people should let His character become visible in their conduct.
The clearest resemblance is love. Believers are to walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. This love is not simply warm feeling. Christ's love gives itself for the good of others and is joined to holiness.
Paul therefore names practices that must not belong among God's people: sexual immorality, impurity, and greed. He also warns about shameful speech, foolish talk, and coarse joking. The concern is not that Christians must become humorless or unable to speak about difficult things. It is that speech and desire can treat people as objects and make sin seem harmless.
Thanksgiving is the fitting alternative. Gratitude turns the heart away from grasping and toward receiving God's gifts rightly. Paul says no immoral, impure, or greedy person has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God, and he warns them not to be deceived by empty words.
Questions
1 How does Paul describe believers before telling them to imitate God?
AnswerHe describes them as beloved children. The call to imitate God rests on being loved by Him.
2 What pattern of love does Paul place before believers?
AnswerChrist loved us and gave Himself up for us as an offering and sacrifice to God. His love is self-giving and holy.
3 Which attitudes and practices does Paul tell believers to reject?
AnswerHe names sexual immorality, impurity, greed, shameful speech, foolish talk, and coarse joking as things that should not govern God's people.
4 What does Paul place alongside rejecting greed and corrupt speech?
AnswerHe places thanksgiving alongside them. Gratitude redirects desire toward God's gifts instead of grasping for more.
What This Means for Us
Christian love is not permission to indulge every desire in the name of being authentic. Christ's love gives itself, honors people, and refuses to make another person an instrument for pleasure or power.
Thanksgiving gives a household a positive practice, not only a list of prohibitions. We can name God's gifts aloud and learn to enjoy them without turning good things into possessions we must control.
Prayer
God, thank You for loving us as Your children. Teach us to imitate Your goodness, walk in Christ's self-giving love, reject what dishonors others, and grow in sincere thanksgiving. Amen.