The Light Of God - Lesson 5 #99 - Sample

by Glenn
(Prince George)

Lesson 5

Ephesians 5:14 - no context

Christ’s light shows the truth. We have the responsibility to respond. Directed to non-Christians

Summaries

Eph.1 - God has chosen us before the beginning of the world to make us pure and holy through Christ Jesus. Jesus is the center and the head of all things in heaven and earth. We need God to open our eyes to all that we have in Christ Jesus.

Eph. 2 - We were helplessly trapped in sin until God, in His mercy and grace, rescued us. It is totally a work of God, and we have a work to do for God for which He specifically designed us. Jews and Gentiles are one body in knowing and growing in God. He is fashioning us both together in order to live in us by His Spirit. This was accomplished by Jesus on the cross.

Eph. 3 - Paul was the apostle of God to the Gentiles. God gave him a special revelation that the Gentiles were part of the Body of Christ. The Church is the wisdom of God through Jesus Christ to reveal the wonders of God in heaven and on earth. Jesus lives in our hearts by faith. As we are rooted in love and gain in understanding we reach toward our full potential in God which is greater than we could ever imagine.

Eph. 4 - Because we are Christians are lifestyle should be different. It is possible to live worthy of our calling. The ungodly do not know any better, but God has given us trainers so we can be mature and fruitful. Everything must change from outward acts of evil to inner attitudes. We have to learn to do everything to support and build each other up.

Eph. 5 - We need to be imitators and pleasers of God. We need to get rid of sin in our lives. We are now children of God - of Light - we need to live like it. We need to fill our lives with good, positive things and be encouraging to each other. Because we love Christ, wives submit to their husbands and husbands unconditionally love their wives. The marriage relationship is to be a picture of Christ’s relationship with His church.

Eph. 6 - Our relationship with God covers every other relationship including child to parent and parent to child We are to work hard for our employer just as if he was Christ. It doesn’t matter if he is kind or harsh - we do our best and leave the rest to Jesus. We need to take positive action to be prepared to withstand the inevitable attacks of our spiritual enemy. We need to put on every piece of God’s armour and pray for each other.

Ephesians 5:14 - with context

1. What is the near context about? In order to be like Christ and love each other we must give up our evil ways and we must not be partners with people involved in such sins. We have been changed from darkness into light and we expose evil by our very presence. It is a choice. We can choose to live in darkness or light. We are to submit to each other. Wives respect their husbands and husbands love their wives which is a picture of Christ and the Church.

2. What is the far context about entire book? Jesus is the center of all things and He has united both Jews and Gentiles in one Body. We have been chosen by God to live holy and pure lives for His glory and our benefit. Specific instructions on how to do this are given.

3. Considering the near and far context, what do you think the meaning of Eph. 5:14 is?

“...for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: ‘Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.’”

The light of God, His blazing righteousness, exposes evil among both Christians and non-Christians. The sleeper is dead in sins, this could apply to both the non-Christian or Christian - although the context is addressed to Christians. As Christians, we need to come to Christ to have evil in our lives exposed so that we can abandon it and move on in God.

4. Is that what you thought on Day 1 when you read the verse without the context?
Without the context did not see that it could apply to Christians. Context gives deeper and wider meaning.