THE apostle continues by the Spirit his practical exhortations. The whole Christian pathway is summed up in one pregnant sentence, “Be ye therefore followers (imitators) of God, as dear children.” How much higher is this than law! In giving the latter God set forth His requirement from man, and it consisted in “Do this and live;” but Christianity is a higher and more blessed thing. God has revealed Himself fully too in the Son of His love. This henceforth is the believer's pattern. We do not aim at godliness with a view to gaining the favor of God, or of making out a righteousness: but we walk thus because we are children, partakers of the divine nature, objects of His unbounded affection. It is sweet thus to be reminded of His love! Paul could address the Roman saints as “beloved of God,” (Rom. 1), the Thessalonians similarly (1 Thess. 1:44Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God. (1 Thessalonians 1:4)); and the Lord in His prayer to the Father lets us know that we are loved by the Father as He Himself was loved (John 17:2323I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. (John 17:23), see also John 16:2727For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God. (John 16:27)). The knowledge of this is to shape our steps.
We are to “walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savor.” How such a word searches the heart! Is this how we love? Who will not own to shortcoming? Yet the standard may not be lowered, nothing short of this is the mind of God for His saints. Christ gave Himself—His love led Him even to death for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren (1 John 4). The sacrifice of Christ is here brought before us in its burnt offering aspect—it was a sweet smelling savor; and, blessed be His name, “for us.” In 1 Peter 2:2424Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. (1 Peter 2:24), where we get the trespass offering side of His cross, “a sweet savor” could not be said: He bore our sins, and drank the cup of divine wrath which was their due.
Warnings follow. “But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be named among you, as becometh saints.” How humbling that such exhortations should be found in close connection with the unfolding of the heavenly calling! But what is the human heart not capable of? No warning is given in vain; and the condition of the Corinthian assembly, when the apostle wrote his first Epistle there, shows the need of the word. The Thessalonians were written to similarly (1 Thess. 4:3-83For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: 4That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honor; 5Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: 6That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. 7For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. 8He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit. (1 Thessalonians 4:3‑8)); the Colossians also (Col. 3:5-65Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: 6For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: (Colossians 3:5‑6)). The tongue is to be guarded no less than the other members of the body: filthiness, foolish talking, and jesting ill become the saints. Scripture is positive as well as negative; if folly is not to flow from our lips, giving of thanks should. Happy occupation! the heart so satisfied with divine grace, and so engrossed with Christ, that out of its abundance thanksgiving wells out to Him. May we know more of it!
Does God think lightly of sin and folly? Nay; to pursue such ways is exceedingly grave. Such persons have no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. The Ephesians must not be deceived, “for because of these things the wrath of God cometh upon the children of disobedience.” What can be said when one professing the Lord's name steadily pursues an evil course? “By their fruits ye shall know them.” It is no question of the believer failing as he passes through the world—for such there is restoring grace through the advocacy of Christ on high, and the gracious operation of the Spirit in heart and conscience below; it is an evil course which is supposed, though under cover of the Lord's name. The Ephesians were to hold themselves aloof from such, and not to be partakers with them. Such ways had been attractive to them, for they were once darkness; but now, being light in the Lord, they were to walk as children of light. Our former condition is here very solemnly stated— “once darkness.” “God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all:” we were thus wholly opposed to God, our very nature antagonistic. But we are no longer darkness, nor in darkness, but are children of light: the fruit of the light—i.e. the practical result of knowing God fully revealed—should be manifested in all “goodness and righteousness and truth.” We thus prove experimentally what is acceptable (well-pleasing) to the Lord.
The Christian should thus, (not only abstain from ungodly ways, but) abjure all fellowship with those who practice them. Rather should he expose them; not necessarily directly attacking the world's practices, but by consistent godliness reproving iniquity. Men's secret sins, which have as large a place now as in Paul's days, are too shameful even to name; but they are exposed, and their true character declared by the light, for light manifests all things. Such exposing will not bring love, but rather hatred, to the witness, as our Lord Jesus said, “Me it (the world) hateth, because I testify of it that the works thereof are evil” (John 7:77The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I testify of it, that the works thereof are evil. (John 7:7)). In His case the darkness hated the light: it was too much for them.
Therefore is the believer to awake if sleeping, and arise from among the dead. Sorrowful condition for a saint to slip into! Of what value as a witness to God and the truth is a sleeper? Thanks be to God, such are not dead: the spark of divine life is there, and can never be extinguished; but they have sunk into a state of spiritual torpor, having thus lost their enjoyment of heavenly grace, and their usefulness in testimony. The Spirit also arouses in Rom. 13, but there reminds us of the nearness of our salvation, the night being far spent, and the day at hand. Here such sleepers among the dead are exhorted to arise; and, as the apostle adds, “Christ shall shine upon thee.” Only thus can the believer reflect anything of God to a hostile world.
Such exhortations remind us of where we are—in an enemy's land. We shall not need in heaven to be told to walk carefully, to redeem the time, and to lay aside folly, and understand what the will of the Lord is. The days are evil: hence the need of the Spirit's admonitions.
The use of wine is to be guarded—in it is excess, profligacy: the rather are we to be filled with the Spirit. This is a different thought from being sealed with the Spirit. The latter is God's work entirely, the Spirit being His gift to the believer, founded on redemption; but to be “filled” rests with ourselves in self-judgment and looking to Christ. How far do we hinder His operation within?
Being thus filled, the heart expresses itself in melody and thanksgiving to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. The psalms, &c., spoken of in this chapter are Christian compositions; not those of David, which relate to the Jew rather than to the Christian. Of course, there are many precious sentiments contained in that wonderful and inspired collection that are true for believers at all times. Still the book is not characterized by those blessings which we are called particularly to enjoy; as accomplished redemption, union with an exalted Christ, the knowledge of the Father, and the indwelling of the Holy Ghost. The spiritual tone is distinctly lowered when souls persist in using the Psalms of David as the proper and habitual vehicle of their worship.