TEXT: Ephesians 5:15-17
READING: Proverbs 1:1-23
SUBJ: The fourth admonition about the believing walk being that we walk circumspectly and exercise wisdom.
AIM: That we might as the admonition directs: walk circumspectly, redeeming the time and exercising wisdom.
INTR: The present section of the Book of Ephesians stresses the importance of the Christian Walk and the exhibition of the wisdom of God in it.
1. Note the instructions of 4:1; 5:2; 5:8 and then in 5:15 and the various aspects of life addressed.
2. The things stressed here are the result of the light of Christ, which is Christ, upon us – Christ shined upon us!
3. This passage suggests to us that we make good use of the provided light and so walk in such light as that is; (But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 1 John 1:7
THESIS: It behooves us to consider the nature of what we have in Christ and to give much attention to correct application and witness in this life.
I. Three other perspectives on the believing Walk
1. First the vocation: I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; (Ephesians 4:1-2).
2. Then the loving Walk: Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. (Ephesians 5:1-2)
3. As children of light: For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) (Ephesians 5:8-9)
II. Circumspection (v. 15)
1. The thought is that we are to self-examine our walk as we walk with a view to its correctness before the Lord and men.
1) Taking heed as to what and what effect is registered
2) As to The Faith: Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? 2 Corinthians 13:5
2. A. T. Robertson suggests carefulness as the meaning or as the Textus Receptus has “exactly how ye walk.”
3. Another way is to think of the application and truth through faith and our conversation before men.
III. Redeeming Time (v. 16)
1. Literally buying it up.
2. Divine attention to time: “In the fullness of time…”
3. Like the manna of old it must be used immediately or lost – We are to seek to improve the time, knowing that the evil of the day will grab it up.
4. From Gill: “for it can neither be recalled nor prolonged: and taking it for an opportunity of doing good to ourselves or others, it signifies that no opportunity of discharging our duty to God and man, of attending on the word and ordinances of the Gospel, and to the private and public exercises of religion, of gaining advantage to our own souls, or of gaining the souls of others, and of doing good either to the bodies or souls of men, should be neglected…”
5. Rudyard Kipling: If you can fill the unforgiving minute/ With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,/Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,/And–which is more–you’ll be a Man, my son!
IV. Wisdom applied (v. 17)
1. The first third of the book of Proverbs is dedicated to it
2. In two parts:
1) Content – to be had from the word of God (Especially the Gospel)
2) Application of content – Directed and illustrated from the Word of God
3. The will of God:
1) What of the question “what is the will of God for my life…”
2) What can and cannot be understood concerning the will of God: The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law. Deuteronomy 29:29
3) It is the revealed will that concerns us:
i. And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. John 6:39
ii. To the Thessalonians: For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: 1 Thessalonians 4:3
4. Wrapping it up: Christ is the light that enables circumspection, recognition of opportunity and wisdom applied – understanding what the will of the Lord is!