Series: Identity – The Book of Ephesians
Sermon: Wise Living#1
Bible Passage: Eph 5:15-20

5:15 Therefore, be very careful how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 5:16 taking advantage of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 5:17 For this reason do not be foolish but be wise by understanding what the Lord’s will is. 5:18 And do not get drunk with wine, which is debauchery, but be filled with the goodness of God by the Spirit, 5:19 consequently speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music in your hearts to the Lord, 5:20 always giving thanks to God the Father for each other in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 5:21 and submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

I. Introductory Information

1. In chs. 4–5, the word “walk/live” marks the beginning of new sections (4:1, 17, 5:2, 6, 15)—each one is independent of the others, but all of them are dependent on chs. 1–3
2. So, instead of looking at ch. 4, we are going to look at 5:15-20 today that deals with the subject of “wise living”—Eph 5:15-20 is part of a much larger section 5:15–6:9
3. In 5:15-18, there are three “not … but” constructions, contrasting unwise living with Christians’ wise living

a. Because Christians are now part of the most important spiritual platform, i.e., the Church, their behavior needs to be appropriate to their status and call
b. Their “walk,” i.e., their lifestyle, needs to be in conformity to the “will of the Lord”
c. Christians live wisely when they understand “the will of the Lord” (verse 17)
d. The “will of the Lord” is taught in the Scripture, learned by the believers, and modelled for others to imitate
e. In verse 18, Paul introduces the will of the Lord with two contrastive subjects “do not get drunk with wine, which is debauchery,1 but be filled by the Spirit”

4. There are two independent verbs in these contrastive sentences —“do not get drunk” and “be filled with”
5. Both verbs are in imperative mood—in other words, there are two exhortations, one is negative and the other is positive!

a. The negative is about drunkenness—“do not get drunk”
b. There is no indication that the believers were indulging in drunkenness nor Paul is prohibiting drinking wine!
c. But he is exhorting the believers not to allow such behavior to become a habit in their lives
d. Because such behavior is unwise or a foolish conduct which is inappropriate for Christians (18b)
e. Because of their culture, their pre-Christian lifestyle, or their libertine tendencies, Christians would do it, if they were not instructed

6. The phrase “with wine” is an instrumental dative, i.e., wine is the instrument/means to get drunk—“do not get drunk by means of wine”

a. With the instrument dative, the exhortation “do not get into the habit of being drunk” points to “the influence” that produces certain behaviors or life-style 1
b. Paul seems to be giving the instruction in the background of the common behavior in the city of Ephesus and widely in Roman Empire, i.e.,
c. Ephesians imbibed wine and filled with the spirit of “Bacchus,” and behaved with frenzy at communal gatherings
d. Paul seems to say, “Do not be influenced by the wrong thing”

7. Paul says that drunkenness caused by wine influences a person to behave in a particular way, which he calls “debauchery” or “dissipation”

a. Aristotle called “debauchery” a vice of prodigals who waste their money and indulge in debauchery
b. People with such vice generally lack moral standards
c. These people easily yield to temptation of pleasure
d. It results in wastefulness—the resources meant for family is wasted
e. In Luke 15:13, this word is used for the Prodigal Son’s “dissolute” living
f. Drunkenness most often leads to disorderly life, what is natural and God-ordained may be abused
g. A drunk person lacks self-control

8. Many believers today get drunk and behave unwisely
9. When confronted they concoct their own justification/excuses
10. They do not realize that they still carry sinful behavior that they are capable of abusing alcohol
11. Cf. Gal 5:13 “you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity to indulge your flesh”

II. Verse 18b: “but be filled by the Spirit” (see my translation)

1. Just as the wine is not dative of content, the Spirit is not dative of content but agency or instrument
2. So, the translation is “be filled by the Holy Spirit” (not “with” but “by”)

a. The immediate question is “filled with what?”

i. Two things: 1. fullness of God (cf. 3:18) and 2. the will of the Lord” cf. (5:17)
ii. Agent: the Holy Spirit (5:18b)
iii. Another question: What is “the fullness of God?”

– Based on Col 3:16 the word of Christ dwelling in the believers richly
– God’s presence, influence, enablement, and moral excellence

b. This lifestyle is in contrast with those that are “drunk with wine”
c. Just as the one who is drunk due to wine gives himself up to his flesh, the one who is filled with the fullness of God gives himself up to the will of the Lord
d. The implication is that the Spirit of God directs and empowers a believer to live a life that understands the will of the Lord

3. Some people think that this is an act that needs to happen after one’s salvation
4. Just as Paul exhorts the believers not to develop a habit of drinking for the purpose of drunkenness, he exhorts them to be filled with the goodness of God by the Holy Spirit

III. Results of being filled with the goodness of God by the Spirit

1. Speaking by means of psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs

a. By means of psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs
b. For edification, reproof, and correction

2. Singing songs and psalms to the Lord
3. Giving thanks
4. Submitting one another (mutual submission that implies humility, free from selfishness, individualism, and independence)

Take Away:

Desire God’s Word dwell in your heart richly through which you will understand the will of the Lord