Governed by the Spirit

Ephesians 5:15-20

Two things cannot occupy the same space at the same time. When the kitchen drain pipe is filled with food and other debris water cannot flow through the pipe. Once the food and debris are removed the water flows freely again. If we want water to flow freely through the pipe we must make a decision. We can prevent anything from collecting in the pipe by removing the debris. Secondly, we can keep water flowing through the pipe continuously.

When Paul writes this letter to the Ephesians, one of the issues that he raises is how a Christian is supposed to walk in the world. What is his/her lifestyle supposed to be like? What or who determines how a Christian is to live? The passage of scripture that guides this article provides for us an example of the necessity for Christians to make right choices. What examples will I follow? What will I allow to govern my life? In this passage Paul tells the church that they must choose between wine and the Spirit as the governor of their lives. What is taking place in Ephesus that brings Paul to this point?

The church at Ephesus is made of both Jews and Gentiles. The Jews believe that the Gentiles must conform to the Jewish laws of circumcision and diet. They must become Jews before they can be saved and become Christians. In chapters 1-2 Paul establishes that salvation is a gift of God to all people regardless of their social standing in the world. All people are saved by grace through faith (2:8-9). When a person is saved he/she is to live their life in such a manner life that it reflects their relationship to God. Paul writes, “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, and offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma (Eph. 5:1-2, NASB). Jesus is our example. The saved person loves others because God loves His children. We are saved, not by merit, but because God loves us (Jn. 3:16) and gives us the gift of eternal life through His Son Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ gave up His life by dying on the cross to redeem us from our sins. He obeyed God and submitted Himself to the will of God because He loves us (Rom. 5:8).

In verses 3-14 Paul describes the behaviors that that prevent us from being imitators of God. As we read through these verses we will see that many of these behaviors forbidden in the scriptures are readily accepted today; even in our churches. We hear it over and over again that this is a new day; a different time; and following these rules and laws are no longer necessary. Yet, we expect that God will continue to bless us today in the same old fashioned way that He blessed His people in the past.

Verse five is critical to our study. Paul writes, “For this you know with certainty, that no moral or impure person or covetous man who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God” (NASB). Does this mean that if a person sins they will lose their salvation? I do not agree with this analysis. Rather, I take sides with those scholars that interpret this verse to mean that if a person says that they have accepted Christ, but there is no change in their life, that person has no assurance from Scripture that they are saved. On the other hand if a person is a Christian and sins they may receive chastening by cause and effect or through direct divine chastening. God provides a way for us to avoid sin. This brings us to our text.

We are instructed to be careful how we walk, how we live. We must choose to be wise or to be unwise. The days are evil and we must decide to not be foolish by understanding the will of God. To illustrate this point Paul contrast getting drunk with being filled with the Spirit.

Paul writes, “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit” (v. 18, NASB). In relationship to drunkenness with wine Bible scholar Max Anders writes, “Ephesus was a center of pagan worship and ritual. The Ephesian culture worshipped Baccus, the god of wine and drunken orgies. They believed that to commune with their god and to be led by him, they had to be drunk. In this drunken state, they could determine the will of their god and determine how best to serve and obey him” (Max Anders, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, & Colossians in Holman New Testament Commentary, vol. 8, Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999), 172. On the other hand, those who have received Christ are to commune with God. Instead of getting drunk they are to be filled with the Spirit. What does it mean to be filled with the Spirit?

In the Book of Acts the Greek word “pimplemi” is associated with miraculous signs and wonders that help the people to believe the gospel. In the book of Ephesians the Greek word “Plarao” is used in an ethical context. “It means to be directed, influenced, and ultimately governed by the Holy Spirit” (Ibid).

The verb “Plarao” is an imperative passive. The people are commanded to let the Holy Spirit govern their life. Again, two things cannot occupy the same space at one time. The life that is governed by wine is unable to be governed by the Spirit. This is made clear when Paul says that wine is “dissipation” (excess, KJV). This word means lack of self control. It is used in relationship to rioting, violence, and immorality, and sexual impurity. On the other hand, self—control is the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:23) “In Ephesians 5:18, the results of being filled with the Spirit are speaking in psalms, singing, giving thanks, and a harmony of relationships between husbands and wives, parents and children, and masters and slaves” (Ibid., 180). Let us look at a situation that will help us to understand Paul’s command to be filled with the Spirit.

Missy Horton is admitted to the hospital. She has been experiencing chest pains and shortness of breath. After examinations and tests it is determined that Ms Horton will need surgery for heart bypass in two arteries. The surgery is scheduled. On the morning of the surgery the nurse in the pre-op waiting room discovers that Ms Horton’s permit for surgery has not been signed by the patient. The surgery is cancelled. Why? The nurse on the floor gives Ms Horton the medications that that are ordered. One of the medications is a sedative which has mind altering effects. Under the influence of the mind altering sedative Ms Horton may not fully understand what she is signing for. Wine is a mind altering drug. More importantly, in this context wine is used to connect the worshipper to the god Baccus. When we receive Christ we are no longer seeking to be connected with an idol god. Rather, the goal for the one who receives Christ is to be connected with God by being filled with the Spirit. The evidence is that we no longer live as pagans. Instead, we imitate Christ. Let us be filled with the Spirit.