Ephesians 5:1-21

Be Imitators of God

¹Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; ²and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.

³But sexual immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be mentioned among you, as is proper among saints; ⁴and there must be no filthiness or foolish talk, or vulgar joking, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. ⁵For this you know with certainty, that no sexually immoral or impure or greedy person, which amounts to an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

⁶See that no one deceives you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. ⁷Therefore do not become partners with them; ⁸for you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light ⁹(for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), ¹⁰as you try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. ¹¹Do not participate in the useless deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; ¹²for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. ¹³But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. ¹⁴For this reason it says,

“Awake, sleeper,

And arise from the dead,

And Christ will shine on you.”

¹⁵So then, be careful how you walk, not as unwise people but as wise, ¹⁶making the most of your time, because the days are evil. ¹⁷Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. ¹⁸And do not get drunk with wine, in which there is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, ¹⁹speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your hearts to the Lord; ²⁰always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to our God and Father; ²¹and subject yourselves to one another in the fear of Christ.

Marriage like Christ and the Church