The Exhortation for Believers to Live Righteously

Ephesians 5:8-10, NKJV

Believers are commanded to “be imitators of God as dear children; ²And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us…” (Ephesians 5:1-2a). Therefore, as imitators of God they should walk, or behave themselves, continually in love just as Christ loved. God sent His Son Jesus in the flesh to die for our sins. His death fulfilled the righteous requirement of the law in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit (Romans 8:4). Believers are exhorted to live righteously.  

Apostle Paul told the Ephesian believers “⁸For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light ⁹(for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), ¹⁰ finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.” Spiritual darkness is out of character for children of God. We were once darkness – sons of disobedience (v.6) – and alienated from God. Believers are to remember that sin has consequences: “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23a). Now that we have taken off the old, corrupt man and put on the new man, we are light in the Lord. Therefore, our walk must honor Him. “Be imitators of God as dear children. The faithful will be eternally rewarded: “…the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23b).

Paul continued the command for the Ephesians to walk as children of light. We know God; we are children of light. “For light, the Holy Spirit, results in all goodness, righteousness, and truth (v.9), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord” (v.10). As light, we are to be mindful that we are exhorted to live righteously. Do not dishonor our Father by conforming to the ways of this world. Give God glory!