Ephesians 5:15-17 Outline

Ephesians 5:15-17 The New Walk (4): More Reasons Why – Wisdom
Introduction (review):
1. Motivations are important. Businesses work hard to give their employees motivation for productivity. God loves us very much and so he gives us many reasons and motivations for the living of the Christian life.
2. In Ephesians 5:5-21, Paul sets forth four motivations to godliness. Today we’ll look at his third one – wisdom.
3. A month ago (how time flies!), we looked at Ephesians 5:5-7, where Paul stated the first motivation to godliness – the anticipation of judgment. Paul wants us to live realizing that there will be a divine accounting of our living. There is a coming judgment.
4. Last week, we looked at Paul’s second motivation in this section (found in Ephesians 5:8-14). This motivation or incentive to holiness doesn’t look to the future (like the first one), but to the past and present. It has to do with our new identity as "light in the Lord" or "children of light." Basically, Paul says: Remember what you were and what you are now, by grace. And then live like who you are.
5. This week, we turn to Ephesians 5:15-17, where Paul encourages in the way of godliness by appealing to the fact that God has made his people wise by grace, and thus we are to walk in that wisdom.

Ephesians 5:15-17 15 Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, 16 making the most of your time, because the days are evil. 17 So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

I. God has made Christians wise, by the Gospel (15b) [You are wise]
15 Therefore . . . walk, not as unwise men but as wise,

II. Because God has made us wise by his grace, we are to live as those who are wise, to live out wisdom (15b) [So walk (live) as wise]
15 . . . walk . . . as wise

What does this practical wisdom look like?

A. The wise . . . are careful how they walk (15a)
15 Therefore be careful how you walk, . . .

B. The wise . . . make the most of their time (16a)
16 making the most of your time, because the days are evil.

C. The wise . . . understand and do the will of God [by reading, hearing and doing it] (17b) 17 So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.