Why does Paul tell the God-fearing Gentiles in Ephesus that they must no longer live as Gentiles? In what way are Gentile disciples of Yeshua (Jesus) supposed to live like Jews? Paul offers his readers practical guidance for their new life with God's people (Israel).
In chapter 4 of the book of Ephesians, Paul spoke about walking in a manner worthy of our calling as disciples. He warned the Ephesian Gentile disciples that they must ''no longer walk as the Gentiles do'' (Ephesians 4:17). In chapter 5, Paul continues his discourse on righteous living with practical instructions that distinguish between Israel and the idolatrous world of the nations from which the Ephesians disciples have come. If the Gentile disciples are to walk in a manner worthy of their calling, they must no longer live like idolaters. Paul refers to the people of the world and the idolatrous nations as the sons of disobedience and the children of darkness. He refers to the Jewish people as the holy ones (saints) of Israel and to the disciples of Yeshua as the children of God and the children of light.
The idolatrous world of Paul's day corresponds to today's secular world. They aren't that different. The darkness of the idolatrous world and the darkness of the secular world are the same: ignorance of God. The children of God, on the other hand, walk in the light of the God's revelation.
"Therefore, be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love.'' (Ephesians 5:1-2)
Paul says that if we want to be considered sons and daughters of our Father in heaven, we should imitate God in how we treat others. That means walking in love. The imitation of God is the meaning of the English word ''godliness.'' The Torah refers to it as ''walking in God's ways.'' In the Torah, Moses says, ''And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul'' (Deuteronomy 10:12). The sages asked, ''What does it mean to walk in all his ways?" How can a human being be expected to walk in the ways of the Almighty? The explanation is that it means imitating God and walking in godliness:
"Just as He clothes the naked, as it is written in Genesis 3:21, ''The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them,'' so should you too also clothe the naked. The Holy One, blessed be He, visited the sick, as it is written in Genesis 18:1, ''Now the LORD appeared to him by the oaks of Mamre'' while he was still recovering from circumcision, so should you too also visit the sick. The Holy One, blessed be He, comforted mourners, as it is written in Genesis 25:11, ''After the death of Abraham, that God blessed his son Isaac,'' so should you too also comfort mourners. The Holy One, blessed be He, buried the dead, as it is written in Deuteronomy 34:6, ''And He buried him in the valley in the land of Moab'' so should you too also bury the dead.'' (b.Sotah 14a)
In Ephesians 5:1, where Paul tells his readers to imitate God ''as beloved children,'' he specifically refers to forgiving each other for shortcomings and sins. "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Therefore, be imitators of God, as beloved children'' (Ephesians 4:32 -5:1).
When I find it difficult to forgive my debtors and those who have transgressed against me, I need to remember that I rely upon God's forgiveness of my own sins and shortcomings in Messiah. If I desire God's forgiveness, it is incumbent upon me to forgive others. This is what it says in Midrash Sifre regarding the mitzvah of walking in the ways of God:
"Just as the Holy One, blessed be He, is called merciful, so you should be merciful; just as He is called gracious, so you should be gracious; just as He is called righteous, so you should be called righteous; just as He is called devout, so you should be devout.'' (Sifre on Deuteronomy 10:12).
~ The Holy Epistle to Ephesians sermons on a Messianic Jewish Approach by D. Thomas Lancaster
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