Our Redemption “in Christ” Detailed to the Ephesians Volume 51

Paul Urges the Ephesian Believers to Live Wisely Part 1

Ephesians 5:15-17 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. KJV

Paul having declared all the dangers without and within to these Ephesian believers and to us today now exhorts them/us as his brethren to be careful about how they/we live each and every day our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ keeps them/us down here on the earth as pilgrims, knowing that we have a Heavenly home (John 14:2-3) and citizenship there (Philippians 3:20). Paul is determined that they/we “walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise” (Ephesians 5:15). The English word walk is one often used by Paul and it is translated by the Greek word peripateo meaning figuratively to live, deport oneself, behave in a manner that is becoming of a follower of Jesus Christ bringing glory and honor to Him and not shame. Paul also throws in the English word circumspectly to place an extra emphasis on his desire here for them/us and this word is translated by the Greek word akribos an adverb meaning exactly: - diligently, perfectly. In other words, Paul wants them/us to be wise in the way we conduct ourselves on the earth (as Christ followers) being careful and persevering through trials, tests, and temptations leaning and standing on the Grace of God, the Love of Christ, and the Power of the Holy Spirit as he prayed with the same desire for the Thessalonian believers with these words, “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.” (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24).

Paul exhorts them and us to not or no longer live foolishly, but contrastingly we are to live wisely in this present age and Paul perhaps said it best with these words he wrote to the Hebrew brethren, “But recall the former days in which, after you were illuminated, you endured a great struggle with sufferings: partly while you were made a spectacle both by reproaches and tribulations, and partly while you became companions of those who were so treated; for you had compassion on me in my chains, and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven. Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: ‘For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.’ But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.” (Hebrews 10:32-39).

Paul now writes to them/us and places his focus on something each one of us have an equal quantity of and that is time, so the Apostle exhorts them into “Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:16). The English word redeeming Paul uses here is translated by the Greek word exagorazo meaning to buy up, that is, ransom; figuratively to rescue from loss (improve opportunity): - redeem. In other words, Paul paints a word picture for us of someone going to a market or store to buy up some commodity or product that is highly useful and valuable to the purchaser in this case he speaks of time which none of us can regain after it is squandered or lost, so Paul urges them/us to use the remaining time/season our Lord Jesus Christ gives us in our pilgrimage here on earth away from our Heavenly home to benefit His Eternal Kingdom laying up treasures in Heaven by way of getting out the Word of God through every available means we have to us today. Not by happen stance or coincidence does Paul use this same Greek word exagorazo in his letter to the Galatian brethren when he says, “But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem/exagorazo those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.” (Galatians 4:4-5). What the Apostle has done is place the significance of our use of time here on the earth as aliens on the same level as the significance of our redemption by the Blood of Christ on the Cross of Christ leading to the Resurrection of Christ Wow! We understand his esteeming our use of time being so important because the period of time or generation was controlled by evil and this is true of Paul’s time our time and future generations (if our Lord Jesus tarries).

Paul then says to them/us “Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.” (Ephesians 5:17). Paul again reminds them/us to not be unwise but the Greek word Paul uses this time is aphron meaning (as a negative particle); properly mindless, that is, stupid, (by implication) ignorant, (specifically) egotistic, (practically) rash, or (morally) unbelieving. Paul then says to them instead of being unwise be understanding and this English word understanding is translated by the Greek word suniemi meaning to put together, that is, (mentally) to comprehend; by implication to act piously: - consider, understand, be wise. Lastly, Paul puts it all together by wanting them/us to be aware of what the will of Christ is for our lives here on the earth and this English word will is translated by the Greek word thelema meaning a determination (properly the thing), that is, (actively) choice (specifically purpose, decree; abstractly volition) or (passively) inclination: - desire, pleasure, will. In other words, Paul wants us to exercise our spiritual faculties ignited by the Power of the Holy Spirit and the truth of the Word of God (2 Corinthians 6:7) to be true to the will of God that is only found in the Word of God and to shun, avoid, and deliberately stay away from ignorance of the Word of God by being unbelieving in our character and conduct instead staying in fervent love with our Lord Jesus Christ avoiding what will occur during the great tribulation as our Lord Jesus Himself warned would occur with these words, “And then many will be offended, will betray one another, and will hate one another. Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.” (Matthew 24:10-12). Paul’s desire (in light of this warning from our Lord Jesus) to redeem the time is much understood and should be well received by each one of us.  

“The believer’s walk is both inward and outward; his inward walk is by faith on Christ; his outward walk is his conversation among men: this supposes life; requires strength and prudence; denotes continuance and progression; with patience and courage: this walk should be seen to, and watched over; a man should see to it that he does walk, and to the way in which he walks, and how he walks; that he walks circumspectly, with his eyes about him; that he walks with diligence, caution, accuracy, and exactness, to the uttermost of his strength and power; and with wisdom and prudence, looking well to his going. Such walk as wise men, who walk according to the rule of God’s word, make Christ their pattern, have the Spirit for their guide, and walk as becomes the Gospel of Christ; inoffensively to all men, in wisdom towards them that are without, and in love to them that are within; and as pilgrims and strangers in this world, looking for a better country; and so as to promote the glory of God, and the good of souls.” Dr. John Gill

“Because the Christian is to shake himself free from complicity with works of darkness, and to be their living condemnation, he must take heed to his goings. A climber on a glacier has to look to his feet, or he will slip and fall down a crevasse, perhaps, from which he will never be drawn up. Heedlessness is folly in such a world as this. ‘Don’t care’ comes to the gallows. The temptation to ‘go as you please’ is strong in youth, and it is easy to scoff at ‘cold-blooded folks who live by rule,’ but they are the wise people, after all. A great element in that heedfulness is a quick insight into the special duty and opportunity of the moment, for life is not merely made up of hours, but each has its own particular errand for us, and has some possibility in it which, neglected, may be lost forever. The mystic solemnity of time is that it is made up of ‘seasons.’ We shall walk heedfully in the degree in which we are awake to the moment’s meaning, and grasp opportunity by the forelock, or, as Paul says, ‘buy up the opportunity.’ But wise heed to our walk is not enough, unless we have a sure standard by which to regulate it. A man may take great care of his watch, but unless he can compare it with a chronometer, or, as they do in Edinburgh, pull out their watches when the one o’clock gun is fired on a signal from Greenwich, he may be far out and not know it. So the Apostle adds the one way to keep our lives right, and the one source of true, practical wisdom-the ‘understanding what the will of the Lord is.’ He will not go far wrong whose instinctive question, as each new moment, with its solemn, animating possibilities, meets him, is, ‘What wilt Thou have me to do?’ He will not be nearly right who does not first of all ask that.” Alexander MacLaren

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…