Ephesians Part 28

Paul begins chapter 5 of Ephesians with an invitation: “Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.” The word therefore connects this command directly to everything that has come before: the putting off of the old man, the renewal of the mind, and the putting on of the new man created in righteousness and holiness. The natural result of being renewed in spirit is to begin to look like our Father. We start to walk, act and speak as His children. What a staggering invitation this is! We are called not merely to obey God, but to imitate Him. And this, Paul says, is possible because He gives us His Spirit, empowering us to develop the very qualities that define Him. 

In the physical realm, children often desire to be like their parents, to wear their father’s watch, to work beside him in the yard, to copy his walk or voice or humor. Family shapes identity. The same principle holds true spiritually. We are members of the household of God, and the Spirit within us enables us to grow into His likeness—until, as Paul said earlier in Ephesians 4:13, we come “to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.” This is our calling. This is the great work of our lives: to become like our Father and like His Son. 

Paul continues: “And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.” The word walk appears repeatedly in Ephesians (seven times in total) each time describing a way of life. In 4:1, we are told to walk worthy of our calling; in 4:17, “no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk” and now, walk in love. 

The idea is that love defines the path we tread. Love is not merely an emotion; it is a sustained pattern of life, an orientation of the will, and the motive behind all action. 

To “walk in love” is to follow the model of Christ Himself, who loved us and gave Himself up for us—not just in His death, but in His life. Every word He spoke, every act of service He performed, every wound He endured was part of that offering, a fragrant aroma ascending to God. Just as the sacrifices of old filled the temple with the scent of incense, so too Christ’s life was a sweet-smelling offering, pleasing to God because it was wholly given. 

We are invited to offer our lives in the same way. Galatians 2:20 reminds us that 

“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.” 

When our lives are surrendered, when we offer our time, energy and talents to God’s purpose, our sacrifices too become a sweet aroma before Him. The pleasing scent of our devotion rises to heaven as we live with humility, faith and love. The psalmist echoes this in Psalm 141:2: 

“Let my prayer be set before You as incense, the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.” 

Our words, our prayers and our obedience are fragrant when they are offered in love. 

Scents are powerful reminders that can awaken memory and emotion. In the temple, incense symbolized prayers ascending to God. In the Gospels, when Mary anointed Jesus’ feet with oil (Luke 7:36–50), the fragrance filled the house, giving an image of worship, sacrifice and love. Likewise, Paul tells the Corinthians that “we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved” (2 Corinthians 2:15). When we live our lives in love it is like that fragrance, a testimony to the One who first loved us and gave Himself for us. 

Paul’s words to “walk in love” carry a strong contrast to the pagan world around the Ephesian believers. The city of Ephesus was a center of idol worship—home to the great temple of Artemis, one of the wonders of the ancient world. Artemis was celebrated as a fertility goddess, and her worship involved immorality, indulgence and idolatry. The very air of Ephesus was thick with sensuality and superstition. To live differently by walking in purity and love, made Christians stand out sharply against that backdrop. Their faith wasn’t theoretical; it was visible in daily life, relationships and conduct. 

Paul adds in verse 3: 

“But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints.” 

These destructive elements like sexual immorality, impurity and greed were not merely personal sins; they were/are social poisons, breaking trust, eroding community and destroying relationships. The pagan world tolerated and even celebrated them, just as ours does today in entertainment, advertising and public life. But Paul insists that such things have no place among the saints who God has set apart for His holy purpose. 

Paul is straightforward in his assessment: such conduct is not walking in love. To walk in love is to be like Christ. This means to live for others, to offer oneself to God, and to treat every relationship with reverence and purity. Paul calls believers saints, not because we are perfect, but because we are set apart. Once God’s Spirit enters our lives, we are no longer identified by the label “sinner,” though we still battle sin. We are identified by our relationship—children of God, sanctified by His truth. 

As John writes, 

“If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7). 

If we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

Walking in love and walking in light are inseparable, both are paths of transformation. The one who walks in love walks toward God, bearing the fragrance of Christ to a world desperately in need of His light. 

UYA Team | uya@ucg.org  

United Young Adults (UYA) primarily serves the 18–32-year age group for the United Church of God. There are three main areas of contribution to the lives of the young adults: Promoting Spiritual Growth, Developing Meaningful Relationships and Making the Most of Your Talents. The Know Your Sword series is a daily expository message introducing God’s Word from a trusted perspective.