Ephesians 5:1-14 His Grace or DysGrace?
Jesus' intervention for us provided a pleasing sacrifice to God, making us pleasing to God as dearly loved child. Such a gift, such grace, would be understood in Ephesus to generate a proportional, reciprocal response of gratitude and service. Thus, grace initiates an intimate relationship between its patron and recipient that grows stronger with each turn in a beautiful dance. The patronage or benefaction systems of Ephesian society would have expected such joyful and obligatory responses. However, if thanksgiving is instead replaced with entitlement or rejection, the unraveling of the relationship becomes a disgrace or a dysgrace. And the consequences are dire.
“Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. This is why it is said: ‘Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.’”