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…Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ (Ephesians 5:1-2, 21, NIV).
This week we are going to look at what (for all intents and purposes) might as well be the black sheep of the one anothering passages, Ephesians 5:21, Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Few concepts are as important to the Christian life as this one. At the same time, few concepts have been more misunderstood and abused than this one. It is important to get right and very dangerous to get wrong.
To understand this one anothering passage correctly, it needs to be seen in its full context. Ephesians 5 continues Paul’s explanation of what the Christian life should look like in light of our redemption in Christ and adoption into God’s family. The first half of this chapter, verses 1-20, focuses on how you and I are supposed to act in light of our calling. The focus is on what to do and what not to do. It is full of do’s and don’t’s. In fact it us much more about what not to do than what to do; the words no, not, nor, and don’t occur ten times in verses 1-20. These verses are directions for how you ought to live your life in light of being dearly loved children (Ephesians 5:1). It is about conducting ourselves in the truth.
The second half of this chapter and the first 9 verses of chapter 6 focus is on how we ought to relate towards one another in light of being God’s dearly loved children. The focus is on how we ought to respond to what others do. It is about responding in grace to one another.
The lynch pin between these two sections is Ephesians 5:21, Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Living in submission to Christ is covered in 5:1-20. How that submission to Christ is lived out in submission to one another is covered in 5:22-6:9. It is, in essence another way of looking at the Great Commandment. Loving God is shown by living in submission to Him. Loving others is shown by living in submission to one another out of our submission to Christ.
Learning To Be Full Of Grace And Truth. 
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