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. (Ephesians 5:6-11)

This week, I’ve been trying to convince you that keeping the imperatives and indicatives of God, the

commands and promises, in the correct order is a big deal. How big? Well, it was the re-ordering of the

commands and promises by an Anglican monk named Martin Luther in 1517 which eventually led to a

major schism in Catholicism, producing all the mainline Protestant denominations. Luther wasn’t doing

anything new; he was simply returning God’s people to a correct understanding of the imperatives and

indicatives. Sadly, even Protestants slip back into the false assumption that our moral performance

earns favor with God.

Paul raises another concern in Ephesians 5 – a serious issue opposite to that of legalism. He writes: “Let

no one deceive you with empty words.” Based on the context, Paul is concerned that someone is

teaching that the imperatives (commands) of Scripture don’t really matter. In other words, some of the

churches in Ephesus are teaching that God’s grace is so good it doesn’t matter how you live. This is what

German theologian and martyr, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, referred to as “Cheap Grace:”

“Cheap grace is the idea that ‘grace’ did it all for me so I do not need to change my lifestyle. The believer

who accepts the idea of ‘cheap grace’ thinks he can continue to live like the rest of the world. Cheap

grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance or discipleship.”

The goal of the Christian life is to become more and more like Jesus. This begins by receiving His promise

of salvation but progresses as we follow His commands. The degree to which we follow in obedience

reflects how much we value and believe His promises.

Let this prayer be your prayer today, as you respond to God in love:

Dear Lord, remind me of the beauty of your promised grace. Empower me to follow You more closely.

Keep me from the fruitless deeds of darkness and produce in me the fruit of Your Holy Spirit. Let me live

as a child of light. Let my obedience be a response to the costly grace bought by the blood of Jesus. In His

precious name I pray, Amen.

By Jimmy Carter



Jimmy serves as the Ministries Pastor at Immanuel Baptist Church. He is married to Carrie, his treasured

wife of 24 years, and they have one beloved daughter named Christy Ann “C.A.” who is a Senior at LCA

and will attend UK and play golf for the Wildcats next Fall.