<p>5:18 <i>And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit</i>- Paul always offers an alternative to sinful behaviour, reflecting the Hebrew idea of 'holiness', which means both separation <i>from</i> sin and separation <i>unto</i> spiritual behaviour. Instead of alcoholism, being filled with hard spirits, we are to be filled with the Spirit. Remember he was writing to those already baptized, who had been given the Spirit at baptism. But we can be further filled with the Spirit, if we allow that to happen. The Greek <i>asotia</i> &quot;debauchery&quot; is literally 'not-saving'. Alcoholics can be saved; but the behaviours associated with alcoholism, as with any sin, are not the way to salvation. Filling with the Spirit is the answer to the alcoholic life, and has been witnessed many times in the transformation of alcoholics. Earlier in Ephesians we have read of being filled with God's fullness through the gift of the Spirit (Eph. 1:23; 3:19; 4:10). This filling will as it were displace the alcoholic life- for a whole new vista of existence is opened up. Clearly there were alcoholics in the Ephesian church, and Paul doesn't advise their excommunication, but rather urges transformation by the Spirit. Paul was keen for others to copy John the Baptist, to find in him the inspiration which he too had found. So he encourages his Ephesians not to drink wine but instead be filled with the Spirit- the very language of John (Lk. 1:15). In other words, 'Be like that Spirit-filled zealot John rather than enjoying the sloppy pleasures of this life'.</p><p>There are clear parallels between Col. 3:16 and Eph. 5:18,19: &quot;Let the <b>word of Christ </b>dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual&nbsp;songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord&hellip; but be <b>filled with the&nbsp;Spirit</b>;&nbsp;Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing&nbsp;and making melody in your heart to the Lord;&nbsp;Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name&nbsp;of our Lord Jesus Christ&rdquo;. Clearly the <i>Word of Christ</i> is equated with being &quot;<i>filled with the Spirit</i>&quot;.&nbsp;This is not to create a primitive, direct connection between 'word' and 'Spirit'. The word of Christ refers to the simple message that if we believe in Him, we shall be saved. And as a result, the Spirit of Christ fills our hearts (Gal. 4:5,8).</p>