Walk This Way | Ephesians: God's Plan for God's People | Jan 29, 2023

Good morning and welcome to Mission Church. If I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting you ....my name is John Lee and I serve Mission Church as the lead pastor. I am humbled and honored to be with you this morning…especially as we continue our journey through Paul’s amazing letter to the Ephesians..... A journey that we’ve entitled, “God’s Plan for God’s people.” If you would, please grab your copy of God’s Word and open it to Ephesians 5.

A couple of weeks ago we discussed Paul’s instruction to believers to stop living like those who don’t know Jesus ....and instead.....we are to pursue a life that matches the righteousness and purity of Christ. And…in our text this morning... Paul continues his train of thought as he further details how we are to live and walk as followers of Jesus. In fact I have titled this morning’s sermon: Walk This Way. Now... If you are able to …I would like to invite you to stand for the reading of God’s Word.

Ephesians 5:1–14(CSB)

1 Therefore, be imitators of God, as dearly loved children, 2 and walk in love, as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God. 3 But sexual immorality and any impurity or greed should not even be heard of among you, as is proper for saints. 4 Obscene and foolish talking or crude joking are not suitable, but rather giving thanks. 5 For know and recognize this: Every sexually immoral or impure or greedy person, who is an idolater, does not have an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty arguments, for God’s wrath is coming on the disobedient because of these things. 7 Therefore, do not become their partners. 8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light—9 for the fruit of the light consists of all goodness, righteousness, and truth—10 testing what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Don’t participate in the fruitless works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to mention what is done by them in secret. 13 Everything exposed by the light is made visible, 14 for what makes everything visible is light. Therefore it is said: Get up, sleeper, and rise up from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.

This is the Word of the Lord. Let’s pray. You may be seated.

For better or for worse one of the primary ways we learn is through imitation. This is especially true of children. I remember watching with delight and amusement as my then-two-and-a-half-year-old son observed me shaving my face one morning. He closely observed my every move…and even began to imitate me. He grabbed the can of shaving cream squirting a mountain of cream into his hand…he applied the cream covering his entire face....he then took his finger and mimicked shaving his face…copying every stroke of my razor. We both finished the job with a splash of aftershave. He was proud and I was proud…after all....imitation is the greatest form of flattery!

Ultimately children learn how to act and behave through observation and imitation. Children learn to push buttons and turn knobs and even scold the dog just like their parents. You see....It’s through imitation, that children learn to be respectful, caring, and honest—and it is also through imitation that children learn to be disrespectful, uncaring, and dishonest. As I said…for better or for worse!

Now....in the same way ....Christians learn to live holy and righteous lives as we intentionally pursue a life that loves and lives like Jesus. But let’s be honest…we live in a time and space....we live in a society and a culture that is best defined as dark, foolish, and loveless. We live in a city that provides a plethora of influences that are in direct opposition to the holy and righteous life we have been called to pursue.

So what do we do?!? How can we pursue a life of holiness when we are surrounded by an influence of wickedness? How can we pursue a life of light in the midst of darkness? How can we imitate our loving and wise God in a loveless, dark, and foolish world?

Well…in our text today we are going to see that..... because God has forgiven us and adopted us as His dearly loved children..... we are able to avoid deception and we are empowered to imitate God. In fact... Paul gives us two paths we are to be walking as Christians. We are to walk in love and we are to walk in light. Look back to v.1

Ephesians 5:1 (CSB)

1 Therefore, be imitators of God, as dearly loved children,

Underline or make note of this word, “imitators”.... this word speaks to someone who copies or mimics specific characteristics of another person.... and Paul says, “Brothers and Sisters you are to copy…you are to mimic …you are to imitate God as dearly loved children.” Now you might be thinking....how did we become His children? Well consider...

Ephesians 1:5 (CSB)

5 He predestined us to be adopted as sons through Jesus Christ for himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,

God has adopted us as His sons and daughters through Jesus Christ. And friends…this is our fundamental status and identity as Christians. You see…you were once dead in your sin…you were once a child of God’s wrath, but in Christ you have been saved from the wrath of God and you have been adopted as a newborn child.

You see....God made us His sons and daughters....He sent the Holy Spirit into our hearts…who then gave us life and enabled us to cry out, “Abba Father!!” “Therefore,” Paul says.....when you grasp what God has done for you in Christ..when you understand that God has forgiven you and has adopted you as His dearly loved child. …it is only then that you will understand that you are to etch the very likeness of God into your life.

But tell me....what does it mean to imitate God? Well....the first way we imitate God is to walk in love because God is love.

1. Walk in Love. (Eph. 5:1-2)

Ephesians 5:2 (CSB)

2 and walk in love, as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God.

Now.....for us to be able to walk in love…we first have to understand how God loves.....you see…God loves differently than the world does… the love of the world can be defined as flippant, sensual, and selfish....but God’s love is undeserved and sacrificial. And the love of God is seen most clearly when we look at Jesus who is the ultimate imitator of the Father.

How did Jesus love? Well consider Romans 5:8 which says,

Romans 5:8 (CSB)

8 But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

In other words.... Loving like Jesus involves us giving ourselves away for the good of someone else. You see…love is not merely sentimentalism....Love is not feeling sorry for someone..but love involves sacrifice and love involves action!

Consider 1 John 3:18

1 John 3:18 (CSB)

18 Little children, let us not love in word or speech, but in action and in truth.

But....What does it look like to love others in action and truth? Well ....it includes forgiving others (Eph 4:32), giving financially and aiding those who are in need (2 Cor 8:9; Eph 4:29)…it includes being faithful to share the gospel (2 Cor 5:14–21), being patient with others (1 Cor 13:4; Eph 4:2)…it even includes loving those who annoy you (Eph 4:26),and repenting of hatred and displaying love to those who are different than you are! (Eph 2:11–22)

But let’s be honest.....although it sounds good from me to say....Go and Love others like Jesus loves......the reality is that everyone of us have failed at this....We have all failed to love God as we should…and we have all failed to love others as we should. So what do we do? How can we grow in our love for others? Well....we have to look to Jesus and meditate upon His love for us. We have to keep the gospel at the forefront of our hearts and minds.

I am reminded of Paul’s proclamation in Galatians 2:20

Galatians 2:20 (CSB)

20 I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

You see....In light of Christ’s love for him...... Paul lived a life to the glory of God and for the good of others. And as we also spend time meditating on the fact that Jesus came to earth and lived a perfect....sinless life.....As we remember how Jesus died the death we deserved, as our substitute and then rose on our behalf....when you mediate and remember that Christ saved you and that the Spirit of God has indwelled you and is empowering you to love sacrificially…you will be compelled to love others just as your Savior has loved you.I pray that God would make us a people that love others as Christ loves us.

Now…we are not just to walk in love but we are to also walk in light.

2. Walk in Light (Eph. 5:3-14)

This phrase, “walk in light”…speaks to the reality that as Christians we should be living differently than those who have not been adopted as God’s dearly loved children. Non-Christians imitate the darkness of the world and as a result they walk in darkness…and as followers of Jesus we are to imitate Jesus as we walk in the light. Look at v. 8

Ephesians 5:8–9 (CSB)

8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light—9 for the fruit of the light consists of all goodness, righteousness, and truth—

Paul is saying… Remember....You were not just in darkness but you were darkness. Spiritual and moral decay not only invaded your life but defined your life. Remember what Paul said back in chapter 2 …He said that all of us ... at one time ....

Ephesians 2:2 (CSB)

2 …walked according to the ways of this world, according to the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the disobedient.

However, Jesus saved you and through the gospel you have become the “light of the world!” Brothers and sisters…this is your new identity....you see....Jesus Himself said that He is “the light of the world” (John 8:12) and if you are in Christ then you too are “the light of the world”(Matt. 5:14).

Now..... before we see what it means to be light and how we are to walk in light…Paul first describes for us what it looks like to continue walking in darkness and he even gives us a warning of what will happen if we choose to continue to walk along the dark path. Let’s take a look…v3

Ephesians 5:3 (CSB)

3 But sexual immorality and any impurity or greed should not even be heard of among you, as is proper for saints.

Underline or make note of the word “saints”. This word…means “holy” ..it means “set apart”..or “called out”....Paul here is pointing out the fact that if you are in Christ then you have been called out of the darkness and you have been “set-apart.”

I am reminded of 1 Peter 2:9

1 Peter 2:9 (CSB)

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the one who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

You have been called out of darkness and into God’s marvelous light.....and since you no longer belong to the world of darkness around you........you are to no longer indulge in the sins that belong to the darkness. Sins such as sexual immorality and impurity and greed.

Look back at v3 and underline the word ...Impurity …this word is a general term that basically refers to anything and everything that is offensive to God....but Paul…he is not satisfied to leave his instruction so broad so he further describes impurity by naming specific sins.....starting with greed and sexual immorality.

Now…it may seem like the sin of “greed” is out of place next to sexual immorality, but these two sins have the same root and are simply different expressions of the same basic weakness of our fallen nature…which is an uncontrolled appetite. You see....the sexually perverse and the greedy person each desire to satisfy their appetite by taking what does not belong to them…and Paul says......these sins should describe Christians.

Now.....Sexual immorality permeated the culture in Ephesus and ancient Greece....and you would think that we would have made some advancements all these years later.... but we face the same issues today that the church faced in the first century. In fact....Sexual immorality seems to always make Paul’s top 10 sin list!

Consider Colossians 3:5

Colossians 3:5 (CSB)

5 Therefore, put to death what belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desire, and greed, which is idolatry. (cf. Gal 5:19; 1 Cor 6:9–11).

The word Paul uses throughout his letters for sexual immorality is the Greek word pornei…and this word is a broad term that includes any and every sexual sin. Now…to better understand this idea.... we have to take a step back and consider the original intent of sex. .

God in his wisdom and goodness....He created two distinct genders, male and female, and God instituted the covenant of marriage which is a publicly pledged, permanent, exclusive, covenantal union of one biological man and one biological woman intended for a lifetime. And God gave mankind the gift of sex that is to be only between a husband and wife...... But the problem is that sin has caused mankind to distort both marriage and sex from their original intent.

You see.... sexuality is not bad.....in fact....sex is a part of God's very good creation for humans, it’s intended for procreation as well as pleasure within God’s defined boundaries of husband and wife. You see…God has clearly defined the boundaries for sexual intimacy. Therefore, sex outside of God’s boundary…whether heterosexual or homosexual ....wether its pornography or lusting after someone whose not your spouse.....scripture condemns it as sin. Now this is completely countercultural but as we follow Jesus we are called to live a countercultural lifestyle and to allow his grace to make us into new kinds of people who have sexual integrity and purity. (PAUSE)

Now…it’s important to note that as a church.... we should be a place where those who have fallen into sexual sin can be restored. And if you are here this morning …and you struggle in this are …listen…you can NOT find healing and restoration apart from repentance.....and repentance involves you to first acknowledge your sin and believing that you need to change...…and then it involves you turning from your sin and experiencing the grace of Jesus. Friend....God loves you …He is just ....He is faithful…and He will forgive you and restore you. Turn to Him.

Now...Paul....he continues to describe the sins that we are to no longer to indulge in. Look back at v4

Ephesians 5:4 (CSB)

4 Obscene and foolish talking or crude joking are not suitable, but rather giving thanks.

Those walking in the light will not use language that is shameful or disgraceful .....and while there is nothing wrong with humor and laughter....let’s be honest....humor can be abused in malicious and vulgar ways.... its almost impossible to find a comedy movie that is absent of obscene, foolish, and crude joking. And friends.....it makes sense.....for that is how a dark world talks....this is how a dark world jokes…but you are no longer in darkness…therefore....you are to no longer to talk like you once did!

And Paul…he is helpful....because he doesn’t just tell us what we are supposed to stop doing but he tells us what what we are to replace our dark language with......He says replace your crude, obsence, and foolish words with words of thankfulness. .....in other words... in place of corrupt speech.....the Christian should be known for “giving thanks.”

I am reminded of 1 Thess 5:18

1 Thessalonians 5:18 (CSB)

18 give thanks in everything; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Mission Church.....let’s work to become a church that is overflowing with gracious hearts as we adopt a vocabulary of thanksgiving. For.....it is when thanksgiving overflows from our mouths that our hearts will be filled with gratitude. I love how one commentator puts it…he said,

“Thanksgiving is an antidote for sin, for it impossible to both give thanks and sin at the same time” -Klyne Snodgrass

Now…before we see what it looks like to walk in light... Paul…he’s aware of the seductive presence and appeal of sin so he first gives us an incentive to be obedient....he ultimately gives us a warning that we would be smart to listen to. Look back at v.5

Ephesians 5:5–7 (CSB)

5 For know and recognize this: Every sexually immoral or impure or greedy person, who is an idolater, does not have an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty arguments, for God’s wrath is coming on the disobedient because of these things. 7 Therefore, do not become their partners.

Paul wants to leave us with no doubts....as he essentially says, “no holiness = no heaven.” You see…if you have truly been born again then that new birth will inevitably show itself in new life. Your new life as a follower of Jesus will be marked by new desires, new affections, new hopes, new loves, and you will begin to hate and despise sin. The sin you once loved will become repulsive to you. This is part of the reason why Christ loved His church and gave Himself up for her....so that He might sanctify and cleanse her and present the church to His Father as glorious…having no spot or wrinkle. ..or blemish…but as Holy.

Now …there are some who claim that following Jesus does not require you to live like Jesus....But Paul says …don’t let them trick you…don’t let them deceive you..… This idea that the Christian life requires no effort…no determined resolve…well....that is in direct opposition to what God teaches us in His Word. I love how Charles Spurgeon says it…He says....

2220You will not gain holiness by standing still. Nobody ever grew holy without consenting, desiring, and agonizing to be holy. Sin will grow without sowing, but holiness needs cultivation. Follow it; it will not run after you. You must pursue it with determination, with eagerness, with perseverance, as a hunter pursues his prey.—16.390

Charles Spurgeon

Brothers and Sisters....it’s important to note that without holiness …no one will see the Lord......and.......Holiness is not a condition the believer simply drifts into..... holiness does not simply happen...rather it involves intentional effort.....and the fruit of that effort is righteousness. Look at v9

Ephesians 5:9 (CSB)

9 for the fruit of the light consists of all goodness, righteousness, and truth—

Righteousness, goodness, and truth are all a result of resolve and a determined effort. Yes…it is true.....the Holy Spirit empowers and enables you to live a righteous and holy life....but the process of becoming like Christ...is not passive.

Philippians 2:12–13 (CSB)

12 Therefore, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, so now, not only in my presence but even more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God who is working in you both to will and to work according to his good purpose.

Understand.....Just as it cost Jesus to love us....so it will cost us to love Him and to live our lives in a way that are worthy of His costly love. But also....realize that as you work out your salvation.....find rest in the fact that God is working in you....and that He will complete what He started!

Jerry Bridges was helpful when he said...

God does not require a perfect, sinless life to have fellowship with Him, but He does require that we be serious about holiness, that we grieve over sin in our lives instead of justifying it, and that we earnestly pursue holiness as a way of life.

Jerry Bridges

So what do we do? What does it look like to live in the light? How do we earnestly pursue holiness as a way of life? Well look back at v7 -10 …Paul give us four instructions on how we can display the fruit of light amid the darkness.....take a look at v7…and we will go through these quickly.

Ephesians 5:7

7 Therefore, do not become their partners.

A. Walk in the light by not joining those in darkness.

I am reminded of what Paul wrote to the Corinthians in 2 Corinthians 6:14

2 Corinthians 6:14 (CSB)

14 Do not be yoked together with those who do not believe. For what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness?

Friends we are to be salt in society....…we are to love, befriend, and care for those who are not Christians…however…our mission to share Jesus with them does not involve us joining in and sinning with them. In fact…when we are faced with greed, sexual immorality, crude joking, and corrupt speech we are to run away from it. …the truth is... we are not only to avoid darkness but we are instructed to expose the darkness in the corrupt places of our world. look back at v11

Ephesians 5:11–14 (CSB)

11 Don’t participate in the fruitless works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to mention what is done by them in secret. 13 Everything exposed by the light is made visible, 14 for what makes everything visible is light. Therefore it is said: Get up, sleeper, and rise up from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.

You see....walking in the light does not mean avoiding contact with non believers.....It means that we are to live a holy life and as we do…we are to confront the darkness. This word “expose” carries with it the sense correction and conviction…its this idea that as we expose the darkness.....those in the dark will see the full nature of their sin…and by God’s grace …they would abandon the darkness of their sin and respond to the light so that they become light themselves!!!

The second way we are to walk in the light is to live out our identity in Christ.

B. Walk in the light by living out your identity.

Look back at v8

Ephesians 5:8 (CSB)

8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light—

Friends.....there is no text that exhibits the change that took place when Christ saved you as much as this one does....and notice the important distinction that Paul makes …he says that Christians are not the light.....brothers and Sisters…you are not the light…rather you are the light in the Lord....meaning…that because you in Christ and Christ is the Light…you are now light....and you are to walk as children of light…you are to pursue a life that loves Jesus…lives like Jesus…and leads others to Jesus. Now…the third way we are to walk in the light is we are to do all that is good, right, and true.

C. Walk in the light by doing all that is good, right, and true.

Look at v9

Ephesians 5:9 (CSB)

9 for the fruit of the light consists of all goodness, righteousness, and truth—

Friends.....God is good....God is right and …well.....God is true. Therefore....if we are to imitate God we are to do that which is good. We are to do that which is right. And we are to pursue what is true and be defined as people of truth. Now..the final way we are to walk in the light is by pleasing the Lord.

D. Walk in light by pleasing the Lord.

look at v10

Ephesians 5:10 (CSB)

10 testing what is pleasing to the Lord.

Let’s be honest.....you and I…no matter how hard we try....we are not going to please everyone!!! That’s just reality....and the truth is....we need to atop trying to please everyone.....instead we should come back to this fundamental question.....Will this please God?

And friend.... the truth is…walking in light please Him. Now....I don’t about you…but …when I look at myself and what I have to give to God…I am not convinced that I can fully please Him. I mean…I am broken…I am weak…and I am frail.... What do I have to offer the One who created everything? What do I have to offer a Holy, Sovereign, and all powerful God? Can I please Him even in my weakness?

I am reminded of a story about a set of grandparents who spent time watching their grandchild during the day while the young boy’s parents were at work. The boys parents had been going through a tough time and the grandparents were the only caretakers that could watch the boy. Well…the daughter and her husband ultimately got back on their feet through a job that opened in California, causing them to move accross the country away from the grandparents.

Some time later neighbors of the grandparents were vacationing in California and stumbled upon the daughter and her son in a Wal-Mart The grandson was shy..... but he fished in his jeans pocket for a while before pulling out a little mass of lint. The boy said, “Would you give this to my Grandpa?” The neighbor took the lint, but she discarded it before telling the grandmother back home about the “silly gift.”

Listen to how the grandfather responded…he said, “I wish you had not thrown it away. I would have been so pleased to get it because it was all that he had to give me.”

Think about this...... When that boy grows up and remembers how much his Grandpa would have appreciated a gift as humble as lint given from a heart of love, consider how much more this child would want to please his grandpa! In the same way.....when we know that our lowly offerings to God—the little thoughts…our words....our small acts of righteousness bring him pleasure despite their inadequacies and our shame.....we will want to bring him better gifts. You see....like the little boy.....when we realize that God is so delightfully pleased with us despite our weakness....pleasing Him will become our passion and our highest motivation to live a life that imitates Him.

Mission Church.... God loves you…he has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light....he has replaced your heart of stone with a heart of flesh…He has begun a good work in you that He will see through to completion…and He is empowering you to live a life that is defined by Light and Love. Let’s together…commit to walking this way!

Let’s Pray.

Invitation

Brothers and sisters, as we draw near to the Lord’s Table to celebrate the Communion of the body and blood of Christ, we are grateful to remember that our Lord instituted this ordinance:

So that we would remember his dying for our sakes and the pledge of his undying love to us;

As a bond of our union with him and each other as members of his body the church;

As a seal of his grace to us and a renewal of our obedience to him;

For the blessed assurance of his presence with us who are gathered here in his name;

As an opportunity for us who love Jesus to feed spiritually on him who is the Bread of Life; and

As a reminder that He is going to return for us.

Fencing

This sacred time at the Lord’s Table is for believers who have rested all their hope on the death and resurrection of Christ. If you are not yet a believer, you should refrain from partaking until you come to faith in Christ—and then joyfully partake along with the body of Christ. I also encourage those of you who are believers to examine your hearts so that you can partake in a worthy manner. If your heart is harboring unrepentant sin, refrain until you can come freely to partake. Also, if you are harboring bitterness or unforgiveness towards another brother or sister in Christ, refrain until you can come freely to partake. As the bread and the cup are served, we ask that you hold them so that we all partake together.

This morning, rather than taking the elements individually, I would like for us to eat this meal together. So, with this in mind...I would like to invite you to the table now, and when you get back to your seat, please hold on to the elements until we take them together

The Bread

1 Corinthians 11:23–24 CSB

23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

Prayer for the Bread

Christ Jesus, when you came into the world, you said to the Father: “Sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body you have prepared for me; in burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure.” Then you said, “Behold, I have come to do your will, O God, as it is written of me in the scroll of the book” (Heb. 10:5–7). You came in the incarnation, and by a single offering of your body on the cross you achieved what all the offerings on Jewish altars could never accomplish—the complete forgiveness of our sins. Bread of Heaven, as we now partake of the symbol, ravish our hearts and refresh our souls. Amen.

Partaking of the Bread

Jesus said: “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me” (1 Cor. 11:24b).

The Cup

1 Corinthians 11:25 CSB

25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, and said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”

Prayer for the Cup

Our gracious God, we thank you this day for the new covenant, the covenant sealed through the blood of Jesus Christ, your Son. And we drink this cup in remembrance of Christ’s sacrifice for our sins, asking him even now, through the Spirit, to commune with us as we commune with each other. With grateful hearts, O Christ, we drink of you and to you. Amen.

Partaking of the Cup

Jesus said, “Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me” (1 Cor. 11:25b).

Amen!