Walk as God's Children
Notes
Transcript
1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.
3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; 4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.
5 For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
7 Therefore do not be partakers with them.
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 Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.
11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. 13 But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light.
14 Therefore He says:
“Awake, you who sleep,
Arise from the dead,
And Christ will give you light.”
Sermon Series: Living the Gospel
Subtile: Living as Saints of God and Ambassadors of Jesus Christ
For the past two weeks we have established the truth of our new life in Christ:
We are dead to sin and now made alive in Christ. Sin no longer has authority and dominion over you.
our identity in Christ and we have been united with Him in His death, burial and resurrection
How are we to live then?
What is the character of the follower of Christ?
We are living in very strange times.. we have to be discerner of the times.
The earthquake in Turkey and Syria - death toll is now at 46,000
The shooting down of a Chinese Spy Balloon and three other unidentified flying objects
The train derailment in Ohio, release of harmful chemicals. Two more derailments in Texas and South Carolina
All these happened in a span of two weeks.
Triggers question: What is going on?
The signs of the Lord’s coming..
15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
We are to preach the Gospel, also told how to live the Gospel in this dark world — and Paul used one verb to describe how we should live — WALK.
Walk in Love.
By being imitators of God:
1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.
Children imitate their parents. Dear children - we are beloved by God.. beloved children tend to imitate their parents.
b. Love as Christ has loved us.
2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.
You were purchased with a great price. Jesus said greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. (John 15)
This is a call to sacrificial love.. should come naturally.
Fragrant offering - The burnt offering and the peace offering.
10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
c. Live as Saints of God.
Paul started with the negatives:
3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; 4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.
Fornication - came from the Greek word porneia, from which we got the word pornography. Sinful appetites include covetousness.
Filthiness - filth, profanities, cussing, using the name of God in vain — movies and stand up comedians — this has become the standard of the world..
Foolish talking - not small talk, but base talking..
29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.
Someone once said that there are two indications of a person’s character - what makes him laugh and what makes him weep.
d. We are to live according to the standard of the Kingdom.
5 For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
We are heirs of the Kingdom of God. (Romans 8:17)
Do not be lured out of your inheritance (examples of heirs who squander their inheritance).. empty words,
e. Do not participate or even associate with sin.
7 Therefore do not be partakers with them.
Beware of friendships with the ungodly. you are to win them
33 Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.”
Trying to win them over..they may win you.
2. Walk in the Light.
The positives of Gospel living.
a. Light reveals God and His goodness.
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 Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth),
We are children of light
Jesus said:
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
Have nothing to hide. Charles Spurgeon’s example.
There is also a pursuit of what pleases God.
10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.
But walking “as children of light” also means revealing God’s light in our daily lives. By our character and conduct, we bring God’s light into a dark world. As God’s lights, we help others find their way to Christ
b. Light exposes evil.
11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret. 13 But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light.
There should be shame, an aversion to sin for each one of us.
Paul ends this section with a paraphrase of Isaiah 60:1
1 Arise, shine;
For your light has come!
And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.
14 Therefore He says:
“Awake, you who sleep,
Arise from the dead,
And Christ will give you light.”
Christ rose from the dead — we are no longer in the darkness of the graveyard
Don’t be caught napping!
11 And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.