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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.
As we begin Ch5 I think it’s important to remember that the chapter divisions are not in the original text. Often time we find that the translators have placed these divisions in unfortunate locations.
We find a linking word here at the beginning “therefore” which tells us that this is connected to the previous thought.
As we read from the end of Ch4 through the beginning of Ch5 we see the flow.
30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.
32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
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.
So what does this “therefore” link back to? I believe it is primarily the previous vs and specifically “forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.” Therefore “be imitators of God as dear children”
So we should imitate God as a child imitates his or her father. God forgave us and so we forgive others but even more, we forgive as God in Christ forgave us. Now we looked at this last week but just to add to it a bit I was looking at this word “forgive” as it is a different Greek word that Paul uses here than what we found in
7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace
In Eph 4:32
32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.
Here the Greek word is “Charizomai” from the same root word as “grace” “Charis”
So this forgiveness that we should give to one another is grace. For grace to be grace it is given to someone who has not earned it.
6 And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.
So the kind of forgiveness that we are to give to one another is the kind of forgiveness that cannot be earned and is not deserved.
This also means that this sort of forgiveness is the kind of forgiveness that can only come through the power of the Holy Spirit. We are only stewards of God’s grace and we can only impart grace to other that we have receieved from God.
This is a supernatural forgiveness. In 1 Cor 12:4
4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit.
Now the word used here for gifts is from the same root word again of grace it is “Charisma”. Which is literally grace imparted to us. So we receive the grace of forgiveness and as we have freely received so we freely give the grace of forgiveness.
Which brings us to Ch 5
1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.
So as Paul continues to encourage us to be good stewards of what we have receieved he tells us to imitate God as dear children. The word here is also of interest
It is “agapetos”which is from the word “agape” which is love. Or more particularly it is unconditional love. Which means is also hold the idea of grace, undeserved or unearned love.
1 Therefore, be imitators of God as dearly loved children
So we are dearly and unconditionally loved by God according to the riches of His grace. As such Paul says imitate God. That is love as you have been loved.
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.
So this is not a sentimental love this is grace love.
44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,
45 that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
46 For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
47 And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so?
48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
This is grace love. love that is not earned or deserved.
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.
Christ loved us with unconditional love so much so that He has given Himself for us.
That word given is the same word that Paul used in Eph 4:19
19 who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
They have given themselves over to lewdness which is immorality and sexual depravity without restraint uncleanness which is impurity and filthiness, and greed which goes right along with the other two because it is selfishness, covetousness and narcissism. It is me gratifying myself with no regard for anyone else particularly God. This is what the Gentiles have given themselves over to, yielded themselves to or poured themselves into.
In contrast Christ gave Himself for this wicked world in unconditional love to be a offering for our sin a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling aroma.
And Paul tells us this is how you were loved imitate that love. Pour out yourself offer yourself unconditionally. Not because others deserve it because they never will rather love this way because this is how Christ loved you.
This is a supernatural love.
28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues.
29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles?
30 Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret?
31 But earnestly desire the best gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.
1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.
2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.
4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;
5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;
6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;
7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
It’s chrisma a grace gift. If you haven’t receieved it then you can’t give it. Have you received the unconditional everlasting love of Christ? He poured Himself out for you. Greater love has no one than this that He gave His life for His friends. But we were not friends when He showed this love we were enemies of God But God demonstrated His love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. Unconditional grace. Now all you must do is humbly bow down, and accept this sacrifice for your sins and turn away from your sins and receive this grace this love of Christ.
If you have receieved this Love them we are challenged to love as we have been loved, to pour our our life for others as Christ pour out His life for us. Imposable, right? It is a gift of the Holy Spirit and it is the greatest gift. You can’t love like Christ in you strength that for sure. You can only give what you have received through the power of the Holy Spirit. We must be good stewards of God’s grace. Freely we have receieved, freely give.