11_5_2023 - Ephesians 5:1-2 - Be Like Jesus

(Opening Prayer)

(Sermon Introduction)

Today we continue our “Ephesians” series.

(AG Reminder)

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(Ephesians Context)

The books of Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon are what we call the “Prison Epistles.”

Paul is writing Ephesians during his first imprisonment in Rome around 60 AD (recorded in Acts 28).

Like Colossians, this letter was carried to the province of Asia by Tychicus (Eph. 6:20-21).

This explains the similarity of doctrinal content, the same ideas being fresh in the apostle’s mind as he wrote these letters.

On Paul’s second missionary journey he planted the church of Ephesus (Acts 18:19).

On his third missionary journey Paul pastored the church of Ephesus for three years (Acts 20:31).

Paul finishes his third missionary journey and stops in Ephesus to say goodbye as he made his way to Jerusalem and ultimately to prison in Rome where he is writing this letter to them.

(Series Recap and Sermon Title)

Since July, we have been going through the Bible book of Ephesians.

In Ephesians 1 we focused on the calling of Paul and the nature of the gospel.

In Ephesians 2 we focused on the impact of God’s love, mercy, and grace upon us and the people around us and how being “in Christ” changes us.

In Ephesians 3 we focused on the mystery of Christ being played out in the Church.

In Ephesians 4:1-16 we spoke of “Unity” and how Christ has positioned the Church to grow in Him through the gifts (people) that He has given to the Church.

Over the last couple of weeks we have spoke from Ephesians 4:17-32 about the importance of choosing the work of the Spirit over the work of the flesh, the ways of the Lord instead of the ways of the world.

Today we are in Ephesians 5:1-2 and have entitled the message, “Be Like Jesus.”

Truly today’s passage of Scripture is directly connected to last week’s portion of Scripture in Ephesians 4:25-32 and especially Ephesians 4:32 which says:

Ephesians 4:32 (NLT)

32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.

Ephesians 5:1–2 (NLT)

1 Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children.

2 Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.

(Natural Child vs. Spiritual Child Illustration)

In natural life, children bear the family likeness and should seek to uphold the family name.

In spiritual life, we should manifest our Father to the world and seek to walk worthy of our dignity as His beloved children.

Each Christian should be an imitator of God because he is God’s child.

As a child imitates his parents, so ought a believer to imitate God.

Imitator / Mimētēs

3402. μιμητής mimētēs, mim-ay-tace´; from 3401; an imitator:— follower.

James Strong, The New Strong’s Dictionary of Hebrew and Greek Words (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1996).

We are to be imitators or followers of God because we are His children because of the free gift of salvation that has come through His Son, Jesus Christ.

The great love that has been displayed by Jesus Christ according to Romans 5:8.

Romans 5:8 (NLT)

8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.

The love of Christ moves us to live according to His ways and not the old ways.

2 Corinthians 5:14 (NLT)

14 Either way, Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life.

We are to follow Jesus.

To follow Jesus is to follow in His footsteps.

Out of His great love for us we are moved by His Spirit to follow closer and closer and to imitate Him more and more!

(Following a Rabbi Context)

To be a follower of a Rabbi in Jesus day was to set out with the goal to be like them and to do what they did.

It was expected that the disciples of a rabbi would become like their Rabbi.

The disciples of Jesus knew what their goal was.

Now we recognize that Jesus is the God-man, God the Son, and the image of the invisible God, and therefore we cannot and will never be like Him in His God-ness.

However, we are to be like Him in many other ways.

He modeled what it looks like to live according to His kingdom.

If we want to BUILD THE KINGDOM ONE DISCIPLE AT A TIME, then we must be willing and ready to be like Jesus.

What does that look like?

1. Say What He Says

Ephesians 5:1–2 (NLT)

1 Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children.

2 Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.

Luke 12:11–12 (NLT)

11 “And when you are brought to trial in the synagogues and before rulers and authorities, don’t worry about how to defend yourself or what to say,

12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what needs to be said.”

2 Timothy 3:16 (NLT)

16 All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.

Colossians 3:16 (NLT)

16 Let the message about Christ, in all its richness, fill your lives. Teach and counsel each other with all the wisdom he gives. Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts.

Ephesians 4:15 (NLT)

15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.

2. Walk How He Walks

Ephesians 5:1–2 (NLT)

1 Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children.

2 Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.

1 John 2:1–6 (NLT)

1 My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous.

2 He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.

3 And we can be sure that we know him if we obey his commandments.

4 If someone claims, “I know God,” but doesn’t obey God’s commandments, that person is a liar and is not living in the truth.

5 But those who obey God’s word truly show how completely they love him. That is how we know we are living in him.

6 Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.

(The Importance of the “How” Personal Confession)

My struggle in my life has had less to do with the what and more to do with the how.

1 John 2:6 (ESV)

6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

1 John 3:23 (NLT)

23 And this is his commandment: We must believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as he commanded us.

3. Do What He Does

Ephesians 5:1–2 (NLT)

1 Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children.

2 Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.

John 14:12a (NLT)

12 “I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done

Luke 6:46–49 (NLT)

46 “So why do you keep calling me ‘Lord, Lord!’ when you don’t do what I say?

47 I will show you what it’s like when someone comes to me, listens to my teaching, and then follows it.

48 It is like a person building a house who digs deep and lays the foundation on solid rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built.

49 But anyone who hears and doesn’t obey is like a person who builds a house right on the ground, without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will collapse into a heap of ruins.”

Kevin Geer Quote

The depth is in the doing.

1 John 3:18 (NLT)

18 Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.

4. Be Where He Is

Ephesians 5:1–2 (NLT)

1 Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children.

2 Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.

John 12:24–26 (NLT)

24 I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives.

25 Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity.

26 Anyone who wants to serve me must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me.

John 14:23 (NLT)

23 Jesus replied, “All who love me will do what I say. My Father will love them, and we will come and make our home with each of them.

John 15:4–5 (NLT)

4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.

5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.

(Instrumental Music)

To be like Jesus is to live out His salvation by the love and empowerment that comes from His Spirit.

Our lives are to model the life that Jesus gives for the sake of the gospel.

His love moves us by the power of the Holy Spirit to be like Jesus.

You may be the only gospel presentation that anyone will ever see, hear, or feel, are you an accurate representation of the true gospel message?

If not, the good news is that God is still at work in you so that you will:

Say What He Says.

Walk How He Walks.

Do What He Does.

Be Where He Is.

(Sermon Recap)

Be Like Jesus

Say What He Says

Walk How He Walks

Do What He Does

Be Where He Is

(Closing Tension)

(Response Card)

(Closing Challenge)

(Response)

(Invite Prayer Team)

(Closing Blessing)

Numbers 6:24–26 (ESV)

24 The Lord bless you and keep you.

25 The Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you.

26 The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.