Walking Like a Saint
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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.
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.”
A.W. Milne image here.
A.W. Milne (1785-1822) was one a one-way missionary. He set sail for the New Hebrides in the South Pacific, knowing full well that the headhunters who lived there had martyred every missionary before him. For 35 years, he lived among that tribe and loved them. When he died, tribe members buried him in the middle of their village and inscribed this epitaph on his tombstone:
When he came there was no light When he left there was no darkness.
Illustration of pot of water and salt.
Picture of pot of water and salt.
Just as salt adds flavor to food, Christians are called to add the flavor of Christ's love, grace, and truth to the world. However, notice that in the process, the salt doesn't become watered down or lose its identity. Instead, it maintains its distinctiveness even as it influences the water around it.
The Bible encourages Christians to be "salt and light" in the world (Matthew 5:13-16), meaning we are called to influence our surroundings positively with the love and truth of Christ. However, to do so effectively, we must remain grounded in our faith, unwavering in our convictions, and intentional in our actions, so that we can truly make a difference in our world without being negatively influenced by it.
As new people in Christ, when we are in the world, we cannot:
a. Be incognito.
b. Blend in.
c. Be influenced.
We should actually stick out like a sore thumb.
Last time from Ephesians 4, we studied the behavior of the old man seen in
Emotions
Words
Actions
Today we talk about perversions, and sexually immoral behavior that likewise have no place in the life of a believer.
Again the keyword is WALK:
Ways we WALK according to Ephesians 5:
1. Walk in Love.
2. Walk in the Light.
3. Walk in Wisdom.
What is your TURNING POINT as a Disciple of Christ?
Les Miserables
A simple act of kindness turned Jean Valjean’s life around. KINDNESS IS THE COMPELLING FORCE.
New creation’s turning point. The compelling force is the love of God. We talk about the love of God, John 3:16; what about the love of Christ.. it should compel us.
14 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died;
14 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died;
Describe the love of Christ on the cross.
First walk:
1) WALK IN LOVE.
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.
There are powerful words here: Be Imitators of God.
4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
..partakers of the Divine nature… God is love.. so must we love
“Dear Children” - you are dear, you are beloved.. I believe this is the same love expressed by the Father when He said of Jesus: “This is my beloved Son”.
Verse 2:
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.
describe Jesus’ sacrifice, a sweet-savor offering to God, He fulfilled the requirements of the law..
First way we stick out as a sore thumb is by our love - WALK in love — gathers undue attention —- “Who does that?” is asked about us in a good way.
How else do we WALK in love:
3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints;
“Carnal lust rules where there is no love of God.” (St. Augustine) put slide here
Self love..
“In love, others are important. In lust, you are important”
pornography.. it is an epidemic
- 42 million porn websites around the world
360 million pages of porn accessible everyday
The porn industry’s annual revenue is greater than the NBA, NFL and major league baseball combined.
You think that is shocking, what is even more shocking is that
68% of men and 50% of pastors in America view porn on a regular basis.
“covetousness” seems out of place with fornication but it simply means “uncontrolled appetite” for these.
“fitting for saints” - media sells sex, adultery, outright perversion
4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.
Conversation with a young adult about some words in the culture..
coarse jesting - “quick to turn”(jesting) (wit)
Are you irked by profane jokes? story of the old Christian woman.
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.
Habitual practice of these sins.
6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
In Paul’s time, there are false Christian who argue that Christians can continue to live in sin and get away with it. (Abuse of Romans 6)
Second Walk:
2) Walk in the Light.
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light
“once darkness” - past tense!
9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth),
virtues of goodness, righteousness and truth. — these are not obsolete.
What is COOL?
Cool Parish Priest real life story.
10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.
If you are cool to the world, there may just be a problem there.
11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.
Our light is to pierce the darkness and to expose it..
Expose the works of darkness, don’t expose yourself to it!
(story of young pastor, who wanted to understand what the young people are reading)
12 For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret.
Cringe element..
There should be nothing in the Christian’s life that causes him shame.. (illustration of RIDING A PLANE, detection tunnel)
13 But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light.
The Balanced Christian Life:
Positive (walk in the light).
Negative (Expose Darkness)
“You are the light of the world”
1 Arise, shine;
For your light has come!
And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.
A paraphrase of Isaiah 60:1. The culmination of this…
14 Therefore He says:
“Awake, you who sleep,
Arise from the dead,
And Christ will give you light.”
Light - a New Day
No need to remain asleep or dead in sin and darkness. Lazarus/graveyard.
The Resurrection is the dawning of a new day for the whole world.