Walking In Love
Prison Epistles: Ephesians • Sermon • Submitted
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· 10 viewsGod has Paul look at how the previous "New Life" mentioned would look like if it walked in love.
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Introduction
Introduction
Greetings...
As most of you know we have been studying “The Glorious Church Of Christ” within the pages of Paul’s letter to the Ephesians in our Prison Epistles Series and so far we have determined..
The body or church of Christ is that which has been eternally planned ().
When we are “outside of Christ’s body” we are dead in our trespasses and sins which is why it is so important to be a part of the “body of Christ” ().
God made it possible to “enter into the eternally planned church” through the blood of Christ and His Law it created which unified all the peoples both Jew and Gentile ().
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This “unity of the spirit” keeps the bond of peace through adhering to the “calling to which you have been called” through proper leadership in the “The Glorious Church Of Christ” ().
Last week we then looked at how Paul turned back to those that who were “made new in Christ” and how they should walk not in futility of mind but according to truth ().
It’s that idea of walking not in futility but according to truth that has Paul write, “therefore be imitators of God…and walk in love.”
This is the trust of our passage tonight.
There are two major themes demonstrated here.
Imitating God and walking in love requires sacrifice and wisdom.
With this in mind let’s look at our lesson today.
Walking In Love Is Sacrifice
Walking In Love Is Sacrifice
Our walk imitates Jesus’ walk.
Our walk imitates Jesus’ walk.
1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Jesus walked a sacrificial life of purity while here on earth.
Jesus walked a sacrificial life of purity while here on earth ().
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
Jesus walked sacrificial life of hope of a better tomorrow.
From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”
Jesus walked into death knowingly and willingly.
Luke 22
saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”
Our walk sacrifices sin for righteousness.
Our walk sacrifices sin for righteousness.
3 But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. 4 Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. 5 For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
Eph 5:
We are to put fornication, impurity, covetousness, filthiness, foolish talking and crude jokes out of our mind.
We walk away from these things by discerning what is pleasing to the Lord.
9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), 10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.
Eph 5:8
When we study the Holy Writ we can clearly see what is pleasing to the Lord.
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.
We put covetousness i.e. idolatry out of our mind.
Summery
Summery
We put filthiness out of our mind.
Our walk is to imitate the pure and holy walk of our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ. As “children of God” we are to “walk as children of light” ().
We put foolish talking out of our mind.
This means we understand...
We put crude joking out of our mind.
Walking In Love Is Wisdom
Walking In Love Is Wisdom
Our walk is based on wisdom not foolishness.
Our walk is based on wisdom not foolishness.
15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,
One of the hardest things to grasp emotionally is the difference between worldly wisdom and spiritual wisdom.
Is lying always wrong or can there be a time when it is justified?
“A little white lie that spares the feelings of kids won’t hurt anyone really.”
Is abortion always wrong or can there be a time when it is justified?
“A woman raped surely wouldn’t be expected to keep the child full term.”
Is tobacco use always wrong or can there be a time when it is justified?
“I can stop at any time I just choose not to, I’m not addicted to it.”
Is gambling always wrong or can there be a time when it is justified?
“Buying a lottery ticket doesn’t hurt anyone and if I win I’ll give a lot to God anyway.”
Is evolution always wrong or can there be some leeway?
“There is so much evidence to suggest evolution surely Genesis must not be literal.”
All of these “excuses” are foolish excuses and I would imagine most if not everyone here knows they make no biblical nor logical sense.
However, that doesn’t mean it is any easier to force ourselves to see the wisdom of God over the world but we must do just that…we must seek the wisdom of God over the worlds foolishness.
20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
1 Cor 1:
22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools,
We can and have all got caught up in worldly wisdom in the past and maybe now but we must guard against such.
We must always study to make certain we are not “wise in our own eyes” but have matured to manhood in the Scriptures and able to “discern what is pleasing to the Lord” ().
14 But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil.
Our walk should make the best use of time.
Our walk should make the best use of time.
16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.
This is the hardest and most “personally managed” aspect of any Christian walk.
What is considered the “best use” of time biblically is subjective and dependent on the individual.
However, there are certain characteristics that every child of God will have it they are “walking according the best use of their time biblically.”
They will spend a good portion of each day determining “what the will of the Lord is.”
17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
Eph 5:
This means Bible study will not be an after thought but an unquestionable requirement in their lives.
This doesn’t mean they will have a Bible open every second neglecting family, work, and other responsibilities but it does mean that the “Word of the Lord is written on their heart” that they may mediated upon it continually.
They will spend a good portion of each day being “filled with the Spirit” in worship of their Creator.
18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart,
20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Once again worship isn’t an after thought but a forethought.
We are to “pray without ceasing” i.e. constantly mindful of our relationship with our Creator and God.
They will spend a good portion of each day “submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.”
21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Eph 5:
10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.
This isn’t suggesting that we must be like monks to achieve such.
Bible study can be elevated through mediation throughout the day.
Worship can happen at any time throughout the day.
Helping others can happen in many different ways throughout the day like through prayer, phone calls, visitation...
Summery
Summery
When we walk with God according to His wisdom and make the best use of the time God has given us we will make God the Father, Son, and Spirit proud to call us faithful children.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Our walk in love is based on the God of love and if we are not imitating Him we are not Christians or Christ-like people.
Let’s make certain we are willing to walk in love through sacrifice and wisdom as we seek to become visible in the light to our God above as righteous and truth.
Invitation
1 Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear; 2 but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.
6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.