Sermon Tone Analysis

We are called to be imitators of God

What does that look like?

We must be PERFECT

48 Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect

A few months ago we did a series in the book of James and we looked at what the word perfect meant in and the same word was used here in which is teleios meaning complete,

whole, without blemish, mature.

There is only One that can make us complete and that is the Lord Jesus Christ!

And only through Him can we become children of the Father.

We are to be MERCIFUL

Luke 6:36

36 Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.

We are called to be merciful .

Which goes to saying we are to be kind, compassionate and have grace with one another just as God the Father has on us.

He loves us through our ignorance and imperfections and we should love each other the same through ignorance and imperfections!

Ephesians 4:32

32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

We are to be kind, tenderhearted and forgiving one another.

We are to be HOLY

1 Peter 1:14-16

14 as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; 15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”

We are to be morally and spiritually excellent.

As we read in verses 3-7

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.

It is not to be named among us.

We are to live a life that is pleasing and glorifying to God.

We have the power to do so because God gives us the Holy Spirit to guide us, if we’ll just listen to Him.

John MacArthur says, “Every person who is saved, and is therefore a part of that glorious rule of Christ and God, is instructed by the Holy Spirit and by the inclination of his new nature to forsake sin and to seek righteousness.

2 Timothy 1:7

7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

You see if you are saved then you can do it!

Sin does not have control over you, Amen?

Paul is telling us in verse 4 that we are not to have foolish talking like the telling of questionable stories or gossip’

Paul is not telling us in verse 4 that we can not have a little humor in our lives, he is simply saying keep it clean!

In verse 6 Paul tells us “Let no one deceive you with empty words.”

Meaning don’t let anyone tell you that it is ok to sin.

Walk in Love

We are to walk in love as Christ loved us and sacrificed Himself for us.

We to should love each other and sacrifice for each other.