Love by Example

Last week we discussed what it looks like to be an imitator of God.

We must be perfect

We must

We must be merciful

We must be holy

There is only one way we can be perfect in the eyes of God, and that is by being covered by the precious blood of Jesus Christ

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.

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!

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

We are to be HOLY

We are to be HOLY1 Peter 1:14-16

​The New King James Version Chapter 114 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.”

​The New King James Version Chapter 114 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.

We are to be morally and spiritually excellent.

Today we are going to be talking about loving by example, and how it is a big part of our witness.

Read Ephesians 5:1-21

Holman New Testament Commentary: Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians & Colossians I. Introduction: The Power of Example

The Power of Example

In his autobiography, Benjamin Franklin tells of the time he wanted to convince the citizens of Philadelphia to light the streets at night as a protection against crime and as a convenience for evening activities. Failing to convince them by his words, he decided to show his neighbors how compelling a single light could be. He bought an attractive lantern, polished the glass, and placed it on a long bracket that extended from the front of his house. Each evening as darkness descended, he lit the wick. His neighbors soon noticed the warm glow in front of his house. Passersby found that the light helped them to avoid tripping over protruding stones in the roadway. Soon others placed lanterns in front of their homes, and eventually the city recognized the need for having well-lighted streets.

We are to walk in Love

Love denies itself. It is willing to give up self-interest for God’s sake.

Since Jesus gave Himself up for us we should give ourselves up For Him.

Give oneself up means to follow, to obey. We should do this out of gratitude for Jesus saving us from eternal death.

To walk in Love also means to be merciful to one another and serve one another.

To walk in Love is to avoid sinful living

God’s children are set apart from this world and it’s lusts.

In Jesus is praying to the Father for His disciples

The New King James Version Chapter 17

16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.

We are not to indulge in sinful activity.

We can not be imitators of God and indulge in sin. In fact that is the complete opposite of imitating God.

In verse 5 when Paul says:

The New King James Version Chapter 5

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.

He is not saying here that if a believer sins that their salvation will be taken away. What he is saying is that; the indulging in sin is the character of unbelievers and we are not to be imitators of unbelievers.

It is an inconsistent witness when we are to be imitating God while we are indulging in sin!

We must walk in light because we are no longer darkness.

To Walk in Love is to be filled by the Holy Spirit

To be filled with the Holy Spirit as we see here in verses 15-21 means directed, influenced and ultimately governed by the Holy Spirit.

We are to let the word of Christ dwell in us richly. Meaning to know God’s Word and let His Word direct our lives.

He goes on in Verses 13-21 teaching us to be filled with the Spirit towards each other.

If we are being witnesses for Christ and as Christ’s followers we are to be reaching the lost. When can not expect to be very effective if our lives we are living towards each other do not match up with what we preach.

Holman New Testament Commentary: Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians & Colossians C. The Filling of the Spirit (vv. 15–21)

an attitude of mutual submission among believers is a characteristic of being filled with the Spirit.

Everything in our lives should be an Example of Love and point to Jesus Christ!