God's plan manifests as Christ-like love (part 1)

Ephesians: Fitting in to God's Plan  •  Sermon  •  Submitted
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Christ-like love brings about a complete transformation of a person's mind, emotions and actions toward God's original design.

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Ephesians 3:14–19 ESV
14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
We are in a Series called Ephesians: Fitting into God’s Plan
God’s plan is to bring everything under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
Last week we talked about how we are all called by God and are being equipped to help fulfill His plan.
We all have the Holy Spirit in us with grace and empowering which we are supposed to steward - to make increase.
I also mentioned briefly that this empowering grace takes the form of Christ-like love.
Let’s look again at what Paul says about the strength of Christ-like love.
The strength of Christ-like love.
Ephesians 3:14–19 ESV
14 For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16 that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
That power of God which comes from your inner being manifests as Christ-like love (v. 16).
The power of God manifests as Christ-like love.
I say Christ-like love because it is beyond what we mostly know and experience as love (v. 19).
Paul describes Christ-like love as being four-dimensional - it’s not like anything we have known or experienced. (v.18)
It surpasses knowledge. I can tell you that God loves you, but until you experience it for yourself, you have no idea! (v. 19)
This kind of love fills us to overflowing. When we overflow with love, we overflow with God (v. 19).
Over the next two weeks, as we move on in Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, we are going to look more closely at what this Christ-like love looks like and how it transforms us back into the people that God made us to be.

Christ-like love renews our minds

Ephesians 4:17-
Ephesians 4:17–32 ESV
17 Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. 18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. 19 They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. 20 But that is not the way you learned Christ!— 21 assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, 22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, 23 and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. 25 Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. 26 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and give no opportunity to the devil. 28 Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. 29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Renewing the understanding of our mind.
What is futile thinking?
In Greek mythology, the Danaïdes were the fifty daughters of Danaus. They were to marry the 50 sons of Danaus' twin brother Aegyptus, a mythical king of Egypt. In the most common version of the myth, all but one of them killed their husbands on their wedding night, and are condemned to spend eternity carrying water in a sieve or perforated device. In the classical tradition, they came to represent the futility of a repetitive task that can never be completed.
Also in Greek mythology, Sisyphus was the king of Ephyra (now known as Corinth). He was punished for his self-aggrandizing craftiness and deceitfulness by being forced to roll an immense boulder up a hill only for it to roll down when it nears the top, repeating this action for eternity.
Most people go through life trying to attain what cannot be attained in ourselves - happiness, fulfillment or respect.
Why are our people’s efforts to achieve what we are looking for doomed to fail?
They are darkened in their understanding. (v. 18)
People lack the illumination of the Spirit.
They go after things that are unclean and not good for them (v. 19)
They are alienated from the life of God (v. 18)
People lack connection to their Source.
They always need more (v.19)
They are ignorant (agnostic). (v. 18)
People lack knowledge of the truth.
They give themselves over to excess - cross their own boundaries (sensuality v.19).
They have hardened hearts. (v. 18)
People lack spiritual sensitivity.
They close themselves off - refuse to feel shame (become callous v. 19).
But that’s not who you are in Christ!
You have it all -
The light of the Holy Spirit.
A living relationship with God.
The knowledge of the Word.
Jesus in your heart.
Being renewed in your understanding means you know who God made you to be and you are moving toward it.
Renewing our declarations.
I’m dearly loved .
Renewing the declaration of our mouth.
I have hidden God’s Word in my heart.
I have a purpose and a destiny.
Renewing our declarations.
Ephesians 4:25 ESV
25 Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another.
“Speaking truth” in this context is not just about not lying.
“Speaking truth” in this context is not just about not lying.
Speaking truth means declaring your new understanding of who God says you are with your mouth.
I’m a child of God.
I’m dearly loved.
I have hidden God’s Word in my heart.
I have a purpose and a destiny.
Speaking the truth around other people:
Communicates how you see people with an understanding of who God made them to be. (Not necessarily how they see themselves).
Communicates how you expect to be treated with God-given dignity and respect.
Recognizes that we are all interconnected and so giving grace is a good way to increase and steward grace.
Renewing our emotional responses.
Renewing our emotional responses.
Ephesians 4:26–27 ESV
26 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and give no opportunity to the devil.
The Bible doesn’t say that we should never get angry- it says be angry!
The Bible doesn’t say that we should never get angry- it says be angry!
But don’t use your anger to sin -to intentionally hurt, intimidate or degrade people.
The devil is the accuser - don’t play into his hand.
Our emotions, like our words, should build one another up.
But we do need to express emotion, even negative emotion it a way that helps us to recognize the cause.
Chip Ingram suggests that the primary causes of anger are unmet needs, unmet expectations or personal insecurity.
There is also a fourth cause - injustice - that is actually a good or righteous anger.
Healthy anger produces positive change.
Renewing our profession.
Ephesians 4:28–29 ESV
28 Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. 29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
I chose the word “profession” because it has the double meaning of referring to both what we say and what we do.
Verse 28 talks about having an honest profession as in a marketable skill - doing something productive with your life.
Verse 29 draws a parallel, but regarding our manner of speaking, that it should also be edifying and productive.
Christ-like love is creative. It builds, adds value and multiplies.
The sinful nature nature destroys, diminishes, plays the victim and sucks the very life out of a person.
As children of God who are being restored to His image in Christ, our lives should make a positive impact on the world around us.
Renewing our spiritual condition.
Ephesians 4:30 ESV
30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
What does it mean to grieve the Holy Spirit?
It’s not just because we refuse to share a message in tongues, or end a church service on time:-)
The word used here refers to emotional pain and is the opposite of joy.
What causes God more grief than having designed us for goodness and holiness and seeing us chose the opposite?
The Holy Spirit is in you to bring about restoration - literally the uniting of all things in Christ.
When we chose bitterness, strife and division how must that make him feel?
Hurt is inevitable, but bitterness is a choice.
The alternative is forgiveness.
Note the description of a heart that forgives -”tenderhearted”.
That’s a heart that is changed by Christ-like love!

Christ-like love changes us like night and day

Ephesians 5:1-
Ephesians 5:1–21 ESV
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. 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. 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 become partners with them; 8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 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. 11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. 13 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” 15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. 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, 21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Changes to our character.
Ephesians 5:22–6:9 ESV
22 Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. 25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. 28 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30 because we are members of his body. 31 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. 33 However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband. 1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), 3 “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” 4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. 5 Bondservants, obey your earthly masters with fear and trembling, with a sincere heart, as you would Christ, 6 not by the way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but as bondservants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, 7 rendering service with a good will as to the Lord and not to man, 8 knowing that whatever good anyone does, this he will receive back from the Lord, whether he is a bondservant or is free. 9 Masters, do the same to them, and stop your threatening, knowing that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and that there is no partiality with him.
Changes to our character.
So we are being renewed, but what is the finished product supposed to look like?
It looks like God. After all, we are being restored to His image.
God is love. But what does that mean?
God gave himself. That’s love.
1 Corinthians 13:4–7 ESV
4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
1 Corinthians 13:1–13 ESV
1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. 4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. 13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
In short, love radiates God’s life and goodness. Everything else consumes.
Notice the contrasts of character that are listed in this passage:
v. 4 No foolish, filthy talk, but thanksgiving.
v. 5 Sexually immoral (given to desire) contrasts with heirs of God (given to responsibility).
v.6 Disobedient children and the inferred opposite (those who want to do good v. 10).
v. 8 You were darkness and now you are light!
v. 11-12 Evil is covert, hidden, insidious, but light exposes darkness!
v. 15 Don’t be unwise, but wise.
v. 16 Don’t be lazy, but be intentional.
v. 17 Don’t be unaware (foolish), but know God’s will.
v. 18 A drunken stupor is contrasted with Holy Ghost ecstacy!
The result is a life that is overflowing with goodness, godliness and praise.
Changes to our behaviour.
Changes to our behaviour.
The way we walk is different.
On my first trip to Haiti we would walk a few hundred yards between the church and the orphanage. I learned that no one uses a flashlight, most people can’t afford them. So having one only identifies you as a foreigner, and that from a great distance. People learn to see in the dark and just having the moon as a source of light is considered to be far better than having no moon.
One night I was walking with Pastor Lesly and we were talking about another brother. “Here he comes now,” Lesly announced.
“How do you know?” I asked.
“I can tell by his walk,” Pastor Lesly said
“Walk” is a metaphor to describe the way we move through life.
People know you by your walk. They are accustomed to how you act.
Does the way you behave remind people of God?
The way we talk is different
Luke 6:45 NLT
45 A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.
Perhaps rather than just watching what we say, it would be more effective to watch what we think and especially what we meditate on.
I don’t want to be misunderstood. I am not suggesting legalism or a theology of works.
I am suggesting that the best way to change behavior is to examine and be intentional about what you are feeding on.
Change your input to change your outcome.
Changes to our life’s objective.
Here’s the real point of the matter: What is the purpose of your life?
If your life’s objective is to bring everything under the Lordship of Jesus Christ, then success is inevitable.
If you are trying to appease God, get around God or use God for your own purposes then whatever achievement you may gain is temporary.
God’s plan will not fail. Evil may prevail for a time. Fleshly desires give momentary pleasure.
But just as light overcomes darkness instantly and without effort. Truth will prevail over lies.
Evil relies on secrecy to exist. But the light is rising.
Evil will not be overcome by power or intimidation. In fact, evil thrives on fear.
What overcomes is love, not the absence of evil, but the radiant presence of God’s goodness and grace.
That is what you carry when you know who you are in Christ!

Questions for Reflection:

Is your mind being renewed? Do you have a sense of purpose? Does it seem like your life’s effort is wasted? How can you use what you have learned from the scripture to be more focused and intentional?
Do you know who you are in Christ? Do your words and your actions reflect what you know? How do you feed and encourage the presence of the Holy Spirit in your life?
How has Christ-like love changed you? Where do you see God’s love changing your character? How has God’s love changed your outlook on life? Where is God using you to change the world around you?
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