Be Imitators of God

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Ephesians 5:1–11 NKJV

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.

Imitate God as Dear Children

Have you ever seen a toddler trying to imitate its parent?

It is natural for children to imitate their parents

As Christians, We are children of God.

what would it look like to imitate God?

God is Holy

God is Righteous

God is truth

God is Love

God is merciful

God is giving

God is a defender

God is gracious

God is faithful

By saying that we should imitate God, he is in no way suggesting we are to earn our salvation

He has already made the point that by grace we are saved through faith, as a free gift

So this imitating God is not something we do to become saved

It is what people who are already saved do because they are saved

The easiest way to understand this is in the example given “as dear children”

children aren’t trying to earn their parent’s approval by mimicking them

it is simply the natural outflow of already having that approval

It is a natural expression of the love between them

Suggesting that we be imitators of God is in no way suggesting that we are to imitators of His sovereignty or His power

He alone is God all by Himself.

There is no other God, nor shall there be.

We are not growing to one day be God.

But, as dear children, we imitate His nature, His character.

We can act, and think, and feel like God

We can love others like God loves us - even sacrificially

We can be kind like God

We can forgive like God

We can be selfless Like God

Walk in Love, as Christ Loved Us

The simple way to accomplish this admonishment to imitate God, is to walk in love

All of the commandments are summed up in love -

Love for God, Love for God’s people.

The example given here is Jesus

God became a man - the living expression of His Word - His Love

We need only look to Jesus to understand how to love

As Christ also loves us, and has Given Himself for Us

Jesus offered himself

This example has been followed by many thousands of His saitns

Consider Stephen, when he was stoned, praying for those harming him.

Yes, we can walk in love, as Christ loved us

Jesus said “a new commandment I give you: That you love one another, as I have loved you.

He said “ you call me Lord.... if I your Lord wash your feet, you must wash one another.

We have Him as an example

We see how He treated the woman caught in adultery

He treated the multitudes when they were hungry, even when He was tired

How He touched the leper

How He taught the people

How He cared for His disciples

It is easy to walk in love, if you consider Him as your example

This has nothing to do with being loved

So many people think they can’t live like Jesus, becasue others don’t treat them kindly.

You can love others even if the whole world walks in hatred

And if you do, it just may change the world. Jesus did.

But Stop Sinning!

This is the part that so many preachers skip over in today’s popular Christianity.

It isn;t popular to talk about sin. And even less popular to specify what sin looks like

If it’s mentioned at all, its presented as some abstract idea of meanness instead of niceness.

But Paul is specific in hi reference to sin.

If we are to know what God’s character is like that we should imitate it, we ought also to know what character is not like His, that we should avoid.

Fornication and all uncleanness

There is no way around this. Fornication is sin

In today’s culture this can seem impossible to some people

Nearly every television show and movie these days presents the idea of a culture where sex is nearly always outside of marriage

in our youth group nearly every young person lives in a home without married parents

71% of African American births are out of wedlock and 40% over all.

when I was born that number was about 7%.

Still below 10% in places like Japan, China and Israel.

Nevertheless, we are told again throughout the bible, fornication is sin

God made sex for marriage. Period

This is true if everyone obeys, and it is true if nobody obeys.

We do not measure sin by public opinion

What God says is sin in A.D. 1 and 1964 is still sin today

Covetousness

Perhaps even more widespread than sexual sin is greed

So many people live for their possessions, and to keep up with the Jones's

Contrast this with the bible teaching that having food and clothes we should be content

There is nothing wrong with having prosperity, but only in its proper place

In fact it is God’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom -

believing that, we don’t need to wrest it from others

we don’t need to become so desirous of getting things that we can no longer do God’s will

We don’t have to measure ourselves by ourselves

It is good to have nice things, but what are you willing to trade for them?

Paul says, don’t even let these things be named among us

Seek you first the kingdom of God

Filthiness, foolish talking, course jokes

There is so much filth in our media these days -

we call it entertainment-

compare that with

Romans 1:32 NKJV

32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.

Romans 1:30–32 KJV 1900

30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

This may be unpopular to talk about, but this is the Word.

How many people are in church on Sunday morning praising God after taking pleasure being entertained by so much sinfulness in our media?

But we have not so learned Christ

If Jesus came to your house, would you have to turn off the TV, or change stations?

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Ephesians 5:5 NKJV

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.

Paul goes so far as saying “this you know”

There are so many churches today were you can hear whatever you want

So many preachers are preaching universalism, or its equivalent

And so many others simply avoid mentioning the less pleasant things from the Word

I’ve even heard preachers mocking those preachers who speak of sin and judgement

But Paul takes it for granted that we know people who continue in these things “have no inheritance” in the kingdom of Christ and God.

No Fornicator

No Covetous man

no idolater - (do you have any idols?)

And think about it for a moment:

could you really picture any of this behavior in Jesus?

How can we imitate Him as dear children if we continue imitating the devil instead?

Could we really imagine these kinds of behavior in heaven?

Of course not, so how can we continue in this life to sin

Paul asked how can you who died to sin live any longer therein?

Let No One Deceive You With Empty Words!

Listen, I realize this may seem harsh and unnecessary

Joel Olsteen says that most people already know how bad they are, so what they need is someone to encourage them

Well, I agree with this in part - We do need to be enocuaraged

We do need to be told how good we can be -

We can be imitators of God

We can be seated with Him in heavenly places in Christ Jesus

We can be raised from the dead and live in the light of Jesus

We can live in true unity and love and peace and joy!

But I don’t really think most people know how bad they are -

in fact, many people spend most of their time trying no to hear it

trying to block it out, and to avoid hearing it

this may be why so many preachers won’t mention it - people will leave

Many people who know how bad they are in the sense that they know what they are doing and that it s is bad, still do not know how bad it is.

In fact, the more people who are fornicating, the easier it is for us to think that fornicating is bad, but not so bad

The more people who are living for their possessions, the easier it is for us to think that being covetous is bad, but not that bad.

If People did not need to be reminded that sin is bad, and very bad, and that these things they may become numb to are sin, then the bible wouldn’t say it.

Does Joel Olsteen know better than Jesus what to preach about?

Jesus mentioned hell more times than He mentioned heaven

Jesus said the most wonderful and comforting, life giving and motivational words ever spoken.

Jesus also mentioned sin, and judgement and punishment, and separation of the just from the unjust.

A the bible exhorts us to preach the whole word

Paul goes so far here as to say Don’t be deceived!

because of these things

God’s wrath comes on the children of disobedience

No one like to hear about wrath - it seems like such an unpleasant Word these days

But Paul uses it forcefully here -

becasue of these things - how you live does matter

Do not be partakers with them

We are Christians now

You have been transformed

translated from darkness to light

you don’t owe anyone - you have no obligation to live like the rest of the world

You Were Once Darkness But Now You Are Light!

Walk as Children of Light

There is no better way to live

this is not some burdensome command that we have to suffer through life to accomplish

instead it is a liberating invitation to live in a new and wonderful manner

We all used to be darkness - but now! Now we are light!

The fruit of the Spirit

God living in you!

Goodness

Righteousness

Truth

Finding Out What is Acceptable to The Lord

Take this thought home with you this week

find out what is acceptable

Don’t just live by you emotions

Don’t just take my word, or someone else’s word for what is acceptable

Find out for yourself

This is your Christian Life

He is Your Father

You are a child of God, not this Church.

So Find out What is acceptable to The Lord

How do you Find Out?

Through the Word of God

Hearing Sermons and meditating on the Word

Through prayer

Through experience with Him

Through fellowship with other believers - we are one body

We admonish one another and encourage one another

We also reprove and correct one another (if we are a healthy body)

Precept up[on precept, line upon line

here a little there a little

Our whole Christian life is this “finding out”

Paul said “forgetting the things behind.... “

Pressing toward the mark

not there yet.

And this is a wonderful, exciting, joyful and life filled journey!

Growing up as a Child of God! An Imitator of Him!