New Purpose

resurrected to what

pastor Orr- sunday school leadership- producer david brown

new position

New Purpose- be imitators of God

new pursuit

Ephesians 5:1–5 ESV

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. 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.

Imitate

Is it possible to imitate God? Can we really be like Him? This is a difficult imperative Paul gives us.

There is no one like God. God needs no one, He is independent . . we depend on him

Paul writes a beautiful doxology in Romans that makes it harder to comprehend how we can be like God.

Romans 11:33–36 ESV

Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways! “For who has known the mind of the Lord, or who has been his counselor?” “Or who has given a gift to him that he might be repaid?” For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

His ways and judgements are unsearchable. .

Yet Paul says Imitate God

Theological Giants trying to figure out God by way Systematic Theology have created categories to help us in our pursuit this morning.

The Attributes of God have been divided into 1. Communicable (shared) and 2. Incommunicable (not shared)

Incommunicable- Eternity(he’s always existed), Unchangeableness, Omnipresence (everywhere),

communicable- Love, Knowledge, mercy, Justice

Imitate God as children-Μιμηταί (mimetaste)refers to likeness and similarity and not to complete duplication

Phil mickleson illustration of being right handed and golf left handed.

The Interpretation of St. Paul’s Epistles to the Galatians, to the Ephesians, and to the Philippians The Admonition against Filthiness

“Children” is exactly proper here, for in their childhood children are naturally imitators of their parents.

Illuminate

in love

agape, philos, eros

walk in agape- unconditonal love

walking in love- means to walk in love towards your neighbor as to not harm him.

The Interpretation of St. Paul’s Epistles to the Galatians, to the Ephesians, and to the Philippians The Admonition against Filthiness

Hence the addition: “and be walking in love even as,” etc. With love in your hearts, let your lives and all your actions show forth that love. Or walk, with every thought, word, and deed move in the circle drawn by your love and never step outside of it.

christ gave himself as a fragrant offering - fragrant here is used as a sweet smell. This is interesting; there was nothing sweet about the sacrificial atoning work of Christ on the cross.

It was a bloody, gory death. . . someone lost their life. It was horrible to Christ, yet sweet for us.

expiation-Expiation. Atonement, purification, or removal of sin or its guilt. The term occurs in some English translations for kjv “reconciliation” (Heb 2:17) or “propitiation” (Rom 3:25; 1 Jn 2:2; 4:10). “Expiation” also appears in some English translations of some OT passages (Nm 35:33; Dt 32:43; 1 Sm 3:14; Is 27:9). The word does not appear in the more recent Bible translations.

The Hebrew family of words translated by “expiation” speaks fundamentally of a solution for sin, and the most common association is with the idea of atonement. Expiation has to do with the blot of sin, and hence the term is related to such words as “forgive,” “purge,” “cleanse,” or “atone.”

Investigate

your lifestyle

Ephesians 5:3–6 ESV

But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. 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. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

Bobby Conway, in his Book The Fifth Gospel

says there are 4 Gospels: Matt Mark Luke John. . . no one will read them. . . . but your life… people read daily