49-31 Imitators of God--Part 2
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Ephesians 5:3-7
Ephesians 5:3-7
Children make the best imitators, don’t they? They mimic what they see/encounter. I remember when our son (Andrew) was 3-4. We were in S.D. had purchased a home and started doing some minor improvements. I had some tools working on a part of the kitchen and it wasn’t long before Andrew brought out this little plastic tray of play tools (hammer, screwdriver, saw)—he sat down next to me and began to imitate what I was doing.
Children imitate in order to learn. Whether its at home or at school—they learn by imitation (drawing letters, learning sounds/words). This illustrates the Xn life. The more you imitate something, the more its resembles the original.
Paul understood this principle applies to believers. “Be imitators of God...” Children make good imitators.
for you have been born again not of seed which is perishable but imperishable, that is, through the living and enduring word of God.
Being the children of God we ought to mimic His character (has to do with obedience to the word and will of Lord)
For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus.
Trusting in LJC makes you a child of God…not just a child but “beloved child.” As beloved children we are called (exhorted) to imitate (apply godly characteristics to ourselves) where our lifestyle (walk) matches our position (in Love, in Light, Wisdom).
I. Walk in Love
I. Walk in Love
A. The Exhortation
A. The Exhortation
Clearly based on the blessings of newness we have receive and indicated in this epistle—we are to walk (Gk PAImp) in love (agape).
The greatest evidence/measurement of love is in a person’s ability to forgive. God has displayed this love while we were helpless sinners, hostile and enemies of God (Rom 5). A love that is selfless, genuine and beyond measure (1 Cor 13).
B. The Example
This love is perfectly manifest and exemplified thru work and person of J.C.
Unconditional, Eternal, Sacrificial
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Walking in love requires us to know God, J.C. thru self-disclosure. The more we study Scripture, the more we reflect the nature of God—including walking in love. Even though we have a perfect example of love (J.C.) Satan offers us a counterfeit love that is conditional, temporary, and selfish. This is the love of the world.
But since we are children of God by faith in the blood of Christ, there is an expectation that we not participate in the counterfeit love this world offers.
C. The Expectation
C. The Expectation
Since we are to imitate God by “walking in love” as beloved children—there are certain characteristics that should never adorn our behavior as saints. Paul’s instruction emphasizes the expectation to live holy lives and not participate with the world in their quest for false love.
This is not an exhaustive list but a summary of the counterfeit love we are expected to walk away from described in 2 categories: Unholy deeds & unholy speech.
Unholy Deeds
Unholy Deeds
Porneia noun at least 35x & vb even more refers to all types of sexual sin (all aberrant sexual conduct: prostitution, homosexuality and every sexual relationship outside of marriage falls under this term). Essentially porneia describes unfaithfulness at its very core. This was a huge problem during biblical times (as now)—but particularly in Ephesus where worship of Diana (Artemis) was usually accompanied by these sexual sins.
You can see where the God-given need for love is quickly perverted by a world that knows nothing of the love of Christ. The love given and pursued by the world is reciprocal: it loves what is attractive, enjoyable, pleasant, producing desired feelings, satisfying. And Satan has mastered the perversion using something God created for good and turning it into a self-indulgence.
Now there’s an antonym for this word—egkrateia (lt “self-control; restraint of one’s emotions, impulses, or desires, self-control).
But some days later Felix arrived with Drusilla, his wife who was a Jewess, and sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus. But as he was discussing righteousness, self-control and the judgment to come, Felix became frightened and said, “Go away for the present, and when I find time I will summon you.”
Paul spoke before Felix and his wife Drusilla. It was well known that Felix had stolen Drusilla from her former husband and was therefore living with her in an adulterous relationship. The sexual self-control Paul was speaking about pertained to lustful passions. Felix understood that and Paul confronted him about living contrary to righteousness.
Speaking of unmarried and widowed(ers):
1 Corinthians 7:9 But if they do not have self-control, let them marry; for it is better to marry than to burn.
Porneia is a reference to the lack of sexual self-control and behavior that goes beyond the limits God has imposed.
Gk word graphe “to write” combined with porneia gives us pornography. There is no place for any of this in the life of a saint. 1 Cor 5:1-2, 6, 11 put out of church
Akatharsia—(2nd term falling under unholy deeds) more general term (11x)—anything unclean or filthy. Christ used the word when referring to the rotten, vile, stench that occurs when a body decays (Mt 23:27). Every other time referring to sexual activity—vile stench that accompanies sexual sin. Immoral acts, passions, and ideas are described as “uncleaness.”
Greed pleonexia (the state of desiring to have more than one’s due—covetousness)
“You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife or his male servant or his female servant or his ox or his donkey or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”
Today men in our society covet other men’s wives—other women on TV, movies, ads, magazines, etc. But this is all sin and only 1 part of the world’s counterfeit fantasy.
This term was used in Eph 4:19 and has the idea of “defrauding” and relates to the love of possessing. Some people will sacrifice everything for their lust—spouses, children, friends, jobs. They will destroy families all to fulfill a fantasy. But it doesn’t relate only to sexual perversion but to money & possessions in general.
Martyn Lloyd-Jones “This means, of course, avarice, love of money; love of money as money; love of money partly for itself and partly because of what it can do for us, the things we can buy with money, the things we can procure with money, the things we can do if we have got money—in fact the love of all that money can do and achieve—that is what Paul is condemning under the word covetousness.”
For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.
“No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.
In Eph 5 “must not even be named...” These things are serious hindrances to your holiness. If we are to walk in love they must be abandoned for the sake of imitating God.
Unholy Speech
Unholy Speech
Again 3 words to define unholy speech:
“filthiness” refers to general obscenity, disgraceful or that which causes shame. Eph 5:12 we should not even engage in talk that is about immorality and impurity (fornication, uncleanness, greed). In our day, it is nearly impossible to turn on TV, read a book, look at magazine, without being exposed to the garbage of world. Its also difficult to hold a conversation with some people b/c they cannot refrain from using obscenities. Yet we are called to guard our lips and speak holy things having holy communication.
“silly talk” or “foolish talk” comes from morologia. “moros” means dull, stupid—eng. moron. This is the talk of the fool. It is low-class, obscene, gutter talk.
“coarse jesting” means “able to turn easily” (originally had the idea of wittiness) and carries the idea of quickly turning something said or done—regardless of how innocent—into that which is obscene or suggestive. Its been called humor in bad taste…the immoral wit of those with dirty minds.
Wiersbe tells the story:
The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Ten: Imitating Our Father (Ephesians 5:1–17)
A Christian woman attended an anniversary dinner in honor of a friend, not knowing that there would be a program of low comedy following the meal. The so-called comedian tried to entertain the crowd with coarse humor that degraded everything that the Christian guest held to be sacred and honorable. At one point in the program, the comedian’s throat became dry. “Please bring me a glass of water,” he called to a waiter.
At that point the Christian woman added, “And bring a toothbrush and a bar of soap with it!”
Clearly Scripture identifies this as speech which is not fitting or suitable for the child of God “there must be no...” Instead our speech should include what? Eph 5:4—giving thanks. 1 Thess 5:18 “in everything give thanks for this is the will of God.”
This leads to a final part of Paul’s instruction to walk in love:
D. The Examination
D. The Examination
The exhortation to walk in love becomes very personal and practical with what follows in vv 5-7. You must not live like the old man. Remember those things have passed away—they are the filthy clothes which are removed at salvation and replaced with holy things that should be manifest in your deeds and speech.
There is a sense of urgent examination that each one of us must give careful consideration to our own conduct. Notice the warning: “for this you know with certainty...”
Using the same terms in vs 3—those who practice (make it their habit) have no place in the kingdom of Christ.
Similarly
Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.
Now, who will inherit the kingdom of God? Does not come by flesh and blood (1 Cor 15:50) but can only come to those who have believed the gospel of LJC death and resurrection (1 Cor 15:1-4).
Paul is addressing believers, saints who have put their trust in JC and have been radically transformed by the regeneration of the HS. Paul is not suggesting that Xns can never fall into sins of unholy deeds/speech…but these cannot be the pattern of his lifestyle.
Hoehner “the kingdom of God is not for saints who have never sinned but for sinners who have been redeemed by Christ’s supreme sacrifice.”
Begin by examining your own life—put your life/conduct under the microscope. Are any of these things present in your walk? If so, God calls you to repentance and promises the rich forgiveness and renewal that belongs to you. These things matter to Christ. Anything that hinders your sanctification is not part of God’s purpose for your life.
There are many who teach and have been taught that it doesn’t really matter how you live your life since God’s grace only increases when there is sin. Of course they are speaking about:
The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Paul adds:
What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase?
In that ch the truth is developed that Xns have died, buried and resurrected to new life with Christ. There is newness that you should not walk in the old ways. You cannot maintain the perspective that your behavior doesn’t matter to Christ. you are called to obedience. Believers love God’s law—not b/c it is the means of our redemption but b/c it reveals the heart and character of our Father and it reveals what pleases Him.
RC Sproul has this wisdom:
The Purpose of God: Ephesians Imitators of God
So if anyone comes and tells you that as a Christian you don’t have to be concerned about keeping commandments or obeying the law of God, you are listening to someone who is speaking empty words, words that could deceive you. And Paul says, ‘Don’t let that happen, don’t let anyone deceive you with empty words, for because of this very type of thing, the wrath of God comes upon those who are disobedient.’ In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said that many will come to him on the last day saying, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we do this in your name, didn’t we do that in your name?’ And he will say, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ (Matthew 7:23).
God will punish evildoers b/c He is righteous. Even now His wrath is revealed against ungodliness and unrighteousness (Rom 1:18).
Paul’s final admonition: vs 7 don’t be partners with evil (lit stop being partakers with them). Don’t join in the evil/ waywardness of this world. Don’t imitate the world—but be imitators of God.
“Therefore, come out from their midst and be separate,” says the Lord. “And do not touch what is unclean; And I will welcome you.
This does not mean that we are to form some Xn commune and leave the influences of the world. Paul told the Corinthians:
I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world.
The church is called to let the light of JC shine. you are light and salt—Eph 5:8. As you live in a world that glorifies immorality and impurity and greed, be the influencer of the world for righteousness. Be separate in terms of practice but live differently—walk in love following the example of Jesus’ perfect love.
You may be here this morning being prodded, under the weight of conviction of the HS b/c you now see something in your life that will bring the wrath of God. Jesus calls you to repent—turn from your sin, turn from unrighteousness—surrender to Him who is Lord and King and believe in Him b/c His sacrificial death is sufficient to save you and to bring you forgiveness for your sin and waywardness. If you do this today—you will enter into a blessed relationship with your Father in Heaven—and He will give you a new nature completely unlike the old nature beset with sin.
If you refuse Him who is calling—you are under God’s wrath and merely 1 breath from eternal condemnation. Don’t wait until you get home, don’t wait until tomorrow. Today is the day of salvation—right now…this moment believe and you will live.