A Life Worth Living
Ephesians • Sermon • Submitted
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5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.
13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.
14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
In heaven - no sin will be allowed
In heaven - no one that does those things will be there
You cannot lose your salvation after you become a child of God, that is clear in Scripture
You also cannot keep your salvation by not doing the afore mentioned sins.
Whatever is unfruitful; whatever we should blush to have transcribed and read to the world; whatever would be inconsistent with the strong, clear light of the throne of God and the Lamb, must be avoided.
We must walk in the light of the Lord. Then we ourselves shall become luminous, as some diamonds do after being held in sunshine.
People who love darkness will avoid and hate us; but their treatment may be only a cause for our own encouragement, as God becomes increasingly precious to us.
So we can look at the list of sins in vs 5 and say yes, amen, those are horrible things;
But let’s also remember ...
8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
The Bible clearly teaches that if we are trying to get to heaven based on good works, the standard is perfection. Anything less misses the mark.
1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
14 For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
15 For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
16 If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good.
17 Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
18 For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
25 I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
Anger - I dislike getting angry
Frustration
Unkindness
Sin working in us in our old man, our carnal nature
Our Spirit, that is born again loves God and His law
Our flesh dislikes obeying God’s laws
Sin is in our members warring agains us
Ephesians 5 teaches us that believers should not take part in these sins mentioned
Romans 7 teaches us that there is a war raging in the believer
Thankfully the spirit man is stronger than the flesh - Jesus is greater than the flesh
Paul warned Christians of this struggle - some teach that it’s impossible for a believer to do certain things if they are saved - our Bible warns us that we shouldn’t partake of them therefore implying that yes Christians can get involved in some pretty terrible things if we don’t stay vigilant.
Thankfully God corrects His children when they err, when they disobey His Word
Let’s highlight that there is a difference between a Christian who commits a sin compared to someone who lives a lifestyle of continual transgression without any conviction or repentance.
One great assurance of Salvation is the fact that when you sin, God corrects you by His Spirit - immediately
The evidence that we have a saving knowledge of our Savior is obtained, not by the memory of a rapturous experience, but because we are conscious of doing, for His sake, things which we would otherwise run from.
When a child of God dies, the flesh and the sin that is in the members of the flesh stays here and cannot come to heaven - Praise the Lord for that.
NO murderers
whormongers
uncleanness in heaven
6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
Don’t let anyone deceive you into thinking that God doesn’t judge these sins - He does and He will continue.
Children of disobedience = the unsaved, the unredeemed
if you are a believer, i.e. a child of God here today you are no longer a child of disobedience
The saved will be corrected, the unsaved will be punished
The children of God will be chastised, but the unsaved are reserved unto wrath
God’s silence does not mean indifference, but the desire to give opportunity to repent. The Lamb is in the midst of the throne, Rev 5:6. Our redemption is by His precious blood, and that alone; but the rewards of the future, and the enjoyment of what God means by life, are conditioned upon our obedience.
3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
Had
times past
were by nature the children of wrath
This is who we were before we were saved - past tense
1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;
2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
Were dead in sins
walked
had our conversation
were by nature
now are you quickened with Christ - now
There is a nature in you that is new
There is a force in you that is revived if you’re saved today
No longer a child of disobedience...
a child of wrath
Ye are saved - saved now
eternal life now
have everlasting life
There is a false doctrine that creeps into churches that says you can lose the salvation that God gives
But salvation is a grace that is bestowed it is a gift that is given
Glory, honor, and peace are within your reach, if you will accept the reconciliation offered you in Christ, which will bring you into at-one-ment with God; and if you will live to do your Heavenly Father’s will.
Wrath = the violent judgement of God
The violent judgement of God rested on Jesus and burned at calvary
Jesus took all God’s wrath for sin as He was crucified at Golgotha
That was done so that I could be God’s child rather than a child of wrath or a child of disobedience
Does God correct and chastise His children, absolutely - for our benefit
But those who are saved will never fall under the violent wrath of God
The loving correction of God to mold you into Christ
7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
Presently don’t be partakers because that’s who you used to be, now you are children of light
4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you,
don’t be partakers of the old nature, we have a new nature
We have escaped - that’s finished
We were of darkness but now are we light
5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
We were Children of Disobedience but are now Children of God
6 For which things’ sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:
6 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.
26 For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.
We Were Under the Power of Darkness but are now Given Power In The Kingdom of Christ
13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
We are children of the Highest.
35 But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
Children of the Living God
26 And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God.
Children of the Promise
28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.
It’s who you now are that brings the power to overcome who you were.
You don’t have to listen to the old nature - do we still sin - sure, but we don’t have to
The power has been given to the believer through the New Man - The spiritual reality Jesus referred to when He spoke of being “born again”
9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
Fruit of the Spirit
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Fruit is not something you manufacture or have to strain to produce
Fruit is what is produced through the abiding relationship with the vine!
1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
Examine the fruit of your life - does it mirror what is described in eph, gal, and john 15
The only other option is the product of the flesh
The fruit of the spirit is 1 fruit with 9 different benefits, aromas, flavors
11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
God invites us to abide in Him for the blessing of this wonderful fruit then instructs us to have no fellowship with unfruitfulness of darkness
You can still have this fellowship if you choose to
Dont just ignore but reprove
This is not yelling at people that mess up
It’s not attacking people
It’s not destroying dignity
12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.
We don’t get into details about sinful activity
13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.
We are to shine so brightly that our lives reprove
Neighbor was about ready to say something they shouldn't have and caught themselves, yesterday.
Our lives should be a reproof
If a Christian chooses to not obey God’s word, our life should bring reproof and shine on that darkness and dirtiness
You are children of light - the fruit of the Spirit is seen and understood as being from God
You may get sick
You may have difficulty
You may go without
The Light is the fruit of the Spirit
Your presence will cause others to consider the power of God - and to consider the Gospel of Christ
12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
If you are following Jesus you will not be caught in darkness - you will shine brightly
In Scripture, directly before this verse is the woman who was caught in adultery
they were going to stone her - the Law says...
Jesus wrote something on the ground
People started leaving one by one
Jesus shined so brightly, darkness ran away
Jesus shined so brightly, the darkness in the woman, caught in her sins, was dispelled and she put her faith in Jesus.
There is one of two responses to the light
those that want darkness flee
Or those that accept the light shine
13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.
14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.
15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Savor = saltiness, character, purpose
When the church loses it’s savor, the government marches on it
We have lost the power to demonstrate in a powerful way the Saviour.
When the church is gone the morals of a country are not preserved.
When the church has lost it’s purpose, the sanctity of life is lost.
You are the light
Do you have lost friends?
Do You have lost co-workers?
Do you have lost family members?
Your purpose is to shine - are you shining to friends, co-workers, family?
19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
Light reveals evil
Light reproves evil
God deserves us to shine brightly
Start at home and bear the fruit of the spirit
The ancient lamp of this time would have oil that provided the fuel to burn and shine
You and I as believers we have the Holy spirit - Shine
Let the Spirit manifest through you
14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
If we allow God to use us we are shining brightly to awaken sinners to their need for the Lord Jesus Christ
When you come to church, shine brightly and challenge others
When you are at work shine brightly
When you are at home shine brightly
When you are out running errands in town, shine brightly
15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
16 Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ.
17 For it is better, if the will of God be so, that ye suffer for well doing, than for evil doing.
When others see you manifesting God’s love and ask why - be ready to give an answer
15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
Walk in a way that it can be detected that you are walking in the Spirit - you are walking in the footsteps of Jesus
Following God as dear children
Not as fools means to not walk like you dont understand your duties
or understanding your worth as a child of God
or understanding that your testimony is important to those who are yet without Christ
If we walk in such a way that we dont care what others think or we dont care if others can see Christ in you that is walking as a fool
Wise means indued with wisdom from above because God taught you
16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
The days are evil
Worse and worse
buy each opportunity in life
Every day counts, every person is an opportunity
Every opportunity with your children
spouse
another christian
You purchase that time
This life is not about you, it is about buying back time
Christians were dying - they understood persecution
When you are around someone that is lost
Redeem it
When you are around your family
redeem it
When you are tempted to sin
redeem that time
When you act in the fruit of the Spirit
you are redeeming the time