Ephesians 5:1-17: Imitate God

Introduction

Starbucks on University on Sunday… Hard to get to Firehouse. Starbucks a world wide obsession… In 2020, over 32,000 Starbucks across the world… BUT… not one in Bethlehem. Perfect place for a Starbucks. Thirsty tourists walking to the Church of the Nativity… What do you do if you can’t get a Starbucks franchise in Bethlehem? Imitate…

Imitation is the highest form of flattery… You have a heavenly Father who wants you to imitate Him.

Imitate God? Is is possible? Obviously, some things you cannot imitate… You’ll never be all-knowing, all-present, etc. BUT, you can imitate His character: His love, His grace, His compassion, His kindness, etc.

Why should you want to imitate God? Especially when it seems so impossible. You were saved to be like Christ (Ephesians 2:10 - You are His workmanship…) You were saved from, and you were saved for...

You will always find the most joy and satisfaction in life when you are living like Christ, and you will always feel most purposeful with your life when you are imitating God.

Don’t believe me? It’s because you haven’t tried.

Ephesians 4:17-32 - Paul calling us to live like Christ together - Why? 1. For the sake of our own souls… You never regret obeying Christ. 2. For the sake of souls of a lost world. God uses a holy church to reach a lost world.

How do I imitate God? Eph. 5:1-17 answers this question. It’s hard hitting and convicting yet life giving.

Two ways to imitate God’s love:

Ask God to help you love with His love.

Imitate God... Why? You are His children. You’re not going to even attempt to imitate Jesus until you are secure in who you are.

Follower of Jesus: you are NOT a child of this world. Your identity has changed - Ephesians 1-3. Paul teaching us how to live as who we are because the world needs NEEDS believers who actually live out their faith. NOT live out their political persuasion, or their religious preferences. BUT live out biblical faith.

Living out your faith = living out God’s love.

Love one another for God is love. (1 John 4:7-8)

Beware of counterfeit love. Counterfeit love is focused on self - What can I gain from my relationships? It’s self-love. An attitude that says: “I’ll do for you if you do for me.” Or, “I’ll love you as long as…” BUT, cross the line and my love ceases. Conditional...

Live out genuine love. Paul David Tripp’s definition of love:

Love is willing self-sacrifice for the good of another that does not require reciprocation or that the person being loved is deserving.

This is how Jesus loves you! THIS is the kind of love that Paul talks about in the previous verses: kind, compassionate, and forgiving.

Bitterness, anger, etc… natural… You may choose to NOT live out genuine love, but realize if you do, it’s because you’re too in love with yourself, and your heart will always be given to bitterness, anger, etc.

To love this way, you have to have two realities settled in your mind.

I know people are going to hurt me… BUT… people hurting you doesn’t mean you stop loving them…

I know that Jesus has embraced me in spite of how I have hurt Him...

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/weird-news/woman-sparks-outrage-after-admitting-26670111 - Use people to get what we want instead of loving people for the sake of the Gospel.

Loving people vs. using people… Paul’s about to address using people...

Ask God to help you shine His light.

vs. 8 - You were once darkness. NOT you walked in darkness. You were darkness. Eph. 2:2 - Now, children of light. God is light - you reflect his light like the moon reflects the sun.

If you are NOT darkness - don’t take part in darkness. Paul tells us what is darkness.

Sexual immorality - any type of sexual activity that’s outside of marriage relationship. (The conversation we don’t want to have in church…)

Culture wants to:

RENAME - “Adult Content” OR ride down the interstate and see signs for “Adult Superstore”

REDEFINE - As long as it’s consensual between two adults and it feels right, then it must be right.

BUT… know that the Bible’s teaching on sexuality has not changed and will not change. AND, know that the Bible’s teaching on sexuality is good - God glorifying and designed for your good.

Why does Paul talk about sexuality here? Sexual sin is the HEIGHT of selfishness and self-love. (Counterfeit love) Big deal in Ephesus - sexual immorality rampant in ancient world.

In marriage, it’s a a physical expression of selflessness and genuine love. Gen. 2 - symbolizes two people becoming one flesh. Marriage - ONENESS - committed together for life to live as one in every area of our lives. Every decision affects the marriage - every decision made with the other in mind. Sex = a celebration of oneness. It’s vulnerable - “No one knows me like my spouse.” It’s safe - “I give my life to you, even the most vulnerable parts of my life, because I trust you.” Inside marriage, worth celebrating.

Outside of marriage, taking physical oneness from someone without giving them the rest of yourself. “I want oneness without the actual oneness.” What you’re NOT saying when you engage in sex outside of marriage is, “I’m yours...” because you’re not joining the rest of yourself with that person. Sex outside of marriage cheapens God’s design...

Jelly Bean candle - It’s not the real thing… The smell but not the real thing...

Any impurity… includes sexuality…

Or greed (NASB as well - covetousness in the ESV) greedy for sex or greed for anything… Should not even be named among you… Self-love

No one ever thinks they struggle with greed! No one comes to my office, “Pastor, I’m greedy...” BUT greed is at the heart of sexual sin… “I want what I want, and I’m willing to objectify the body of someone else to get it.”

This kind of selfish life, where I take from others to satisfy my physical cravings does not fit within God’s definition of love that is holy, and giving of myself for others. This kind of selfish life does NOT imitate God.

“Not even be named...” NLT: “Such sins have no place among God’s people...” We flee from this kind of life that takes from others for our own benefit.

NOT just the ACT but the THOUGHT

Be careful if you feel no sense of shame or conviction when you watch a movie that is filled with sexuality… How much media did you consume last week that displayed marriage and sexuality from a biblical perspective? How much media did you consume last week that celebrated sexuality outside of a biblical perspective? Do you think that our consumption of media that glorifies sexual immorality might negatively affect our hearts?

NOT just the ACT and THOUGHT but the TALK - NO crude joking. NOT no joking, but the things that entertain us the most are often the things that God despises. Jokes or talk that objectify someone of the opposite sex, glorify sexuality outside of God’s design, etc. Maybe you don’t tell the jokes, but you listen and enjoy. You take delight…

INSTEAD of coarse talk from your lips… Thanksgiving should flow from your lips - (Put off/put on) Thankfulness that God has given us a better way than what the world glorifies. Can you think of anything more beautiful than God’s design for sexuality in the context of marriage? Give thanks to God for His design!

WARNING: If you are constantly given to this kind of life - which is ultimately idolatrous - NO inheritance in the Kingdom of God. Idolatry wasn’t just going to the temple of Artemis, it was setting the heart’s affections on consuming sins that kill. Paul: this is what you’ve been saved from, not saved for… TO continue to engage in this type of life is to give evidence that you don’t KNOW God’s salvation.

Vs. 6 - Let no one deceive you with empty arguments - you are receiving A LOT of empty arguments today - Empty words - full of error, inconsistent with truth, etc. Believers in Ephesus heard empty arguments: “It’s ok… This is how we worship… etc…” Empty words rationalize sin.

Do NOT be the partner of darkness. You’re walking in the light! You’ve seen and experienced truth. You know what is good and pleasing to the Lord, instead of participating, expose.

In a world obsessed with sexual immorality and the sins that accompany sexual immorality, we NEED to point to a way that is life-giving rather than life-taking.

vs. 8 - THE CONTRAST - walking in the light (Jesus it the light.) When you walk in the light, you don’t participate in the darkness, you EXPOSE the darkness.

Do you see why Paul writes these words?

Your heart is way too easily influenced.

Greed, sexuality, coarse talk, impurity… It’s everywhere. You can’t avoid it. And, you’re not immune to the affects of sin in this world. You can’t pretend like you’re not influenced by deeds of darkness if you constantly expose yourself to deeds of darkness.

This is why you need light! So you can see clearly there’s a better way! You’ve seen it!

Your heart is way too valuable.

Christ died you to bring you into the light - to give you a heart that longs for what’s far better than darkness.

What do the deeds of darkness do to your heart? Sexual sin hurts - distorts your view of self, others, etc. Some of you are heartbroken because of deeds of darkness.

What does light do? HEALS - There’s healing in the Gospel - seeing sin for what it is and seeing the solution for sin. Healing through confession, repentance, and living God’s way.

Your responsibility is way too important.

TO EXPOSE - the world needs to know a better way. Expose by judging? By pointing out flaws? Posting on social media?

You get to talk about a more compelling life. Christians don’t think we are better than everyone else, but we have a better life than everyone else because we know the truth - has set us free! Sexuality within God’s design is compelling: unity, complete trust, giving of oneself, oneness, life-long commitment in a loving relationship. That’s compelling! That’s the way it’s supposed to be! EDUCATE your children in this compelling story - Don’t let the world educate them!

You get to show a more compelling life.

By living a thankful life - thankful for every season and every gift - thankful for your spouse, thankful for your singleness, thankful for God’s design.

By putting sexuality in its proper place - feasting on what honors God (Col. 3:1) rather than what the world feasts on. God is better… When in its proper place - no guilt, no shame, no hiding, but joy…

By living your marriage by God’s design

Living a more compelling life exposes the darkness - when darkness is put side by side with the light - darkness isn’t compelling at all.

Vs. 14 - quote from Isaiah 60:1-2 - an ancient hymn? This is what has happened to you follower of Jesus - Christ has shined on you. You have risen from the dead.

This is what Christ wants to do in your heart today if you’re not a believer. His light shining on you. He wants you to see a more compelling way of life. Turn to Him by faith today. Believe He died for you and rose again.