1-2: - Be Imitators
3-6: - No impurity
7-10: - Let no one deceive
11-14: - All will be exposed
15-17: - Do not be foolish
18-21: - Walk in light, not darkness (Be filled with the Spirit)
22-24: - Wives
25-33: - Husband/wife and Christ/church likenesses
***
Eph. 5:1-2 - Be Imitators
1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children;
2 and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.
Guidelines for Christian living continue in the following verses. (They start in 4:25 and go through 6:20.) There are some major subjects in these verses. They all flow from the fact that you are in Jesus.
***
Vs. 1 - “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children” -
“Therefore...” - Go back to Eph. 4:20-24. Let's look at the wherefore of that therefore - Whereas:
- You have learned about Christ and what He has done for you.
- You have the truth in Jesus; so now you can lay aside that old sinful nature and live a new life in Christ,
- because of the new spirit and renewed mind, and new self.
- Based on those facts, and the fact you have been forgiven in Christ (See: 4:32, above), you can do the following...
“Be imitators of God, as beloved children” - (See: Luk 6:36; Matt 5:48, Eph. 4:32; Rom 15:7; Heb 13:7; 3 John 1:11; 2 Tim 2:2; Phil 4:9; 1 Pet 1:14-15) We are loved by God. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16) The opening line from “The Four Spiritual Laws” is ‘God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life’. Return that love by doing as Jesus commands.
Rebellious children do not tend to follow the example or the wishes of their parents. God saved the Israelites from Egypt. Were they thankful and obedient? For maybe thirty minutes! (See: Deut 9:6; Judg 2:19; Neh 9:16; Jer 5::23; Acts 7:51)
Some of the saddest words uttered, “If only...” (Isa 48:18) applies to the Israelites and to us when we refuse to follow Jesus’ commands.
Vs. 2 - “and walk in love, just as Christ al6so loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma”
“Walk in love” - Let’s start with "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)
Jesus’ commands to us, his followers, believers were to love.
"This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.” (John15:12) "This I command you, that you love one another.” (John 15:17)This was emphasized in one of the last conversations Jesus had with His apostles. ‘So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?"
He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You."
He said to him, "Tend My lambs."
He said to him again a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me?"
He said to Him, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You."
He said to him, "Shepherd My sheep."
He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love Me?"
Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, "Do you love Me?" And he said to Him, "Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You."
Jesus said to him, "Tend My sheep.” ‘ (John 21:15-17 )
Love is emphasized throughout the letters to the churches. See for example: 1 Cor 13; 1 John 3:11-24.
“Gave Himself for us... an offering and a sacrifice” - Jesus demonstrated love. It is not just an emotion, an infatuation. Love is an action. Jesus loves me and wants me to have a permanent loving relationship. I, a human, am sinful and that sin prevents me from have the relationship. Nothing I can do will overcome that sin. Jesus loves me, loves me enough to substitute Himself for me. A popular recent book and movie, “The Hunger Games” starts with this theme. The heroine offers herself for the gladiator-type games in order to save her sister from being forced to participate. Jesus took the penalty of sin, my sin and yours, upon Himself so that I may experience that love.
The sacrifices the Israelites offered on the altar of the tabernacle, were to cover their sins committed. I don’t quite understand the idea of the “aroma” from the burning sacrifice. (See: Gen 8:21; Exo 29:18, 25) God is a Spirit, and we worship Him in Spirit and Truth. (John 4:23-24) So, that makes me think the idea of an aroma is for us to know that God has us on His mind. Just as when you walk into the house, and the aroma of dinner or baked cookies brings good images and memories to your mind.
***
No comments:
Post a Comment