By Pastor Chuck Ryan
“Be Imitators of God”
Text: Ephesians 5: 1-21
Thesis: God is both a Loving God and a Just God, and to be like God, requires us to be both loving and just.
I. The Apostle Paul proclaims, if we are to “Imitate God” we must love like God. (vs1-2)
A. “As dearly loved children…live a life of love.” (1a)
• “Love in this instance is not eros, the love of natural relationships; nor philia, the love of friendship; but
agape, the love of pure self-giving, that asks for nothing in return and that wishes only for the well-being of the
one to whom it is given. Agape is God’s love, and He gives it to men most fully in the gift of himself as the Holy
Spirit. He thus gives Himself that men might “live in love.” (BBC, Ephesians, page 227-228)
B. “Just as Christ loved us and gave himself for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” (vs2)
1. We are called in Love to sacrifice ourselves to God for the sake of others so that they might come to
know Jesus.
• “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and
pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” (Romans 12:1)
II. The Apostle Paul reveals in verse 3-4 examples of the Perversion of God’s love.
A. Doing the Christian life right, matters to God.
1. “Be Holy as I am Holy” is the call of God to all Christians.
2. “But among you there must not be even a hint of…”
B. There are some that think it is ok to live a permissive life because God must forgive me. But scripture
teaches that “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.” (Galatians 6:7)
III. The Apostle Paul warns in verses 5-7, there is a penalty for perversion.
A. God is not only a loving God, but He is also a just God.
1. There are negative consequences to breaking God’s law; some are intrinsic, others come from God’s
judgment.
• “In missing the Kingdom these perverters of love fall under the heavy hand of the righteous anger of God.
Already they are its objects (cf. 2:3), but in that last day they will feel the fury of it.” (BBC, Ephesians, page
230)
2. God is a God of His Word!
IV. The Apostle Paul in verses 8-11 reveals there is a great contrast between the Spiritual light of Christ and
the evil of this world.
A. The “Good News” is:
• “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
(2 cor. 5:17)
• “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the
blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7)
• “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until
the day of Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 1:6)
V. The Apostle Paul in verses 15-21 encourages believers to live a Holy life, “because the days are evil.”
A. The Christian will stand out in darkened world.
• “Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God
without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky.”
(Phil. 2:15)
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