FOLLOWERS AS DEAR CHILDREN
EPHESIANS 5:1-21
EPHESIANS 5:1-21
Introduction:
In I John 3:1-2, the Lord calls our attention to the “manner of love” that the God of heaven has put into our hearts. The love ought to motivate us to carry out what is written to us in the fifth chapter of Ephesians. These things are written to Believers, people who have trusted Jesus Christ as their Savior.
Here we are admonished to walk in love “as Christ has also loved us.” For lack of love God’s people are destroying themselves. Consider the following:
I. WALK, vs. 1-7
A. Walk as Children of God, John 1:12, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:”
1. We are sons of God by His will, John 1:13, “Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”
2. Wearing our Christianity on the Outside, Colossians 3:12-13, “Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; 13 Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.”
B. Walk in love, v. 2.
1. As Christ love us, Ephesians 4:2, 15, “With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:”
2. Walk that we might be as a Sweet-Smelling Savor, 2 Corinthians 2:15-17, “For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: 16 To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things? 17 For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.”
a. We are as the aroma of Christ, Romans 12:1, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”
b. We are the servants of Christ, Romans 6:16, 18, “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? 18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.”
II. STAND
A. Stand Strong for the Work of the Lord, 1 Corinthians 16:13, “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.”
1. We are to Stand fast, 1 Corinthians 15:58, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”
2. We are to be Courageous, 1 Corinthians 14:20, “Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men.”
B. Stand Faithfully, 3 John 5-8, “Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers; 6 Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well: 7 Because that for his name’s sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles. 8 We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth.”
C. Stand Strong in Godliness.
1. Godliness is profitable in all things, 1 Timothy 4:7-8, “But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness. 8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.”
2. There is Great Gain in Godliness, 1 Timothy 6:6, “But godliness with contentment is great gain.”
3. Godliness comes after Righteousness in the Service of the Lord, 1 Timothy 6:11, “But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.”
a. Righteousness comes from knowing Jesus Christ by faith, Romans 3:25, “Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;”
b. Godliness comes from knowing Jesus as Lord of your life, 2 Peter 1:3, “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:”
c. Faith, Love, Patience, and Meekness come from Steadfastness Under Adversity, Galatians 5:24-26, “And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.”
CONCLUSION
Jesus gave His all to redeem us from our sins. To make Him our Lord and allow Him to sit upon the throne of our heart is not asking much. Besides “godliness with contentment is great gain.”
How is your life? Do you have the contentment that the Apostle Paul spoke about? If not perhaps Jesus doesn’t sit on the throne of your life.