4.2. RESEMBLING CHRIST IN A SELF-SACRIFICING LIFE (Ephesians 5:1-7)

Christlikeness is experientially achieved by our becoming imitators of God.

Ephesians 5:1 "Therefore be imitators of God as dear children."

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Imitate His Forgiving Love (Ephesians 4:32)

The special point of imitation is the duty of having a forgiving spirit to one another.

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Imitate His Family Love (Ephesians 5:1)

Being His "dear children" we can become dear to one another by imitating our Father's concern, care, commitment to one another.

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Imitate His Faithful Love (Psalm 36:5)

Reproduce His loving, faithful attention to His people (Psalm 34:15 ), His readiness to listen to His people (Psalm 34:17 ). Imitate His involvement in His people's troubles (Psalm 34:17 ) - and His faithfully being near to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18 ) standing by those of a contrite spirit (Psalm 34:18 ). Let your loving faithfulness to the Lord and His people reflect your Father.

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Imitate His Famed Love (Psalm 33:5; 1 Peter 1:15)

Become like God your Father whose famed loved is revealed in being right and true in word and deed. Be like Him in loving commitment to righteousness and justice, so that you fill your sphere of influence with goodness.

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Imitate His Feeding Love (Matthew 4:4)

May we imitate Him in feeding His children with the nourishing Word of Life - fresh and relevant. May His now spoken Word to us lose nothing of its power through our imparting of it. Jesus Christ lived on the Father's word. As we do the same others will see the Father in us.

Please the Father by imitating the Jesus Christ's sacrificial love for others.

Ephesians 5:2 "And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us ..."

Had Christ Jesus not sacrificed Himself in love for us we would not have salvation. But His "fragrant offering" (because of its freewill nature) is also an example of the way we are to walk in love towards others. Emulating His voluntary love sacrifice, pleases and delights the Father's heart.

	By sacrificial love we fulfil the Father's expectancy (Galatians 4:14 ).
	By sacrificial love we fulfil Christ's new commandment (John 13:34 ).
	By sacrificial love we fulfil practical needs (1 John 3:18 ).
	By sacrificial love we fulfil the call for fervent love (1 Peter 4:7-8 ).
	By sacrificial love we fulfil the demand of His love in us (1 John 3:16 ).
	By sacrificial love we fulfil spiritual understanding and discernment (Philippians 1:9 ).
	By sacrificial love we fulfil Christ's persistent love (John 13:1 ).
	By sacrificial love we fulfil what qualifies us as His people (1 John 2:10; 3:14 )
	By sacrificial love we fulfil the disposition of Christ in us (Philippians 2:5 ).
	By sacrificial love we fulfil the Christlike fragrance of a living offering to God (Romans 12:1 ).

Our visible difference to the world's ways and values must not be devalued or lost. We are warned against gross impurity and consuming greed, and obscene talk (Ephesians 5:3-4 ). There should be no hint of such in our lives.

	It would be inconsistent with the writing in our hearts as the epistles of Christ (2 Corinthians 3:3 ).
	It would be inconsistent with the new nature (2 Peter 1:4 ).
	It would be inconsistent with the purpose of Christ's cross (Titus 2:14; 2 Corinthians 7:1; 1 Peter 4:1 ).
	It would be inconsistent with the Holy Spirit's work of setting us apart (Ephesians 4:30 ).
	It would be inconsistent with being the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:18-19 ).
	It would be inconsistent with true representation of Jesus to the world. (Matthew 5:16; Philippians 2:15 ).
	It would be inconsistent with being saints - it is improper (Ephesians 5:3-4 ).
	It would be inconsistent with what we know well.

Ephesians 5:5 "For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God."

There is a present tense that concludes such as having no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God (Ephesians 5:5 ). Don't be deceived by the idolatrous to mix with their idolatry or practice, nor by the teacher who would have you compromise your faith. The wrath of God will come on them as upon all the sons of disobedience (Ephesians 5:6 ).

Ephesians 5:7 "Therefore do not be partakers with them. "

As a spiritual person there will be a normal revolution against partnership in sin and idolatry.

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QUESTIONS FOR GROUP INTERACTION

1. How would you benefit others by imitating God your Father? (Ephesians 5:1-2 ).
2. What kind of talk is totally out of place for you as a believer? (Ephesians 5;4 ).
3. How should your mouth be better employed?