Christian Free-Lutheran Church -- Sermons and Services -- Ephesians 5:1-21

Ephesians 5:1-21
Pastor Eric Swenson
Christian Free Lutheran Church Wheatland, IA

April 11, 2010

Are You Called an Imitator?

I. Who do you imitate in your life?
  A. You are not to imitate the evil around you
    Deut. 18:9; “When you enter the land which the Lord your God gives you, you shall not learn to imitate the detestable things of those nations. 3 John 11; Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God.
  B. You are to imitate God
    1. Be an imitator of God (5:1)
    2. Be an imitator of Godly people around you
    1 Cor. 11:1; Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ. Heb. 13:7; Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith.

II. Imitate God by walking in love.
  A. Christ is an example of God’s love for you.
    Christ gave himself up for you (offering)
    Christ died for you (sacrifice)
    Christ was a sweet odor of reconciling you to God.
  B. As God’s children, you are to offer up a sweet smell.
    Offering up a life lived for God
    Not a life of disobedience to God

III. Imitate God by walking in light.
  A. Do not practice unfruitful deeds of darkness.
  B. Expose those deeds of darkness.

IV. Imitate God by walking in wisdom.
  A. You are not to foolish or lazy in spiritual matters
  B. You are to learn what is pleasing to God (5:10)
    Learn by studying God’s word
    Learn by the example that other Christians set
  C. You are to understand what the will of God is.
    Romans 12:2; And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
    Good - Leads to the spiritual and moral growth of the Christian
    Acceptable - To God, not necessarily to us
    Perfect - No improvements on the will of God
    1 John 2:28-29; Now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming. If you know that aHe is righteous, you know that everyone also who practices righteousness is born of Him.