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welcome to everyone it's good to be back in the house of our God just a reminder no bible study on Wednesday evening there is a public event uh the Justice Center for constitutional freedoms will be speaking Marty Moore will be speaking on Wednesday night at 7 30 at the free Reformed Church so everybody's invited to that and encouraged to come he's going to deal with the state of religious liberty in Canada well for our call to worship this evening you can turn to the to the book of Psalm psalm 15. uh description of the man who abides in the Tabernacle of God most high I take this ultimately as a description of our Lord Jesus Christ it's through his righteousness that we have everlasting life his life his death and his resurrection on our behalf now certainly when he saves us we are to imitate him we'll see something of that tonight in our study through the book of Ephesians but I'll read beginning in verse 1 of Psalm 15. a Psalm of David Lord who may abide in your Tabernacle who may dwell in your Holy Hill He Who Walks up brightly and works righteousness and speaks the truth in his heart he who does not backbite with his tongue nor does evil to his neighbor nor does he take up a reproach against his friend in whose eyes a vile person is despised but he honors those who fear the lord he who swears to his own hurt and does not change he who does not put out his money at usury nor does he take a bribe against the innocent He Who does these things shall never ever be moved amen well you can turn to Psalm 150. that's Psalm 150 will sing selection c as in Charlie and will stand together as we sing 150c foreign [Applause] [Music] fired around [Music] whatever [Music] there is thank you everybody [Music] 's symbols praise the Lord praise the Lord oh praise God foreign [Music] well let us pray our gracious God and Holy Father we thank you for this place we thank you for the Church of the Living God which is the pillar and the ground of the truth and a blessed time for us to assemble in the presence of Father Son and Holy Spirit we acknowledge that you are most high that you are at most wondrous and glorious we acknowledge your Revelation through the created order in Providence we see your power and your wisdom and your goodness as well we see the revelation of God's goodness and mercy and Grace in The Gospel of our Salvation we thank you for the life and the death and the resurrection of your only begotten son our Lord Jesus Christ we thank you for all that he has accomplished on behalf of of guilty and needy Sinners we thank you for including us in this Redemptive plan and we know it's not owing to our goodness or our performance or our law keeping but it's owing to the grace and mercy of The Sovereign God we thank you that you chose us in him before the foundation of the world we thank you that in love you predestinated us unto adoption as Sons by Jesus Christ and we thank you that in your timing you called us out of darkness in The Marvelous Light by the presence and the power of the Holy Spirit we thank you for that gospel we thank you for that wonderful message and As We Gather here tonight may we express our gratitude As we sing as we pray as we look to the holy scriptures and may we worship you in spirit and in truth we pray that you would forgive us now for all of our sin and transgression when the section we're in in the book of Ephesians Paul tells us to to walk in a manner that is worthy of our calling and yet father we confess at times there is that that principle that remaining corruption in US wherein we don't do the things that you call us to do and we fail to do those things that that or we do those things that are a vile in your sight so cleanse us even now in that precious blood of the Lord Jesus Christ we thank you for those promises concerning ongoing forgiveness we don't you use them so that we may continue in sin that Grace May abound but when we do sin we have an advocate with the father even Jesus Christ the righteous and God we thank you for that we thank you for the finished work of the Savior on our behalf we thank you that his sacrifice was in fact a sweet Aroma unto the Lord God Almighty and Lord we just praise you that you have have provided that blessing to us we asked he would look with favor upon this congregation in terms of the the temporal need we know there are several that struggle with ongoing trials and difficulties associated with life in a fallen World associated with sickness and chronic illness and we just commend them to you into the word of your grace and pray that you'd uphold each and every one of them we as well pray for your blessing upon the children in this congregation we thank you for our young people we thank you for these little ones and we pray that you would help us as parents to bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord as well we pray for Chloe and for Stephanie we thank you for these these ladies and the babies in their wombs we pray that these little ones would be healthy and well and that according to your goodness and your kindness they would be born physically well and one day Born Again by Sovereign Grace we praise you for the churches and our community we thank you for the brothers that are Faithfully holding forth the word of Truth we thank you that we're not alone in this city and we pray that through the ministry of the Gospel in this city you would be pleased to save Sinners but you would be pleased to open eyes and hearts to the truth as it is in Jesus Christ and may many come to a saving knowledge of our blessed Lord as well we pray for this nation as a whole we are concerned at the direction we are going in terms of civil government in terms of public policy in terms of the promotion of wickedness and lawlessness we see so uh the celebration of abortion and euthanasia we see the celebration of sexual perversion we really see the days in which the prophet lived when he said well to those who call good evil and evil good nevertheless father strengthen your people strengthen the churches and cause us to be faithful in this evil age and Lord God may it be the case that if we or that we would know your grace and your mercy and that we would persevere that we would glorify and honor you and hold forth Christ to a lost and Dying World we pray for the persecuted Church throughout the Earth we know father that there are many imprisoned many suffering for the cause of God and truth and we pray that you would look with favor upon them continue with the Saints and Myanmar continue to bless our dear brother Peter continue to use him for your glory and for your honor and God continue to protect that Orange Grove and those people and especially as they form a church we thank you that there will be public worship of the living and true God even in war war-torn Myanmar we pray as well for our brother naphtali and Elder at Kenya we thank you for his faithful Ministry and pray God that you would bless this servant of the Lord Lord and be with the brothers in sigua to peke Honduras we thank you for those men laboring in the word and Doctrine we pray that they would know The Nearness of God as their good as they minister in that community and Lord thank you for the church and Surrey and in Armstrong and in Dryden we pray that they would know your blessing that you would indeed draw near to them in their public worship and that you would be glorified in the churches throughout the Earth and God save a multitude that no man can number from every tribe and tongue and people and Nation certainly this gives us impetus in terms of evangelism in terms of going forward as the Church of Christ looking to the end of the book looking at the Book of Revelation we see there's a great multitude assembled and certainly this does inspire the church today to continue to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ and him crucified and resurrected so God be glorified now in this glad our bless and strengthen and encourage each of our hearts we are weary from the world in which we live we are we are child with the various Temptations and trials that we face so Lord sanctify and strengthen us according to your truth and we pray through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen well you could turn with me again in your hymn books to one five four him 154 will stand as we sing together [Music] us [Music] age [Music] they stay safe is [Music] my memories I love the fear God always [Music] born [Music] we could turn in your Bibles to numbers 29 for our scripture reading this evening Numbers Chapter 29. and I'll begin reading in verse 1. and in the seventh month on the first day of the month you shall have a holy convocation you shall do no customary work for you it is a day of blowing the trumpets you shall offer a burnt offering as as a sweet Aroma to the Lord one young bull one ram and seven Lambs in their first year without blemish their grain offering shall be fine at flour mixed with oil three tenths of an epha for the bull two tents for the RAM and one tenth for each of the seven lambs also one kid of the goats is a sin offering to make atonement for you besides the burnt offering with its grain offering for the new moon the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and their drink offerings according to their ordinance as a sweet Aroma an offering made by fire to the Lord on the tenth day of this seventh month you shall have a holy convocation you shall afflict your souls you shall not do any work you shall present a burnt offering to the Lord as a sweet Aroma one young bull one ram and seven Lambs in their first year be sure they are without blemish their grain offering shall be a fine flower mixed with oil three-tenths of an epha for the bowl two tents for the one ram and one tenth for each of the seven lambs also one kid of the goats is a sin offering besides the sin offering for atonement the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and their drink offerings on the 15th day of the seventh month you shall have a holy convocation you shall do no customary work and you shall keep a feast to the Lord seven days you shall present a burnt offering an offering made by fire is a sweet Aroma to the Lord thirteen young Bulls two Rams and 14 Lambs in their first year they shall be without blemish their grain offering shall be a fine flower mixed with oil three tenths of an epha for each of the 13 Bulls two tenths for each of the two two Rams and one tenth for each of the Fourteen lambs also one kid of the goats is a sent off rank besides the regular burnt offering it's grain offering and its drink offering on the second day present 12 young Bulls two Rams 14 Lambs in their first year without blemish and their grain offering and their drink offerings for the Bulls for the Rams and for the Lambs by their number according to the ordinance also one kid of the goats is a sin offering besides the regular burnt offering with its grain offering and their drink offerings on the Third Day present 11 Bulls two Rams 14 Lambs in their first year without blemish and their grain offering and their drink offerings for the Bulls for the Rams and for the Lambs by their number according to the ordinance also one goat is a sin offering besides the regular burnt offering it's grain offering and its drink offering on the fourth Day present ten Bowls two Rams and 14 Lambs in their first year without blemish and their grain offering and their drink offerings for the Bulls for the Rams and for the Lambs by their number according to the ordinance also one kid of the goats as a sin offering besides the regular burnt offering it's grain offering and its drink offering on the fifth Day present nine Bulls two Rams and 14 Lambs in their first year without blemish and their grain offering and their drink offerings for the Bulls for the Rams and for the Lambs by their number according to the ordinance also one goat is a sin offering besides the regular burnt offering it's grain offering and its drink offering on the Sixth Day present eight Bulls two Rams and 14 Lambs in their first year without blemish and their grain offering and their drink offerings for the Bulls for the Rams and for the Lambs by their number according to the ordinance also one goat is a sin offering besides the regular burnt offering it's grain offering and its drink offering on the Seventh Day present seven Bulls two Rams and 14 Lambs in their first year without blemish and their grain offering and their drink offerings for the Bulls for the Rams for and for the Lambs by their number according to the ordinance also one Goat as a sin offering besides the regular burnt offering its grain offering and its drink offering on the eighth day you shall have a sacred assembly you shall do no customary work you shall present a burnt offering an offering made by fire as a sweet Aroma to the Lord One Bowl One Ram seven Lambs in their first year without blemish and their grain offering and their drink offerings for the bowl for the RAM and for the Lambs by their number according to the ordinance also one Goat as a sin offering besides the regular burnt offering its grain offering and its drink offering these you shall present to the Lord at your appointed feasts besides your vowed offerings and your free will offerings as your burnt offerings and your grain offerings as your drink offerings and your peace offerings so Moses told the children of Israel everything just as the Lord commanded Moses amen well let us pray Our God and our father we see that principle in both the Old and the New Testament that the Apostle tells us in Hebrews 9 without the shedding of blood there is no remission and we see this typical sacrificial system in the old Covenant pointing to the Lord Jesus Christ the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world we thank you for all that we see in the Old Testament pointing us forward to the New Testament and to that life and death of the Redeemer King on behalf of his people we thank you for including us we thank you that the blood of Jesus Christ your son cleanses us from all sin and that his sacrifice was indeed a sweet Aroma unto you showing and demonstrating the efficacy of it the approval by God the father of the work the finished work of the Lord Jesus Christ and we pray in his Most Blessed name amen well for our final hymn before the preaching you can turn to Psalm 34 see as in Charlie Psalm 34 C as in Charlie will use a familiar tune and will stand as we sing together [Music] oh my God [Music] breathe everything is [Music] fear of Jesus [Music] is Glory [Music] well you can turn with me in your Bibles to the book of Ephesians were in Ephesians chapter 5 verses one and two is our Focus this evening there's some question as to whether five one and two go with what follows or with what precedes I side with the the commentators that say it goes with what precedes so it sort of caps off that conduct of the new man that we see addressed beginning in verse 25. so I'll read from chapter 4 at verse 17 to chapter 5 verse 2. so beginning in chapter 4 at verse 17 this I say therefore and testify in the Lord that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk in the futility of their mind having their understanding darken being being alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them because of the blindness of their heart who being past feeling have given themselves over to lewdness to work all uncleanness with greediness but you have not so learned Christ if indeed you have have heard him and have been taught by him as the truth is in Jesus that you put off concerning your former conduct the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts and be renewed in the spirit of your mind and that you put on the new man which was created according to God in true righteousness and Holiness therefore putting away lying Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor for we are members of one another be angry and do not sin do not let the sun go down on your wrath nor give place to the devil let him who stole steal no longer but rather let him labor working with his hands what is good that he may have something to give him who has need let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth but what is good for necessary edification that it may impart grace to the hearers and do not grieve the holy spirit of God by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption let all bitterness wrath anger clamor and evil speaking be put away from you with all malice and be kind to one another tenderhearted forgiving one another even as God in Christ forgave you therefore be imitated of God as dear children and walk in love as Christ also has loved us and given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling Aroma amen well let us pray our gracious God we thank you for the New Testament Epistles we thank you for the instruction to the church not only the doctrine of our Salvation how you called us how you saved us how you blessed us but also how we're to live as new men and women in Christ Jesus guide us now by the presence and the power of your Holy Spirit cause us to take seriously this admonition to be imitators of God most high and as well to walk in love and do all that we do for your glory and for your honor and for the benefit of our brothers and our sisters and even to a lost and dying world again forgive us for all sin and transgression cleanse Us in the blood of the lamb and we pray in Jesus name amen well as we look at this particular section as I said verses one uh one and two of chapter five sort of conclude the previous Sac chat it is certainly related to the following section but it is a conclusion of what Paul has been dealing with beginning in chapter four at verse 17. so in chapter 4 at verse 17 he describes the characteristics of the new man so in 17 to 24 specifically in verses 20 to 24. notice in verse 22 that you put off concerning your former conduct the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful loss this is not a command this is not an imperative this is not something you're supposed to do this is something that has been done by God's grace we don't have the wherewithal and we don't have the ability to put off the old man God does that in regeneration God does that in saving us by his grace and then we see we are being renewed in the spirit of our mind according to verse 23 and then verse 24 and that you put but on the new man which was created according to God in true righteousness and Holiness so that describes or characterizes what we are in Christ Jesus so on the heels of that he then embarks on a section where he tells us how our conduct is to be consistent with that characterization in other words we have died in terms of the old man we're being renewed in terms of the spirit and we are putting on the new man well what does that look look like in Practical concrete terms well that's what he does in verses 25 to chapter 5 verse 2. and remember there was a particular order he would give a Prohibition and then he would give a a positive sort of rejoinder to that or an exhortation and then a motivation so notice in verse 25 put away lying that's the prohibition and then positively Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor and then the motivation is for we aren't members of one another same thing in the rest of those things that follow but when we come to verses one and two in chapter five there's no prohibition there's simply an exhortation and then motivation in terms of that character or in terms of that conduct so it's the conduct becoming or the conduct of the new man and so there are two things to look at in verses one and two here first the exhortation to imitate imitate God in verse one and then secondly the application by walking in love I don't think there's two different things imitate God and walk in love I think it's imitate God by walking in love how do we imitate God we do so by walking in that sphere or our orientation of love both to God and to man so let's look first at this exhortation to imitate God as I mentioned some take it with the following and I think there's good reason or rationale for that if you notice we're to walk in love according to verse two we're to walk in light according to verse 8 and then we're to walk in wisdom according to verse 15. so there is a an overarching theme but that goes back to chapter 4 and verse 1. so I take it as I said with the preceding that therefore that begins verse 1 of chapter five is an implication drawn from the last statement there in verse 32. so in 432 and be kind to one another tenderhearted forgiving one another even as God in Christ forgave you and then notice he says therefore be imitators of God so that's the exhortation this isn't the only place in the New Testament where the idea of imitation is held forth in fact when you search the New Testament Epistles you'll see a heavy emphasis on imitation imitate those things that are good obviously don't imitate the devil don't imitate the world don't imitate those lusts of the flesh but rather imitate those things that are Godly and upright and positive the church in thessalonica became imitators of the churches in Judea according to first Thessalonians 2 14. churches and when I say churches I mean the individuals in the churches Church churches are to were to imitate the Apostle Paul he says that in First Corinthians 4 16 First Corinthians chapter 11 and verse 1. Philippians chapter 3 in fact turn to Philippians chapter 3 just to see this fleshed out in a particular context notice what he says in verse 17 Brethren join in following my example and note those who so walk as you have us for a pattern the Apostle says follow my example or imitate me again that doesn't mean in his sin it doesn't mean when he's gone off the rails it means rather insofar as he imitates Christ follow him follow his example and imitate him but also look at what he says there in verse 17 join in following my example and note those who so walk as you have us for a pattern in other words note those who so walk in the context of the local church and don't always wait for them to set up a coffee date so they can pass on their virtue to to you but rather if you note those who so walk you see them as imitators of Christ you see them as Godly models Godly patterns Godly paradigms Godly examples you can contact them and say you know brother you know sister I could use a bit of help in my Christian walk there's nothing untoward about that in fact over in Titus Chapter 2 we know that the older women are to instruct the younger women I don't know that that means there's an obligation upon every older woman in the context of the church to go through her her you know address book and her iPhone and call every single one of the younger women and give them exhortation no there's a duty and a reciprocity and there is that connection on the part of everybody you don't get upset and frustrated because somebody never calls me you can pick up your phone and call them too it's a two-way street friendship and camaraderie and fellowship isn't a passive activity I'm just going to sit on my couch and whine until everybody from the church calls me incur and encourages me and tends to my soul pick up the phone initiate that conversation invite people over for coffee so back to verse 17 Brethren join in following my example and note those who so walk as you have us for a pattern now notice the rationale or the reason for many walk of whom I have told you often and now tell you even weeping that they are the enemies of the Cross of Christ so why do you note Paul's example why do you look for good examples and positivity in the church because there's a lot of negative example because there's a lot of wickedness and lawlessness around us because there's a lot of people serving their bellies and stir instead of the living and true God so either look out actively four good examples and you're supposed to initiate contact with them so that you can benefit from their example as well first Thessalonians chapter 1 verse 6 the people of God are to imitate Paul and then second Thessalonians chapter 3 verses 7 and 9. now obviously the churches the people within the churches were to imitate Jesus Christ we see that in first Thessalonians chapter 1 and verse 6. the only place where we are called specifically to be imitators of God is here in Ephesians 5. though in the gospels Jesus does say be perfect as your heavenly father is perfect in Matthew 5 48 and in Luke 6 37 he says be merciful as your heavenly father is merciful but in terms of a specific admonition or exhortation to be imitators of God Ephesians 5 1 is that text now notice in terms of the emphasis there's a general emphasis the imitators of God we talk about this we call it Godly Ness right ungodliness is identifiable in the wicked in the Lawless and those who do not walk in a manner consistent with God's holy word so godliness contrary contrary to that means to identify with God it means to be like God again not a participant in the Divinity not a participant in the Divine Essence but in terms of imitation we're to be Godly godliness in terms of a general emphasis but I would say specifically in our context it is to be connected very intimately with verse 32. so be kind to one another tenderhearted forgiving one another even as God in Christ forgave you therefore be imitators of God so be the kinds of persons that forgive one another be the kinds of persons that are filled with tenderheartedness to their fellows be kind to one another godliness is demonstrable godliness is Manifest godliness is revealed in the way that we love one another in fact John Gill mentions this in terms of the imitation of God not in his works of infinite wisdom and Almighty power which is impossible we're not told to imitate God in his Almighty power and infinite wisdom he says but in Acts of righteousness and Holiness and particularly in Acts of Mercy goodness and beneficence as in forgiving injuries and offenses and in Freely Distributing to the necessities of the Saints so this particular admonition or exhortation the imitators of God generally be Godly but specifically have a large heart of forgiveness toward those who sin against you if your brother sins against you go to him if he hears you you've won your brother that's the pattern that's the example you're supposed to be forgiving when it comes to the sins of your fellows even as God in Christ forgave you you shouldn't hold grudges you shouldn't avoid persons you shouldn't say well I'll never have any truck with them ever again they're dead to me because they have the goal to to sin against me do you know that brethren in the Christian church we have a mechanism to deal with that we have a mechanism in place to do deal with that fact twofold if I go to the altar to offer up my sacrifice to God and there I remember that my brother has a problem with me what am I supposed to do I'm supposed to leave my altar uh my gift at the altar I'm supposed to go and seek reconciliation with them and then I present my offering unto the Lord in other words fix your horizontal problems before you come to the Lord God most high in the vertical sphere and as well I've already alluded to it Matthew 18 if your brother sins against you don't write them off don't count them as dead deal but go to him if he hears you you've won your brother so there is a mechanism in place for the sins of God's people in the church in the family and in their interpersonal relations John Edie makes this observation in terms of imitating God they cannot be imitators of God as Creator they may resemble him as the god of Providence in feeding and clothing the Indigent but especially can they copy him in his highest character as Redeemer when like him they a pardon offenders and so imitate his Royal and lofty prerogative so generally godliness specifically in the way that we relate to one another so that's the exhortation be imitators of God now notice the motivation as dear children now we're not left to wonder what Paul means here because in a in a in a wonderful way he has brought us or led us to this point go back for just a moment to chapter one as we consider our entrance into the family of God notice in chapter 1 at verse 3 blessed be the God and father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the Heavenly places in Christ just as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and Without Blame before him in love having predestined us to adoption as Sons by Jesus Christ to himself according to the good pleasure of his will see God chose us in him before the foundation of the world in love God predestinate a predestined us unto adoption as Sons by Christ Jesus so it is the entrance into the family of God by Sovereign election by predestination by God's discriminating choice not based on the creature but according to his good pleasure but then as well turn over to chapter two how do we enter into that family of God we've been chosen from before the foundation of the world in love we have been predestined to adoption as Sons but as Paul says in Chapter 2 verses 1 to 3 where lifeless and hopeless and helpless apart from salvation in Christ so in verse 4 he says but God who is rich in Mercy because of his great love with which he loved us even when we were dead in trespasses made us alive together with Christ by Grace you have been saved and raised us up together and made us sit together in the Heavenly places in Christ Jesus that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding Riches of his grace in his kindness toward us in Christ Jesus for by Grace you've been saved through faith and that not of yourselves it is the gift of God not of Works lest anyone should boast so we've been predestinated according to God's love in Christ Jesus and in time and space and through the ministry of the Holy Spirit coming to us through the word by the power of the word we are born again we are saved by grace We Believe on Jesus we are forgiven of our sins we receive that righteousness by which we can enter into the presence of the holy God so when Paul says be imitators of God as dear children we know what he's talking about so we see the entrance into the family of God but notices well in the book of Ephesians the privilege of inclusion in the family of God drop down to chapter 2 at verse 18 for through him Jesus we both have access by one Spirit to the father now therefore you are no longer strangers and foreigners but fellow citizens with the Saints and notice and members of the household of God so there is that blessed privilege of being members in the household of God we have access to the father but uh through Christ by one spirit so we have this blessed privilege belonging to the family of God but as we follow Paul's trajectory in Ephesians 5 1. we also see there's responsibility attached to belonging to the family of God so it's not just our entrance that we celebrate it's not just the privilege that we rejoice in but it's the responsibility that we put or that we take seriously so notice what he says be imitators of God as dear children now in our studies in John's gospel we've seen where Jesus speaks very powerfully against the unbelieving Jews especially in John chapter 8 at verse 44 he says you are of your father the devil and the desires of your father you want to do he was a a liar and a murderer from the beginning when he speaks lies it's according to his nature and then in that very context we see them ape or imitate or or follow the lead of their father they lie about Jesus they deceive concerning Jesus and they want to murder Jesus Remember John 8 ends on that note they pick up stones to throw at Jesus because he had just asserted that he is the I am that Abraham rejoiced to see and so Sons imitate their fathers the sons of the devil walk according to the devil Paul says that in Ephesians chapter 2 notice in verse 1 and you he made alive who were dead in trespasses and sins in which you once walked according to the course of this world according to the prince of the power of the air the spirit who now works in the sons of Disobedience see there is this family resemblance amongst the ungodly there is this family resemblance amongst the Lawless and there is to be a family resemblance amongst the people of God we're supposed to be imitators of God as dear children this is a consequence of inclusion into the family by the grace of God it's not a requirement remember the religion of man says obey and then you'll get obey God and then you'll be saved that's not how the gospel proceeds notice in verses 22 to 24 in chapter 4. it is what we call the indicative these are things that are true you by the grace of God have put off the old man you by the grace of God are being renewed in the spirit of the mind you by the grace of God have put on the new man this is what God's Grace has done now based on that indicative engage in this imperative don't lie don't steel and speak well and kindly to one another and so be imitators of God as dear children in other words this is the reflex this is what is consequential for inclusion into the family of God Stephen boss says as in 4 32 it is vital to see that believers do not become children or acquire God's love by imitating him but they are children and so in consequence imitate him there's a big difference Paul is not saying imitate God so that you can be saved he is saying you've been saved and one of the responsibilities attached to save salvation and being included in the family of God yes there's privilege you have access into the very presence of the throne room you have access into the very presence of God most all right there's also responsibility you need to imitate God you need to be Godly now Brethren that's not going to be perfection there's always going to be a proneness to wander and a proneness to leave the god that we love there's always going to be the Romans 7 sort of battle in our hearts the good that we wish to do we don't do and the evil that we don't want to do we find ourselves doing there's always the Galatians 5 17 the flesh lusts against the spirit and the spirit lusts against the Flesh and these are contrary to one another so that you don't do the things that you want there's going to be that we can't expect Perfection from any of the people of God when Jesus says be perfect as your heavenly father is perfect he's probably speaking more in terms of wholeness and consistency he's not speaking about Sin last Ness there's only a few in the history of the Protestant church that have taught that there is a sinlessness achievable by God's people on this side of glory and that is not a good position that does not take seriously the the Bible the New Testament the the the the passages that I mentioned Romans 7 and Galatians 5. so it is the consequence of inclusion into the family by the grace of God and it is the responsibility of inclusion into the family of God a responsibility that's a consequence not a responsibility that is a requirement for salvation you've been saved therefore be annotators of God as dear children look at 4-1 I therefore the prisoner of the Lord beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called in other words you've been called into this salvation now you're to live in a manner that is consistent with that salvation he says the same thing in Philippians 1 27 only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ so that whether I am I come and see you or am absent I may hear of your Affairs that you stand fast in one spirit with one mind striving together for the faith of the Gospel but that emphasis let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ A.T Lincoln says Believers have been adopted into God's family and should exhibit the family resemblance it's pretty obvious right be imitators of God as dear children the Godless are imitators of their father the devil they engage in deception and lies and destruction they traffic in that that's what makes them happy sin pain misery and destruction that is typical behavior of the god less with reference to the people of God we're to engage in those things that are pleasing to our Heavenly Father one final passage before we move on look at Matthew chapter 12 Matthew chapter 12 where Jesus illustrates this fact for us in the most glorious way Matthew chapter 12 at verse 46 while he was still talking to the multitudes behold his mother and brother stood outside seeking to speak with them then one said to him look your mother and your brothers are standing outside seeking to speak with you but he answered and said to the one who told him who is my mother and who are my brothers and he stretched out his hand toward his disciples and said here are my mother and my brothers forever does the will of my Father in Heaven is my brother and sister and mother so inclusion in the family of God bespeaks responsibility to imitate God the father now let's look secondly at that next verse in verse two again some take it as imitate God and walk in love as if it's two separate things imitate God and then walk in love I think it's imitate God by walking in love how do we imitate God we walk in love so what does that mean we know first of all in terms of the nature of God the son is to resemble the father and the father father is love that's how John describes God in first John 4 at verse 8 and then again at verse 16. now with reference to God God is his Perfections all that is in God is God so it's not that God has love it's God not that God has the capacity to love it's not that God sort of stumbles onto love once in a while definitionally God is love that's his nature so how do we imitate him it's by walking in love if God is in fact definitionally love then the way that we imitate that God is by walking in love as well what we have here in terms of the object of our love notice walk in love doesn't specify in terms of who we are to love the rest of the Bible does the rest of the Bible tells us we're to love God and we're to love man we're love God and we'll love our fellows turn back to Matthew's gospel in Matthew chapter 22. Matthew chapter 22 Jesus Echoes the the Old Testament teaching concerning the decalogue or the Ten Commandments and if you notice in Matthew 22 at verse 34 but when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees they gathered together then one of them a lawyer asked him a question testing and saying teacher which is the great commandment of the law Jesus said to him you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart with all your soul and with all your mind this is the first and great commandment and the second is like it you shall love your neighbor as yourself on these two Commandments hang all the law and the prophets it's a summary statement when you take love to God and love to man what does that describe or summarize it summarizes the Ten Commandments the first four table uh uh Commandments rather in the first table of the law show us our love to God and then the latter six laws in that second table show us our love to man so when we see this statement be imitators of God as dear children and walk in love we know that we're supposed to love God with all our heart soul mind and strength Rank and we're supposed to love our neighbors as ourself so the Bible teaches this very clearly it's not confined simply to Ephesians chapter five it's all over the Bible I think I've mentioned before Leviticus 19 is the love chapter in the Old Testament we typically typically think of First Corinthians 13 as the love chapter and it is but there's a love chapter in the Old Testament then it's Leviticus 19. it's where supposed to love our fellows we're supposed to love all men to be sure Jesus teaches that in The Sermon on the Mount or even to love our enemies we're even to pray for our enemies bless those who persecute us that that sort of thing but but in this particular context The Walking In Love certainly has primary reference to the people of God around us to the people of God that we fellowship with to the people of God that we identify with to the people of God that we are most likely at some time or another going to have to forgive because they've sinned against us or we're going to have to seek forgiveness because we've sinned against them we're supposed to walk in love now in terms of the manifestation of our love it's an Evidence of our regeneration in fact you can turn to First John first John has something to say about this very clearly in terms of love to Brethren or hatred for that look at first John chapter 3. first John chapter 3 specifically at verse 14. he says we know that we have passed from Death To Life why because we love the brethren we know that we have passed from Death To Life how why because we love the Brethren and again love there doesn't mean we always have coffee with everybody at all times we always bring flowers to everybody at all times where everybody's BFF it's just this big love fast all we do is sit in the building and love on one another no Romans chapter 13 indicates that love is the Fulfillment of God's law we don't murder each other we don't commit adultery against each other we don't steal from one another we don't assassinate one another's character and certainly we can bring flowers to each other we can hang out with each other we can fellowship with each other and that sort of thing but notice what he says we know that we have passed from Death to life because we love the Brethren he who does not love his brother abides in death and then look over to chapter 3 at verse 10 in this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God nor is he who does not love his brother and then back in Chapter 2 at verse 9 mind he who says he is in the light and hates his brother is in darkness until now he who loves his brother abides in the light and there is no cause for stumbling in him but he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes so when we look at Paul in Ephesians 5 and he tells us to walk in love the nature of God is love therefore we are to imitate him and therefore walk in love love to God love to our Brethren when we actually engage in this love it manifests or demonstrates our regeneration we know that we pass from Death To Life why because we love the brethren we love to be with each other we love to talk we love the fellowship as well as I've mentioned it is the Fulfillment of the law turned back to Romans 13. Romans chapter 13 again not in the context of do this and you will be saved but rather you've been saved now therefore do this Romans 12 1 therefore by the mercies of God I beseech you Brethren to present to our bodies as a Living Sacrifice and then he gives concrete application of what it looks like to engage in that sort of sacrificial living and then he comes to chapter 13 and verse 8 he says oh no one anything except to love one another for he who loves another has fulfilled the law for the Commandments you shall not commit adultery you shall not murder you shall not steal you shall not bear false witness you shall not covet and if there is any other commandment are all summed up in this saying namely you shall love your neighbor as yourself guess where that comes from comes from Leviticus 19. love does no harm to a neighbor therefore love is the Fulfillment of the law the other ones come from Exodus 20. in other words this is the normative use of God's law it's not saying do this to be saved but you've been saved in order to do this that's the emphasis in the New Testament sanctification is not ambiguous it's not vague it's not left up to the Sanctified to try to figure out what does please God God's revealed that to us in the Ten Commandments in terms of what pleases him such that our Lord in John 17 17 can say sanctify them by thy truth Thy word is truth he doesn't leave it up for grabs he doesn't leave it up for you know consensus well what do you think God wants in terms of sanctification well what do you think what does this mean to you no we don't have to be left guessing we have concrete application in terms of God's law relative to the Christian life so it is a manifestation of our uh the evidence of our regeneration the Fulfillment of the law and then Ministry to our brethren in distress I mean let's not leave it all in the abstract turn back to First John first John chapter 3 once again just to see this is not an abstract concept but it is to be concretized it is to be applied it is to be put into practice as Luther famously famously said God does not need your good works but your neighbor does God does not need your good works but your neighbor does notice in first John chapter 3 at verse 16. by this we know love because he laid down his life for us this is how Paul is going to motivate Us in Ephesians 5 2 walk in love why because Christ has given himself for us this is always the the motive this is always the the thing that that seizes the conscience of God's people when you look at what Christ has done in terms of our Salvation it makes perfect sense that these are the requirements in terms of the life of sanctification and yeah not requirements in order to be saved but requirements in terms of consequence in us having been saved so verse 16 by this we know love because he laid down his life for us and we also ought to lay down our lives for the Brethren but whoever has this world's goods and sees his brother in need and shuts up his heart from him how does the love of God abide in him my little children let us not love in word or in tongue but indeed and in truth so it is in evidence of our regeneration it is the Fulfillment of the law it is the ministry to our brethren in distress God doesn't need your good works but your neighbor does and I would suggest finally under this head that it's the Pinnacle of godliness it is the Pinnacle of godliness God is definition definitionally love if God is love first John 4 8 first John 4 16 then those who are Godly those new men and new women who are imitators of him that primary sort of representation will be in this act of love love for God and love for man Colossians 3 14 tells us but above all these things put on love but above all these things and it's a list of virtue that Paul includes there in Colossians similar to what he's doing here in Ephesians but above all these things put on love or consider the Apostle Peter in First Peter 4 8 and above all things have fervent love for one another for love will cover a multitude of sins again it's couched in the context of interpersonal relationships that perhaps have gone sideways or sour because one or the other has sinned against one or the other see again brethren we are never guaranteed in the life of the Christian church that no one's ever going to sin against us we're never guaranteed in the life of the Christian Church there's never going to be an offense we're never guaranteed in the life of the Christian church or or in our Christian families or in our Christian marriage that we're never going to sit against each other of course we are I'm not endorsing it I'm certainly not encouraging it but I'm able to read the scripture and I'm able to meditate upon you know my own lack of performance and the lack of performance at least that I've witnessed in terms of some others not here of course but but there is that shortcoming in the people of God at every step of the way and so in the context of sinning against each other look at where the apostles plant love love one another have fervent love for one another why because love will cover a multitude of sins husbands and wives bring that into your marriage let Love cover a multitude of sins don't get your noses bent out of shape by every single offense now there's certainly offenses to get your noses bent out of shape over I'm not suggesting otherwise well you know he's out committing adultery but I've got enough love so I'm just going to cover that uh that particular sin that's that's Folly and foolishness and that's not what I'm endorsing but the garden variety day in and day out sort of inter personal relationship in the marriage situation you better have a thick skin and you better have the ability to let some things slide you better have the ability to turn the other cheek I don't mean literally as if you're going to get popped in that one too but the bottom line is is that we sin against each other and when that is looked upon by the apostles what do they do in terms of addressing it love one another be kindly affectionate to one another bear with one another be long-suffering toward one another why because if you're not you're going to dissolve relationships if you're not you're going to ruin churches if not you're going to go get divorced because you just can't reconcile over these things Brethren the Bible authorizes or permits divorce on just two occasions and not picking up your socks on a regular basis is not one of them cooking and burning the food you know five times out of out of seven in a week is not one of them you know except for bad cook then you know all bets are off you go right ahead right certificate of divorce and find somebody that's a bit more familiar in the kitchen no that's not it so the bottom line is is when it comes to interpersonal relationships which is what we're in in terms of 25 to 5'2 it is love be imitators of God by walking in Love Now notice the motivation in 2B and again I've already tipped my hand walk in love as Christ also has loved us and given himself for us an offering and sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling Aroma it was sure handy that we read numbers 29. it was sure handy that we looked at Leviticus chapter 1 on Wednesday night Leviticus chapter 1 is something of a parallel passage to what we find here in Ephesians 5 2. you say Butler that seems odd and weird and bizarre no Leviticus chapter 1 foreshadows typifies and points forward to the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world who's become that sweet smelling Aroma to God the Father you saw that there in the reading didn't you unless you were not paying attention perhaps you tuned out from numbers 29 you shouldn't have but when they offer up that sacrifice to God what do we see it's a sweet smelling Aroma Leviticus chapter one sweet smelling Aroma Leviticus chapter two sweet smelling a soothing Aroma to Yahweh when these sacrifices are offered up to him so look at what Paul says he speaks of the love of Christ walk in love as Christ also has loved us now the as there does not point to equality we'll never love ask Christ love in fact look at Hebrews Ephesians 5 25 husbands love your wives just as Christ also loved the church and gave himself for that's not equality there's never going to be that kind equality in terms of our love as man for our wives but there is that standard or that comparison or that sort of Benchmark as to how it is we're supposed to love so in verse 2 walk in love as Christ also has loved us look over at Ephesians chapter 3 verse 18 that you may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge and as well consider the fact that we have have this Love Of Christ for us think about that in verse 32 he says to forgive one another even as God in Christ forgave you so Christ has forgiven us of all of our sin all of our lawlessness all of our wretchedness all of our identification with our father the Devil he's forgiven us the blood of Jesus Christ his son cleanses us from all sin so should we hold on to things that our fellows do to us should we say oh no that person did this and I will never forgive that no that's not to be like Jesus we're to love as Christ loved us but notice he fleshes that out again he moves from the abstract to the concrete as Christ also has loved us it's a great contemplation a great consideration Christ is the second person of the Trinity he as God loves but that's not what Paul is pointing to he's pointing to the Redemptive work of our Lord Jesus Christ and His function as mediator so he has loved us and noticed given himself for us and offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling aroma so the nature of his work is for us the nature of his work is substitutionary atonement the nature of his work is penal substitutionary atonement this is the Supreme demo demonstration of Christ's love you see it in John 15 13. he says greater love has no one than this than to lay down one's life for his friends Paul says in Romans 5 6 to 8 for you know people will scarcely die for a righteous man right if somebody lobbed a grenade in here I hope it doesn't come to that but if somebody lobbed a grenade in here would you jump on it immediately it might be a little hesitation there and and we're righteous people I don't mean Godly perfect wonderful specimens of humanity but we're not people on subways threatening to kill others you know that that would be the unright just man that we probably wouldn't jump on that grenade for but for righteous men yeah there'd be a hesitation again the grenade goes rolling down the hill rolling down the aisles everybody jumping on that thing it might be a moment of reflection I don't know I don't know what these guys are that that righteous after all I'm going to hit for the door but Paul says God commandeth his own love toward us and that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us so we've got the Supreme demonstration of Christ's love Charles Hodge says the greatest evidence of divine love is the death of Christ so walk in love as Christ also has loved us and given himself for us the substitutionary nature of Christ's atoning work on our behalf again we looked at several passages in The Book of Leviticus on sun uh Wednesday night and you see certain features in that burnt offering in chapter one The Burnt offering is to be a male and the burnt offering is to be blemish free and one of the things that I've explained to the Brethren is that there's some ambiguity in that series of sacrifices in Leviticus chapters one to six doesn't always give us all the why doesn't always give us every bit of content and detail about these sacrifices so what should we do we should appreciate that these are typical in other words they point forward to the Lord Jesus Christ and if we live in the days of the Lord Jesus Christ we can ask him for help on how to interpret those passages so when God says to the children of Israel in terms of the herd or in terms of the flock bring a male what is the Lord God uh highlighting that it is pointing toward that male that man that seed of the woman of Genesis Chapter 3 The deliverer would be a man and the deliverer would bring Victory through his own suffering and death of course it goes on to say that that animal must be without blemish well again what does that point forward to it points forward to the one who's identified Hebrews 7 as being wholly harmless and undefiled when God comes to deal with us in terms of our sin he doesn't hold back he provides his son the son of his love his only begotten son as to the sacrifice for us and so when it comes to this particular statement would a walk in love as Christ also has loved us and given himself for us it is the doctrine and a penal substitution John and again there are many many passages that I cited on Wednesday night many passages that I could cite tonight I'll just give you a few in a moment but Gil says Christ was both priest and sacrifice he offered himself a a propitiatory sacrifice for the sins of his people to expiate them and make reconciliation and satisfaction for that Matthew 20 28 the son of man came to give his life a ransom for many John 1 29 Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world we've got first Romans 5 8 I've already said it God commends his own love toward us and that while we're at sinners Christ died what for us the the just for the unjust First Peter chapter four we have all these emphases throughout the New Testament that the life or the death rather of Jesus was not first and foremost exemplary wasn't simply to function as an example for us so go live in such a sacrificial way that you're willing to die for people know the primary referent was blood atonement the primary referent was a satisfaction to Divine Justice through the life the the holy and righteous Lord Jesus Christ John Eden as commentary on Ephesians gives a wonderful statement a summary statement concerning the language of the New Testament he died for our sins First Corinthians 15 3. he died for us first Thessalonians 5 10. he gave himself for our sins Galatians 1 4. he died for the ungodly Romans 5 6. he died for all 2 Corinthians 5 14. and a brother is one on whose behalf Christ died first Corinthians 8 11. his death is an offering for sin Hebrews 10 18. one sacrifice for sin Hebrews 10 12 the blood of him who offered himself Hebrews 9 14. the offering of his body once for all Hebrews 10 10 his death makes expiation Hebrews 2 17. there is propitiation in his blood Romans 3 25 we're justified in his blood Romans 5 9. we were reconciled by his death Romans 5 10. he gave himself a ransom first Timothy 2 6. he redeemed us from the curse of the law being made a curse for us Galatians 3 13 and Christ Our Passover was sacrificed for us First Corinthians 5 7. I mentioned on Wednesday night that there are actually people in the Christian church that deny the doctrine of penal substitution well that's to take almost a lot of you know a big significant portion of the New Testament and throw it off to the side again the primary referent in terms of Christ coming into this world to live to die and to rise again was so that he could save us from our sins not simply set an example for us to follow it was penal substitution without the shedding of blood there is no remission and that's the standard that's the Benchmark that's how Christ loves us and therefore we are called to walk in love therefore we are to exercise that mindset to others and then finally notice the efficacy of his work it's not just the nature he gave himself and and have given himself for us but the efficacy and offering and sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling Aroma this is Old Testament language applied in a new testament situation we've got the typical and the anti-type we've got what was told and what was fulfilled in and through our Lord Jesus Christ the sacrifice of Christ was not a ransom paid to the devil the sacrifice of Christ was to satisfy Divine Justice notice this was an offering and a sacrifice to God not to the devil this is the problem with The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe the payment is made to the White Witch that's not biblical as good a writer as C.S Lewis is that theology is terrible this was held by some in the early Church The Ransom to Satan Theory it is unbiblical the offering and the sacrifice was to God it was to the father this was the reference point this was the the Wrath that must be appeased this was the justice that must be satisfied Christ was the anti-type of the old Covenant sacrifices the sacrifice must be a male the sacrifice must be without blemish in Leviticus we see reminiscent of or rather we we see in Genesis chapter 8 when when Noah comes out of the the ark says Noah built an offering to the Lord and took of every clean animal and of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the Altar and the Lord smelled a soothing Aroma and and the Lord said in his heart I will never again curse the ground for man's sake although the imagination of man's evilness a heart is evil from his youth nor will I again destroy every living thing as I have died it's not as if this spirit being who is God God is spirit it's not as if he has a physical nostril or olfactory system and there's a you know a wonderful pleasing scent to to to barbecued meat I mean certainly we can understand that and that's what you should think the soothing Aroma I mean when there's that kind of meat being cooked and you know presented up to God it was probably smelling very good it's not that God has some sort of again old factory sense that he approves of that it's the language of acceptance It's the language of of appeasement it's the language that the sacrifice was in fact good that God was pleased God smiled upon it God accepted it and God's Wrath was in fact averted well in conclusion we are to imitate God that shouldn't surprise anyone and we're to imitate God specifically in the way that we walk we're to walk in love and as we see as we move through chapter five we're to walk in the light and we're to walk in wisdom in other words that orientation of the believer's life is to be consistent with what we are as new men and new women in Christ Jesus the old man has been put off we're being renewed in the spirit of the mind and we have by Grace put on the new man secondly let us never forget privilege in the privilege of membership in the household of God but that privilege carries with it responsibility it's not just what we get but we're able to give we're able to comply with instructions we're able to do those things that are pleasing to God and pleasing to our fellows and then finally we ought to appreciate the glory of Christ's sacrifice it was penal substitution the just stood for the unjust so that the unjust might have ever lasting life it is a most glorious thing Paul says he loved me and he gave himself for me in Galatians 2 20. now listen to how Paul phrases that he doesn't say he loved us and gave himself for us though he does elsewhere in the scripture but he highlights the personal pronoun I don't want to get all pronouny but the Christian religion is one of personal pronouns he loved me and gave himself for me can you say that tonight have you by Grace partaken of that sacrifice have you by Grace been cleansed by the blood of Jesus is it good news to you that Christ came that Christ lived that Christ died that Christ was raised again so that you and I might have everlasting life don't go well I'm going to go out and annotate God I'm gonna go walk in love without having first come to the Cross is there where we learn it's there where we're we're saved it's it's there where we're conformed into the image of our blessed savior so if you have not participated in that blessed sacrifice look to him in faith it's not go out and do this and earn it but rather it is to look and to live and receive it well let us pray Our Father in heaven we thank you for your word and we thank you for the clarity of the Apostles exhortation here and give us Grace as your children to imitate you and to walk in love love for God and love for our fellows go with us now and watch over us in this coming week and be glorified and with in our lives and be glorified throughout the churches throughout the the world and we ask this in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ amen we'll close with a brief time of meditation