The Distinction Of Christian Love In Jesus Series

Crossway Christian Fellowship

Hagerstown, MD

www.mycrossway.org

View this sermon at: https://mycrossway.churchcenter.com/episodes/132497

Introduction

In Scotland, a survey was given to law enforcement officers about their religious affiliations. What caught my attention was that 8 of the officers claimed their religious affiliation to be "Jedi". I discovered that there are an increased number of people who participate in light-saber training and meditation sessions to increase their Jedi skills. (Credit: Ty Tamasaka, Sermon Central). The point is that religious affiliation is often equated to something you are a “fan” of or following because it is popular or a fad.

Christianity -or being a “follower” of Jesus is never about the whims of a fad or something popular. In fact, it is something that is quite counter-cultural and disassociated from the world. In fact, what we find in the Gospels is that when Jesus found himself being surrounded by large crowds, he would often preach a message that would more likely drive listeners away rather than encourage them to return for next week's message. This is going to be one of those sermons.

Kyle Idelman, who pastors Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, KY said, “there is no believing without following, no salvation without surrender, no forgiveness without repentance, and no life without death.” Jesus was never interested in enthusiastic admirers; he wanted completely committed followers who are willing to die to themselves before following Him.

We are living in a time when it seems like God is separating the wheat from the chaff and burning away the dross in the church. I don’t know of a time in history when the Gospel was under more attack than today. Time is short and it will soon be clear who are the sheep and who are the goats; who are the wheat and who are the tares; who are just the fans and who are the true followers. That’s my question to you today.

Over the last several weeks, we have gone through the end of Chapter 4 and the opening verses of Chapter 5 in the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. What the Apostle Paul has been doing is constantly building on foundational truths of the evidence that should be apparent in the life of the believer. These are not a list of do’s and don’ts, but rather an evidence of the transformative power of Jesus in our lives. If you are truly following after Jesus, there is going to be evidence of that in the manner of your living, your walk, your talk, and your thinking. That is going to transform your relationship with your spouse, and how you parent and relate to others. Even more importantly, it is going to give you a decisive victory over Satan and his schemes.

Have you ever watched an eclipse? When we have a lunar eclipse, the world’s dark shadow blocks the reflective light of the sun. There is a spiritual truth in that for our lives. When we allow the darkness of the world into our lives, then we block out the light of God into our hearts and this is Paul’s point here in Ephesians. Let’s read Chapter 5:1-6 together:

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. 3 But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. 4 Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place but instead let there be thanksgiving. 5 For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. (Ephesians 5:1–6 ESV)

I. We Are to Imitate God in Love

?Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. (Ephesians 5:1 ESV)

The Apostle Paul tells us that we are to be imitators of God as His Children. Just as your children will pick up all your mannerisms, so are we to have such a close relationship with God that we will pick up His attributes. Theologians will tell you there are communicable attributes (those that we can share) and non-communicable attributes (those that we cannot share).

For instance:

1. Self-existent means that God has no origins

2. Self-sufficient means that God has no needs and therefore depends on no one. That is not at all true of us.

3. Eternal means that God has always existed and will always exist.

4. Omnipotent means all-powerful.

5. Omnipresent means being everywhere at once.

6. Omniscient means knowing all things.