Dynamic Life Baptist Church

Sermon Title: The Chosen One’s: Imitating Walk

Sermon Text: Ephesians 5:1-17

Sermon Purpose: To call the hearer to imitate the characteristics of God’s children in a wicked and perverse generation.

Sermon Proposition: Paul instructs children of God to imitate God in 3 ways.

Introduction: The early church saint, Clement of Alexandria said, “The Christian practices being God.” (Quoted by William Barclay, The Letter to the Galatians and Ephesians, p. 190)

Matthew 5:48 "Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

Leviticus 19:2 "Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say to them: 'You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy.

2 Corinthians 4:18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

1 Peter 1:15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, 16 because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy."

I.          The children must be careful to walk in eternal love. V.1-7

John 6:51 "I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world."

John 15:13 "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.

1 John 3:14 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.

John 10:15 "As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep.

John 13:35 "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."

1 John 3:16 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. 17 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? 18 My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.

1 John 4:20 If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?

James 1:21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

2 Thessalonians 3:6 But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us.

1 Corinthians 5:9 I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people.

2 Peter 2:9 then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment, 10 and especially those who walk according to the flesh in the lust of uncleanness and despise authority. They are presumptuous, self-willed. They are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries,

II.        The children must be careful to walk in eternal light. V.8-14

John 1:5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

Matthew 6:23 "But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

1 Thessalonians 5:4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief.

Philippians 2:15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,

Colossians 1:13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love,

1 Thessalonians 5:5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness.

2 Corinthians 6:17 Therefore "Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you." 18 "I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the LORD Almighty."

Matthew 5:37 "But let your 'Yes' be 'Yes,' and your 'No,' 'No.' For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.

1 John 1:5 This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.

Colossians 4:6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

Romans 13:11 And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.

1 Corinthians 15:34 Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.

John 8:12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."

III.       The children must be careful to walk in eternal life. V.15-17

            A.        The principle of eternal life is to watch every step. V.15

Colossians 2:6 As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him,

1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.

1 John 2:1 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.

            B.        The priority of eternal life is to redeem the time. V.16 (1 Cor. 7:29-31)

Each of us needs to take a moment and think through where we waste so much time and correct it. More than ever we need to give ourselves to make a significant contribution to our work and society, to our church and community, to living righteously and godly, to witnessing and helping a world people who are discouraged and lonely, hungry, and cold, hurting and suffering.

            C.        The practice of eternal life. V.17

John 8:31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

Psalm 40:8 I delight to do Your will, O my God, And Your law is within my heart."

Psalm 119:9 How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to Your word.

Psalm 119:11 Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You!