<p>Ephesians Series, Transformed into Riches – 14 “Live a Life of Love” Date: September 10, 2017 Scripture: Ephesians 5:1-7 Theme: We are to imitate God’s love in life by following the example of Jesus Christ. Introduction: According to John 8:34, the distinguishing badge of a Christian is their love for one another. Jack Sailor, missionary from SEND INTERNATIONAL to Dawson City, YT, talks about imitating his father’s walk. Scary as it may be we often imitate our parents in their notable characteristics. Walking, driving, talking, mannerisms, etc. As God’s children we are to imitate God in his characteristic of love. Live a life of love. It will be an identifying feature of your life in Christ. The Pattern for Imitators of Godly Living… 1. Live a life of Love verse 1-2a a. Follow God’s example a.i. Be an imitator of God’s characteristics a.ii. 1 Peter 1:14-16, 1 John 3:2, Romans 5:5 b. As dearly loved children b.i. Our desire is to be like him – He loved, He forgave/we love, we forgive b.ii. Need of understanding the extreme love in forgiveness (see Luke 7:36-47) 2. Love as Christ Loved verse 2b a. Sacrifice a.i. He gave his life, we give our life (He is our pattern to trace) a.ii. Allowing the Holy Spirit to transform us (see 2 Corinthians 3:18) b. Fragrant Offering b.i. Leviticus – 5 offerings b.i.1. First 3, burnt, meal, peace offering – making peace between God & man b.i.1.a. Sweet, soothing aroma to God b.i.2. Last 2, sin, trespass – Son became sin for us b.i.2.a. Repulsive to God b.i.2.b. When raised, the sacrifice that caused death became the sacrifice that conquered sin – now became a fragrant aroma 3. Leave Selfish Love Ideas, Desires, and Habits verse 3-7 a. Satan will pervert love and sex, our strongest emotion a.i. No immorality, impurity, greed --- improper a.i.1. Against God and Godly love a.ii. No obscenity, foolish talk, course joking --- out of place a.ii.1. Unclean and filthy (immoral thoughts, passions, ideas, fantasies, etc.) a.iii. No immoral, impure, idolater, or greedy person --- in the kingdom of Christ b. Do not be deceived b.i. Empty words and promises b.i.1. Even in the church – (“not hurting anyone, always forgiveness, etc.”) c. God’s wrath awaits the disobedient c.i. God does not tolerate sin (see 1 Corinthians 6:9-10) d. We DO NOT participate with the way of the world d.i. Titus 2:11-12, Ephesians 5:1-2a Live a Life of Love Purely, empowered by the Holy Spirit as you seek to be more like Jesus - - - daily! Scriptures: Ephesians 5:1-7 (NIV)</p><p>Ephesians 5:1-2a (NIV), Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and walk in the way of love. 1 Peter 1:14-16 (NIV), As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” 1 John 3:2 (NIV), Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, r we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Romans 5:5 (NIV), And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. Luke 7:36-47 (NIV), When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37 A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. 38 As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. 39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.” 40 Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.” “Tell me, teacher,” he said. 41 “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?” 43 Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.” “You have judged correctly,” Jesus said. 44 Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.” </p><p>Ephesians 5:2b (NIV), just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. 2 Corinthians 3:18 (NIV), And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate a the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.</p><p>Ephesians 5:3-7 (NIV), But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. v 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7 Therefore do not be partners with them. 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 (NIV), Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men r 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. Titus 2:11-12 (NIV), For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age. Ephesians 5:1-2a (NIV), Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and walk in the way of love. </p>