FOLLOWERS OF GOD EPH 5:1-16 I. WHAT TO BE (vs1-6) Be ye therefore followers of God, as dea

FOLLOWERS OF GOD EPH 5:1-16 I. WHAT TO BE (vs1-6) Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;(vs1) A. FOLLOWERS OF GOD (vs1) 1.FOLLOWERS = imitators; a.we all do imitations of famous people/politicians etc. b.we imitate their speech and actions c.but we are to imitate the speech and actions of Christ 2.CHILDREN a.children should be like their father b.and we are the children of God And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.(vs2) B. LOVING SACRIFICE (vs2) 1.How does Christ love us? a.He died for us; He gave Himself as a sacrifice for us b.He prays for us now c.He provides our needs d.He sent the Holy Spirit e.He lived a life to be emulated f.He gave us the Word of God 2.Christ "walked the walk" a.He practiced what he preached b.He was the ultimate sacrifice to God c.He is the only way we are reconciled to God d.His death is absolutely necessary But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; (vs3) 3.MORALLY UPRIGHT (vs3-5) This passage could be written to today's youth. 4.CLEAN vs UNCLEANNESS = refers to either physical or moral impurity; lustful, luxurious, shamelessly immoral living 5.vs3 makes it clear for the Christian: his answer to sexual immorality is "JUST SAY NO!" a.The world won't practice this (e.g. abstinence) b.The world loves its sin too much c.Just say NO to drugs is OK, but to just say NO to sex outside of marriage is old-fashioned. (This is the 90's) Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. (vs4) 6.CLEAN vs FILTHINESS = obscenity, indecent or behavior that's inconsistent with modesty 7.WISE SPEECH vs FOOLISH TALKING = conversations that can be out of place and pointless, possibly even harmful 8.WISE SPEECH vs JESTING = joking can become biting very quickly; it's usually speech that tears down rather than speech that builds up ("cuts" "cut down") a.In context it's obscene and abusive joking that's condemned b.It's inconsistent with building up the body For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.(vs5) 9.FAITHFUL TO WHAT YOU KNOW a.These things will keep a person out of Heaven b.LOOK @ I Cor 6:9-11 c.Where there is repentance and reconciliation, there is change (1)You literally cease to be what you were before Christ saved you (2)But if you're still a fornicator, or unclean or covetous person, then you have nothing in common with God and no hope for salvation Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.(vs6) C.ALERT 1.DECEIVING WORDS = "This is a little matter. God understands our nature. He knows we're only human. He won't condemn us." 2.The wrath of God is on these people NOW! II. WHAT NOT TO BE (vs7-16) Be not ye therefore partakers with them.(vs7) A. PARTICIPANTS 1.Here again is the idea that there should be some difference between you and your unsaved neighbor. 2.It's not that you never did these things in the past, some of you did. 3.The point is that you must not do it now! 4.Tell this to the Christian youth groups. a."Don't do it!" "Just say NO!" b.Don't be imitators of the world. c.Be followers of God. d.Don't participate. For ye were sometimes darkness, but now [are ye] light in the Lord: walk as children of light:(vs8) B. DARKNESS = the unregenerate nature of man, it is ignorant of divine things and is full of ungodliness and immorality 1.All the unsaved are in darkness now 2.The unsaved are under the dark dominion of SATAN 3.This is all part of the OLD MAN or the OLD SIN NATURE 4.Christians are very different now a.You were once darkness; now you are light b.You are now light in the Lord c.You are not ruled by the Prince of Darkness d.This is all part of the NEW MAN or the NEW NATURE (For the fruit of the Spirit [is] in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.(vs9-10) C. UNACCEPTABLE 1.This is just a quick example of the godly life. 2.Obedience is displayed by goodness, righteousness and truth And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove [them].(vs11) D. SILENT (This is hard.) 1.It's not enough that we don't personally do these wicked deeds; we must also make sure we do not assist those who do. a.We don't want to join hands with those who practice these things. b.We don't want to give them advice in counselling that would be considered consenting with them. c.Paul says instead we must REPROVE them. 2. REPROVE = to find fault with, to correct, to convict, to refute generally with a suggestion of shame of the person convicted a.also to reprehend severely, chide, admonish b.goal = to bring to the light, to expose their deeds as evil and sinful 3.When's the last time you've done this with a friend or relative? For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.(vs12) 4.Should the William Kennedy Smith rape trial be on TV? vs 12 seems to say NO. 5.POINT of vs12 = as long as their sin is hidden from the eyes of men, they will commit any sin imaginable and some that we can't even imagine. a.Before I got saved I rarely got in trouble in broad daylight. (1)I did at school and minor things like that. (2)But the things Paul mentions here, and some he doesn't, I did at night, in darkness. b.It's an attitude (1)The unbeliever doesn't believe God sees his sin (2)That's his nature as an UNBELIEVER--not to believe c.You and I must expose this lie (1)We show them how base and low their sin is and they become ashamed. (2)This could lead to repentance But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.(vs13) 6.If we will reprove them as Paul says, then the hidden evil deeds will be revealed as evil by the Word of God. a.This is our duty. We are light (vs8) b.If we are light, then we must make manifest or REPROVE evil deeds. c.It's the nature of light to make manifest, to expose, to reveal d.***WE ARE NOT WORTHY OF THE NAME "CHRISTIAN" IF WE FAIL TO BRING TO LIGHT WHAT IS INVOLVED IN DARKNESS. e.Do you take sin seriously enough? Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.(vs14) 7.Paul had said that unbelievers must be reproved. a.They must be brought to the light of God's Word and acknowledge their wickedness. b.These dead unbelievers then might hear the voice of Christ in the gospel and rise up to walk in newness of life. c.LOOK @ Jn 5:25 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,(vs15) E. FOOLISH 1.CIRCUMSPECTLY = exactly, accurately, diligently, perfectly a.We should live as if we are on the stage of a crowded theater. b.We are always watched by God and the angels. c.True wisdom comes from God, not the world. Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.(vs16) 2.Are you doing ALL you can to redeem the time? a.The age is so corrupt now, it's hard not to be touched b.We must be eager to renounce the world in every way and to recover every opportunity to lead men to the light c.We redeem the time by wisely using it to do good. d.Time is to be used almost sacredly, not wastefully. e.Our zeal for reproving evil will be like the money that buys or redeems the time.