WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.760 God, now as we come into your word, 00:00:04.900 --> 00:00:06.799 God, would you address us? 00:00:08.140 --> 00:00:11.040 Would you conform us by your word 00:00:11.040 --> 00:00:13.080 in the power of the Holy Spirit 00:00:13.080 --> 00:00:14.900 to the image of Christ? 00:00:16.120 --> 00:00:18.480 I pray, Father, that you would make us 00:00:18.480 --> 00:00:20.460 imitators of you and your holiness, 00:00:22.420 --> 00:00:24.060 imitators of Christ and his love. 00:00:25.260 --> 00:00:28.960 Set us apart, God, for your name's sake. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:30.480 Amen. 00:00:32.520 --> 00:00:33.259 All right. 00:00:36.259 --> 00:00:37.659 Let me ask you a question. 00:00:38.600 --> 00:00:40.140 Who do you want to be like? 00:00:41.560 --> 00:00:43.600 Who do you want to take after? 00:00:45.219 --> 00:00:49.340 I've got a lot of similar mannerisms as my dad, 00:00:50.379 --> 00:00:51.179 Steve Salvati. 00:00:52.240 --> 00:00:53.400 We look alike. 00:00:54.120 --> 00:00:55.200 We can talk alike. 00:00:55.840 --> 00:00:58.159 We have a very similar sense of humor. 00:00:58.159 --> 00:01:00.719 In fact, we laugh alike. 00:01:01.279 --> 00:01:02.599 And we laugh a lot together. 00:01:04.039 --> 00:01:05.539 Who do you imitate? 00:01:06.679 --> 00:01:08.939 Who do you take after? 00:01:10.539 --> 00:01:12.979 As Christians, we're to take after, 00:01:13.420 --> 00:01:16.120 to imitate God our Father. 00:01:17.259 --> 00:01:18.459 We're to be like him. 00:01:19.099 --> 00:01:20.900 We're to be like God in holiness. 00:01:21.159 --> 00:01:22.900 We're to be like God in his love. 00:01:22.900 --> 00:01:28.780 Who you are determines who you imitate. 00:01:29.580 --> 00:01:32.219 Who you are becoming like. 00:01:32.760 --> 00:01:36.000 And so would you open up your Bibles to Ephesians chapter 5. 00:01:36.340 --> 00:01:38.200 And I'm going to read verses 1 and 2. 00:01:38.600 --> 00:01:41.719 But we're going to be reaching back into Ephesians 4 this morning 00:01:41.719 --> 00:01:45.840 in order to get the kind of thrust of Ephesians 5, 1 and 2. 00:01:45.840 --> 00:01:47.579 So let me just read Ephesians 5, 1 and 2. 00:01:50.219 --> 00:01:56.900 Therefore, be imitators of God as beloved children 00:01:56.900 --> 00:02:02.140 and walk in love as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, 00:02:02.659 --> 00:02:04.879 a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. 00:02:06.020 --> 00:02:09.140 Therefore, be imitators of God, Christ the King Church, 00:02:10.319 --> 00:02:11.140 beloved children, 00:02:11.139 --> 00:02:16.119 and walk in love as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, 00:02:16.699 --> 00:02:20.299 a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. 00:02:21.659 --> 00:02:23.439 We can't make a mistake about it. 00:02:23.879 --> 00:02:26.500 God in Christ has redeemed us. 00:02:26.619 --> 00:02:30.519 Those of us who have professed Christ as our Lord, 00:02:30.879 --> 00:02:33.259 have exercised faith in him. 00:02:33.799 --> 00:02:34.919 God has redeemed us. 00:02:35.000 --> 00:02:35.899 He's reconciled us. 00:02:35.959 --> 00:02:37.000 He's adopted us. 00:02:37.000 --> 00:02:43.379 So that we would be holy as he is holy. 00:02:44.520 --> 00:02:51.139 So that we would love others as Christ has loved us. 00:02:51.240 --> 00:02:55.599 And so this morning, I want to show you two things from Ephesians 5, 1 and 2. 00:02:55.719 --> 00:02:56.420 First is this. 00:02:56.920 --> 00:02:58.920 We're to imitate God and his holiness. 00:02:59.560 --> 00:03:03.759 And the second thing, we're to imitate Christ in his love. 00:03:03.759 --> 00:03:07.859 We're to imitate God in his holiness. 00:03:09.419 --> 00:03:11.019 Therefore, be imitators of God. 00:03:11.599 --> 00:03:13.039 Be imitators of God. 00:03:13.340 --> 00:03:15.379 Therefore, be imitators of God. 00:03:15.419 --> 00:03:19.819 Whenever you see a therefore in your Bible, you've got to ask what question? 00:03:20.539 --> 00:03:21.439 What is the therefore? 00:03:22.439 --> 00:03:22.879 Therefore. 00:03:23.899 --> 00:03:28.399 And that therefore actually reaches back into Ephesians chapter 4. 00:03:28.400 --> 00:03:34.060 And so if we start reading in Ephesians chapter 4, verse 17 through 24, 00:03:34.439 --> 00:03:39.939 we're picking up where Paul is in 5, 1 kind of using the therefore to summarize. 00:03:41.700 --> 00:03:50.140 In 4, 17 through 24, God is commanding us to no longer live as we used to live when we were non-Christians. 00:03:50.360 --> 00:03:52.480 Saying don't live that way anymore. 00:03:52.640 --> 00:03:54.280 It's not who you are. 00:03:54.280 --> 00:03:58.860 We're to put off the old self, the former manner of life. 00:03:59.340 --> 00:04:04.800 The way that we used to walk when we were dead to God, corrupt in our desires and godless. 00:04:05.080 --> 00:04:06.479 We're to put that off. 00:04:06.819 --> 00:04:08.740 Because that's not who we are anymore. 00:04:10.060 --> 00:04:12.120 Now we're to renew our minds. 00:04:12.479 --> 00:04:14.500 To remember who we are in Christ. 00:04:14.800 --> 00:04:18.319 To remember what God in Christ has done for us. 00:04:19.319 --> 00:04:20.399 We're new creations. 00:04:22.279 --> 00:04:23.579 We've been made new. 00:04:24.279 --> 00:04:27.459 And then to put on the new self. 00:04:28.059 --> 00:04:33.019 When we remember who we are, we need to live that out. 00:04:33.459 --> 00:04:36.979 To live out who we already have become in Christ. 00:04:37.359 --> 00:04:41.419 That's what he's talking about in Ephesians 4, 17 through 24. 00:04:41.659 --> 00:04:47.699 And in 24, he says, put on the new self, created in the likeness of God. 00:04:48.059 --> 00:04:49.159 You see that in verse 24? 00:04:50.219 --> 00:04:53.519 Created in the likeness of God. 00:04:53.519 --> 00:04:58.060 Your new self is a new creation in Christ Jesus. 00:04:58.699 --> 00:04:59.519 The old is gone. 00:04:59.799 --> 00:05:00.599 The new has come. 00:05:01.319 --> 00:05:04.479 And from God's perspective, it's done. 00:05:05.839 --> 00:05:06.359 Done. 00:05:07.639 --> 00:05:11.839 For those of us who are in Christ, there's no going back to the old self. 00:05:12.359 --> 00:05:13.019 It's done. 00:05:13.019 --> 00:05:17.459 God has wrought a change in us that will go on forever. 00:05:18.659 --> 00:05:20.620 There's no going back to the old self. 00:05:20.620 --> 00:05:25.000 As new creations, we have a new likeness. 00:05:25.000 --> 00:05:29.259 We're in Christ now. 00:05:29.920 --> 00:05:32.000 Made in the likeness of God. 00:05:32.079 --> 00:05:33.360 Does that ring a bell for anybody? 00:05:33.600 --> 00:05:34.100 Ding-a-ling-a-ling. 00:05:34.300 --> 00:05:34.779 Ding-a-ling-a-ling. 00:05:35.819 --> 00:05:37.399 Remember Genesis chapter 1? 00:05:38.980 --> 00:05:44.060 God says, let us make man in our image after our likeness. 00:05:44.060 --> 00:05:46.860 Paul's reaching way back. 00:05:47.899 --> 00:05:58.420 Another way to say about this, to summarize it, is that when we became Christians, we were recreated in the likeness of God. 00:05:58.420 --> 00:06:02.920 That's the kind of work God has done in us by His grace. 00:06:03.500 --> 00:06:11.300 We're new creations in Christ Jesus made in the likeness of God. 00:06:11.400 --> 00:06:15.040 And maybe you're asking yourself the question right now, well, what does likeness mean? 00:06:15.319 --> 00:06:16.080 Like what? 00:06:16.879 --> 00:06:18.900 Well, he goes on in verse 24 to tell us what. 00:06:20.439 --> 00:06:25.460 Created in the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. 00:06:25.459 --> 00:06:30.539 And it's that word holiness I want to key on this morning. 00:06:31.000 --> 00:06:33.599 Because Paul in 5.1 is coming back. 00:06:33.739 --> 00:06:34.539 That's the therefore. 00:06:35.359 --> 00:06:37.299 To be imitators of God in His holiness. 00:06:40.240 --> 00:06:43.859 God created you in Christ to be holy as He is holy. 00:06:44.039 --> 00:06:45.159 A holy likeness. 00:06:46.120 --> 00:06:48.259 And that's been His plan all along. 00:06:48.719 --> 00:06:50.079 Ephesians 1.4 says, 00:06:50.079 --> 00:06:58.240 Even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. 00:07:00.240 --> 00:07:04.819 God's loving plan from eternity past was to make us holy in Christ. 00:07:06.180 --> 00:07:12.439 We were destined for holiness to be recreated in the likeness of God. 00:07:12.519 --> 00:07:13.599 So what is holiness? 00:07:14.599 --> 00:07:15.299 What is it? 00:07:15.300 --> 00:07:25.220 Well, at its most basic essential sense, holiness is to be set apart. 00:07:25.960 --> 00:07:29.060 To be qualitatively different. 00:07:29.840 --> 00:07:33.240 To be distinct from the rest. 00:07:34.139 --> 00:07:34.680 Quick question. 00:07:36.840 --> 00:07:37.800 Growing up. 00:07:37.800 --> 00:07:47.780 Did anybody grow up in a home where you had plates for everyday meals and then you had this special set of plates for the special occasions? 00:07:47.960 --> 00:07:48.780 Do you know what I'm talking about? 00:07:50.080 --> 00:07:50.939 Well, some of us did. 00:07:51.040 --> 00:07:51.699 Some of us didn't. 00:07:53.600 --> 00:07:58.080 Some of us grew up every day eating off of cheap ceramic and plastic. 00:07:58.079 --> 00:08:02.439 And then when the nice meal came around, you're on China. 00:08:03.139 --> 00:08:05.439 Every other year kind of a thing. 00:08:06.659 --> 00:08:08.180 I mean, there's differences in material. 00:08:08.339 --> 00:08:09.560 Plastic versus China. 00:08:09.759 --> 00:08:10.659 Difference in beauty. 00:08:11.419 --> 00:08:18.659 Kind of a stamped machine stamp print versus a hand-painted print on China. 00:08:18.819 --> 00:08:20.439 There's a big difference in the beauty there. 00:08:21.099 --> 00:08:21.539 Process. 00:08:23.139 --> 00:08:26.079 Everyday wear is just kind of processed in mass. 00:08:26.079 --> 00:08:29.500 But the nice stuff is handmade. 00:08:31.060 --> 00:08:31.539 Availability. 00:08:32.579 --> 00:08:34.740 The everyday stuff, dime a dozen. 00:08:35.939 --> 00:08:37.579 The nice stuff, the China. 00:08:38.299 --> 00:08:39.199 It's rare. 00:08:40.139 --> 00:08:41.019 It's valuable. 00:08:42.679 --> 00:08:44.759 Each is used for a distinct purpose. 00:08:46.120 --> 00:08:48.819 The everyday stuff, everyday wear is for everyday stuff. 00:08:51.439 --> 00:08:54.759 The nice stuff is used for special purposes. 00:08:56.080 --> 00:08:57.259 Designated purposes. 00:08:57.259 --> 00:08:57.420 Designated purposes. 00:08:58.139 --> 00:09:04.180 We were created in Christ Jesus in the likeness of God. 00:09:04.800 --> 00:09:13.460 He created us to be set apart for His purposes. 00:09:14.160 --> 00:09:16.560 We exist for Him now. 00:09:16.559 --> 00:09:22.639 We were dead. 00:09:22.639 --> 00:09:27.739 God has called us out of that way of life. 00:09:28.479 --> 00:09:30.919 We are distinct now. 00:09:31.599 --> 00:09:35.039 We are to be holy as God is holy. 00:09:35.039 --> 00:09:40.039 You know, there's no other word in your Bible that's repeated three times to describe God. 00:09:41.219 --> 00:09:44.379 In Isaiah 6, God has described the seraphim are crying out, 00:09:44.480 --> 00:09:46.559 Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty. 00:09:46.839 --> 00:09:51.279 There is no other word in your Bible repeated three times to describe God. 00:09:51.939 --> 00:09:53.059 You don't hear love, love, love. 00:09:53.959 --> 00:09:55.599 You don't hear wise, wise, wise. 00:09:56.480 --> 00:09:59.379 You hear holy, holy, holy. 00:09:59.379 --> 00:10:01.659 God is distinct. 00:10:02.000 --> 00:10:03.120 He's transcendent. 00:10:03.439 --> 00:10:04.740 He is like no other. 00:10:05.240 --> 00:10:08.340 And He's calling us to be like Him. 00:10:08.399 --> 00:10:10.580 That's what He created us in Christ Jesus for. 00:10:12.179 --> 00:10:18.659 So in Ephesians 4, 25 through 32, you know, we have spent the last several weeks walking through this. 00:10:19.820 --> 00:10:23.639 If you can think about it in terms of holiness, it helps. 00:10:23.639 --> 00:10:28.299 So in verse 25, we're not to speak falsehood. 00:10:28.399 --> 00:10:29.840 We're to speak the truth to our neighbor. 00:10:30.000 --> 00:10:30.259 Why? 00:10:31.439 --> 00:10:32.480 Because we're holy. 00:10:33.159 --> 00:10:36.939 We're set apart, distinct, just as our God is. 00:10:38.480 --> 00:10:43.919 In verses 26 and 27, regarding anger, we're not to sin in our anger anymore. 00:10:44.419 --> 00:10:45.000 Why not? 00:10:45.399 --> 00:10:46.379 We're holy. 00:10:47.100 --> 00:10:50.399 We're to exercise a holy anger. 00:10:50.399 --> 00:10:56.139 We're to get angry at what God gets angry at, and we're going to get angry the right way. 00:10:57.019 --> 00:10:59.039 So we're slow to anger. 00:10:59.919 --> 00:11:03.199 And then when we do get angry, we're quick to resolve it. 00:11:03.259 --> 00:11:05.220 We don't let the sun go down on our anger. 00:11:06.860 --> 00:11:09.459 There's this great repeated refrain throughout your Bible. 00:11:10.159 --> 00:11:11.779 God is merciful and gracious. 00:11:13.059 --> 00:11:17.899 Slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. 00:11:17.899 --> 00:11:21.500 We're to be holy when it comes to anger. 00:11:21.899 --> 00:11:24.639 We're to be holy in how we use our hands. 00:11:24.720 --> 00:11:26.059 We're not to steal anymore. 00:11:26.299 --> 00:11:27.539 We're not to take anymore. 00:11:27.919 --> 00:11:31.519 We're to do honest work in order to help other people in need. 00:11:32.100 --> 00:11:34.480 We're to be holy in the way we do our work. 00:11:35.039 --> 00:11:35.459 Distinct. 00:11:37.379 --> 00:11:39.939 We're to be holy in the effect of our speech. 00:11:39.939 --> 00:11:41.220 Verses 29 and 30. 00:11:41.220 --> 00:11:51.080 Instead of using our mouths in order to corrupt people, we use our mouths now as those made in the likeness of a holy God. 00:11:51.540 --> 00:11:55.139 And we use our mouths to build up, to edify. 00:11:55.960 --> 00:12:02.100 Not to grieve the Spirit, but we use words to be used of the Spirit of God to build up His body. 00:12:02.660 --> 00:12:03.240 Isn't that awesome? 00:12:05.360 --> 00:12:05.840 Holy. 00:12:06.460 --> 00:12:07.340 Likeness of God. 00:12:07.340 --> 00:12:13.399 Last week I preached on Ephesians 31 and 32. 00:12:15.480 --> 00:12:18.740 We're no longer to be bitter, but we're to be forgiving of one another. 00:12:20.740 --> 00:12:22.200 I had to cut that sermon short. 00:12:22.860 --> 00:12:23.519 Ran out of time. 00:12:26.639 --> 00:12:28.139 I want to come back to it right now. 00:12:30.780 --> 00:12:35.200 We're called to be distinct and holy in our response to people who wound us. 00:12:35.200 --> 00:12:37.379 We're not to be like the world. 00:12:38.140 --> 00:12:39.600 We're not to be like we used to be. 00:12:40.400 --> 00:12:41.480 We're to be Christ-like. 00:12:41.560 --> 00:12:42.400 We're to be God-like. 00:12:42.940 --> 00:12:44.879 So instead of being malicious, we're to be kind. 00:12:45.460 --> 00:12:50.280 Instead of holding a grudge in a hard heart, we are to be compassionate from a tender heart. 00:12:50.740 --> 00:12:55.580 Instead of being bitter and demanding payment, we are to be forgiving. 00:12:56.540 --> 00:12:58.980 We're to pay the price ourselves. 00:12:58.980 --> 00:13:04.220 Just as God and Christ forgave you. 00:13:05.899 --> 00:13:08.539 It's a holy response to being sinned against. 00:13:09.080 --> 00:13:09.800 It's distinct. 00:13:09.960 --> 00:13:11.060 It separates us. 00:13:11.460 --> 00:13:12.980 It's a new way we live. 00:13:13.060 --> 00:13:13.899 A new way we walk. 00:13:13.980 --> 00:13:16.200 Because we're new creations in Christ Jesus. 00:13:18.440 --> 00:13:20.460 But there were some but-ifs I never got to. 00:13:21.620 --> 00:13:22.500 What about this? 00:13:22.560 --> 00:13:23.159 What about that? 00:13:24.039 --> 00:13:27.319 Because moving from bitterness to forgiveness is not easy, is it? 00:13:28.159 --> 00:13:30.579 Especially if you've been deeply wounded for a long time. 00:13:30.679 --> 00:13:31.519 It's not easy. 00:13:33.819 --> 00:13:35.639 So let me take a couple of these but-ifs. 00:13:36.379 --> 00:13:36.779 Do you mind? 00:13:39.480 --> 00:13:42.980 But what if this person who sins against me isn't repentant? 00:13:44.699 --> 00:13:46.100 They don't ask for forgiveness. 00:13:46.699 --> 00:13:47.600 What do I do? 00:13:47.600 --> 00:13:51.899 Well, wouldn't it be great if that person did ask for forgiveness? 00:13:52.060 --> 00:13:52.860 That's like ideal. 00:13:53.620 --> 00:13:56.340 They sin against you, they wound you, and they come up to you and say, 00:13:56.460 --> 00:13:58.000 Oh, man, I am so sorry. 00:13:58.300 --> 00:14:00.540 God convicted me that that wound was sin. 00:14:00.620 --> 00:14:01.480 I am so sorry. 00:14:01.779 --> 00:14:03.040 I saw it caused you pain. 00:14:03.440 --> 00:14:04.399 Will you forgive me? 00:14:05.320 --> 00:14:07.399 And then we get to forgive them as God and Christ forgave us. 00:14:07.659 --> 00:14:09.720 That's the ideal situation, right? 00:14:10.279 --> 00:14:11.879 But what happens if you don't have that? 00:14:13.060 --> 00:14:13.980 What happens? 00:14:14.980 --> 00:14:16.379 You're to forgive them still. 00:14:17.600 --> 00:14:18.740 Do your best. 00:14:19.879 --> 00:14:22.879 We are to seek peace with all men. 00:14:23.200 --> 00:14:25.100 Do our best to do that. 00:14:25.840 --> 00:14:29.259 And so you forgive as far as you can go before the Lord. 00:14:29.779 --> 00:14:32.899 You're waiting on them to take ownership of it, right? 00:14:33.580 --> 00:14:36.379 And so in the meantime, you're like, God, I forgive them as God forgave me. 00:14:36.680 --> 00:14:39.100 Oh, God, God, I don't want to hold this over them. 00:14:39.540 --> 00:14:40.379 Lord, I forgive them. 00:14:40.460 --> 00:14:42.220 You have forgiven me of so much more. 00:14:43.279 --> 00:14:44.620 But you know what the reality is? 00:14:44.620 --> 00:14:52.720 You end up living in an in-between place of unresolved conflict. 00:14:52.899 --> 00:14:54.519 It's a partial peace, isn't it? 00:14:55.080 --> 00:14:56.659 It's unsatisfying, right? 00:14:57.659 --> 00:14:58.580 But you know what? 00:14:58.720 --> 00:15:00.679 There's a way to walk in holiness here. 00:15:02.000 --> 00:15:04.100 You go as far as you can go in faith. 00:15:04.100 --> 00:15:10.259 I'm going to come back to what it looks like to live in that in-between place in a minute. 00:15:11.360 --> 00:15:17.080 But what if the person who asked me for forgiveness, they're asking, but you know what? 00:15:17.759 --> 00:15:20.680 There's been so much damage done, I don't trust this person. 00:15:21.320 --> 00:15:22.040 Anybody live there? 00:15:22.039 --> 00:15:24.919 What do you do then? 00:15:26.799 --> 00:15:29.319 Well, you forgive them as many times as they ask. 00:15:29.799 --> 00:15:30.839 Matthew 18, 22. 00:15:31.539 --> 00:15:33.539 You forgive, you forgive, and you forgive. 00:15:34.639 --> 00:15:45.240 But just in case you're wondering, there is a difference between giving forgiveness and the restoration of trust in a relationship. 00:15:46.019 --> 00:15:48.419 There's a difference between the two. 00:15:48.419 --> 00:15:58.159 Forgiveness is necessary to take place for a relationship to experience a full restoration of trust. 00:16:00.479 --> 00:16:05.159 But if it's not experiencing that, you're living in an in-between place. 00:16:06.019 --> 00:16:09.079 You're waiting for that trust to be reestablished. 00:16:10.079 --> 00:16:15.059 And the way that's reestablished is the one who breaks the trust needs to own that. 00:16:15.059 --> 00:16:18.079 And then needs to follow through with what they say. 00:16:18.419 --> 00:16:19.699 To be consistent. 00:16:19.959 --> 00:16:20.620 To be trustworthy. 00:16:20.939 --> 00:16:27.360 And the person who has had their trust broken, they need to forgive and they need to be willing to trust once again. 00:16:28.799 --> 00:16:31.799 But in the in-between place, it's very uncomfortable, isn't it? 00:16:33.519 --> 00:16:35.139 But you're stepping out in faith. 00:16:35.139 --> 00:16:42.840 You know, the restoration of trust in a relationship has ebbs and flows. 00:16:43.740 --> 00:16:45.919 Two steps forward, one step back. 00:16:47.059 --> 00:16:49.139 But there's a way to trust God in the in-between. 00:16:49.319 --> 00:16:54.360 There's a way to trust God in the partial piece of incomplete trust. 00:16:54.799 --> 00:16:55.919 There's a way to walk in holiness. 00:16:55.919 --> 00:17:04.920 What if the person who hurt me, if I forgive them, they'll get away with it? 00:17:06.740 --> 00:17:07.960 They'll get away with it. 00:17:09.619 --> 00:17:11.019 It's a question of justice. 00:17:13.200 --> 00:17:14.119 Who's going to pay? 00:17:16.539 --> 00:17:19.539 Romans 12 says, vengeance is mine. 00:17:20.139 --> 00:17:21.359 It's mine to repay. 00:17:21.359 --> 00:17:23.719 God's saying, that's mine. 00:17:24.500 --> 00:17:25.859 I'll take care of that. 00:17:26.779 --> 00:17:28.059 I'll take care of that. 00:17:29.259 --> 00:17:34.000 But you're thinking, I want justice now. 00:17:35.000 --> 00:17:37.759 I want this made right now. 00:17:37.759 --> 00:17:37.859 Now. 00:17:40.059 --> 00:17:42.659 Well, it may. 00:17:44.419 --> 00:17:45.459 Probably won't. 00:17:45.460 --> 00:17:50.660 God has set a day. 00:17:51.600 --> 00:17:52.700 It's a day of judgment. 00:17:53.920 --> 00:17:58.660 A day of judgment when all the secrets of man and woman will be revealed. 00:18:00.440 --> 00:18:02.880 All wrongs will be exposed. 00:18:04.519 --> 00:18:06.380 Everything will be brought to justice. 00:18:07.680 --> 00:18:11.559 On that day, it will be public. 00:18:11.559 --> 00:18:16.240 On that day, it will be final. 00:18:17.379 --> 00:18:18.879 No more loose ends. 00:18:20.379 --> 00:18:21.559 No more waiting. 00:18:22.940 --> 00:18:26.319 God brings justice for all on that day. 00:18:28.319 --> 00:18:33.539 And so if you're struggling, you don't want to forgive because you don't want this person to get away with it. 00:18:34.440 --> 00:18:35.220 God sees. 00:18:36.419 --> 00:18:37.559 God's not mocked. 00:18:39.039 --> 00:18:39.919 You reap what you sow. 00:18:39.920 --> 00:18:44.800 So if you're longing for justice, make a little adjustment. 00:18:46.300 --> 00:18:47.620 A deferred justice. 00:18:49.360 --> 00:18:52.660 A waiting for God to act at the end of time. 00:18:53.140 --> 00:18:55.240 His justice on His time. 00:18:55.660 --> 00:19:00.740 And in the meantime, we're living in this in-between place of deferred justice. 00:19:01.000 --> 00:19:02.160 It's an uncomfortable place to be. 00:19:02.160 --> 00:19:13.040 So whether it's unresolved conflict, if it's incomplete trust, if it is this sense of deferred justice, do you know what we're to do? 00:19:14.320 --> 00:19:15.460 We're to lament. 00:19:17.019 --> 00:19:19.019 We're to cry out to God. 00:19:19.880 --> 00:19:23.620 We're to say, this is hard, but God, I trust you nonetheless. 00:19:23.619 --> 00:19:25.519 Nevertheless, that's where we live. 00:19:26.359 --> 00:19:27.939 In the in-between place. 00:19:28.500 --> 00:19:30.959 And we seek to forgive and to forgive and to forgive. 00:19:30.960 --> 00:19:33.920 That's the holy way of living. 00:19:35.039 --> 00:19:38.799 That's how we move from bitterness to forgiveness with what God has given us. 00:19:38.799 --> 00:19:46.159 We've been created in the holy image of God our Father and it changes the way that we live. 00:19:47.519 --> 00:19:49.399 And so when we get to Ephesians 5, we read, 00:19:49.400 --> 00:20:13.720 We're to be distinct, set apart, holy, because it's who we are. 00:20:14.340 --> 00:20:15.460 We're beloved children. 00:20:15.460 --> 00:20:18.180 It's who we are now. 00:20:19.400 --> 00:20:20.660 We are God's children. 00:20:21.160 --> 00:20:22.660 Like father, like son. 00:20:22.800 --> 00:20:23.980 Like father, like daughter. 00:20:24.400 --> 00:20:28.980 As those adopted by God, we're to bear the family resemblance of holiness. 00:20:30.240 --> 00:20:31.400 It's who we are now. 00:20:33.000 --> 00:20:35.540 Who you are determines who you imitate. 00:20:35.960 --> 00:20:40.280 And if you are a child of the living God, you are to imitate your holy father. 00:20:42.220 --> 00:20:45.580 And so we've looked at what it means to imitate our holy father. 00:20:45.579 --> 00:20:50.139 Now let's turn to what it looks like to imitate the love of Christ. 00:20:51.839 --> 00:20:53.299 In 5.2 we read this. 00:20:55.240 --> 00:20:59.720 And walk in love as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us. 00:20:59.799 --> 00:21:03.699 A fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. 00:21:04.379 --> 00:21:05.199 Walk in love. 00:21:05.480 --> 00:21:07.839 Would you just look back at Ephesians 4.17? 00:21:08.740 --> 00:21:09.379 Do you see that? 00:21:09.380 --> 00:21:16.140 Paul says, now this I say in testifying the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do. 00:21:16.580 --> 00:21:20.080 Don't walk this way, as though when you were dead to God. 00:21:20.580 --> 00:21:23.440 And in 5.2 he's saying, walk this way. 00:21:24.020 --> 00:21:26.240 Now that you've been made new in Christ. 00:21:27.720 --> 00:21:30.100 For the good of others. 00:21:30.099 --> 00:21:37.359 The call to love like Christ is a call to die to ourselves for the good of others. 00:21:37.559 --> 00:21:40.919 We are being called to give ourselves up for the good of others. 00:21:43.099 --> 00:21:50.740 This kind of loving distinguishes us Christians from everybody else. 00:21:52.879 --> 00:21:55.500 Because this is a Christ-like love. 00:21:55.500 --> 00:22:02.539 The Apostle Paul gives us some distinctions of this love in verse 2 here. 00:22:02.660 --> 00:22:09.420 And I just want to roll through them so that we can get a sense of the fullness of what God is calling us to here. 00:22:10.339 --> 00:22:15.460 Not only are we to be holy, as our Father is holy, we're to love like Christ. 00:22:16.680 --> 00:22:20.339 And what we see is the love of Christ is sacrificial. 00:22:20.339 --> 00:22:28.000 And He gave Himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. 00:22:28.720 --> 00:22:32.859 The way we're to love each other is at cost to ourselves. 00:22:33.419 --> 00:22:35.220 To die to ourselves. 00:22:35.659 --> 00:22:38.980 To give ourselves up for one another. 00:22:40.599 --> 00:22:44.419 And the words from Romans 12 help us to understand that a little bit more. 00:22:44.420 --> 00:22:46.920 We are to be living sacrifices. 00:22:49.019 --> 00:22:53.160 Constantly offering ourselves up for the good of others. 00:22:54.160 --> 00:22:59.300 Do you know what's going to need to die in order for you to love others like Christ? 00:23:02.900 --> 00:23:03.420 Convenience. 00:23:05.920 --> 00:23:12.800 It is inconvenient to love people as Christ loved people. 00:23:12.799 --> 00:23:20.200 Your plans will need to change in order to love others well. 00:23:22.500 --> 00:23:24.079 There's another kind of sacrifice. 00:23:24.539 --> 00:23:25.680 Sacrifice in time. 00:23:26.279 --> 00:23:27.359 Sacrifice in energy. 00:23:27.619 --> 00:23:28.579 Sacrifice of money. 00:23:29.019 --> 00:23:29.980 Even reputation. 00:23:30.500 --> 00:23:35.440 It can be very costly to love others the way Christ has loved us. 00:23:36.240 --> 00:23:37.779 But that's the nature of sacrifice. 00:23:40.859 --> 00:23:42.539 Sacrifice hurts a little bit, doesn't it? 00:23:42.799 --> 00:23:46.339 It hurts to love. 00:23:47.639 --> 00:23:48.960 Jesus knows that firsthand. 00:23:50.319 --> 00:23:51.799 Why are we to love this way? 00:23:52.519 --> 00:23:56.059 Because Jesus loved us this way. 00:23:57.619 --> 00:24:01.639 The second thing I want you to see is not only is Christ's love sacrificial, 00:24:02.019 --> 00:24:03.519 it was voluntary. 00:24:03.519 --> 00:24:09.259 He gave Himself up for us. 00:24:09.259 --> 00:24:14.000 He gave Himself up for us. 00:24:14.099 --> 00:24:18.720 Jesus wasn't forced into dying on the cross in our place. 00:24:18.720 --> 00:24:23.100 I was reading John 10 this morning, and I read this. 00:24:24.500 --> 00:24:25.600 I am the good shepherd. 00:24:25.779 --> 00:24:28.279 The good shepherd lays his life down for the sheep. 00:24:28.360 --> 00:24:29.960 And in verse 18, He says this, 00:24:30.400 --> 00:24:32.360 No one takes my life from me, 00:24:32.839 --> 00:24:36.980 but I lay it down of my own accord. 00:24:36.980 --> 00:24:42.039 He voluntarily gave His life for you. 00:24:42.039 --> 00:24:47.940 In 1 Peter 5, 00:24:48.940 --> 00:24:52.639 Peter addresses elders, 00:24:53.139 --> 00:24:55.200 and he says this to them, 00:24:55.700 --> 00:24:57.460 Shepherd the flock, love the flock, 00:24:58.000 --> 00:25:00.839 not under compulsion, 00:25:01.379 --> 00:25:02.359 but willfully, 00:25:03.359 --> 00:25:04.960 as God would have you. 00:25:04.960 --> 00:25:10.039 To love is to voluntarily give yourself up. 00:25:10.819 --> 00:25:15.380 We are to voluntarily sacrifice ourselves for others. 00:25:16.960 --> 00:25:18.059 Why? 00:25:19.200 --> 00:25:22.980 Because that's what Jesus did for us. 00:25:23.880 --> 00:25:29.940 He voluntarily sacrificed Himself in our place, 00:25:29.940 --> 00:25:34.380 which brings us to the third distinction of Christ's love. 00:25:35.380 --> 00:25:36.780 It's redemptive. 00:25:37.520 --> 00:25:39.200 It accomplished something. 00:25:39.560 --> 00:25:41.440 It accomplished our salvation. 00:25:42.360 --> 00:25:45.020 He gave Himself up for us voluntarily 00:25:45.020 --> 00:25:48.980 so that we would be reconciled to God. 00:25:49.760 --> 00:25:51.380 He did it for our good. 00:25:51.980 --> 00:25:55.120 The greatest good that Jesus did for us 00:25:55.120 --> 00:25:57.200 was our salvation, 00:25:57.840 --> 00:26:00.900 to reconcile us to God. 00:26:00.900 --> 00:26:04.060 He forgave our sins, 00:26:04.200 --> 00:26:04.820 cleansed us, 00:26:04.940 --> 00:26:05.620 made us holy, 00:26:06.160 --> 00:26:07.700 included us in the family of God, 00:26:07.780 --> 00:26:08.880 gave us eternal life. 00:26:09.480 --> 00:26:12.280 It was for our good that He died. 00:26:12.400 --> 00:26:13.660 It was redemptive. 00:26:14.540 --> 00:26:15.900 And we're being called to that. 00:26:16.700 --> 00:26:20.000 We are being called to a redemptive love of one another. 00:26:20.100 --> 00:26:22.040 Now, I can't die for you, 00:26:22.100 --> 00:26:24.060 and you go to heaven because of that. 00:26:24.140 --> 00:26:25.700 My blood can't do that. 00:26:25.980 --> 00:26:27.340 Your blood can't do that. 00:26:27.339 --> 00:26:29.740 Only the blood of Jesus can do that. 00:26:30.240 --> 00:26:34.599 But we can take our Savior's death as an example, 00:26:34.839 --> 00:26:37.939 and we can voluntarily sacrifice ourselves 00:26:37.939 --> 00:26:39.599 for the good of others. 00:26:39.919 --> 00:26:41.980 And so if you invest half a day 00:26:41.980 --> 00:26:43.879 bringing a brother in Christ to the hospital, 00:26:44.779 --> 00:26:45.879 you're doing it for His good. 00:26:46.959 --> 00:26:49.539 If you're crawling underneath the fellowship hall, 00:26:49.699 --> 00:26:51.179 insulating the steam pipes, 00:26:51.679 --> 00:26:54.279 you're doing it for the good of the people of this church. 00:26:54.279 --> 00:26:58.000 Those people serving in the children's ministry, 00:26:58.099 --> 00:26:59.099 in the tots ministry, 00:26:59.379 --> 00:27:00.420 they love kids, 00:27:01.019 --> 00:27:02.379 but they're doing it for your good 00:27:02.379 --> 00:27:05.119 so that you can be here worshiping God, 00:27:05.220 --> 00:27:06.299 hearing from His Word. 00:27:07.779 --> 00:27:09.099 Moms of little ones, 00:27:10.559 --> 00:27:13.299 love your children redemptively 00:27:13.299 --> 00:27:15.119 for their good. 00:27:15.819 --> 00:27:16.420 For their good. 00:27:16.500 --> 00:27:17.379 I know what it's like. 00:27:17.500 --> 00:27:18.099 I've seen it. 00:27:18.779 --> 00:27:19.559 It goes like this. 00:27:20.319 --> 00:27:23.480 Feed, clean, clothed, bathe, repeat. 00:27:24.279 --> 00:27:26.519 Feed, clean, clothed, bathe, repeat. 00:27:27.740 --> 00:27:28.259 Love. 00:27:29.200 --> 00:27:31.119 Moms, love your children. 00:27:31.899 --> 00:27:32.879 Love them redemptively. 00:27:34.399 --> 00:27:36.379 Scrubbing toilets, vacuuming carpets, 00:27:36.579 --> 00:27:38.440 giving rides, leading small groups, 00:27:38.599 --> 00:27:39.579 mediating conflicts, 00:27:40.319 --> 00:27:41.180 disciplining children, 00:27:41.399 --> 00:27:42.539 confronting someone in love, 00:27:42.680 --> 00:27:43.879 forgiving someone in love, 00:27:44.220 --> 00:27:45.619 reading the Bible with someone else, 00:27:45.779 --> 00:27:46.879 praying with someone else, 00:27:47.019 --> 00:27:49.059 we can all do it for the good of others. 00:27:50.799 --> 00:27:51.319 Redemptively. 00:27:51.319 --> 00:27:53.960 The greatest good, though, 00:27:54.259 --> 00:27:55.700 we can do for someone else 00:27:55.700 --> 00:27:57.659 is to tell them about Jesus. 00:27:59.779 --> 00:28:00.939 At cost. 00:28:01.700 --> 00:28:03.359 Even if that means our reputation. 00:28:04.399 --> 00:28:06.099 Even if that means straining a relationship. 00:28:06.879 --> 00:28:10.319 We speak to others about Jesus 00:28:10.319 --> 00:28:12.740 for their greatest good, 00:28:13.079 --> 00:28:15.220 that they too would be saved. 00:28:15.220 --> 00:28:18.460 So a love like Christ is sacrificial. 00:28:20.400 --> 00:28:22.100 It's what we've been just talking about 00:28:22.100 --> 00:28:23.519 in terms of redemptive. 00:28:24.519 --> 00:28:25.400 There's another in there 00:28:25.400 --> 00:28:27.000 that I'm not calling mine right now. 00:28:27.539 --> 00:28:28.920 But the last one I want you to see 00:28:28.920 --> 00:28:29.220 is fragrant. 00:28:30.460 --> 00:28:31.299 It's fragrant. 00:28:31.720 --> 00:28:32.720 It's pleasing to God. 00:28:34.420 --> 00:28:36.039 He gave himself up for us, 00:28:36.059 --> 00:28:38.539 a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. 00:28:38.539 --> 00:28:42.220 The picture there is this. 00:28:42.819 --> 00:28:43.700 In the Old Testament, 00:28:44.079 --> 00:28:45.980 they would offer sacrifices 00:28:45.980 --> 00:28:48.220 and then burn those sacrifices 00:28:48.220 --> 00:28:50.339 and the aroma would go up to God 00:28:50.339 --> 00:28:52.099 as a pleasing aroma to him. 00:28:53.139 --> 00:28:54.339 So the picture here 00:28:54.339 --> 00:28:56.940 is of a pleasing sacrifice to God. 00:28:57.440 --> 00:28:58.879 We are to love others 00:28:58.879 --> 00:29:01.619 in a way that pleases God. 00:29:02.440 --> 00:29:04.519 It's a sweet aroma to him. 00:29:05.920 --> 00:29:06.980 Jesus died. 00:29:06.980 --> 00:29:08.319 He said, 00:29:08.660 --> 00:29:09.279 not my will, 00:29:09.420 --> 00:29:10.720 but your will be done 00:29:10.720 --> 00:29:12.559 in order to please his Father. 00:29:13.559 --> 00:29:15.140 He died for our good 00:29:15.140 --> 00:29:16.839 in order to please our Father. 00:29:16.960 --> 00:29:19.299 And we are to sacrifice ourselves 00:29:19.299 --> 00:29:20.500 for the good of each other 00:29:20.500 --> 00:29:23.240 in order to please our Father. 00:29:24.460 --> 00:29:26.140 Our Holy Father is well pleased 00:29:26.140 --> 00:29:28.279 when we love each other like Christ. 00:29:29.880 --> 00:29:31.339 Another way to say it is this. 00:29:32.039 --> 00:29:33.839 We sacrificially give ourselves 00:29:33.839 --> 00:29:35.120 for the good of others 00:29:35.119 --> 00:29:37.619 and the glory of God. 00:29:41.419 --> 00:29:43.000 We've looked at two things this morning. 00:29:43.599 --> 00:29:44.639 As new creations, 00:29:44.819 --> 00:29:45.519 we're to be holy 00:29:45.519 --> 00:29:46.939 as our Father is holy 00:29:46.939 --> 00:29:49.239 and we are to love others 00:29:49.239 --> 00:29:51.899 as Christ has loved us. 00:29:54.500 --> 00:29:57.179 God's brought himself. 00:29:57.399 --> 00:29:58.759 He's given himself to us. 00:29:58.859 --> 00:29:59.819 Let me ask you a question. 00:29:59.819 --> 00:30:02.559 Has he brought anybody to mind? 00:30:04.139 --> 00:30:05.759 As we've been talking about love, 00:30:05.839 --> 00:30:07.720 has he brought someone to your mind? 00:30:08.460 --> 00:30:10.079 Maybe that person's from our church. 00:30:11.399 --> 00:30:12.379 Holidays are coming. 00:30:12.519 --> 00:30:13.259 Maybe it's someone 00:30:13.259 --> 00:30:14.500 in your extended family. 00:30:15.759 --> 00:30:17.359 Maybe it's one of your neighbors 00:30:17.359 --> 00:30:18.439 that if you go over, 00:30:18.519 --> 00:30:19.500 it's two hours. 00:30:21.099 --> 00:30:22.500 What you're being called to 00:30:22.500 --> 00:30:23.720 is love them 00:30:23.720 --> 00:30:26.819 as Christ has loved you. 00:30:26.819 --> 00:30:28.679 sacrificially, 00:30:28.879 --> 00:30:29.460 voluntarily, 00:30:30.139 --> 00:30:30.899 redemptively 00:30:30.899 --> 00:30:33.359 as a fragrant aroma 00:30:33.359 --> 00:30:34.319 to God. 00:30:35.359 --> 00:30:36.519 We're to be holy. 00:30:37.039 --> 00:30:38.339 We are to be loving 00:30:38.339 --> 00:30:39.980 because 00:30:39.980 --> 00:30:42.839 it's who we are now 00:30:42.839 --> 00:30:44.679 in Christ Jesus. 00:30:45.480 --> 00:30:46.619 Who you are 00:30:46.619 --> 00:30:48.519 determines who you imitate. 00:30:49.119 --> 00:30:49.960 Let's pray. 00:30:49.960 --> 00:30:56.819 God in heaven, 00:30:56.940 --> 00:30:57.680 thank you so much 00:30:57.680 --> 00:30:58.420 for your word. 00:30:59.620 --> 00:31:00.600 I pray now, 00:31:00.740 --> 00:31:00.920 Father, 00:31:01.039 --> 00:31:02.920 that you would help us 00:31:02.920 --> 00:31:03.900 to respond 00:31:03.900 --> 00:31:06.779 how you would have us respond, 00:31:06.960 --> 00:31:08.420 independence on you, 00:31:09.779 --> 00:31:10.559 seeking to be holy, 00:31:11.480 --> 00:31:12.180 seeking to be loving. 00:31:12.900 --> 00:31:14.059 We know it pleases you. 00:31:14.640 --> 00:31:16.000 We pray this in Jesus' name. 00:31:16.660 --> 00:31:16.940 Amen. 00:31:16.940 --> 00:31:17.079 Amen.