http://bible.com/59/HEB10.19.ESV Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
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Message Title: Be Like God
Message Text: Ephesians 5:1-7
This week Paul really shifts gears between Ephesians 5:2 and 5:3.
Ephesians 5:1–7 (NKJV)
1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. 3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; 4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any 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. 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them.
From walking in love to “don’t fornicate.” But this is God’s wisdom. Paul has spent much time and energy teaching us who we are in Christ.
However …
To live up to who we are in Christ we must know where we are in the world. If they were still involved in sexual immorality, impure living and greed, then they needed strong teaching to tell them that the clothing of the old man would just not do for God’s new creation.
For those who have believed in Jesus Son of God for the forgiveness of sins and have received his gift of eternal life, God promises amazing things. He brings us from total separation standing in judgment to an intimacy with the Most High God of the universe that is beyond our ability to understand or explain. We go from the flames of God’s eternal judgment to the flames of God’s eternal love and holiness.
Now we can say, “It doesn’t get any better than this!”
So we praise him!
This week’s message is more of our general theme. This is who you are. The words are written in our Bibles. The Spirit bears witness with our spirit. Now believe God and live up to our calling.
Here are the handouts for this week.
dave
http://bible.com/59/ISA44.8.ESV Fear not, nor be afraid; have I not told you from of old and declared it? And you are my witnesses! Is there a God besides me? There is no Rock; I know not any.”
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http://bible.com/59/PRO26.24.ESV Whoever hates disguises himself with his lips and harbors deceit in his heart; when he speaks graciously, believe him not, for there are seven abominations in his heart; though his hatred be covered with deception, his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.
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http://bible.com/59/ISA40.21.ESV Do you not know? Do you not hear? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? It is he who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them like a tent to dwell in; who brings princes to nothing, and makes the rulers of the earth as emptiness.
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http://bible.com/59/PRO25.18.ESV A man who bears false witness against his neighbor is like a war club, or a sword, or a sharp arrow.
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http://bible.com/59/ISA35.8.ESV And a highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Way of Holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it. It shall belong to those who walk on the way; even if they are fools, they shall not go astray.
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A hypocrite is …
A person who is pretending to be someone or something he or she is not. She wears a mask as she attempts to elevate other people’s perception of her. In his mind he contrives an image of a person he pretends to be thinking to impress those around him.
But God turns the tables on us.
He paints a picture of his saints (holy ones/hagiois) that is beyond our imagination. In fact almost unbelievable. We continue to see in our study in Ephesians the lofty view that God clearly gives of his people, the Church, in Holy Scripture.
This week …
The Apostle Paul continues to instruct us to pursue this high calling, not by pretending to be someone we are not but by living up to who we are in Christ.
And he tells us how …
To learn who we are and what it takes to be who we are. No pretense or puffing ourselves up. Just faith enough to believe God and the amazing things he has done for us and in us through Christ’s finished work on the cross. And a willingness to change.
Message Title: Living Up to Who We Are in Jesus Christ / Living as the New People God Created Us to Be!
Message Text: Ephesians 4:17-32
HERE ARE THE HANDOUTS FOR THIS WEEK:
http://bible.com/59/ISA8.11.ESV For the Lord spoke thus to me with his strong hand upon me, and warned me not to walk in the way of this people, saying: “Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread. But the Lord of hosts, him you shall honor as holy. Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread.
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http://bible.com/59/TIT3.3.ESV For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
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