Sermon

Mimics and MoralsEphesians 5:1-8

Introduction

[1] Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. [2] And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. [3] But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints.

[4] Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. [5] For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no 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 become partners with them; [8] for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.

The New Self, which is a result of a gracious new birth has a taste for holiness, righteousness and truth; it seeks to know the will of God

…in the new self, the prospect of holiness makes us salivate like a child looking at a freshly baked apple pie. If we live under the Law we just hear commands to obey. Now in Christ the same command sounds like a mother’s instruction to cut a big piece of pie and add ice cream.

If we don’t see thing that way, if we hear the command to stay moral as a prohibition, either we’re not living in our New Self, or it hasn’t yet been created in us. Larry Crabb

SEX AND MONEY

Don’t miss the point that God saves those who are engaged in immorality, impurity and

greed. You don’t save yourself by getting rid of it.

Immorality- fornication Impurity

But that fact is that the gospel demands everything of all of us. If someone thinks the gospel has somehow slotted into their life quite easily, without causing any major adjustments to their lifestyle or aspirations, it is likely that they have not really started following Jesus at all.

Immorality- fornication Impurity Greed / covetousness Tim Keller… "In the ancient

world, pagans were promiscuous with their bodies but stingy with their money. Followers of Jesus were promiscuous with their money but stingy with their bodies."

-Filthiness - related to impurity above

-Foolish talking- not an evaluation of intellect, but of character; buffoonery

-Course jestingPaul seems to be concerned

mainly about two related errors: treating things as gross or treating things as trivial.

HOW DO YOU GET RID OF THE OLD SELF DESIRES?

Although I am an unworthy and condemned man, my God has

given me in Christ all the riches of righteousness and salvation without any merit on my part,

out of pure, free mercy, so that from now on I need nothing

except faith which believes that this is true.

Why should I not therefore freely, joyfully, with all my

heart, and with an eager will do all things which I know are

pleasing and acceptable to such a Father who has

overwhelmed me with his inestimable riches?

GIVE THANKS Thanksgiving is the “anti-idol”

Ephesians 5:4, 20If you are overflowing with thanksgiving to God, then

you are NOT dominated and driven by discontentment at what you have been denied.

Piper: Gratitude is what you feel

when you believe God is for you and not against you. It's what you feel when you believe that he gives you only what is good for you and withholds no good thing (single or married!).

It's what you feel when you trust Him, that the tragedies of your life are not evidences of his meanness or his incompetence; but rather that they are the discipline of a loving Father who values your holiness above your fleeting worldly happiness.

We don’t scold our hearts into holiness – we worship and

rejoice our hearts into holiness.

"Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." Proverbs 4:23

Remember that God is near to the contrite in heart and that

because of Christ you can come to him just as you are.