The Beloved Children of God: Sanctified, Secured, and Assured Ephesians 5:1-10 Ryan Habbena Twin City Fellowship, August

Imitators of God Ephesians 5:1-2 Ephesians 5:1-2 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.

How We are to Imitate God Be Speakers of the Truth (4:24) Be Speakers of the Truth (4:24) Be Angry yet Do Not Sin (4:25) Be Angry yet Do Not Sin (4:25) Be Forgiving and Gracious (4:32) Be Forgiving and Gracious (4:32) Walk in Love (5:2) Walk in Love (5:2)

Living as “Saints” Ephesians 5:3-4 But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints; and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.

The Importance of Thanksgiving Colossians 3:15-17 Colossians 3:15-17 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

Immoral, Impure, Idolatrous = No Inheritance Ephesians 5: 5-6 For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

Walking as Children of the Light Ephesians 5:7-10 Therefore do not be partakers with them; for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.

Three Dynamics of Biblical Exhortation Call to Action: Be Imitators of God, Walk as Children of the Light (5:1,8) Call to Action: Be Imitators of God, Walk as Children of the Light (5:1,8) Stern Warning: Know with Certainty no Immoral Person with Inherit the Kingdom (5:5-6) Stern Warning: Know with Certainty no Immoral Person with Inherit the Kingdom (5:5-6) Assurance: Now you are Beloved Children of God, and Light in the Lord (5:1,8) Assurance: Now you are Beloved Children of God, and Light in the Lord (5:1,8)

The Seriousness of Sin Question: Who Will Not Inherit the Kingdom of God? Question: Who Will Not Inherit the Kingdom of God? Galatians 5:19-21 Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

The Bad News for the Unrighteous Question: Who Will Not Inherit the Kingdom of God? 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.

The Good News of God’s Grace 1 Corinthians 6:11 Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.

Application #1: Be Diligent to Make Your Calling and Election Sure 2 Peter 1:5-9 Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self- control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification from his former sins.

Application #1: Be Diligent to Make Your Calling and Election Sure 2 Peter 1:10-11 Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you.

Contrasting Ephesians and 2 Peter Ephesians 5:5-6 Ephesians 5:5-6Characteristics- Immoral, Impure etc. Result- Will not inherit the Kingdom of God Revealed as- Sons of Disobedience 2 Peter 1:5-10 Characteristics- Faithful, Loving, etc. Result- Will receive a rich entrance into the Kingdom of God Revealed as- The Called and Elect Ones

Application #2 Be Engaged in God’s Means of Cultivating Assurance The Word of God The Word of God 1 John 5:13 These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life. Prayer Hebrews 4:16 Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Application #2 Be Engaged in God’s Means of Cultivating Assurance Fellowship Fellowship Hebrews 10:25... not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near. The Lord’s Supper 1 Corinthians 11:25 In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me."