Walk in Love, Even as Christ also Loved You Eph. 5:1-2 1/17/2019

Reconciliation and Relationships In Ephesians 1:3-13; The blessings of a relationship with Christ. 2:1-10; The need for reconciliation. 2:11-18; Reconciliation is through Christ. 2:19-22; Benefits of reconciliation. 3:1-13; Gentiles too can have a relationship with Christ. 4:1-16; Practical aspects of being reconciled into one body. 4:17-32; Practical aspects of how a relationship with Christ affects our relationship with our fellow man. 1/17/2019

Text: Ephesians 5:1-2 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; 2 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. 1/17/2019

Walk in Love, Just as Christ has Loved You The Incomprehensible Love of Christ Christ’s love surpasses knowledge. (Eph. 3:16-19) The heights of glory that Christ gave up to serve is incomprehensible. (Phil. 2:6-8) The sacrifice for individuals who were unloving and undeserving is incomprehensible. (Romans 5:6-8) How might we know the unknowable? (Eph. 3:16-19) On a practical level we can observe Christ’s love demonstrated and practice it ourselves. In that way we can walk in love. 1/17/2019

Walk in Love, Just as Christ has Loved You Imitate God We instructed to walk in the love of Christ (5:2), but are instructed to imitate God. (5:1) It is natural for children to imitate their parents. We are the spiritual offspring of God (1 Peter 1:23). We are expected to imitate God. (Lev. 11:44; Lev. 19:2; Matt. 5:48; 1 Peter 1:14-16) Mimicking requires two things: OBERVATION and IMITATION. How can we imitated what we have not seen? (John 1:18) By imitating Christ. (John 14:8-11) 1/17/2019

Walk in Love, Just as Christ has Loved You Christ’s Sacrifice was Voluntary Eph. 5:2—and awalk in love, just as Christ also bloved 1you and cgave Himself up for us, an doffering and a sacrifice to God 2as a efragrant aroma. Eph. 5:25; Gal. 2:20; John 10:14-18; 1/17/2019

Walk in Love, Just as Christ has Loved You Christ’s Sacrifice was the Ultimate Gift Eph. 5:2—and awalk in love, just as Christ also bloved 1you and cgave Himself up for us, an doffering and a sacrifice to God 2as a efragrant aroma. John 15:13; Romans 5:7-8; 1/17/2019

Walk in Love, Just as Christ has Loved You Christ’s Sacrifice was Pleasing to God Eph. 5:2—and awalk in love, just as Christ also bloved 1you and cgave Himself up for us, an doffering and a sacrifice to God 2as a efragrant aroma. A pleasing sacrifice in the Old Testament was a “sweet smelling savor” to the Lord. Sacrifices offered without devotion where not pleasing. (Isaiah 1:11; Amos 5:21-22) Jesus’ sacrifice was a sweet smelling aroma. (Hebrews 5:8-9; John 6:38; John 4:34; John 5:30; Hebrews 10:5-12) 1/17/2019

Walk in Love, Just as Christ has Loved You Christ’s Love Compels Us 2 Cor. 5:14-15—For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that bone died for all, therefore all died; 15 and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf. 1/17/2019

Walk in Love, Just as Christ has Loved You Christ’s Love Compels to Walk in Voluntary Devotion. Matt. 25:34-40; 1 Peter 4:9; Romans 12:8; 1 Peter 5:1-2; Matt. 5:8 Christ’s Love Compels Us to Give the Ultimate Gift. Matt. 16:24-25; 2 Cor. 5:15; Matt. 5:5; Eph. 5:28; Eph. 6:4; Eph. 6:1-3; 1 Cor. 9:22; Romans 12:9-15; 1/17/2019