Ephesians: Food for the soul… All 5 postcards available for €3 LPO Summer 2009 Pete Phillips St John's College Durham

Saturday Morning Imitating God Ephesians 5 (5:1-2, 8-17)

Imitating God: Ephesians 5:1-2, Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. 8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, 14 for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: "Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." 15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.

Imitating God: Ephesians 5:1-2, Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. "Many Christians have what we might call a "cultural holiness". They adapt to the character and behavior pattern of Christians around them. As the Christian culture around them is more or less holy, so these Christians are more or less holy. But God has not called us to be like those around us. He has called us to be like Himself. Holiness is nothing less than conformity to the character of God." (so note verse 2) Jerry Bridges

Imitating God: Ephesians 5:1-2, Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Holiness as theosis so that through God’s promises you may be partakers of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4) The idea of theosis is that God and humanity progressively achieve a union in Christ which in the end both blurs and preserves the distinction between Creator and creation, as in a mirror perfectly reflecting the source of its image. Michael Christensen

Imitating God 1 Cor 13? How do we reflect God’s character and being?

Imitating God: Ephesians 5:1-2, Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. God transforms us Positional holiness – prevenient grace Positional holiness – prevenient grace to reflect God’s covenant love through action to reflect God’s covenant love through action to bring salvation & liberation to all creation to bring salvation & liberation to all creation to join with missio dei to join with missio dei to reflect God’s nature in the world to reflect God’s nature in the world

Imitating God: Ephesians 5:1-2, Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. God transforms us We are made righteous in order to be just. We are made righteous in order to be just. “made holy to act holy…” “to be ‘sanctified throughout;’ even ‘to have a heart so all-flaming with the love of God, as continually to offer up every thought, word, and work, as a spiritual sacrifice, acceptable to God through Christ.’ In every thought of our hearts, in every word of our tongues, in every work of our hands, to ‘show forth his praise, who hath called us out of darkness into his marvellous light.’ O that both we, and all who seek the Lord Jesus in sincerity, may thus ‘be made perfect in one!’” John Wesley

Imitating God Ephesians 5 (5:1-2, 8-17) Where do we need to improve our reflective capabilities?

Imitating God: Ephesians 5:1-2, For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) Remember where/who you have been! Remember where/who you have been! Remember where/who you are now! Remember where/who you are now! Fruit of light...fruit of Spirit Fruit of light...fruit of Spirit Holiness into action by the way you live Holiness into action by the way you live Goodness, just before God and people, truth Goodness, just before God and people, truth Note fruit and light, barreness and darkness Note fruit and light, barreness and darkness There is no choice – Deuteronomy 30 There is no choice – Deuteronomy 30 Holiness and theosis is the natural way Holiness and theosis is the natural way

Imitating God: Ephesians 5:1-2, Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Wake up… Common philosophical picture Common philosophical picture Dormant belief needs reviving into action Dormant belief needs reviving into action Christianity is an active faith - rise and then... Christianity is an active faith - rise and then... Holiness into action by the way you live Holiness into action by the way you live Tabletalk/paranesis in Paul Tabletalk/paranesis in Paul What we have learnt from Paul on holiday needs to be put into practice at work next week! What we have learnt from Paul on holiday needs to be put into practice at work next week!

Imitating God: Ephesians 5:1-2, Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Chapter 1 – Thankfulness Chapter 1 – Thankfulness Chapter 2 – Saving Grace Chapter 2 – Saving Grace Chapter 3 – Prayerfulness Chapter 3 – Prayerfulness Chapter 4 – Maturing in Christ Chapter 4 – Maturing in Christ Chapter 5 – Imitating God Chapter 5 – Imitating God

Ephesians 1-5 Thankfulness Saving Grace Prayerfulness Maturity in Christ Imitating God

Ephesians: Food for the soul… All 5 postcards available for €3 LPO Summer 2009 Pete Phillips St John's College Durham