Title: Imitate Christ
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Old Testament R>
15. You shall also bring a ram, and Aaron and his sons shall lay their hands on the ram's head.
16. You shall slaughter the ram and take its blood and sprinkle it around the altar.
17. And he cut off the ram, and washed its head and legs, and put it together with the cut meat and its head.
18. And all the rams shall be burned on the altar; it is a burnt offering to the LORD, and it is a fragrant smell, a fire offering to the LORD.
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new testament
1. Therefore, as beloved children, become imitators of God,
2. Walk in love, just as Christ loved you, who gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
3. Fornication, and any uncleanness, or covetousness, shall not even call its name among you, as it is fitting for the saints.
4. It is not appropriate to say shabby, foolish or mocking words. Rather, say thank you.
5. And ye also know this, for there shall be no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God, neither the fornicator nor the unclean nor the covetous, the idolaters
6. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for by this the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
7. Therefore, do not be with them.
8. You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.
9. The fruit of the light is in all goodness and righteousness and truth.
10. Try what pleases the Lord
11. Do not take part in the fruitless works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
12. The things they do in secret are shameful to even say.
13. But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light, and everything that is revealed is light.
14. Therefore he said, Awake, you who sleep, and rise from the dead, for Christ will give light to you.
sermon
imitate Christ
Ephesians 5:1-14
People often think of Jesus as one of the saints and it's a good thing to be like him. But the Bible says that there is no point in trying to imitate Jesus with such a human and arbitrary judgment. When we receive the life of Jesus Christ in us, He transforms us.
1. Have the character of God. We are the beloved children of our Heavenly Father. Beloved children imitate their fathers. God is merciful, gracious, full of mercy, and a loving God who saves all sinners. We who have been loved through Christ are becoming more like God.
2. Love by sacrificing yourself. Jesus loved us and did not hesitate to suffer for us and sacrificed himself on the cross. Love is not only done in the mind, but it is practiced in the body through concrete sacrifices. What do we sacrifice to love lost souls?
3. Offer yourself as a fragrant sacrifice to God. The most beautiful attribute of Jesus Christ toward the Father was his obedience. His coming to this world, living with people, and dying as a fragrant sacrifice on the cross stem from his disposition to obey the Father's will. Let us also give ourselves to the Lord.
We were born into this world to imitate Christ. It is our life's task to become like him. Salvation is instantaneous, but Christlikeness is a gradual process over a lifetime. We desire to become more and more like Christ. To think like Christ, forgive like Christ, be pure like Christ, love like Christ.
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