Title: Walk in love / Ephesians 05:01-04
imitate God
Paul is presenting the highest standard of living for the Ephesian church members in today's text. It means to become imitators of God.
This is verse 1.
"Therefore, be imitators of God, as beloved children."
The gist of this verse is 'because you are a child loved by God', it is a message that emphasizes the need to imitate God. There is nothing more beautiful than being imitated. Of course, it's not about taking a bad example, it's about taking a beautiful example.
"That's certainly not what Jesus showed us, so why aren't today's church leaders imitating the Lord?"
If there is one moving book that I read in my first year of seminary that shook my soul, it is 'Imitation of Christ' by 'Thomas a Kempis'. This one book is the story of Thomas More, St. Ignatius, Loyola, John Wesley, St. Francis Xavier, and many others, clearing your mind, sanctifying your soul, and beautifying your life. The author emphasized that there is no life more than thinking of Christ crucified and devoting himself to Him. He emphasized the need to learn the meek and humble disposition of Christ, poverty of heart, clear mind, beautiful forgiveness, and generosity to not lose joy in the midst of suffering. The Lord taught us love, but we still hate it. I taught forgiveness, but I live with more resentment. I was taught to serve, but I live my life coveting only high places. He taught peace, but he lives with only conflict. They taught gratitude, but only complaining and resentment.
Paul appealed to the church in Ephesus with tears. “Therefore, be imitators of God, as beloved children.”
walk in love
What did Paul have in mind when he told the Ephesian church members to imitate God? In a nutshell, it teaches us to imitate God's love and forgiveness. How was that love expressed?
This is verse 2.
"Walk in love, as Christ loved you. He gave himself up for us as a fragrant sacrifice and livestock to God." That's right. 'As Christ loved us'. But what is the standard of the love that Christ has for us? It means making love, not subjective love, but based on objective love. It means self-sacrificing love.
How is the sacrificial love of Christ Jesus affecting us today? I was able to go directly to God and ask for it. I have received a new life. (Romans 6:23) I have enjoyed peace with God. (Ephesians 2:14-15) I have been sanctified and justified. (1 Corinthians 6:11) I have lived a life of victory. (1 Corinthians 15: 57) My sins were forgiven. (Ephesians 4:32) I became a holy priest. (1 Peter 2:5)
Likewise, Paul emphasized that today, when we imitate Christ and practice sacrificial love, our neighbors will live such a blessed life.
This is John 13:15. “I set an example that you should do as I have done to you.” And in verse 34, he said more specifically. “Love one another as I have loved you.” This is the content of the Christian life today.
Get rid of worldly lusts
This is verse 3.
"Fornication, and any uncleanness, or greediness, shall not even call its name among you, for it is fitting for saints." These words teach what the center of the Christian life is to live in love. In a word, it means to get out of an imperfect, profane and dirty worldly life. 'Fornication' (Porneiva) means any unlawful sexual intercourse outside of marriage, 'Dirty' (ajkaqarsiva, acadarcia) is a term for the unclean character of fornication, and 'pleonexiva' (pleonexiva) Oryxia) means lustful lust to pursue all kinds of unclean things. The common denominator of those who are entangled in this kind of life is that they are consistent with complaints and complaints, condemnation, slander, envy, and jealousy.
Verse 4 continues.
“There is no need for filthiness and foolishness or slander, so turn around and give thanks.”
'Shame' (aijscrovth", Aescrotes) means vulgar and profane, 'foolish speech' (mwrologiva, morologia) means useless and worthless speech, 'words of harassment' (eujtrapeliva) , eutrapelia) means vulgar venom.
And instead of saying those words, I urge you to say 'thank you'.
The word 'thank you' (eujcaristiva) is a compound word of 'you' (good) and 'charis' (grace), and it is a word with the meaning of gracious, good, and gracious words.
This is the content of the beautiful Christian life.
Say thank you.
The Bible instructs the saints about things that are not proper to say. You must not speak dirty words (Ephesians 4:29). You must not say stupid things (Eph 5:4). You must not speak sarcastic words (Ephesians 5:4). You must not use false criticism. (1 Tim. 5:13) You must not speak in vain. (1 Tim. 6:20) You must not quarrel. (2 Tim. 2:14) You must refrain from using curse words (James 3:9-10). You must refrain from speaking more. (James 4:11) Evil words must be forbidden. (1 Peter 3:10) Words of deceit must be forbidden. (1 Peter 3:10) You must not speak of vain boasting (2 Peter 2). :18)
Instead of saying these absurd words, you should be able to say five words that you can say with an enlightened heart. 1 Corinthians 14 taught that prayer, praise, blessing, thanksgiving, and Amen should be the fruit of the lips of the saints.
There is such a story in the anecdote of St. Chrysostom, who lived his life or died with gratitude because it belongs to the Lord. It was when he was arrested and imprisoned for preaching the Christian gospel, which was forbidden by law. He prayed like this. "Lord. You have sent me here to evangelize the prisoners in prison. Thank you." He continued to preach the gospel even in prison. In the end, he was sentenced to death. Chrysostom's prayer continued. "Lord. Thank you. You said martyrdom was the most beautiful death of the saints, but thank you for allowing people like me to join the ranks of martyrdom." Chrysostom is taken to the death row. However, when St. Chrysostom was about to be hanged, the death penalty was suddenly suspended. Even then, Chrysostom gives thanks with tears. "God. Thank you. Do you still have more work to do with your servant? Help me to be faithful to death." This is why the saints should be thankful. Even if we lived, imprisoned, or died, we did not lose our gratitude with a heart of gratitude and love for the Lord.
In Buddhism, they taught the Buddha-nature of real existence (悉有buddha) and the creation of light in the light of light. It means that anyone can become a Buddha, and it means that light shines everywhere. Buddhists believe in this and live that way, enlightening sentient beings, making Buddhism their daily life, and giving light to all people in the world as the highest virtue. It is a life that is possible only when you empty your mind as Seongcheol longs for. It is a life that can be fulfilled when you empty yourself.
There are people who look like old rags even when they change into new clothes. There are people who look old-fashioned even in a nice car. Someone sits in a fine dining restaurant and cuts a steak, but looks like a ghastly figure knocking on someone else's door. There are some people who feel like they are empty and needy, like a savings account with no money left, even though there is nothing lacking in everything.
It is the image of a person without gratitude. It is the image of a person who is a Christian but lives an unchristian life. It is the image of a person who has no concept of a job while struggling as if he has everything. It's like trying to fill your hungry stomach for the things of the world that will be nothing after all.
A life in which you can confirm the love of the Lord and live in that love, even if you live one day, that life is definitely grace and blessing. walk in love The Apostle Paul's prison letter to the church in Ephesus fills the hearts of all of us living today with the love of the Lord. We pray that we will live more in love. Amen.