WEBVTT 00:00:02.720 --> 00:00:05.599 I'm going to be preaching out of Ephesians 5. 00:00:10.000 --> 00:00:13.039 Just to remind you, this is the Word of God. 00:00:13.759 --> 00:00:19.760 If you would stand in reverence as I read the Word of God. 00:00:22.719 --> 00:00:27.359 Ephesians 5, verses 1 through 14. 00:00:28.800 --> 00:00:42.560 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. 00:00:43.359 --> 00:00:51.280 But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among the saints. 00:00:51.600 --> 00:01:00.159 And there must be no fill filthiness or silly talk or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. 00:01:00.560 --> 00:01:10.959 For this you know a certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man who is an idolater has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 00:01:11.519 --> 00:01:18.959 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 00:01:19.280 --> 00:01:27.200 Therefore, do not be partakers with them, for you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. 00:01:27.439 --> 00:01:29.519 Walk as children of light. 00:01:29.760 --> 00:01:37.920 For the fruit of the light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth, trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. 00:01:38.480 --> 00:01:44.799 Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them. 00:01:45.120 --> 00:01:49.760 For it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. 00:01:50.640 --> 00:01:54.079 But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light. 00:01:54.400 --> 00:01:57.519 For everything that becomes visible is light. 00:01:57.840 --> 00:02:05.120 For this reason it says, awake, sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you. 00:02:05.920 --> 00:02:06.959 This is the word of God. 00:02:07.040 --> 00:02:08.080 You may be seated. 00:02:08.560 --> 00:02:10.719 Pastor Brian, would you please come? 00:02:21.919 --> 00:02:33.759 What a joy it is to come back to the book of Ephesians once again to be encouraged and challenged and just thrilled with the fact that we get to be called children of God. 00:02:34.400 --> 00:02:37.919 Father, we thank you again for drawing us here today. 00:02:38.000 --> 00:02:58.319 We thank you for the privilege it is to continue on through the book of Ephesians and to see what you have called us to do in this latter half, and that you would just impress it upon us, that by these imperatives that we would be changed into Christ's likeness all the more, and that you would be honored and glorified in and through our lives. 00:02:58.479 --> 00:03:17.840 And so, Father, just impress your spirit upon us in such a way today that crowds out the tyranny of the urgent that seems to always be on our minds of the world, and that we would focus on Christ, that we would focus on your truth, that we would focus on how to live for your glory. 00:03:18.240 --> 00:03:21.840 And so lead us and guide us, we pray in Christ's name. 00:03:22.159 --> 00:03:22.800 Amen. 00:03:25.280 --> 00:03:33.439 You know, when I was a little kid, I used to love what was aptly named government cheese. 00:03:35.599 --> 00:03:36.240 Not kidding. 00:03:36.560 --> 00:04:01.120 Back before the modern day help that the government now gives to folks that are in need with purchasing food, uh, there were these food items the government, and some of you may remember, the government would either procure or or produce, I'm not sure which one it was, but one of those that we used to love at home, that came from this storehouse of food, is what I now fondly recall as government cheese. 00:04:01.360 --> 00:04:04.560 It was sort of like a Velveeta, but maybe a little firmer. 00:04:04.639 --> 00:04:06.080 Definitely not Tillamap cheese. 00:04:06.159 --> 00:04:09.280 It's made from the finest ingredients and processes. 00:04:09.840 --> 00:04:12.960 This is what I would call fake cheese. 00:04:13.520 --> 00:04:17.439 It's kind of similar to those individually wrapped cheeses you can get from the store. 00:04:17.600 --> 00:04:22.079 Uh that that that, you know, 16 count or whatever. 00:04:22.319 --> 00:04:24.399 What is it though that in that's interesting? 00:04:24.560 --> 00:04:27.120 What is it that those packages say on them? 00:04:28.000 --> 00:04:29.759 They say imitation. 00:04:31.920 --> 00:04:33.759 Imitation cheese. 00:04:34.560 --> 00:04:38.160 It's close, but it's not the real thing. 00:04:38.959 --> 00:04:42.560 And today we even have alternative cheeses that I don't even want to speak about. 00:04:42.720 --> 00:04:44.319 I'm just gonna leave that alone. 00:04:44.560 --> 00:04:48.079 But there are so many imitations, aren't there, out there? 00:04:48.639 --> 00:04:49.519 I'll give you one more. 00:04:49.600 --> 00:04:57.600 I remember when I was when I was a kid, I was in high school and my friend's father passed away, and he was to be buried in their hometown in Los Angeles. 00:04:57.839 --> 00:05:02.079 So I went with the family down there to help to be there and to be a pallbearer. 00:05:02.879 --> 00:05:09.600 While we were there, we went downtown LA to a swap meet that's pretty much always going on there. 00:05:09.759 --> 00:05:16.560 And and while I was down there at this inexpensive swap meet, I picked up what I thought was a decent sweatshirt for next to nothing. 00:05:16.720 --> 00:05:18.000 I was all excited about it. 00:05:18.079 --> 00:05:27.920 Uh it was only afterward that my friend told this naive boy from Oregon that I had bought an imitation Nike sweatshirt and that it was obvious because the swoosh was backwards. 00:05:28.959 --> 00:05:34.319 Which, of course, is a seller's way of getting around having to, you know, give credit to Nike. 00:05:35.279 --> 00:05:38.000 But to me, as a kid who didn't have a lot, I thought it was great. 00:05:38.079 --> 00:05:38.959 I didn't really care. 00:05:39.199 --> 00:05:41.279 The imitation was good enough. 00:05:44.160 --> 00:05:52.720 All that to say, there are many, many things that we have in this life that have the stamp of imitation on them. 00:05:53.839 --> 00:06:13.279 As Paul continues on here in our passage in the fifth chapter in Ephesians, he gives us the therefore, in light of what he's already spoken that we looked at last time regarding how we are to walk, how we are to live together, what that consists of, how we are to bear with one another, how we are to love and forgive one another. 00:06:13.519 --> 00:06:24.240 And then here he is essentially saying, okay, in light of all that, church, in light of all that, in light of all that I commanded you to live like, imitate Christ. 00:06:27.839 --> 00:06:34.399 Be so very close to the life of Jesus Christ that you're imitating who he is. 00:06:35.680 --> 00:06:43.439 So much so that while people will know that you're not him, obviously, they would still say that your lives imitated, they're still good. 00:06:43.759 --> 00:06:47.199 They fondly remind them of Jesus from the Bible. 00:06:51.040 --> 00:06:54.879 Jesus, of course, is God who came in the flesh. 00:06:55.199 --> 00:06:59.279 We are made in the image of God, indicating the nature of who we are. 00:06:59.439 --> 00:07:12.800 And in the beginning it was intended for us to live in such a way that we actually reveal the nature of God by how we reflect and show forth who God is through the prism of our lives before others. 00:07:14.079 --> 00:07:19.519 As we know, sin entered the world and is now marred and stained our image that we bear. 00:07:20.000 --> 00:07:28.800 But we are nonetheless commanded, as we see here, to imitate Christ as we live for his glory as his image-bearers. 00:07:30.079 --> 00:07:51.360 And so it's as if Paul is reminding us that when people think of our Lord and they joyfully think of who he is and what he's done and accomplished, that they then look upon our lives and they fondly say to themselves, yeah, okay, I can definitely see the real resemblance by who they are, how they live, and of course what they worship. 00:07:53.199 --> 00:07:55.680 Now I know that's a tall order, isn't it? 00:07:56.319 --> 00:07:59.199 But it is our calling and our privilege to live out. 00:07:59.920 --> 00:08:12.639 It's like those times you ever like at the grocery store, maybe, and you see these parents and you see their children, and you're kind of just taken aback at the stark resemblance, not only in looks, but in action and behavior and antics and attitude. 00:08:13.519 --> 00:08:18.160 That's what we're supposed to be like as children of the Most High God. 00:08:20.639 --> 00:08:24.000 Is the moon reflects the sun, so we reflect our Father. 00:08:24.639 --> 00:08:27.360 Imitating our Savior. 00:08:28.959 --> 00:08:36.480 If we bear the mark of Christ on us, then we are to imitate his holy character, his life. 00:08:36.879 --> 00:08:38.879 Again, that's not easy, is it? 00:08:39.519 --> 00:08:41.279 It's a challenging task. 00:08:41.519 --> 00:08:44.320 In fact, it's impossible without the Spirit of God in us. 00:08:44.480 --> 00:08:51.200 If we just try this on our own, without the Holy Spirit in us, we're simply going to be imposters instead of imitators. 00:08:51.840 --> 00:08:58.399 We're going to be seen as counterfeit and very easy to spot if we're not actually his and yet we pretend that we are. 00:09:00.399 --> 00:09:08.240 That's why Paul goes on here in this passage to describe what it looks like to imitate Christ and what it looks like to be an imposter who is living in darkness. 00:09:09.360 --> 00:09:15.679 And so, with that said, as we dive into this passage further, we're going to see what being an imitation of Christ looks like. 00:09:16.000 --> 00:09:22.639 We first need to see what the main thrust is behind the imitation command that Paul gives to us. 00:09:23.440 --> 00:09:33.759 See, the main character trait, the bulk of our imitating motivation, if you will, and in action is to be regulated by one wonderful principle, according to Paul in verse 2. 00:09:36.240 --> 00:09:38.480 And that is love. 00:09:41.120 --> 00:09:43.200 We are to be a people of love. 00:09:44.799 --> 00:09:46.320 That's easy to say, isn't it? 00:09:46.639 --> 00:09:47.759 Okay, sure. 00:09:48.559 --> 00:09:49.360 Check mark. 00:09:50.399 --> 00:09:52.320 But the question is, how do we love? 00:09:53.120 --> 00:09:54.720 What does that look like? 00:09:55.279 --> 00:09:58.720 Isn't love kind of naturally ingrained in us? 00:09:59.279 --> 00:10:00.559 That's what the world says. 00:10:02.000 --> 00:10:05.039 People from all walks of life express love, right? 00:10:06.559 --> 00:10:09.600 Well, again, Paul has already set the table for us regarding love. 00:10:09.759 --> 00:10:14.720 He's already told us to imitate Christ as his beloved children, and so that's it, isn't it? 00:10:15.919 --> 00:10:18.080 We love like Christ. 00:10:20.000 --> 00:10:21.679 How did Christ love us? 00:10:22.480 --> 00:10:29.759 Well, to briefly answer that, we can look at creation and to Christmas and to the cross and even his current intercession for us right now. 00:10:30.000 --> 00:10:47.919 You see, our gracious God made all things in the beginning and chose to create mankind, still knowing that we would sin and bring death and destruction into the world, knowing this would require the blood of his only son, and yet he emphatically decided to do this for his glory and our good. 00:10:48.240 --> 00:10:56.240 Christ came and he sacrificed himself by being rejected and ridiculed and scorned and mocked and eventually killed on the cross. 00:10:56.480 --> 00:11:04.559 He resurrected on high and is now seated at the right hand of the Father, interceding for his people by the power of his own blood that was spilled for us. 00:11:04.720 --> 00:11:11.519 Mark 10, 45 even tells us he didn't even come to be served, he came to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many. 00:11:11.679 --> 00:11:16.240 I say that because that gospel truth, that's love in the highest degree. 00:11:16.399 --> 00:11:18.159 That's what we aim for. 00:11:19.519 --> 00:11:25.360 Jesus showed us love in millions of ways and still does day by day. 00:11:25.519 --> 00:11:33.279 He shows us his love through sacrifice, through his mercy and grace, through being long-suffering, praise God for that. 00:11:34.320 --> 00:11:36.879 Through forgiveness and thinking of others before himself. 00:11:40.399 --> 00:11:44.480 In just those things, there is a lifetime of challenge for us in love, right? 00:11:44.960 --> 00:11:50.080 More than any human can show forth, Christ loved the unlovely sinners, me. 00:11:50.320 --> 00:11:51.759 He loved us first. 00:11:53.440 --> 00:11:55.039 Again, he's the epitome of love. 00:11:55.120 --> 00:11:56.879 In fact, the Bible says he is love. 00:11:58.879 --> 00:12:01.600 And we, therefore, are called to imitate this. 00:12:02.240 --> 00:12:12.720 To imitate this kind of sacrificial, forgiving, gracious, merciful, others-focused kind of love day in and day out as a church together. 00:12:14.000 --> 00:12:16.559 We're to serve one another as Christ served us. 00:12:16.799 --> 00:12:22.000 Never assuming or asking to be served, but readily desiring to serve others. 00:12:22.159 --> 00:12:24.240 That's Christ-like imitation. 00:12:25.200 --> 00:12:32.480 But I gotta say, there's another awesome way that Christ shows perfect love, and that is simply by his perfection of life. 00:12:33.440 --> 00:12:34.799 As he took on human flesh. 00:12:34.879 --> 00:12:36.960 You see, Jesus always did the will of the Father. 00:12:41.039 --> 00:12:42.879 Never rebelled against his father in heaven. 00:12:43.039 --> 00:12:45.840 He always did exactly what was required of him, always. 00:12:46.000 --> 00:12:48.159 That is why Paul says that his life here. 00:12:48.320 --> 00:12:52.480 It says his life was an offering and a sacrifice to God. 00:12:52.639 --> 00:12:53.919 Again, verse 2. 00:12:54.480 --> 00:12:58.240 What that means is that he ends up being a pleasing aroma to the Father. 00:12:58.399 --> 00:13:03.759 Like the sacrifices of old that were burnt, that were commanded in the New Testament, that pleased God. 00:13:04.000 --> 00:13:09.840 The life of Christ did this in such a way, the Father is well pleased, and he announced that twice. 00:13:10.159 --> 00:13:13.200 He announced his pleasure to the world over his son. 00:13:16.720 --> 00:13:18.240 And we gotta imitate that. 00:13:19.679 --> 00:13:25.440 We see that Jesus loved us by living the life for us that we could not. 00:13:28.080 --> 00:13:30.320 And who doesn't want that for their own life? 00:13:30.559 --> 00:13:33.440 Who here today would say, No, I don't want to live like Jesus. 00:13:33.519 --> 00:13:34.320 No thanks. 00:13:34.559 --> 00:13:36.240 I don't want to be nice and loving. 00:13:37.840 --> 00:13:43.519 But to live in such a way that the Father is pleased with the aroma of your life? 00:13:44.240 --> 00:13:58.080 To live in such a way that the fragrance of your worship, your deeds, your actions, your thoughts, and your love for others causes the Father to receive your life and the actions of your life with satisfied and delighted appreciation like that? 00:13:59.039 --> 00:14:01.360 Oh, to have that be to the description of our lives. 00:14:01.440 --> 00:14:02.960 Isn't that a good goal? 00:14:03.600 --> 00:14:07.200 To imitate Christ and please the Father. 00:14:13.279 --> 00:14:15.919 There's another way to live, though, isn't there? 00:14:17.279 --> 00:14:20.240 There's another way to live, and that is that of the imposter. 00:14:20.639 --> 00:14:22.480 Look at verse 3 with me. 00:14:23.360 --> 00:14:30.799 In verse 3, Paul begins by speaking of some things that we're commanded to avoid, commanded to never partake in. 00:14:31.759 --> 00:14:34.639 And over the next couple of verses, we see there's actually two lists. 00:14:34.720 --> 00:14:36.799 We're gonna look at them all briefly. 00:14:37.919 --> 00:14:44.240 In the first list, in verse 3, we have three things here: immorality, impurity, and greed. 00:14:46.559 --> 00:14:53.039 Now remember, as we go through these things, what does the world, what does our culture, what does our society currently say? 00:14:53.919 --> 00:15:02.240 It tells us whatever pleases you, whatever brings you comfort, well, that has to be loving and good. 00:15:02.480 --> 00:15:03.120 Right? 00:15:04.639 --> 00:15:13.519 But the Bible continually teaches us that it's in fact whatever glorifies God, whatever causes holy living and shows others real and genuine biblical love. 00:15:13.679 --> 00:15:16.480 That's what it looks like to imitate Christ and his love. 00:15:16.799 --> 00:15:24.159 Therefore, the list we have before us in verse 3 are things that are actually antithetical to real and genuine love. 00:15:24.320 --> 00:15:26.960 They are counterfeits, they are pretend. 00:15:27.600 --> 00:15:31.039 They have a nice ring to them at first, and they can appeal to our feelings. 00:15:31.279 --> 00:15:36.960 They can appeal to our senses, but they are condemning and then loving actions and hard attitudes. 00:15:37.200 --> 00:15:39.519 Let's look at the first one: immorality. 00:15:40.399 --> 00:15:41.120 Immorality. 00:15:41.200 --> 00:15:46.559 Now, this isn't just some generalized word here describing, you know, a whole list of various sinful actions. 00:15:46.720 --> 00:15:51.600 This is actually very specific, in a very specific word used by Paul. 00:15:53.200 --> 00:15:55.440 It is the word pornea. 00:15:56.639 --> 00:16:01.120 And as you can guess, it is very specifically pointing to sexual sin. 00:16:01.200 --> 00:16:02.799 That's the immorality he's talking about. 00:16:02.960 --> 00:16:09.600 That's why many translations actually use the word fornication, and the modern ESV renders it sexual immorality. 00:16:10.240 --> 00:16:40.720 Therefore, what Paul is speaking of here is any sexual act, any sensual pleasure, any deviation off of the foundation of biblical marriage, where two people, man and woman, have been joined together publicly in the sight of God and his people, any sexual act or perversion thereof, such as pornography, where we get that word, sensual entertainment, lust of the flesh that takes over, anything outside of what God has prescribed and commanded, Paul says here, cannot even be named in the church. 00:16:43.120 --> 00:16:47.759 And if it's present, it's got to be repented of and transformed into godly living. 00:16:47.919 --> 00:16:49.360 Biblical marriage. 00:16:51.600 --> 00:17:01.120 So one of the most loving things, tailing on verse 2, one of the most loving things we can do for one another, especially in regards to the opposite sex, is to just keep yourself pure. 00:17:01.440 --> 00:17:04.880 Keep yourself pure until marriage for you who aren't. 00:17:05.200 --> 00:17:08.319 Get married to another godly person of the opposite sex, obviously. 00:17:08.480 --> 00:17:12.480 Obviously, homosexuality of any sort is a perversion and part of the warning here. 00:17:12.720 --> 00:17:19.279 So get married and beg God that He would allow you to remain pure and that your marriage bed would remain pure for the rest of your days. 00:17:23.359 --> 00:17:37.039 Point is God created marriage for one man and one woman, and the only sexual activity for any human being needs to be in those wonderful and beautiful and magnificent confines, as is best for us. 00:17:37.920 --> 00:17:48.559 Anything outside of that is what Paul is saying cannot be named in and among the church since it's a rejection of God's word and really a rejection of God Himself. 00:17:49.920 --> 00:18:05.200 Don't let the counterfeit, the imposter, this thing that Satan crafts with such things as homosexuality or sex before marriage or multiple partners or pornography, don't let that trick you into thinking that that kind of temporary pleasure is going to bring you joy. 00:18:05.440 --> 00:18:10.720 Because it's only going to bring misery and ruin since it's not what our Lord has graciously intended for us. 00:18:14.960 --> 00:18:18.079 I want to say this real quick in light of that. 00:18:19.440 --> 00:18:23.920 Please know and remember that with any of these sins, there's always hope. 00:18:24.400 --> 00:18:28.160 There's always forgiveness if you go to the Lord. 00:18:29.440 --> 00:18:36.720 He draws us unto repentance, and we come to him through his grace, and we get to align ourselves with his word yet again. 00:18:38.000 --> 00:18:41.039 But it says here they can't be tolerated in the church. 00:18:42.160 --> 00:18:42.720 Why? 00:18:44.720 --> 00:18:51.519 We're going to talk about this more in a moment, but because as Paul goes on to say, light and dark cannot coexist, it doesn't work. 00:18:52.799 --> 00:18:59.119 The darkness of sexual deviancy cannot exist in the light of God's holy design and holy people. 00:19:01.039 --> 00:19:02.559 And here's something awesome. 00:19:03.920 --> 00:19:07.200 What happens if we live according to the scriptures in this way? 00:19:07.359 --> 00:19:09.119 It shows each other real love. 00:19:10.400 --> 00:19:12.319 And it reveals that we love God. 00:19:14.400 --> 00:19:19.519 Biblical love is sacrificial, even in regards to our sexuality. 00:19:20.480 --> 00:19:25.039 I know these aren't fun topics, but we've got to look at what Paul says. 00:19:26.319 --> 00:19:28.640 Next, Paul says impurity. 00:19:29.200 --> 00:19:34.079 Now, this word is actually closely related to the previous one, so I'm not going to say much other than this. 00:19:34.319 --> 00:19:35.279 Here's something interesting. 00:19:35.440 --> 00:19:46.559 When this word is used in the New Testament, it's almost always linked to some form of sexual sin as well, except for when Jesus uses it in Matthew 23, when he just blasted the Pharisees, as he called them hypocrites. 00:19:46.640 --> 00:19:47.039 You remember that? 00:19:47.119 --> 00:19:53.119 And he said that they're like whitewashed tombs, meaning they look nice on the outside, but on the inside, rotten to the core. 00:19:53.440 --> 00:20:00.720 What he's getting at is they're dead, decaying, stinking, disgusting of soul, given that they've abused God's people and even the weak and vulnerable. 00:20:02.799 --> 00:20:13.039 And so, tailing that it's impure thoughts and actions that become a stench unto God instead of that fragrant aroma like the life of Christ. 00:20:14.160 --> 00:20:15.359 That's the thrust here. 00:20:15.440 --> 00:20:21.119 I know it's not a pretty picture at all, but we've got to be reminded of it as followers of Christ and be warned, right? 00:20:22.400 --> 00:20:31.680 The word impure also links us to the next one in the three counterfeit loves, if you will, and that's greed. 00:20:32.319 --> 00:20:34.240 Again, still in verse 3 here. 00:20:35.759 --> 00:20:44.079 Now, of course, the Bible teaches us that the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, and that being greedy is obviously the opposite of the character of God and his people. 00:20:44.240 --> 00:20:56.720 But I want to argue that in the context here, Paul is saying that this kind of greed that is impurity on display also finds itself being played out in the perversion of the sexual relationship. 00:20:56.880 --> 00:21:09.279 What I mean is we get greedy for what we want, and so we allow our lust to take over in our greed, and we act unloving toward one another, and we have relations and actions outside of the blessing of biblical marriage. 00:21:09.599 --> 00:21:11.920 I think he's connecting the dots here. 00:21:13.519 --> 00:21:16.160 Now, in our world, what do we hear? 00:21:16.480 --> 00:21:22.799 Constant cries of love and let live, or my body, my choice, or do what makes you feel good. 00:21:23.920 --> 00:21:25.200 Those are lies of the evil one. 00:21:25.359 --> 00:21:27.599 And they contradict what real love is. 00:21:27.759 --> 00:21:38.319 Because here's the thing: real love is to imitate the sacrificial love of Christ and love others too much to be greedily desiring for that which God has forbidden. 00:21:41.839 --> 00:21:46.880 The Bible is just chock full of warnings and commands to resist these things. 00:21:47.359 --> 00:21:51.839 But the world is telling you to embrace it, cling to it. 00:21:52.960 --> 00:21:55.839 And now we've seen the devastating result, haven't we? 00:21:58.640 --> 00:21:59.839 You want to see where our culture is. 00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:05.200 Is in regards to this type of thing that Paul's speaking about, just watch a movie. 00:22:07.039 --> 00:22:09.680 Trans kids in Disney movies. 00:22:11.599 --> 00:22:14.880 Never a talk of abstaining until marriage. 00:22:15.200 --> 00:22:19.759 Rampant nudity and sensuality lays through almost all shows and movies today. 00:22:20.319 --> 00:22:22.160 That's not what our Lord has designed. 00:22:22.240 --> 00:22:23.680 That's why I'm bringing it up. 00:22:24.000 --> 00:22:26.720 Because God has designed something better. 00:22:27.039 --> 00:22:28.559 So much better. 00:22:29.680 --> 00:22:35.599 What we see today is the greedy perversion of something beautiful that God has created for the married couple. 00:22:35.680 --> 00:22:38.480 And it's perverted, it's stained. 00:22:44.319 --> 00:22:46.160 That's what Paul says. 00:22:47.759 --> 00:22:53.039 Paul then goes on in his second portion of warning with three other actions and activities. 00:22:53.519 --> 00:23:02.079 He says that if we're to imitate Christ and love God in each other, then there can be no filthiness or silly speech or, he says, coarse jesting. 00:23:02.319 --> 00:23:05.359 All three of these have, of course, to do with what we say. 00:23:05.519 --> 00:23:08.640 As James says, therefore we must bridle our tongues. 00:23:08.799 --> 00:23:14.240 Because a tongue is like the rudder of a ship, he says, and it can be like a fire that burns down a whole forest with just a spark. 00:23:14.319 --> 00:23:16.160 We know that in this area, don't we? 00:23:16.559 --> 00:23:22.640 And so we've got to be careful when we speak to ensure that we are speaking with truth and purity and grace. 00:23:24.079 --> 00:23:29.039 Now, Paul is in no way, please hear me, he's in no way forbidding joking, okay? 00:23:29.200 --> 00:23:31.519 Or witty sayings or conversation. 00:23:31.759 --> 00:23:37.119 Nor is he saying that speaking childlike with your children or grandchildren and just making funny sounds is wrong. 00:23:37.200 --> 00:23:38.640 That's not what he's getting at. 00:23:40.480 --> 00:23:45.920 No, he is tailing on what he just spoke about and saying that our speech cannot be crass. 00:23:46.240 --> 00:23:49.119 It cannot be sensual and crude in nature. 00:23:50.000 --> 00:23:57.279 I don't feel the need to parse each one of these out since they're so similar, but uh but to say that our speech needs to be seasoned with salt. 00:23:57.359 --> 00:24:01.440 And as Paul says here, instead, rather giving of thanks. 00:24:02.000 --> 00:24:04.400 That's kind of the fix-all, isn't it? 00:24:06.640 --> 00:24:15.039 It cannot be the kind that gives credence to worldly forms of love that are perversions, jokes that may make people blush given their racy nature. 00:24:15.359 --> 00:24:20.480 Those are not proper for the Christian language that's sensual, talk that is dirty and foul. 00:24:21.119 --> 00:24:30.480 What I find interesting here, though, is that there isn't like this list of words given by Paul with little asterisks, you know, like, don't say this, don't say this. 00:24:31.119 --> 00:24:35.200 Yet that's so often what we reduce a passage like this down to, isn't it? 00:24:35.440 --> 00:24:38.799 Don't say those five, six, or ten bad words, and you're good. 00:24:39.759 --> 00:24:41.119 That's the unwholesome. 00:24:42.000 --> 00:25:00.880 Now, while I would, of course, agree that there are words that our culture has, well, used to deem bad words, at least in recent times, that we need to avoid, the heart of what Paul is saying here is that we are to avoid speaking crudely about foolish or sensual things. 00:25:01.680 --> 00:25:10.799 And so, what's interesting and kind of sad all the same time is that it isn't our modern-day comedians or sitcoms that came up with this kind of stuff, is it? 00:25:11.440 --> 00:25:14.319 Apparently, this was an issue in Paul's day. 00:25:15.440 --> 00:25:17.920 Nothing new under the sun, indeed, huh? 00:25:18.880 --> 00:25:20.400 So the question is why? 00:25:20.559 --> 00:25:21.039 Right? 00:25:21.279 --> 00:25:23.359 Why must we avoid this? 00:25:25.200 --> 00:25:27.599 It feels good to be in with the crowd, doesn't it? 00:25:28.960 --> 00:25:31.279 Who wants to be the guy that nobody likes? 00:25:32.000 --> 00:25:33.920 The woman everybody avoids. 00:25:36.960 --> 00:25:44.799 Well, aside from the fact that our Lord is commanding against it here, there are eternal repercussions for living this way of life. 00:25:45.039 --> 00:25:47.119 Of having this be the pattern of your life. 00:25:47.359 --> 00:25:59.680 You see, those who are immoral, impure, covetous, idol worshippers, as verse 6 lists out right ahead of us, Paul says something that nobody wants to say out loud today. 00:26:02.480 --> 00:26:07.680 That they will not, in the end of verse 5, that they will not inherit the kingdom of God. 00:26:10.400 --> 00:26:13.519 They will not be in heaven. 00:26:16.720 --> 00:26:19.839 So he says, Don't let the nice and sweet talkers fool you. 00:26:20.720 --> 00:26:25.920 The wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience because of these things, Paul says in verse 6. 00:26:27.359 --> 00:26:30.720 I mean, think about it, sure, that politician may sound nice. 00:26:30.960 --> 00:26:32.880 They may do good things to the country. 00:26:33.119 --> 00:26:42.160 But if these verses describe their life, if that's who they are, if this is their steady pattern for living and speaking, then they're not in Christ. 00:26:42.799 --> 00:26:44.640 And they will go to hell. 00:26:44.960 --> 00:26:48.160 Unless they repent and confess and find forgiveness. 00:26:48.640 --> 00:26:51.519 Now, this goes not just for the politician, of course, but to all. 00:26:51.680 --> 00:26:54.079 That's just one example, a public example. 00:26:54.319 --> 00:27:06.880 But again, our speech needs to be thoroughly laced with thanksgiving, thankfulness for what our God has done, not for what we've done, nor a cynical or complaining root, but thankfulness and purity. 00:27:08.079 --> 00:27:20.880 But again, I want you to hear he Paul is not saying that the one who sinned that one time, or the 20 times, or even the 120 times in this way, that they're not going to inherit the kingdom of God and instead go to the place of torment. 00:27:21.039 --> 00:27:25.920 What Paul is speaking of is those who are characterized by this kind of life and speech. 00:27:26.000 --> 00:27:28.480 It's their daily pattern in life. 00:27:30.000 --> 00:27:36.480 That kind of life, that kind of speech, cannot be named in and among the church. 00:27:37.599 --> 00:27:45.920 Because it's an imitation of Satan and the sons of disobedience instead of an imitation of Christ and the saints of God. 00:27:49.119 --> 00:27:50.000 So how do we know? 00:27:50.079 --> 00:27:51.680 How do we know if that's us? 00:27:53.440 --> 00:27:55.519 Look at Scripture, of course. 00:27:55.759 --> 00:27:59.599 And then, secondly, just ask yourself a question: who's influencing me? 00:28:00.240 --> 00:28:01.759 Again, look at verse 6. 00:28:01.920 --> 00:28:04.480 He says, Let no one deceive you with empty words. 00:28:04.720 --> 00:28:07.519 Teachings and lifestyles that are of the world and not of the Lord. 00:28:07.599 --> 00:28:09.039 They need to be cast out. 00:28:09.359 --> 00:28:12.319 Those of these kinds of empty words are destined for wrath. 00:28:12.480 --> 00:28:14.640 They cannot be our influencers. 00:28:16.319 --> 00:28:25.839 This, for one example, would include those who teach that you need to have Jesus as Savior, but it's not necessary to have him as Lord. 00:28:26.079 --> 00:28:29.200 And what Paul's saying here is it's got to be Lord as well. 00:28:30.160 --> 00:28:37.359 These people would have you believe that you don't need to worry about obedience to the Lord and his word, just believe in your good, just hop over the gate, you're fine. 00:28:37.680 --> 00:28:40.480 You don't need to imitate Christ, just be a nice person. 00:28:41.680 --> 00:28:48.880 The Bible teaches us that those who are saved also bow the knee to Christ and imitate his life by showing love to him as we seek obedience. 00:28:49.039 --> 00:28:49.440 Why? 00:28:49.599 --> 00:28:50.880 He's the Lord. 00:28:52.079 --> 00:28:53.599 He's the Lord of all creation. 00:28:53.759 --> 00:28:55.119 We can't change that. 00:28:55.359 --> 00:28:56.880 Even if we wanted to. 00:28:57.119 --> 00:29:01.359 And he is particularly or specifically the Lord of the lives of those who are his. 00:29:01.599 --> 00:29:04.799 Just think of what place a Lord has in somebody's life. 00:29:04.960 --> 00:29:07.200 They rule everything, don't they? 00:29:08.960 --> 00:29:13.279 A loving Lord causes his loving people to love him and do what he commands with joy. 00:29:13.519 --> 00:29:22.880 Anyone teaching you you don't have to worry about obedience or following Christ or imitating him, that is somebody using empty words that are condemning and fruitless. 00:29:23.279 --> 00:29:28.079 Obedience doesn't save by no means, but it reveals the work of Christ's grace in us. 00:29:28.160 --> 00:29:29.440 And so reflect. 00:29:30.720 --> 00:29:32.480 Paul is warning us here. 00:29:32.720 --> 00:29:34.160 Don't look like that. 00:29:35.119 --> 00:29:42.720 Is your aim and goal in life to please the Lord and live for his glory, serving him and his people while imitating his son, albeit imperfectly? 00:29:42.960 --> 00:29:46.799 Or is your pattern of life like a patched quilt work of the world? 00:29:48.799 --> 00:29:53.519 Like Romans 12, 1 and 2, is your pattern of life reflective of the word of the world? 00:29:53.759 --> 00:29:55.519 That's really what Paul's aiming at here. 00:29:55.599 --> 00:29:56.559 That's what he's saying. 00:29:57.759 --> 00:30:08.880 He's asking each and every person to reflect and ensure that we're living for the Lord with purity, and as he says in verse 9, with goodness, righteousness, and truth, it characterizes our lives. 00:30:11.839 --> 00:30:14.000 But look real quickly at verse 8. 00:30:15.200 --> 00:30:23.200 Those who are the sons of disobedience, those who are of the world, they live in immorality and purity, they are greedy and talk coarsely, because why? 00:30:23.680 --> 00:30:25.519 They're of the darkness. 00:30:26.960 --> 00:30:28.640 They're of the darkness. 00:30:28.960 --> 00:30:36.160 And Paul says, that is who you, now notice this word, that is who you formerly were. 00:30:36.400 --> 00:30:37.440 Praise God. 00:30:41.119 --> 00:30:51.440 And so Paul says in verse 9, since you are no longer like that, since you're no longer of the darkness, since you are Christians now, then walk that way. 00:30:51.599 --> 00:30:54.400 Walk as children of the light. 00:30:57.920 --> 00:31:01.839 In fact, we are light, the Bible says, if we're in Christ. 00:31:03.119 --> 00:31:09.680 And we are, he goes on to say, we are to expose the darkness and oppose the darkness. 00:31:09.839 --> 00:31:13.359 Not just walk in the light, but actually expose intentionally. 00:31:13.680 --> 00:31:17.519 Especially that darkness that would creep into the church is what Paul's getting at. 00:31:21.920 --> 00:31:26.799 You see, those of the world and its loves, they perform and practice deeds of darkness. 00:31:26.880 --> 00:31:30.160 And Paul says in verses 11 and 12, things you can't even talk about. 00:31:30.319 --> 00:31:32.319 It's so disgraceful. 00:31:32.720 --> 00:31:35.359 But the one who is in Christ, oh, here we go. 00:31:35.519 --> 00:31:47.759 The one who is in Christ, they live out and they walk in their calling of being light in a dying world, reflecting Christ, imitating his life, and loving like he does, with speech that is edifying and thankful. 00:31:47.920 --> 00:31:48.319 Why? 00:31:48.559 --> 00:31:50.160 Because God is gracious. 00:31:53.599 --> 00:31:56.880 Let's look briefly at the antithesis of dark living. 00:31:57.119 --> 00:32:02.079 Again in verse 9, if we are the light, then we will have fruit. 00:32:02.640 --> 00:32:04.240 If we're in the light, we will have fruit. 00:32:04.319 --> 00:32:06.960 And guess what that fruit will consist of? 00:32:07.599 --> 00:32:10.799 Goodness, righteousness, and truth. 00:32:12.000 --> 00:32:15.759 Those three things cannot coexist with darkness. 00:32:16.960 --> 00:32:23.119 Therefore, as when the world, we are showing the world and proclaiming to the world the gospel. 00:32:24.960 --> 00:32:28.640 But we're not living like the world and enjoying its dark pleasures, are we? 00:32:28.960 --> 00:32:30.799 For we've been rescued from that. 00:32:31.039 --> 00:32:31.680 Praise God. 00:32:31.759 --> 00:32:41.839 I love Colossians 1, for we are rescued from the domain of darkness, and by God's grace we have been transferred to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. 00:32:43.440 --> 00:32:46.640 We imitate Christ in our goodness. 00:32:49.119 --> 00:32:49.759 Yes. 00:32:50.319 --> 00:32:55.119 It's as simple as saying that his people are to live good lives, but we must qualify that, of course. 00:32:56.400 --> 00:33:03.759 Because the world looks upon universalism and acceptance at all costs, and it says diversity, inclusion, and equity, and says, no matter what, that's good. 00:33:03.920 --> 00:33:04.400 Right? 00:33:04.640 --> 00:33:05.839 That's the world says. 00:33:06.079 --> 00:33:08.960 Christians need to be able to say, God is good. 00:33:09.839 --> 00:33:13.200 And only that which lines up with his word is good. 00:33:16.799 --> 00:33:21.119 Again, this is that sacrificial love that is manifest in how we treat others, how we worship. 00:33:21.359 --> 00:33:23.519 Being good is to be like Christ. 00:33:23.920 --> 00:33:25.039 How did Christ live? 00:33:25.119 --> 00:33:25.920 How did Christ speak? 00:33:26.000 --> 00:33:27.119 How did he challenge people? 00:33:27.359 --> 00:33:28.880 How did he live as a light? 00:33:29.200 --> 00:33:31.519 Goodness is a fruit of the light. 00:33:31.839 --> 00:33:35.920 Goodness shines forth as deeds are done for the glory of God and the good of others. 00:33:36.000 --> 00:33:44.400 To be good, therefore, is to be generous, to be generous in all our dealings, not merely in the giving of things, but in a heart disposition and attitude. 00:33:45.599 --> 00:33:46.400 That's goodness. 00:33:46.480 --> 00:33:50.880 He also mentions here righteousness as a fruit of those who live in the light of Christ. 00:33:51.039 --> 00:33:55.759 This is really right standing before God and right living before men. 00:33:56.400 --> 00:34:08.079 Similar to goodness, but this includes with it, this is the difference, I would say, in this context, the difference is similar to goodness, but it includes a long since commitment to that which is right. 00:34:08.960 --> 00:34:11.760 Goodness can be spontaneous in action, right? 00:34:12.239 --> 00:34:22.880 Righteousness is really the backdrop for that automatic response of goodness, whether out of word or deed, because of the relationship we have with God and each other. 00:34:28.320 --> 00:34:30.239 We need to be truthful. 00:34:31.280 --> 00:34:38.880 Of course, this is a needed fruit of walking in the light, as we abandon the dark world of lies and treachery to get what the flesh wants. 00:34:39.119 --> 00:34:45.360 And so it's the absence of that which misrepresents, that which manipulates and deceives. 00:34:45.599 --> 00:34:54.960 It is honest integrity lived out with thankfulness of heart in light of the king who has rescued us and brought us into the light, the light of his presence and glory. 00:34:55.679 --> 00:35:05.360 Therefore, the person who has been transformed and is now imitating Christ and what he loves and what he enjoys is somebody who typifies verse 10. 00:35:07.280 --> 00:35:13.280 He or she tries with all their might and the power of the Spirit residing in them to learn what's going to please God. 00:35:14.480 --> 00:35:19.039 That's why goodness, righteousness, and truth are a characteristic of the follower of Christ. 00:35:19.360 --> 00:35:26.960 They are seeking to imitate their God, and those three characteristics become a part of their life, and their speech is just normal, their joy, their worship. 00:35:27.119 --> 00:35:37.039 They learn more about God, and the more they worship, and the more they become understanding of who God is in his word, the more beautiful their light is to those around them. 00:35:37.280 --> 00:35:38.639 You see how that works? 00:35:39.920 --> 00:35:42.639 Because again, Christians are light. 00:35:43.199 --> 00:35:49.119 Darkness cannot penetrate the soul of a Christian, but it can shroud our brightness. 00:35:50.079 --> 00:35:58.079 That's why it's so important for us to be in the Word, together as a church, and of course in constant prayer, because it wards off darkness. 00:35:58.880 --> 00:36:02.480 The darkness, as he said, we've all once been, formerly. 00:36:04.239 --> 00:36:06.559 And it brightens our light. 00:36:07.519 --> 00:36:13.280 As we know more about Christ, it brightens our light to higher lumens than the world can contain. 00:36:14.000 --> 00:36:21.360 In fact, our lives in the light, as the light, it actually exposes the darkness and pushes back against it. 00:36:22.480 --> 00:36:27.760 That's why the preacher must preach the truth of the light and counteract the darkness both with words and life. 00:36:27.840 --> 00:36:29.679 And the same goes for all Christians. 00:36:29.920 --> 00:36:37.280 Because you see, the Christian exposes the darkness both by their light of life and their words of life. 00:36:42.239 --> 00:36:49.440 When goodness is expressed from our lives, immorality flees to a dark corner. 00:36:50.559 --> 00:36:57.199 When righteousness is lived before men, impurity and greed must find elsewhere to thrive. 00:36:57.840 --> 00:37:05.199 And when truth is spoken and applied, foul talk finds no home and goes back to the dungeon of death where it belongs. 00:37:08.000 --> 00:37:11.119 Pretty big difference between the imitator and the imposter, huh? 00:37:12.400 --> 00:37:13.599 Verse 13. 00:37:15.519 --> 00:37:17.920 All things become visible when exposed by the light. 00:37:18.000 --> 00:37:19.039 Isn't that good news? 00:37:20.480 --> 00:37:22.559 Live it out, brothers and sisters. 00:37:23.760 --> 00:37:25.760 Speak about God and his goodness. 00:37:25.920 --> 00:37:27.599 Proclaim the gospel. 00:37:28.400 --> 00:37:29.599 Proclaim the truth. 00:37:29.760 --> 00:37:34.960 Push back against that is that which is secular and worldly and profane. 00:37:37.360 --> 00:37:44.719 Because here's the thing, when darkness is exposed to the light, it isn't merely exposed and then laid bare to be ridiculed and mocked. 00:37:46.079 --> 00:37:48.480 But it is to be called to forgiveness. 00:37:51.440 --> 00:37:55.360 When God saved my wretched soul. 00:38:10.880 --> 00:38:15.599