12/17/2023 0 Comments Tim keller ephesians bible study![]() Look at the beginning of verse 2: “And walk in love.” But when you know you ’re his child? Well….we’ll get to that in a minute.įirst, let ’s consider the other command. We imitate what we face, and it ’s hard to look at God when you think you are God. ![]() ![]() When we try to put ourselves in the position of God, trying to be God instead of imitating him, we fail, we sin. He has others-holiness, kindness, love-that we can imitate. God has certain attributes-all-powerful, all-knowing, self-existent-that we can ’t imitate. He could imitate him, but he couldn ’t be him. Kobe Bryant could never walk onto the court at United Center in Chicago and expect the applause reserved for Jordan. We’re called to imitate God, not to be God. You can imitate God.īut let ’s understand our place. Your Divine Coach gives everything you need to live the full Christian life. He gave and preserved the Bible where we see his work and wisdom. We were made to be like God, and God came down in Christ to show us the way. Jordan never sat down to show him how to play the game. Kobe wanted to be like Mike, but he was on his own. Not everyone has the skills to imitate Michael Jordan, but every Christian has the ability to imitate God. I know it sounds crazy, but you can imitate God. And he won championships and is a sure Hall of Famer. He knew he could imitate Jordan, so he did. To be great, Kobe watched specific greatness. Kobe imitated the details because we imitate in specifics, not in generalities. His mannerisms, the way he carried himself on the court, even the way he celebrated. When Kobe came into the league, it was obvious that he was imitating Jordan. He was an all-time great basketball player. And then we do what they do.Īs I was watching the NBA Finals the other night, I thought of Kobe Bryant. God continually calls us to himself, showing and giving the holiness we need.Īt the most basic level, to imitate God means to mimic him. The fact that we have and will continue to fail is no excuse out of this command. When God created us, he said, “Let us make man in our image.” In the law he said, “Be holy as I am holy.” Jesus said, “Be perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect.” So when we imitate God, we’re doing what we’re designed to do, we’re imaging God, being holy as he is holy, pursuing perfection. He’s full of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. What are we doing when we imitate God? We ’re trying to become the greatest good in existence. The apostle John said that one day, “we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.” So, really, the whole of the Christian life is summed up right here: be imitators of God. The goal of the Christian life is perfect imitation of God. Look at the beginning of verse 1: “Therefore be imitators of God.” So let ’s look at the commands first, then the reasons, because that’s how Paul wrote it. So in Ephesians 5:1-2, Paul gives two commands and two reasons for the Christian life: two commands to live by and two reasons to live by them. And we have not only the perfect model, we have the perfect power who works in us, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. Christianity is following the footsteps of Jesus out of the horror of the cross into the glory of the new life. Christianity is imitating God and walking in love, as Jesus did. Christianity doesn’t look like a cleaner version of our regular life. Gospel doctrine creates a gospel culture. ![]() That thought is what Pastor Dustin wonderfully preached last week from 4:25-32. The “therefore” in verse 1 indicates Paul is continuing a thought. We need constant continuing education in Christ’s school. If we don ’t drink constantly from the fountain of God’s love in the gospel, we will not experience a gospel culture because culture is a manifestation of what we think. That’s why the Reformer Martin Luther said we need to beat the gospel into our heads continually. Somehow, we continually forget the best news in the world. To maintain gospel culture, we need a constant dose of gospel doctrine. Right thinking leads to right living gospel doctrine creates a gospel culture. Chapters 4-6 presents gospel culture-right living before God. Chapters 1-3 presents gospel doctrine-right thinking about God. ![]() 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.Įphesians has two major sections. 1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. ![]()
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