Imitators of God
Ephesians 5:1-2 ESV
“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”
In Ephesians 4 we read that the truth in Jesus, which we
should have heard and learned, is that we, in coming to faith in Jesus Christ,
are to put off our old self which is corrupt through deceitful desires. We are
to be renewed in the spirit of our minds, and we are to put on the new self,
created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness (Eph
4:17-24).
So, if we are true believers in Jesus Christ, as described
above, by faith in Jesus Christ, we have been created after the likeness of God.
Therefore, we are to be imitators (followers, disciples) of the Lord. And, a
follower is one who obeys the Lord and who is becoming like him in character
and deed.
And, this only happens as we surrender our lives to Jesus
Christ, and we submit to Christ as Lord (owner-master) of our lives, and as we
allow him to live his life in us and out through us for his glory. For, it is
him who works in us, but we have to work with him in doing what he asks us to
do.
In other words, we have to daily die to sin and self, by the
Spirit of God, and we have to follow (obey) Jesus. We have to forsake our old
lives of sin, saying “No” to sin and “Yes” to Jesus daily. And, by the Spirit,
we must live self-controlled, godly, and upright lives in Christ for the glory
of God.
Not Named Among You
Ephesians 5:3-4 ESV
“But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.”
Sexual immorality is not something that should be associated
with the church, but it is running rampant in much of today’s church, at least
here in America. Statistics have it that a majority of Christian men are
regular viewers of porn, including a large number of pastors, and a number of women
and children are, too.
This would mean that most American Christian marriages are
broken, that one or both spouses are living in immorality and adultery, and so
the marriage bed is defiled, and the fellowship of the Spirit is not there
between them, and that the children, thus, are lacking in true spiritual
guidance in the home, and this would explain why we are where we are as a nation.
So, how did it get this way? The church at large in the USA
partnered with the government and with big business via the 501c3. Thus, they
joined forces with the world for how to grow their numbers via marketing
schemes and techniques, and business plans and goals.
Thus, they turned the church into a marketplace, and they
began to market the church to the world just like any other product on the
market. Thus, they incorporated worldly means and methods in order to draw in
large crowds of people to their gatherings and to keep them coming back for
more.
Television, too, became prominent in American homes, and
many family times were now spent around the TV set watching whatever Hollywood
or whoever put there on the screen for us to watch. So many people literally
became mind controlled by TV, for it is very hypnotic.
Then, American homes started getting home computers, and the
internet came into being, and then there were laptop computers, then tablets,
and now hand-held devices which fit in our pockets called “phones,” but which really
are pocket-sized computers.
While all this was happening, and Christians were buying
into what the world was dishing out, the church began to become more worldly
and fleshly, and so they also began to alter the message of the gospel to fit
with people’s lifestyles, instead of their lifestyles conforming to the image
of God.
Over the course of time, more and more of the true gospel
was removed from “gospel” presentations to where now they are saying that God
is enamored with us humans so much that he is filled with affection for us and
all we have to do is just accept his affection for us. That’s it!
The cross of Christ and Jesus’ sacrifice for our sins completely
removed. Now it is all about how wonderful we humans are and how God just can’t
get enough of us, and that all we have to do is just accept his affection for
us.
Or, if Jesus’ sacrifice is mentioned, all that is required
is a confession of faith, but with no proof that true faith actually exists.
But there is no putting off your old self required any more
and no putting on of your new self. Nope! They call that “works-based
salvation.”
So, no death to sin and no living to righteousness, and thus
you can sin as much as you want, and you are told heaven is still guaranteed
you. And, that is why America is in the situation she now finds herself, for
the church, overall, has become godless. Thus, immorality knows no bounds. God
help us!
No Inheritance in the Kingdom
Ephesians 5:5-6 ESV
“For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.”
So, if you have been buying into the lies (deceptions,
betrayals) of these wolves in sheep’s clothing who are feeding you a line of trash,
and if you are believing the lie which says you don’t have to obey the Lord,
and you don’t have to repent of your sins, and you don’t have to submit to
Christ, then think again.
Read this passage of Scripture here and others like it. If
you are living a sexually immoral life or an idolatrous life, it doesn’t matter
what you say you believe. You have no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and
God. You can’t rely on some decision you once made.
[See: Lu 9:23-26; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-17; Gal 5:16-21; Gal
6:7-8; Rom 2:6-8; 2 Co 5:10; 1 Jn 1:5-9; 1 Jn 2:3-6]
So, let no one deceive you! Many are teaching salvation from
sin and eternal life with God absent of repentance (turning away from sin),
absent of obedience to God/Christ, and absent of submission to the Lordship of
Christ. They are lying to you! If you follow them, you will follow them
straight to hell!
Believe the truth in Jesus Christ, that you must forsake
your old life of living to sin and self, you must be renewed in your thinking of
the Spirit of God, and now you must walk (in practice) according to the Spirit
and no longer according to the flesh, if you want eternal life with God (Rom
8:1-17).
Don’t delay surrendering your life to Jesus Christ. You have
no guarantee that you have tomorrow.
For
Our Nation
An
Original Work / September 11, 2012
Bombs are bursting. Night is falling.
Jesus Christ is gently calling
You to follow Him in all ways.
Trust Him with your life today.
Make Him your Lord and your Savior.
Turn from your sin. Follow Jesus.
He will forgive you of your sin;
Cleanse your heart, made new within.
Men betraying: Our trust fraying.
On our knees to God we’re praying,
Seeking God to give us answers
That are only found in Him.
God is sovereign over all things.
Nothing from His mind escaping.
He has all things under His command,
And will work all for good.
Jesus Christ is gently calling
You to follow Him in all ways.
Men deceiving: we’re believing
In our Lord, and interceding
For our nation and its people
To obey their God today.
He is our hope for our future.
For our wounds He offers suture.
He is all we need for this life.
Trust Him with your life today.
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