Choose Your Partners Wisely

Be Imitators of God

Ephesians 5:1-4 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.

 

“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.”

 

To be an imitator of God is to emulate him in thought, word, and in action. It is to be holy as he is holy, which means to be set apart (unlike, different) from the world because we are being made into the likeness of Christ Jesus. It is to be likeminded with him regarding sin and righteousness which then means that we forsake our sins to follow him in obedience to his ways.

 

To walk has to do with how we conduct our lives day in and day out. It is our practice, our habit, our routine. It is our lifestyle. And we are to walk in love. And love prefers what God prefers, which is what is holy, righteous, upright, godly, pure, honest, and faithful.

 

So, love will do for others what is for their good, and it will not deliberately do what will cause others harm. And if we love God, we will obey him.

 

Therefore, if we are emulating God and his character, his mind, and his heart, and if we are walking in love, as he is love, then we are not going to be people who are involved in sexual immorality, impurity, covetousness, moral filth, foolish (unwise, thoughtless) talk, crude joking, lying, and idolatry of any kind. We will have no part in any of that.

 

There should not even be a hint of sexual immorality and impurity among us who are the called of God, called to be saints, and called to be holy. Yet so many professing Christians are still living in addiction to sin. Particularly sexual sin is rampant in today’s modern church.

 

And it is even being encouraged by those who are teaching that no repentance, no obedience, and no submission to Christ are necessary for the believer in Jesus.

 

In the kingdom of Christ

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.”

 

Many people are being deceived in today’s modern market-driven church which is trying to attract the world to its gatherings. Many wolves in sheep’s clothing are in the pulpits of these churches leading people astray by teaching them a half-truth (false) gospel message which does not bring the sinner to the place of repentance and a changed life.

 

Many of these preachers are charmers, manipulators, and salesmen, selling a product to the world, and the product is church according to marketing 101. It is an altered church, with an altered gospel, which the people turned into a marketplace to sell to the world. Thus, it is patterned after the world, and it is marketed to the world to their felt needs.

 

Thus, many people are being deceived with empty words coming from these charlatans who masquerade themselves as servants of righteousness. And they are being led to believe that they can “believe” in Jesus Christ and have heaven secured them for when they die, but that they don’t have to turn away from their sins or obey the Lord or submit to Christ as Lord.

 

So, they have turned the “narrow road,” which few travel, into a “broad road,” which many travel. And they have given their adherents carte blanche to continue in their sinful practices by telling them that their sins are forgiven and so it doesn’t matter if they keep on sinning. And if they feel guilty about their sins, they are supposed to claim who they are in Christ.

 

So, the holiness and righteousness of God are not being taught much anymore. Instead we have a social gospel being taught that anyone could “believe” regardless of how they live their lives from that point forward. And if you are one who is sharing the true gospel, then you are regarded as a legalist, or as self-righteous, or as one who teaches works for salvation.

 

But the reality here is this: Those who make sin their practice, who are addicted to sexual perversion, to porn, to immorality of any kind, to gossip, to lying, cheating, stealing, and idolatry, and the like, they will not inherit eternal life with God in the kingdom of Christ and of God. But they will die in their sins because they refused to die with Christ to their sins.

 

Don’t Be Partners

Ephesians 5:7-11 ESV

 

“Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.”

 

A partner is a spouse or a close associate or cohort or collaborator who joins with and unites with another in agreement regarding beliefs and practices. We who are followers of Jesus Christ are not to partner with the ungodly in agreement with them and with joining in with them in their ungodly ways. We are to have no agreement with anything sinful.

 

For Jesus Christ rescued us out of the darkness of sin, and he brought us into the light of his truth and righteousness. We died with Christ to sin, so how can we live in it any longer? We can’t! He delivered us from our slavery to sin so we would now be slaves of God and of his righteousness.

 

Therefore, we are to walk (in conduct, in practice) as though we are children of light (God, truth, righteousness). We are to walk in truth, and we are to be truth tellers, and no lie should be found in our mouths. And we are to walk in righteousness, and righteousness is all that is right in the sight of God which includes purity, honesty, faithfulness, and morality.

 

And we are to try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. And although some people will tell you that God is pleased with you for merely making a profession of him as Savior, and that he is never displeased with you, that simply is not biblical. For, we are to make it our goal to please him.

 

For, if we sow to please our flesh, from the flesh we will reap destruction. But if we sow to please the Spirit, from the Spirit we will reap eternal life. For, God will render to each one according to his works. If we walk according to the flesh, we will die in our sins, but if by the Spirit we are putting to death the deeds of the flesh, then we have eternal life.

 

So, take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. For, we are all going to be judged by our works.

 

[Rom 2:6-8; Gal 6:7-8; 2 Co 5:10; 1 Co 6:9-10; Rev. 2-3; 1 Pet 1:17-21; Gal 5:16-21; Eph 5:3-6; Rom 6:16; Rom 8:1-17; Jn 15:1-11; 1 Jn 2:3-6]

 

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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