Please Tell Them the Truth

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.”

Now this word “imitate” can be used in at least two different ways. It can mean to mimic someone in a theatrical way, as what impersonators and impressionists do. For they copy other people’s words and behaviors and mannerisms for the sole purpose of entertainment. And there are a lot of people who enjoy this type of entertainment. And some of these entertainers take liberties with these characterizations and they exaggerate mannerisms, and they may even do so in a mocking and even insulting manner.

But obviously that is not how this word is being used here. Here it has to do with following others as a disciple and literally taking upon ourselves their character and attitudes and behaviors. So this is about reproducing what we see in them and duplicating it in our own lives. It means to pattern our lives after the example of someone else’s life, which in this case is God. So, we are to be like God/Jesus in thought, word, deed, attitude, and character. And we are to emulate Jesus Christ in how he lived his life on this earth.

Ephesians 5:3-6 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. 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.”

Now Jesus Christ was born into this world as a human baby, but he was conceived of the Holy Spirit. So when he walked this earth he was fully God and fully man. So, he was capable of sinning, and he was tempted to sin, but in all that he did, he did not sin. He was the only person to walk this earth who was absolutely sinless. Therefore, he could be our sacrificial lamb to die for us on that cross, in order to put our sins to death with him, so that we could now die with him to sin and live to him and to his righteousness (1 Peter 2:24).

By God-given faith in Jesus Christ we, thus, are crucified with Christ in death to sin, and we are raised with him to walk in newness of life in him, no longer as slaves to sin, but as slaves to God and to his righteousness. Our old lives of living in sin and for self are now to be put away from us, and now we are to live for our Lord to do his will (Romans 6:1-23; Luke 9:23-26). 

 

Therefore, sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among us. Now this is not saying that we are to ignore these situations and that we should not talk about them and address them and what needs to be done about them, for obviously the Scriptures do that repeatedly. What this means is that there should not even be a hint of such sins being prevalent among the body of believers in Jesus Christ, i.e. there shouldn’t even be the smallest iota of immorality among us Christians.

But sadly, in our day and time here in America, it appears sexual sin is running rampant in the gatherings of what are called “churches.” And it seems as though little is being done to stop this atrocity from taking place. For it appears that the gospel that is largely being taught in these modern-day market-driven “churches” (businesses) is so diluted and altered that it barely resembles the gospel Jesus and his NT apostles taught. For so many are being taught that they can profess faith in Jesus, have all their sins forgiven, be on their way to heaven, but regardless of how they live.

So, it appears that not many people these days are teaching what this teaches, and what other Scriptures like it are teaching, and that is that if we practice sexual immorality and impurity and idolatry, we have no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God, regardless of what faith we have professed with our lips. Jesus taught this! His NT apostles taught this! And contrary to the opinions of some, Paul taught this a lot! We can’t make sin our practice, and not righteousness and obedience to our Lord, and expect that God is going to let us into his heaven. It doesn’t work that way! See:

[Matt 7:21-23; Lu 9:23-26; Jn 6:35-58; Jn 15:1-11; Rom 1:18-32; Rom 2:6-8; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-14; 1 Co 6:9-10; 2 Co 5:10; Gal 5:16-21; Gal 6:7-8; Eph 5:3-6; Col 1:21-23; Col 3:5-11; 1 Jn 1:5-10; 1 Jn 2:3-6; 1 Jn 3:4-10; Heb 10:23-31; 1 Pet 1:17-21; Rev 21:8,27; Rev 22:14-15] 

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.”

Therefore, sexual immorality, all impurity, and idolatry – and a whole litany of other sins mentioned in the Scriptures in the New Testament – should not be what we practice. For if sin is what we practice, and if righteousness and godliness and obedience to our Lord are not what we practice, again, we will not inherit eternal life with God (see noted Scriptures above). For it is not lip service only which secures for us salvation from sin and eternal life with God. It is our walks of faith in obedience to the Lord, being lived out in our daily lives, which will determine for us our eternal destiny.

[Romans 1:18-32; 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Galatians 5:16-21; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Colossians 3:5-11; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8] 

So, cut these sins (listed in Scriptures above) out of your lives! And now follow Jesus in obedience and in surrender to his will day by day by day, saying “No!” to ungodliness and worldly passions. And now, by the grace of God, live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the power of God, for the praise of God (Titus 2:11-14). And rather than making these sins your practice, now expose them for what they are. And expose the lies of Satan which are telling prospective believers that they don’t have to cease from sin and that heaven is still secured them. Please be telling them the truth!

I Pray for Them 

 

An Original Work / June 4, 2013

Based off John 17

“Glorify Your Son, that Your Son

May glorify our God in heav’n. 

Father, You granted Him all power

And all authority over men,

That He might give eternal life

To all those whom now

You have given Him.”

“This now then is eternal life:

That they may know You, 

Father, and Your Son;

That they may know the only true God,

And Jesus Christ whom the Father sent.

I have brought You the glory by

Finishing the work that You’ve given Me.”

“I have shown You to those whom

You gave to Me out of the world; 

They were Yours. You gave them to Me 

And they have obeyed Your words

And they accepted them. They knew

That I came from You, and they believed 

With certainty, I was sent.”

“Holy Father, I pray for them by the

Power of Your name: Protect them,

So that they may be one as we are,

For they are still living in this world.

I have given them Your word;

Because of Your word, the world

Has hated them.”

“I pray they may have the full measure of

My joy now living within them.

Father, I pray You sanctify them

By Your word; truly Your word is truth.

As You sent Me into the world, 

I send them to tell the world to repent.”

https://vimeo.com/116141024