Therefore be
imitators of God as dear children.
And walk in love, as
Christ also loved us
and given Himself for
us, and offering
and a sacrifice to
God for a sweet -- smelling aroma.
But fornication and
all uncleanness or covetousness,
let it not even be named
among you, as fitting for saints;
neither filthiness,
nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting,
which are not
fitting, but rather giving of thanks.
For you know, that no
fornicator, unclean person,
nor covetous man, who
is an idolater, has any
inheritance in the
kingdom of Christ and God.
Ephesians 5: 1 -- 5
What does
it mean to be a imitator of God? The Greek word used for imitator is in the
plural sense speaking of more than one person and is speaking to all Christians and it carries the meaning to be a follower and it is always used the New Testament in the good sense. The only time it is
not used in a good sense is in Hebrews 6: 12 where it is in the aorist tense and
indicates a decisive act with permanent results. Therefore, to be an imitator of God one must be a follower of God
and to be a follower of God then you are to walk in love and this love is again
not as our English word love is so often used, that is, used to say I love an
inanimate object when that is a strong like maybe but that is not the love
spoken of here in this verse. This is
agape love and to remind you about this type of love for in the Greek there are
four different words to describe a love where in English we only have one so we
need to fully understand this word as it is often used in Christianity. Agape love is God's love in regards to His
will to His children concerning their attitude. Agape love manifested by a Christian is the love that Christian has
for God as its primary object and it expresses itself first of all in implicit
obedience to His commandments.
Christian love does not necessarily extend from that person or exercise
toward another person generally from feelings and it does not always run along
the natural inclination, nor does it expend itself only upon both for whom some
affinity is thus covered. This love
works good for all men. Agape love is a
love that expresses a person's deep and constant love and interest towards God
who is perfect producing a reverential love in them towards God the giver of
life and the Creator of all life. Agape
love as a practical love towards those whom are partakers of the saying and
desire to help and seek the giver who is God.
If you are exercising agape love then God can call you with out a doubt
"dear child." We are
compelled to express this God love because of what He has done for us for He
gave Himself as an offering and a sacrifice to save us and as a sweet smelling
aroma to God. That sweet smelling aroma
reminds of the temple when the smoke of the sacrifice ascended into heaven
bringing a sweet aroma and we are not just talking about a "smell" for
this aroma is a reverential love ascending to God from a person who is totally
dependent upon God.
Unfortunately,
there is a commonly held belief that if a man or woman says that he or she is a
Christian even when not knowing what that really means, and if that person is
guilty of some gross violation and/or the accepted cultural morality, no
one questions whether or not that person is indeed a Christian. We see this in churches that except abortion
as a right for a woman even though abortion is nothing more than
murder. How can it be anything
else? How can a Christian who says that
they believe in God except this murder?
Let us get one thing straight to except abortion that is a killing of a
human life by a willful and deliberate decision that even in our dictionary defines as murder makes this in the least by definition: murder. This is
uncleanness and often comes out on a life of fornication and even a form of covetousness;
that is I want what I want when I want it!
A form of lust! Paul reminds us
that this should never be even named among Christians. The Bible teaches us that we are to be holy
and even perfect as God himself is perfect and this can only be manifested in a
person's life if they apply agape love first to themselves and then to
others and this includes the unborn child in the womb. Paul had examined the church there and
Ephesians as well as other churches and found that there was a declining in the
influence of authentic faith in the church and we see the same thing as
happening in many of today's churches.
I've heard it said that all is due to the changes in society that there is a
regime of a standard in morality therefore many
of the things that are acceptable in the church today that are defined in
Scripture as against the will of God is accepted as being Christian. Standards may very in various countries and
there might even be what is called a general standard of acceptance of morality,
yet when men fall below the standard they generally tend to fall into disfavor
with the general population. But, due
to educational systems in this country for sure, a falling of the general
understanding of morality does not bring disfavor upon a person involved in
what is known in the Bible as sin.
As
Authentic Christians we are to remove ourselves from those things that are
contrary to the will of God whether it be coarse jesting, or filthy talk, or
any other form of filthiness, we are to be giving thanks to God the giver of
life and this life is eternal life. WARNING:
those who are involved in this kind of lifestyle that is against the will of
God has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God! Brothers and sisters take time to examine
your self and your understanding of the word of God. It is simple: If the Bible says do it: do it! If the Bible says don't do it: don't do
it! Want more needs to be added to the
Word of God? NOTHING! God love to with agape love: love God back
with agape love. Extend agape love to
others for this is the will of God.
Turn us back to You, O LORD,
and we will
be restored;
renew our days as of old.
Lamentations 5: 21
Great is the love of God
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