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Now, let's dive into today's teaching from Pastor Skip Heitzig. Ephesians is all about God's new society. We call it the church, but it was a revolutionary concept back then, especially among Jewish people. That God would take Jews and non-Jews and place them in the same group. Tear down the barriers, tear down the walls of division.
and make one new Society Now Ephesus was an ancient city. It was an ancient Greek city before it was taken over by the Romans. Alexander the Great. Way back when liberated the city of Ephesus. Later on, it was given over to the Romans.
It's an ancient city. And so Paul writes to believers in an ancient city, telling them they're a new society. New society, a new group of people, new A way of life. New relationships, new standards, new values. And a new family.
A new family. A couple weeks ago after church, We were talking with a small group, and this one young gal said, I love coming to church, I love coming here. And I say, well, we share that in common.
So do I. I've been here a long time, and I still love being here. And one thing I noticed when I first became a believer, I had this sentiment. that this was my new family. I loved the family I grew up with, but there was tension growing up in my family in a spiritual level.
And when I got around fellow believers, we just tracked at a whole new level, and I felt more at home Among my spiritual family at that time, than even my. physical family mom and dad and brothers. And so Paul is painting this beautiful picture. He calls it the body of Christ. in some of these chapters.
but we're a new society. God's New Family God's Forever Family But first, We have to know who we are. Our identity, our spiritual identity, we are in Christ, a phrase Paul uses some 240 times in the New Testament. About 40 or 50 times in the book of Ephesians alone, we are in Christ. That's our identity.
We need to know who we are. We need to know what we have. And so, the wealth of the believer, as we've told you before, is. The first couple of chapters.
So we need to know who we are, what we have. And then, based on that, what we are to do with what we have and who we are.
So we have doctrine. And duty. That's how the book is divided, we've told you: the wealth, the walk, and the warfare of the believer. Neatly divides The book of Ephesians. Or Doctrine.
Duty And difficulty. Doctrine, who we are, what we have. Duty, what we do with what we have and who we are. difficulty the warfare of the believer you need to learn how to fight And how to win spiritually victoriously. In the spirit.
Well Chapter 4 brought us to that second division, if you remember, the walk of the believer.
So chapter 1, chapter 4, verse 1 begins. with the idea that we should walk worthy of the calling with which we are called. And we told you last time and the time before. That walk worthy means to weigh as much, that one side of the scale will equal the other side of the scale.
So when one side of the scale, The name Christian. Followers of Christ. That's a lofty. Calling On the other side of the scales, Our walk, our behavior, our lifestyle. Though it will never be perfect, no though it will never match up.
On our best day to that of Christ. He is our example. We should be following him. We should be, as we'll see in a moment, imitating him. And when we do that, by God's grace, Our lifestyle.
is worthy of our calling.
So the theme of chapter four and the theme of chapter five is our walk. He says you should walk worthy. Then he describes what a worthy walk is. A worthy walk is a walk in humility. Remember verse two of chapter four, with all lowliness and gentleness, etcetera.
Also, it's a walk in unity. Verse 3: Endeavoring to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace. There's one body, one spirit, etc., etc.
So it's a walk in humility, a walk in unity. It's also a walk-in. Variety. Or you could call it diversity or individuality, that we all have individual callings and gifts. That when put together in the large pot of the body of Christ, the church.
It builds one another up.
So he begins in verse 7 of chapter 4. To each one, grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift. And he lists. Different gifts. that are used in the body of Christ.
So a worthy walk is a walk in humility. It is a walk in unity. It is a walk in variety. Also, it's a walk in purity we discovered last week, beginning in verse 17 of chapter 4. This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord that you should no longer walk.
As the rest of the unbelievers, the Gentiles walk in the futility of their minds, etc. Don't live like that. You've been transformed. Live like this.
Now he continues the thought. of the worthy walk. And in chapter five, the theme is, at least in the first few verses, A worthy walk is a walk in charity. or a walk in love. And Chapter 5 Verse 1.
Is a beautiful, I would even call it a summary verse. Of all of the different kinds of descriptions of the walk. And humility, impurity, et cetera, et cetera. It all summed up. Very nicely in verse 1 of chapter 5, therefore.
Be imitators. of God as dear children. You want to know how to walk? Walk like Jesus walked. I could never do that.
Okay, I get that. But let him be your model. Imitate him. Copy him. You remember when your son or daughter was quite young, I hope, when they did this.
Would copy everything that you would do.
Sometimes they do that just for a joke. You know, you lift your hand, they lift their hand. You turn this way, they turn this way. You say something, they say something. It can be irritating.
But You know, they say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Imitate God. And that theme that Kind of That's sort of a principal theme throughout the scripture. We have even seen it in our last study last Wednesday night. Look at the very last verse of chapter 4.
and be kind to one another. tender hearted, Forgiving one another, here it is, even as. God In Christ Forgave you. He did it.
Now you do it. You imitate what he has done. Be like him. Be imitators of God as dear children. Um This idea of imitation As I said, runs throughout the scripture, all the way back in Leviticus.
God said, Be holy because. I am holy. Like father, like son. like father, like daughter. Imitate what you see, what you know to be true of God.
Therefore, and that sums up the walk: be imitators of God. as dear children And now is the walk in charity. Walk in love, verse 2. Walk in love. As Christ also has loved us, And given Himself for us as an offering and a sacrifice to God.
For a sweet Smelling Aroma Walk in love. Love is. A mega theme. In our culture, has been for a long time. Books are written about love, poems written about love, songs written about love, movies have the theme of love.
And yet, though it is a common refrain in our culture and has been for some time. What I see it. As is a longing to experience the true love that the world wants but still can't find. Because as I look at the movies that describe love stories, I see a perversion of true love. And Something they would love to experience, but they haven't quite.
So they reduce. pure love down to more of a base lust. I want you. And even The the phrase making love doesn't have any idea of sacrifice and reciprocation of value as much as just the the basic sexual act. Hollywood has done that.
I remember years ago Josh McDowell telling me that Most of the people he meets and has met in his life have two basic fears. Fear number one. Isdel never beloved completely for who they are. And fear number two that they'll never be able to. Give Authentic love to another person.
And he said, What happens is, with those fears, people will replace that with. A very Um subservient, very uh subpar Suboptimal replacement for true love. You're listening to Connect with Skiff Heidzig. Every day, the generosity of friends like you helps make clear, verse-by-verse Bible teaching available to people searching for truth, purpose, and hope. And this month, we want to thank you with a pair of powerful resources to help you understand your identity in Christ and God's design for your life and relationships.
When you give, you'll receive the Expound Ephesians 9 CD series with digital download, along with Pastor Skip's book, Beyond the Summer of Love. Together, these resources explore the richness of the gospel, reveal your place in God's family, and show how biblical truth brings strength, restoration, and lasting hope to your relationships. We'll send both resources as our thanks when you give $50 or more to support Connect with Skipheitzig. Call 800-922-1888 or visit connectwithskip.com/slash offer.
Now let's return to today's teaching.
So the world will cry out and clamor for love. But when you come to Christ and you realize I don't deserve his love, but he loves me anyway. He values me. He makes me his son. He makes me his daughter.
He forgives my past. He is gracious to me. I don't deserve it, but he lavishes benefits on me. It's a whole, man. I remember that when I discovered that.
It set me free to be able to love people. unconditionally, sacrificially. The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts. The Bible tells us.
So walk in love as Christ has loved us and given himself. For us, an offering, a sacrifice to God for a Sweet. A smelling aroma.
Now here is Paul writing to the Ephesians. About the wealth, the walk, and the warfare of the believer. And when he comes to the walk, and he describes the worthy walk. In terms of humility, In terms of unity, in terms of variety and purity, and now charity. I find it interesting that.
After Paul Pastored, founded, and pastored the church and went on. He was, of course, finally executed. He was 58 years old when he had his Head chopped off of his body. in Rome or outside the city of Rome. And The city of Ephesus had several different pastors, one of whom was the Apostle John.
And John became the pastor of Ephesus. He was then taken away to Patmos. When he was about 95 years of age, he was still alive. He survived Patmos, was. History says brought back to Ephesus where he spent his final years.
And he was known as the apostle of love because the older he got. He, of course, the older you get, the more limited you are in your faculties and abilities to do. anything and everything in life. And so John would often just be taken into the congregation and sort of propped up and even lifted up above the people so that they could hear his now soft, elderly voice. And he would be lifted up, and people would be listening to this aged, venerable.
Legendary apostle. And he would simply say, Little children. Love one another. That was it. That's all he could get out.
Little children love one another.
Next week, they bring him into church and they'd have their service. They'd lift John up again, and John would say, Little children. Love one another. And they did this for a while until.
Somebody just said. You know. You keep saying the same thing over and over again. You got anything else for us? And he said, here's why.
It is the Lord's command. And if this only be done, it is enough. If all you ever manage to do is to love one another. Everything else will take care of itself. love one another.
So I find it interesting, not John, but Paul. Says, walk in love just as Christ loved.
Now, speaking of John. Listen to the words of the pastor of Ephesus, John the Apostle, in 1 John chapter 4, and they'll tie it neatly together. This is John. Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God, and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not.
Doesn't know God. For God is love. In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. Same thought as Paul. In this is love.
Not that we love God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, We ought also to love one another.
So, this lucky, not lucky, blessed church of Ephesus. Getting as their pastoral lineup. How's this? The Apostle Paul. Timothy, John.
Then Polycarp, if you know your church history, also a heavyweight. Boy, they had it made. Go over to Ephesus today, though. You'll never your heart it's just ruins It's completely taken over by Islam. Good luck finding a church.
So Jesus will later on write a little postcard in the book of Revelation written by John, but it's inspired. By God to the church of Ephesus, saying, You've left your first love. You don't love me as much as you did at the first. And so When we truly love him, we'll love one another, and God will preserve that fellowship.
So they eventually did go awry, but for the time being He writes, Walk in love as Christ has loved us and given Himself. But now he pivots a bit. And he gives us. A list of activities, a list of sins. That will stop the flow of true love.
These will bottleneck. the flow of love in any group, in any relationship. But fornication Sex before marriage, outside of marriage All uncleanness. Perverse sensuality or covetousness. Wanting what you don't have.
And uncleanness. or covetousness Let it Not even be named among you as is fitting for saints, neither. Filthiness. nor foolish Talking, interesting word. It's the word Moros.
We get the word Moron from it. And the idea is stupid. Talking. Foolish talking. is probably a little more palatable for most of our ears.
Nor coarse jesting means double entendre. Taking something simple that you hear and making it have an overtone of something. Sensual. Coarse jesting, which are not fitting. But rather, this is what is fitting, the giving of thanks.
If you have something to say, let it be good. Let it be thankful. Let it be pleasant. Let it be edifying. Not coarse.
Not blasphemous, not idolatrous. Not covetous. But the giving of thanks.
Now, There are in the New Testament three different lists. Like this. Uh sins That go against the spirit, that bottleneck, the flow of love. One is found in the book of Galatians, chapter five. One is found in the book of Uh or Galatians 6, um here and in 1 Corinthians Galatians 5, 1 Corinthians 6, and here.
Those are the three lists. They're very, very similar. For this you know, verse 5, that No fornicator. Unclean person. Or covetous man Notice this: who is an idolater?
He puts covetousness. In the same category. As idolatry. Why? Because you are elevating materialism over God.
No fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man who is an idolater has any inheritance. In the kingdom of Christ, And God. Those are some tough words.
Now be careful. Because What I read just described A lot of our past lives. But that's the key word: past lives. not our present life. Paul wrote to the Corinthians, and such were some of you, not are some of you.
This isn't something you continually practice.
So the idea here is this an unrepentant continual Behavior, lifestyle. Of disobedience in these areas, don't be deceived, he says in verse 6. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things, the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Don't let somebody come and say, Oh, well, you know, a lot of people do it. It's normal in culture, normal in society.
Don't let anybody deceive you. God's standard as God's standard hasn't changed. Therefore, Do not be partakers. with them.
So We're to walk in humility. Walk in unity. Walk in variety, walk in purity, walk in charity.
Now in verse 8, we're to walk in The light, as we are told. We might, you know, to sort of keep the fancy little. name thing going on. We are to walk in incorruptibility. That's sort of the idea of walking in the light rather than in darkness.
Verse 4: For you were once darkness. But now you are light. In the Lord. Walk. Live.
Order your behavior, your steps, walk. As children, of the light for the fruit of the Spirit He is in all goodness. righteousness and truth. Finding out what is acceptable. To the Lord.
When you were saved, whatever day, whatever evening, whatever moment that was, whatever church service or. Prayer you said that Was a prayer of faith the moment you. took that step of faith. You in effect walked out of The realm of darkness. And you stepped into the light.
And so, the idea of walking in the light, incorruptibility.
Now in 2 Corinthians chapter 4. Let me read this to you. I'm finding parallel passages to all these. Paul writes this, 2 Corinthians 4, verse 3: Even if our gospel is veiled, it's veiled to those who are perishing. Whose minds the God of this age has blinded.
Who do not believe last. Belight of the gospel. of the glory of Christ Who is The image of God should shine on them. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus' sake. For it is the God who commanded light.
to shine out of darkness Who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ? We're to walk in the light. Thanks for joining us today on Connect with Skip Heitzig. Before we go, remember. Your generosity helps share God's word with people around the world, offering truth, hope, and encouragement where it's needed most.
And this month, we'd love to thank you for your gift of $50 or more by sending you the Expound Ephesians 9 CD series with digital download, along with Pastor Skip's book, Beyond the Summer of Love. These resources will help you understand your identity in Christ and see how God's design brings strength and restoration to your relationships. Give today at connectwithskiff.com slash offer or call 800-922-1888. See you next time on Connect with Skip Heitzig. Make a connection.
Shouldn't Oh. Of the crossing. Insomnia. Connect with Skip Heitzig is a presentation of connection communications, connecting you to God's never-changing truth in ever-changing times.
