Ephesians: Food for the soul…

All 5 postcards available for €3

LPO Summer 2009Pete Phillips

St John's College

Durham

Saturday Morning

Imitating God

Ephesians 5(5:1-2, 8-17)

Imitating God: Ephesians 5:1-2, 8-17

1Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

8For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9(for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10and find out what pleases the Lord. 11Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, 14for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said:    "Wake up, O sleeper,       rise from the dead,    and Christ will shine on you."     15Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.

Imitating God: Ephesians 5:1-2, 8-17

1Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

"Many Christians have what we might call a "cultural "Many Christians have what we might call a "cultural holiness". holiness". They adapt to the character and They adapt to the character and behavior pattern of Christians around them. behavior pattern of Christians around them. As As the Christian culture around them is more or less holy, the Christian culture around them is more or less holy, so these Christians are more or less holy. But God has so these Christians are more or less holy. But God has not called us to be like those around us. He has called not called us to be like those around us. He has called us to be like Himself. Holiness is nothing less than us to be like Himself. Holiness is nothing less than conformity to the character of God." conformity to the character of God." (so note verse 2)(so note verse 2)

Jerry BridgesJerry Bridges

Imitating God: Ephesians 5:1-2, 8-17

1Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Holiness as theosisHoliness as theosis so that through God’s promises so that through God’s promises you may be you may be

partakers of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4)partakers of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4)The idea of theosis is that God and humanity The idea of theosis is that God and humanity

progressively progressively achieve a achieve a unionunion in Christ which in the in Christ which in the end both blurs and preserves the distinction between end both blurs and preserves the distinction between Creator and creation, as Creator and creation, as in a mirror perfectly in a mirror perfectly reflecting the source of its image.reflecting the source of its image.

Michael ChristensenMichael Christensen

Imitating God

1 Cor 13?

How do we reflect God’s

characterand being?

Imitating God: Ephesians 5:1-2, 8-17

1Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

God transforms usGod transforms us• Positional holiness – prevenient gracePositional holiness – prevenient grace• to reflect God’s covenant love through actionto reflect God’s covenant love through action

• to bring salvation & liberation to all creationto bring salvation & liberation to all creation• to join with to join with missio deimissio dei• to reflect God’s nature in the worldto reflect God’s nature in the world

Imitating God: Ephesians 5:1-2, 8-17

1Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

God transforms usGod transforms us

We are made righteous in order to be just.We are made righteous in order to be just.““made holy to act holy…” made holy to act holy…”

““to be ‘sanctified throughout;’ even ‘to have a heart so all-flaming with the to be ‘sanctified throughout;’ even ‘to have a heart so all-flaming with the

love of God, as continually to offer up every thought, word, and work, as a spiritual love of God, as continually to offer up every thought, word, and work, as a spiritual sacrifice, acceptable to God through Christ.’ In every thought of our hearts, in every sacrifice, acceptable to God through Christ.’ In every thought of our hearts, in every word of our tongues, in every work of our hands, to ‘show forth his praise, who hath word of our tongues, in every work of our hands, to ‘show forth his praise, who hath called us out of darkness into his marvellous light.’ O that both we, and all who seek called us out of darkness into his marvellous light.’ O that both we, and all who seek the Lord Jesus in sincerity, may thus ‘be made perfect in one!’”the Lord Jesus in sincerity, may thus ‘be made perfect in one!’”

John WesleyJohn Wesley

Imitating God

Ephesians 5(5:1-2, 8-17)

Where do we need to improve

our reflective capabilities?

Imitating God: Ephesians 5:1-2, 8-17

8For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9(for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth)

• Remember where/who you have been!Remember where/who you have been!• Remember where/who you are now!Remember where/who you are now!• Fruit of light...fruit of SpiritFruit of light...fruit of Spirit• Holiness into action by the way you liveHoliness into action by the way you live• Goodness, just before God and people, truthGoodness, just before God and people, truth• Note fruit and light, barreness and darknessNote fruit and light, barreness and darkness• There is no choice – Deuteronomy 30There is no choice – Deuteronomy 30• Holiness and theosis is the natural wayHoliness and theosis is the natural way

Imitating God: Ephesians 5:1-2, 8-17

1Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Wake up…Wake up…• Common philosophical pictureCommon philosophical picture• Dormant belief needs reviving into actionDormant belief needs reviving into action• Christianity is an active faith - rise and then...Christianity is an active faith - rise and then...• Holiness into action by the way you liveHoliness into action by the way you live• Tabletalk/paranesis in PaulTabletalk/paranesis in Paul• What we have learnt from Paul on holiday needs to What we have learnt from Paul on holiday needs to be put into practice at work next week!be put into practice at work next week!

Imitating God: Ephesians 5:1-2, 8-17

1Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

• Chapter 1 – ThankfulnessChapter 1 – Thankfulness• Chapter 2 – Saving GraceChapter 2 – Saving Grace

• Chapter 3 – PrayerfulnessChapter 3 – Prayerfulness• Chapter 4 – Maturing in ChristChapter 4 – Maturing in Christ• Chapter 5 – Imitating GodChapter 5 – Imitating God

Ephesians 1-5

ThankfulnessSaving GracePrayerfulnessMaturity in ChristImitating God

Ephesians: Food for the soul…

All 5 postcards available for €3

LPO Summer 2009Pete Phillips

St John's College

Durham