Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. Ephesians 5:1-4

The Apostle Paul tells us we should be followers or imitators of God, what does that mean? Well if Jesus is really your Master (Lord) then you should be imitating your Lord. People should see Christ inside of you, if they don’t see the fruits of the Holy Spirit, then something is wrong. As we talked previously, you have to become Born Again (John 3:3), there needs to be a transformation from your old self to the newness of your walk with Christ

The first thing Paul lists is we walk in love as Christ. Sometimes this can be very hard to do, the world is fallen and wicked, the majority of people are just plain mean, why? Because they haven’t been regenerated, they are still dead in their sins of the flesh, so this is to be expected of the world. Jesus said “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you “ (Matthew 5:44) Wow, how and why should we do this? Because Christ loved us even when we were still sinners also (Romans 5:8)

The next thing Paul mentions is your past sins should “not be named among you, as you are now a saint” You were a sinner before you met Christ, but now you’re a saint through the rebirth of the Holy Spirit. You will sin as a believer, but you won’t remain in your sin. As a Born Again believer in Christ, you are not the same person you were, you don’t remain dead in your sin, you are now alive in Christ and walk by the Holy Spirit.  The Apostle Peter describes a person who continues to go back to their sin as a “dog going back to their vomit” (2 Peter 2:22)

For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Ephesians 5:5-6

Let nobody deceive you, a person who is still dead in their sins, will not inherit the Kingdom of God! The liberal Church today is telling people to remain as they are, that God loves them who they are, these are lies from the pit of Hell. Jesus said “Unless you are Born Again, you won’t see the Kingdom of Heaven” (John 3:3) Jesus never said to remain as you are God loves you

We are to be followers or imitators of Christ!If Jesus is our Lord, then Christ is our Master, we must be conformed to his image by the Holy Spirit, Amen!

Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Ephesians 4:28-30

Jesus said “You will be known by your fruit” (Matthew 7:16) Many people call themselves a “Christian” but does your life really reflect this? If you were put on trial for your faith, would the evidence convict you of being a disciple of Christ? As the Apostle James said “Faith without works is dead” (James 2:26) If were are going to talk the talk, we need to walk the walk!

Here the Apostle Paul is talking about evidence of our conversion, if you were a thief before you came to Christ, you should be stealing no more. If you used to curse like a sailor before , including using the “Lord’s name in vain” you shouldn’t be speaking like this anymore. There should be evidence of your conversion becoming Born Again in Christ (John 3:3)

If there is no change or conversion, then what did Jesus save you from? The late preacher Leonard Ravenhill had a good sermon on this, he said “What did Jesus save you from?, Hell?, Did Jesus save you from drinking , from sexual immorality,? You go to Church on Sunday and live like the devil the rest of the week, then what did Jesus really save you from?  The point Ravenhill was making was, if you are truly saved and Born Again in Christ, then there should be evidence of your conversion. You shouldn’t be still “dead in your sins” before you came to Christ, if you are still living like your “old self” then you are truly not saved

But those of us who are saved by Jesus Christ, who are Born Again, baptized by the Holy Spirit (John 3) we don’t have to grieve or worry about judgment day. Because once you are Born Again, you are sealed by the Holy Spirit. We our saved by grace through faith in Christ, not by ourselves or our works. However there should be evidence or works that demonstrate our new life in Christ

Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. Ephesians 4:31-32

Forgive one another as Christ forgave You! We all want forgiveness , we all want mercy, right? Then why won’t you forgive or have mercy on anyone else? You can’t expect God to forgive you, if you won’t forgive anyone else. Jesus said “ If you forgive others who sin against you, then our Heavenly Father will forgive you” (Matthew 6:14)

We should demonstrate the fruits of the Holy Spirit, love joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control (Galatians 5:22-23) We need to become Born Again in Christ, and be sealed by the Holy Spirit until the day of redemption Amen!