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EPHESIANS - Be Filled With The Spirit
Meditations, Reflections, Prayer and Questions over the Epistel to the Ephesians

Part 3 - An Introduction into the ethics of the apostle (Ephesians 4:1 – 6:20)

The self-sacrifice of Jesus Christ for all sinners (Ephesians 5:1-2)


Ephesians 5:01-02
5:1 Therefore be followers of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroms
(Eph. 5:1-2).

Paul sensed that the demands for the new culture of Jesus Christ went beyond the understanding and ability of normal man. To always tell the truth, to love all one´s enemies and to continually remain humble goes beyond the sphere of “human” and into the realm of spiritual. All of this requires our being engrafted into the love of God.

In that regard the apostle wrote a sentence that transcends our understanding: mirror God, as His beloved children, imitate Him as our example, be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect (Matt. 5:48). The one truly understanding these demands is shattered and becomes like dust. Who are we and who is God? We are ephemeral culprits, weaklings marked by death, while He is and remains eternal, holy, full of power and love in glory. How are we to imitate the Almighty and be perfect, as He is perfect? That is no longer human, but divine, spiritual! The love of God desires to lift you up to the level of your Father in heaven, you and me, the guilty and culpable failures we are.

Were it not for Jesus, we could not understand this salvation plan of God. Jesus loved all men, even though they crucified Him. He prayed for all those who were accomplices in their guilt: “Father forgive them, for they do not know what they do” (Luke 23:34). His love is endlessly great. It encompasses you, me and all those you know – your friends and your enemies. The son of Mary took upon Himself the sin of the world and the punishment of God in the place of all sinners. He reconciled them to the holy God. He not only spoke about His holy love, but embodied it down to the very last consequence. Whoever believes in Him is freely justified and receives the power of the love of God through His Holy Spirit, thereby being admitted into the salvation plan of His Father. He incorporates us into His new culture, so that we remain no hopeless cases. Instead, we become embodied in Jesus and in His glory. You either live in Jesus, or you are still far from Him. Either His eternal love quickened and enlivened you, or you are still dead in sin. You have either become a child of God, or you will be a son of hell. Salvation has been perfected for you (Heb. 10:14). Have you accepted it and given thanks for it? Has praise and worship in you reached up to Your Father in heaven like a sweet smelling aroma? If so, then begin to walk in His love. He doesn´t want more from you – but at least this must be!

Prayer: Our Father in heaven, we worship You through Your Son Jesus Christ, for He, through His vicarious sacrifice, reconciled us sinners to You. Furthermore, He gave us the right to share in His Sonship. We are zeros or even negative numbers, but with Your Son Jesus Christ our new life has begun, in that we, as Your children, attain to the goal of Your creation – even becoming likenesses of You. Amen.

Questions:

  1. How is it possible for a person to imitate God?
  2. What does the vicarious sacrifice of Jesus Christ mean for you?

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