So this time we come to living in the light part Deux.
1. "Imitate God, therefore in everything you do, because you are his dear children." The first 2 words in this verse just demand our attention.
2. "Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God." If you don't believe God loves you, you seriously need to step back and take another look at the cross. It's the greatest love story ever told. God sent his son to be born to die for your sins. He was tried, falsely accused, whipped, beaten, killed on the most brutal device in history and he did all this because of love.
3-4. Are you ready to live in the light because you are going to have to be different. "Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God's people. Obscene stories, foolish talk and coarse jokes-- these are not for you. Instead let there be thankfulness to God" People notice when you don't talk like them. From experience I have a group of friends that have openly stated "it drives me nuts that you won't cuss." I've also had people say "I set that remark up perfectly and you still wouldn't make a sexual remark." My parents raised me in such a way that the only time you should make remarks of a sexual nature is in the privacy of the bedroom with your spouse. The example here in scripture backs this up. I used profanity once as a child and got spanked made an impact on me. Once you encounter the holiness of God that kind of talk should offend you.
5. This verse lays things out very clearly. "You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy persons will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God." For a greedy person is an idolater worshipping the things of this world." Need a few examples of greed here's a few. Ananias and Saphira, Larlfleezee, Scrooge McDuck, Ebenezer Scrooge.
6-9. "don't be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall o0n all who disobey him. Don't participate in the things these people do. For once you were full of Darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light. For this light within you produces only good right and true." Christian musicians DeGarmo and Key have a song based on a sermon by Jonathan Edwards called Hanging by a Scarlet Thread that depicts part of these verses. Because of our sin nature God's anger is upon humankind but as Christians we "are covered by the Savior's blood without it we'd be dead cause we're hanging by a scarlet thread."
10. "Carefully determine what pleases the Lord." Pay attention to God and his word.
11-14. "Take no part in worthless deeds of evil and darkness, instead expose them. It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them. For the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said awake o sleeper rise up from the dead and Christ will give you light. God's light makes all things visible.
15-18. are warnings how not to live.
19-20 tell you how to live.
The Message Medley by 4 Him https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTbRpAkNzKU
Keep the Candle burning by Point of Grace https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AxRk23WJfxg
Evidence of God by Geoff Moore and the Distance https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdC_fV8Ak88
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