SHOW NOTES
Ephesians Study, pt5
Leadership in Context with Keith Tucci
Episode 190
Ephesians is God’s intent for the Church.
Chapter 5 starts out with a “therefore,” meaning it is the conclusion of chapter 4 where Paul talked about being kind, tenderhearted, forgiving, and not having bitterness, wrath, or malice in your heart.
Ephesians 5:1-2
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.
If you are going to walk out the Christian life, there will be times when you are giving yourself up as a flaming aroma to the Lord. You will be that picture of Jesus to someone who may or may not appreciate what you are doing. There will be sacrifice involved. It is unfortunate that we do not understand our sanctification better to understand that there will be times where loving someone, doing the right thing, will hurt and cost something. It is sacrificial to do the right thing. It isn’t always easy.
Ephesians 5:3-5
But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints; and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
People who are really saved and walking out their salvation do not have time for all those types of things. The salvation experience puts a desire in us for holiness, pleasing God, and not doing our own thing. A thankful heart is a pure heart because you are always thanking God for what He is doing.
Ephesians 5:25-26
Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word.
God gave Himself up for us. We, in turn, give ourselves up for others. He uses marriage as that illustration. One of the greatest false pretenses of marriage is that you will make the other person complete. You are going to give yourself away to that person. You will become one. And in that, you will make US complete. In any type of covenant relationship, there is a giving up of yourself for the greater good.
Ephesians 5:27
That He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.
The Lord is not returning for a beat-up Church, but for a Bride.
Ephesians 5:32
This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church.
Paul is making it clear that he is not just talking about marriage, but about the Church. It is God’s Church. We are invited to the wedding. We form the body, called the Bride.
It is His Church. None of us have a church. They are too expensive. You have to die to get one. It’s the body of Christ. We are incorporated into His body. It’s His plan, His design, His doctrine, His demonstration, His destination. The Church is not ours to make into our image as we please, but to make into His image as He has laid out in Scripture.
Join us next week as Keith Tucci continues to put leadership truth in the context of the local church. And as always, please like, share, rate/review, and invite others to listen. See you next week!
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