Month: July 2021

Ephesians 5:1

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Here is my commentary on Ephesians 5:1. I am publishing these once or twice a week, but you can read all of the available articles at our web-site, http://www.new-life.org.au

Ephesians 5:1

“Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children.”

All of the instructions that went before and after this verse have to be understood in the context that we are beloved children of God. The commandments are not given dispassionately or in a vacuum. The reason is that Paul wants us to be imitators of God.

To imitate God is to imitate him in a particular, narrow range. We cannot imitate His power or strength, His unlimited knowledge and wisdom, nor in His transcendence over creation. We are not to receive worship or prayer. We are not to pretend to be God.

To understand what it means to be imitators of God, we need to go back to the creation story. In Genesis 1:26 God says, “ Let us make men in our image, in our likeness.”

God’s initial plan was that people were to carry his likeness in their being. Our way of life was, in every way, meant to reflect the glory, the personality, and the character of God.

Of course, sin marred that somewhat. We no longer bear that image in a pure form. The likeness has become tarnished and corrupted.

In Christ, we are new creations. The old sinful nature has been put to death, and in its place the new nature, the image of Christ, has been raised to life in us.

When Paul says we are to imitate God, he is really saying that we need to make a conscious decision to let the Holy Spirit, the God in us, rise to the fore, and direct the way we live.

We imitate God, then, in areas of morality, integrity, and in relationships.

In the area of morality, the demand that we be holy as God himself is holy, overcomes our tendencies to greed, lust, and selfishness.

In the area of integrity, the law of God as summarised in the Ten Commandments, is activated in us by the Holy Spirit. We no longer need an external law to regulate our behaviour as we have the law- giver in our hearts regulating our desires.

In the area of relationships, the love of God constrains us. Where we were once dominated by sin to such an extent that selfishness, self protectiveness, and arrogance undermined all relationships, we are now filled with the love of Christ. In Christ we have learnt to give and not just take, to serve rather than to be served .

We imitate God because his image and his spirit are now in us. In discovering that God is our Father, we have become beloved children.

God loves us with a perfect love called agape love. This is love that is poured out solely for the sake of the beloved. There is no self interest in agape. Agape love does not depend on a response from its object, as it is given regardless.

God is love, and in love He is perfect. God’s love is eternal and unchanging because God is eternal and unchanging.

When we say that we are beloved children, this status is not something we earned or deserved. God loves us because He is good, not because we are worthy of being loved. We cannot earn God’s love .

We are children who are beloved, but we do not know how to return love. It is only as we experience what it means to be loved that we can become capable of loving God and loving other people.

In ancient cultures attitudes to children varied. Often there was a belief that they were not independent people or individuals in the way that we in the West would understand. The child was an empty vessel into which the parents poured their own skills, knowledge, and wisdom so that the child would become like the father .

It was expected that the son would grow up in the family business and would one day become so like the father that he would be worthy of running the business as the father had done before him. The son became like a reproduction of the father, so to speak.

The duty of the child, then, was to imitate the father. They were to learn the values of the father, about the skills of the father, and above all they were to honour the father and mother who gave them life.

As children of God who know that we are loved by God, we can therefore be imitators of God. We received the love of God. We hear about God’s character and incorporate that into our lives. We seek fellowship with the Father in order to be more like Him.

In doing these things, we show the world what God is like. We exalt His name in the world so that others will see Him, love Him, and become His beloved children also.

Key points in this verse:

  • We are to imitate God by carrying His likeness in our lives
  • We are to let the Holy Spirit direct our lives
  • We imitate God in areas of morality, integrity, and relationships
  • God loves us with perfect agape love
  • As his children, we are to grow up to show His character

Reflection on Matthew 23:25-38

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Scripture

“I tell you the truth, this judgement will fall on this very generation.”

Observation

Jesus continues to condemn the hypocrisy of the Pharisees and religious leaders.

He condemns them for scrupulously washing the outside of their cups and plate, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.

The teachers and Pharisees are like white-washed tombs- clean on the outside, but full of corruption on the inside.

They build monuments to the prophets whom their ancestors murdered. They claim that if they had been alive at the time they would have never got involved in killing them. Jesus will send prophets and teachers, and the Pharisees will persecute them. They will be held accountable for all of the deaths of godly people.

Jesus finishes with a lament for the people of Jerusalem. He wishes to gather them together and protect them but they would not let Him.

Application

This sounds like a very harsh judgement on the Pharisees and teachers of the Law. Yet, it is true that those who trust in their own deeds of righteousness and not in the blood of Christ to save them will be judged. There is one way, and one way only, to be saved from hell, and that is through faith in Christ.

Jesus warns them that the generation at that time in the world would face the judgement of God. This is not about the end times.

In the year 66, a group of revolutionaries managed to force the Romans out of Jerusalem and several other cities and established a free state of Israel. Rome responded in force, and in 70 AD besieged Jerusalem. Eventually they were able to retake it, and the city, including the Temple, was destroyed. Thousands of people were killed.

When God’s judgement falls on a people, it falls quickly and terribly.

Prayer

Lord, search my heart today. Convict me of any hypocrisy and false religion. Help me to trust you entirely for my salvation. Amen.

Reflection on Matthew 23:12-24

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Scripture

“You are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore the  more important aspects of the law –  justice, mercy, and faith.”

Observation

Jesus launches into a condemnation of the religious teachers and the Pharisees. He warns them of God’s judgement for their sins.

Jesus accuses the Pharisees and teachers of shutting the door of God’s Kingdom in the faces of people. They themselves won’t go in, but they make it hard for others to go in as well. 

The teachers and Pharisees cross the land and sea to make a convert, and then they make that person twice the child of hell that they are. They corrupt the intention of the Law by teaching that a vow made “ by the altar” is not binding,, but a vow  made “ by the gifts on the altar”  is. 

Pharisees are diligent to tithe from the herbs in the garden, but they neglect the more important aspects of the law –  justice, mercy, and faith.

Application

God is not impressed by our virtuous tithing, if our hearts are not surrendered to him .

The problem with the Pharisees of Jesus’ day, and many Christians today, is that they see pleasing God as a matter of keeping rules scrupulously. They dot their i’s and cross their t’s only to discover that God is not reading their book.

Tithing is important. More important, though, is to love God with all of our heart, strength, soul, and mind.

Living righteously is important. More important, however, is that we love our neighbour as we love ourselves.

Prayer

Father, I confess that I sometimes feel morally superior to others because I don’t sin the way they do. Please help me to surrender myself completely to you and to seek your face in everything I do. Amen

Reflection on Matthew 23:1-12

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 Scripture

“Those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

Observation

The teachers and Pharisees are the official interpreters of the law of Moses, Jesus says, so follow their teaching. But do not follow their example, because they don’t practise what they teach. They are proud and do things for show and to be honoured by the other people. We should not call people” Rabbi”  or “ Father” or “teacher”.

The greatest among us must be a servant. Those who exalt themselves will be humbled, but those who humble themselves will be exalted.

Application

The kingdom of God Is upside down by most human standards. We should avoid revelling in titles, and to lead we have to be a servant.

When we try to push ourselves forward, or to call attention to our selves, it is almost certain we will be pulled down. The self-promoters fool very few people.

What inspires people is when they find a leader who is humble. It Is often called being genuine. In other words we  want leaders who show us that they are human and not just a projection of what they think we want to see.

Last weekend, world tennis number 1, Ash Barty, won Wimbledon for the first time. I’m not a tennis fan, but I have always been struck by the simple humility of this very talented athlete. She always takes time to thank her team for their support, something that you don’t hear often in individual sports people.

Jesus was always down to earth in his teaching and in his interactions with people. He did not make big statements such as “ I am the Messiah, worship me.”  He taught, He healed, He performed miracles, and He let people come to their own conclusion.

 If it’s good enough for the Son of God to  act that way, it’s good enough for me.

Prayer

Lord, please help me to remember that any success that I have comes as a gift from you. When I am tempted to be proud, let me humble myself. Amen.