A. Imitate the love of Christ’s sacrifice (Ephesians 5:1-2; Rom 12:1-2)
B. There are activities “not fitting for saints” (Ephesians 5:3-5; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; Galatians 5:19-21)
C. “Let no one deceive you” (Ephesians 5:6-7)
1. Jesus was a “friend of sinners” (Luke 7:34)
2. But He had the aim of teaching and converting, not “partying with them” – our aim must be the same (Matthew 5:13-16)
II. Walk in light
A. Bearing the fruit of the Spirit “in all goodness, righteousness, and truth” (Ephesians 5:8-10; Galatians 5:22-23)
B. No fellowship with darkness (Ephesians 5:11)
C. Responsibility to expose darkness (Ephesians 5:12-14)
III. Walk in wisdom
A. “Circumspectly” – “exactly, accurately, diligently” (Ephesians 5:15)
B. “Redeeming the time” – taking advantage of opportunities as presented, as you do not know how many opportunities remain! (Ephesians 5:16)
C. “Understand” (Ephesians 5:17; 3:4; 2 Timothy 2:15; 3:16-17)
I. Transformation of the wilderness (Isaiah 35:1-2)
A. Contrast with the destruction of Isaiah 34
B. Nature rejoices with man at repentance
II. Encouragement of the weak (Isaiah 35:3-4)
A. Encouragement needed (Lk. 22:32; Rom. 15:1-2; Gal. 6:1-2; Acts 14:21-22)
B. Fulfilled in Christian dispensation (Hebrews 12:12-13)
C. “Do not be afraid!” (Gen. 15:1; Exo. 14:13; Deut. 20:1-3; Josh. 1:9; etc.)
D. New Testament encouragement (Phil. 4:6; 2 Tim. 1:7; 2 Thes. 1:6-9)
III. Physical and spiritual healing (Isaiah 35:5-7)
A. Jesus’ answer to John the Baptizer (Matthew 11:3-5)
B. Spiritual application (Revelation 22:17)
IV. The Highway of Holiness (Isaiah 35:8-10)
A. The Way (Matt. 7:13-14; John 14:6; Acts 9:2; 19:9, 23; 22:4; 24:14, 22; 16:17; 18:25-26)
B. “Fool” is evil (Prov. 1:7; 24:7; 10:8, 10; 14:3; 12:15; 15:5; 20:3; 27:22; 29:9; Isaiah 19:11; Jeremiah 4:22; Hosea 9:7; Micah 2:11)
C. The redeemed and ransomed (Acts 2:41, 46; 8:8, 39; 16:34)
A. Do not lie (Leviticus 19:11; Matthew 5:37)
B. Relationships are built on trust (Ephesians 4:15-16)
C. Severe consequences of lying (Revelation 21:8; 22:15)
II. Integrity of emotion (Ephesians 4:26-27)
A. Be angry at sin, but show love to the sinner (Psalm 97:10)
B. Do not let anger fester (Matthew 5:25; 18:15; Galatians 5:20, 23; Titus 1:7)
III. Integrity of work (Ephesians 4:28)
A. Do not steal (Exodus 20:15; Leviticus 19:11; Titus 2:10)
B. Work not only helps the one who labors, but allows him to help others in need (2 Thessalonians 3:10-12; Acts 4:34-35)
IV. Integrity of speech (Ephesians 4:29-30)
A. The old man’s mouth will be stopped (Romans 3:19), but the new man’s mouth will confess Christ (Romans 10:9-10)
B. The “grain of salt” is the responsibility of the speaker, not the hearer (Col. 4:6)
V. Integrity of love (Ephesians 4:31-32)
A. How we feel about our brethren matters (1 John 4:20-21)
B. Love for the brethren is demonstrated through kindness, tenderheartedness, and forgiveness (Gal. 5:22; 1 Peter 3:8; Matt. 6:14-15)
A. “The futility of their mind” (Ephesians 4:17; Proverbs 1:7)
B. “The blindness of their hearts” (Ephesians 4:18; Romans 1:18-23)
C. “Work all uncleanness” (Ephesians 4:19; Mark 7:21-23)
II. The transition from old to new (Ephesians 4:20-21)
A. Learning Christ through the example of others (1 Corinthians 11:1; 1 Timothy 4:12; 1 Peter 3:1-2)
B. Hearing Christ through His inspired Scriptures (Romans 10:17; James 1:21)
C. Taught by Christ by way of faithful disciples (Matthew 28:19-20; 2 Timothy 2:2)
III. The triumph of the new man (Ephesians 4:22-24)
A. “Put off…the old man” (Ephesians 4:22)
B. “Be renewed” (Ephesians 4:23; Romans 12:2)
C. “Put on the new man” (Ephesians 4:24)
1. Put on Christ in baptism (Galatians 3:26-27)
2. Raised to walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4)
3. Created in Christ Jesus for good works (Ephesians 2:10; Colossians 2:12)
4. Living in “true righteousness and holiness” (Titus 2:12)
A. Grace available to all
B. Our conquering King gives gifts (cf. Psalm 68:18)
C. For the Son of God to ascend, He first had to descend (John 1:1-2, 14)
II. Equipping the Saints (Ephesians 4:11-14)
A. Miraculous (first century): apostles and prophets
B. Non-miraculous (until the end of time): evangelists and teaching pastors
C. For the work of ministry (2 Timothy 4:5) and edification (Romans 15:2; Ephesians 4:29)
D. Grounding the church in the doctrine of Christ (“one faith” Ephesians 4:5; Jude 3; 2 Timothy 3:16-17)
III. The Growth and Edification of the Body (Ephesians 4:15-16)
A. By speaking the truth in love (“agape”)
B. By unity – “joined and knit together” (Ephesians 4:1-3)
C. By the “effective working” of the whole body – “every part does its share”
D. The key to all of this is love – “agape”
A. Old Law prohibited lying (Matthew 5:33; Exodus 20:13; Numbers 30:2; Leviticus 19:11-12)
B. Warning against flippant oaths (Matthew 5:34-36)
C. “Let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’” (Matthew 5:37)
II. Revenge
A. Retaliation under the Old Law (Matthew 5:38; Leviticus 24:19-20)
B. Rise above vengeance (Matthew 5:39-41; Romans 13:4; 12:19)
C. Respond to genuine needs (Matthew 5:42; James 1:27; 2:14-17; 1 John 3:17; Matthew 25:35-45; Galatians 6:10)
D. Love for enemies (Matthew 5:43-47; Leviticus 19:18; Proverbs 25:21-22)
E. Strive to be better, and to be more like God (Matthew 5:48; Philippians 3:12-14)
A. Baptism of John the Immerser (Mark 1:4-7; Acts 19:1-5)
B. Baptism of the Holy Spirit (Mark 1:8; Acts 2:1-4)
C. Baptism of suffering (Luke 12:50; 22:44; Hebrews 5:7)
D. Baptism of fire (Matthew 3:11; 25:41, 46)
E. Baptism for the dead (1 Corinthians 15:29)
F. Baptism of the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20)
II. “There is one baptism” (Ephesians 4:5)
A. Immersion (Acts 8:36-39; Romans 6:3-4; Colossians 2:12)
B. Authorized by the Godhead (Matthew 28:19)
C. For the purpose of the remission of sins (Acts 2:38; 22:16)
D. For the purpose of salvation (Mark 16:16; 1 Peter 3:21)
E. Places one “in Christ” (Galatians 3:27; Romans 6:3-4)
A. Ancient east wedding custom
B. The foolish tried to get by with minimum effort and ran out of oil
II. Individual Responsibility
A. Though we are a part of the body that Jesus will save (Ephesians 5:23), we must individually work out our own salvation (Philippians 2:12-13)
B. I must let my light shine (Matthew 5:14-16)
C. The body is made up of individual members (Romans 12:4-5; 1 Corinthians 12:12-14, 27)
III. Proper Preparation
A. Do not deny the power of personal godliness (2 Timothy 3:5)
B. Do not doubt the power of God to provide (Genesis 22:7; John 1:29)
C. Do not rely on minimal effort
1. In living (Ephesians 4:1; 1 Corinthians 15:58; Luke 6:27-31)
2. In giving (2 Corinthians 8:1-5; 9:6)
3. In forgiving (Luke 6:32-36)
A. Desire + Expectation (Romans 8:23-25; 1 John 3:2-3)
B. The Scriptures provide hope (Romans 15:4; Ephesians 1:18)
C. Hope motivates purity (1 John 3:3)
D. Hope rests in Jesus (Colossians 1:27; 1 Timothy 1:1)
II. Faith
A. The faith – not a personal, subjective belief; rather, the system of faith revealed by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:13; Galatians 1:23; 3:23-25)
B. The Scriptures reveal the faith (Romans 10:17)
C. Faith motivates obedience (Hebrews 11:6; James 2:14-26)
D. Faith provides victory over the world (1 John 5:4-5)
I. Praise of God for the great things He has done (25:1-5)
A. Yahweh/LORD/Jehovah – God’s faithfulness
B. Elohim/God – Lordship/Almightiness
C. Divine destruction causes glorification and fear
D. Christ’s church offers strength and protection (Matthew 11:28-32)
II. The Marriage Supper of the Lamb; prophecy of the end of death (25:6-8)
A. Symbolism of the “feast” (Luke 14:15-24; Matthew 22:1-14; 25:1-13)
B. Removing the veil (Ephesians 4:18; 2 Corinthians 3:14-16)
C. Assurance that death would cease
D. Wipe away tears (Revelation 7:17; 21:4)
III. The ultimate triumph of God over all His enemies (25:9-12)
A. Discouragement overcome by faithful focus
B. Character of Moab (Genesis 19:30-38; Numbers 22:3-6; 25:1-2; Isaiah 16:6; Jeremiah 48:29-30; 48:27, 42; Amos 2:1; Zephaniah 2:8, 10)
C. Motivation in promises and warnings
But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized. (Acts 8:12)
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