Walk in Love and Holyness

Ephesians 5:1-21
Walk in Love
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not associate with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, "Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead,and Christ will shine on you."
Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Lets separate how we should live from what we should avoid.

What we should avoid:
1. Sexual Immorality
2. Impurity
3. Covetousness
4. Filthiness
5. Foolish Talk
6. Crude Joking
7. Idolatry
8. Debauchery (drunkenness)

Paul says that who does these things has no inheritance in the kingdom of God! Because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. And we are not to associate with them!

We should live as:
1. Imitators of God
2. Walking in Love
3. Giving Thanks
4. Not associating with the sons of disobedience
5. Children of Light in the Lord
6. Exposing the Darkness
7. Wise
8. Filled with the Spirit
9. Singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with all our heart
10. Submitting to one another in reverence for Christ

I do want to clarify a few things here. When Paul says that we are to not associate with the sons of disobedience he doesn't mean never to talk to anyone who isn't a Christian! This should never be used as an excuse to not spread the Word of Truth! Paul is saying that they shouldn't be in our close inner circle of friends. We need to maintain friendships with them and share the Love of Christ with them, but we should focus a lot more of our intimacy in and with the Body of Christ (believers).
Paul makes a huge point in vs. 11-14 We are to not have any part in the works of darkness, but rather expose it with the Light of Christ! This is how many of my friends have become Christians, they were living in darkness and one who was in the Light of Christ came to them and exposed them to the light. Now they are a part of that light as well!
One other thing of clarification. We live in the flesh and will fall to temptation. We cannot hold to this 100%! But, in Christ we can, because He has already done it!
Romans 8:1, 9-10, 31, 34-35, 37-39
"There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died -- more than that, who was raised -- who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? No, in all things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."

We are called to be Holy!
1 Peter 1:13-25
"Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, 'You shall be holy, for I am holy.' And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for your sake, who through him are believers in God, who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable through the living and abiding word of God; for 'All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever.' And this word is the good news that was preached to you."

We are Holy in Christ Jesus, let us conform our outer lives to our inner Spirit!
Let us "Walk the Walk!" not just "Talk the Talk."

"Therefore, be imitators of God"

In Christ,

Dave