Live a Life of Love

Live a Life of Love

Pastor Miles

Ephesians 5:1-7

1. God calls you to live like Jesus.

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. (Ephesians 5:1, 2 ESV)

Jesus loved us.
He gave up His life for us.

2. To live a life of love, you must give up your selfishness.

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. (Ephesians 5:3, 4 ESV)

3 types of selfishness:
A) Sexual selfishness includes all sex outside of marriage or sexual impurity (eg pornography).
The root of sexual immorality is selfishness.
B) Material selfishness includes greed: i.e. wanting things more than God. Living for things other than God. Are we loving the wrong things?
C) Social selfishness: obscenity, foolish talk.

The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. (Luke 6:45 ESV)

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 become partners with them; (Ephesians 5:5-7 ESV)

No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. (1 John 3:6 ESV)

And by this we know that we have come to know him, if we keep his commandments. Whoever says "I know him" but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him: whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked. (1 John 2:3-6 ESV)

3. To live a life of love, you must give a sacrifice to God.

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. (Ephesians 5:1, 2 ESV)

Jesus was moved by compassion:

When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. (Matthew 9:36 ESV)

What sacrifice will you give to meet the needs of others?