1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:04,120 And our Bible reading this morning is taken from Ephesians 2 00:00:04,120 --> 00:00:08,640 chapter 5, and we're going to read through verses 1 to 8, 3 00:00:09,320 --> 00:00:12,880 Ephesians chapter 5, verses 1 to 8, 4 00:00:28,050 --> 00:00:32,759 Ephesians 5, verses 1 to 8. The words will come up on 5 00:00:32,759 --> 00:00:34,600 screen. For those online. 6 00:00:34,600 --> 00:00:40,400 We encourage you to get a copy of the Bible and read the 7 00:00:40,400 --> 00:00:46,400 Scriptures for yourself, but you will also see as well as hear 8 00:00:46,400 --> 00:00:52,920 the words online. Let's hear God's word. 9 00:00:56,920 --> 00:01:04,840 Be ye therefore followers of God as dear children, and walk in 10 00:01:04,840 --> 00:01:11,640 love, as Christ also have loved us, and hath given Himself for 11 00:01:11,640 --> 00:01:16,840 us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling 12 00:01:17,000 --> 00:01:20,440 savour. But fornication, and all 13 00:01:20,440 --> 00:01:25,720 uncleanness or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, 14 00:01:25,720 --> 00:01:30,600 has become a Saints, neither filthiness, nor foolish talking 15 00:01:30,600 --> 00:01:34,920 nor jesting, which are not convenient, but rather giving of 16 00:01:34,920 --> 00:01:37,000 thanks. For this. 17 00:01:37,000 --> 00:01:41,160 You know that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous 18 00:01:41,160 --> 00:01:45,280 man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the Kingdom 19 00:01:45,280 --> 00:01:49,880 of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain 20 00:01:49,880 --> 00:01:53,840 words, for because of these things cometh the wrath of God 21 00:01:53,840 --> 00:01:55,840 upon the children of disobedience. 22 00:01:56,560 --> 00:01:58,880 Be not ye therefore partakers with them. 23 00:01:59,680 --> 00:02:04,560 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are you light in the 24 00:02:04,560 --> 00:02:10,800 Lord walk as children of light. Amen. 25 00:02:10,800 --> 00:02:14,360 We know that God will bless this reading of His own precious word 26 00:02:14,520 --> 00:02:20,960 to our hearts. Now my text this morning is 27 00:02:20,960 --> 00:02:25,320 taken from Ephesians chapter 5 and verse 2. 28 00:02:26,360 --> 00:02:29,760 This is really a follow up sermon from the motto text of 29 00:02:29,760 --> 00:02:34,680 last week and my theme today. I've entitled Christ's Atoning 30 00:02:34,680 --> 00:02:40,720 Work and the Walk of Love. Now the apostle Paul repeatedly 31 00:02:41,080 --> 00:02:44,600 describes the Christian life as a walk. 32 00:02:45,360 --> 00:02:48,760 It's interesting that in this epistle, under the inspiration 33 00:02:48,760 --> 00:02:53,040 of the Holy Spirit, Paul mentions this concept of walking 34 00:02:53,040 --> 00:02:57,520 with God, which is our theme for the year. 7 times verse 2 35 00:02:58,080 --> 00:03:03,760 chapter 2, chapter 2 verse 10 chapter 4 verse 1 chapter 417 36 00:03:04,000 --> 00:03:09,400 chapter 5 verse 2, chapter 5, verse eight and five fifteen 7 * 37 00:03:09,520 --> 00:03:12,080 7 I told you is the number of perfection. 38 00:03:12,840 --> 00:03:17,480 The 5th reference is this command to walk in love. 39 00:03:17,640 --> 00:03:21,760 Let's read it together and walk in love as Christ also have 40 00:03:21,760 --> 00:03:25,920 loved us and given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice 41 00:03:25,920 --> 00:03:28,920 to God for a sweet smelling savour. 42 00:03:30,080 --> 00:03:36,360 Now this is not accidental. Notice this command to walk in 43 00:03:36,360 --> 00:03:41,120 love is anchored and rooted in the atoning work of Christ. 44 00:03:42,120 --> 00:03:44,760 True Bible believe in Christianity is not something 45 00:03:44,760 --> 00:03:49,080 merely we profess with our lips, but something we actually live 46 00:03:49,080 --> 00:03:52,520 out with our feet. See the word walk here. 47 00:03:53,000 --> 00:03:56,520 This command walk in love. This implies a relationship. 48 00:03:56,800 --> 00:04:00,240 The Bible says can two walk together to except to be agreed? 49 00:04:00,240 --> 00:04:03,680 Do you have to ask yourself, am I in a right relationship with 50 00:04:03,680 --> 00:04:06,160 God? Do I, no one, love Jesus Christ 51 00:04:06,160 --> 00:04:11,280 as my Lord and my Saviour? It implies a direction of 52 00:04:11,280 --> 00:04:17,360 travel. It implies progress step by 53 00:04:17,360 --> 00:04:21,760 step. It implies consistency. 54 00:04:23,400 --> 00:04:28,320 It implies an end goal and a destination to be reached. 55 00:04:28,320 --> 00:04:31,400 Where are you walking to? Well, we're walking from earth 56 00:04:31,840 --> 00:04:35,160 to heaven. So let me repeat, the Christian 57 00:04:35,160 --> 00:04:42,960 life is presented often in the Bible under the metaphor of a 58 00:04:42,960 --> 00:04:45,760 walk. It's not merely 100 metre 59 00:04:45,760 --> 00:04:50,080 Sprint. It's not merely A momentary 60 00:04:50,080 --> 00:04:54,960 experience. This command to walk and love is 61 00:04:54,960 --> 00:04:57,760 a command about a lifelong pilgrimage. 62 00:04:58,200 --> 00:05:01,400 A pilgrimage that begins at the moment of true conversion, when 63 00:05:01,400 --> 00:05:04,000 you're born again of the Holy Spirit and you've received 64 00:05:04,000 --> 00:05:09,000 Christ as Lord and Saviour. A pilgrimage that continues on a 65 00:05:09,400 --> 00:05:13,560 particular course and a pilgrimage that ends either in 66 00:05:13,560 --> 00:05:20,400 the day of your death or at the second coming of Jesus Christ in 67 00:05:20,400 --> 00:05:26,560 power and glory. Notice the word and and walk in 68 00:05:26,560 --> 00:05:28,400 love. What did he say in verse one? 69 00:05:28,640 --> 00:05:32,040 Be there for followers of God as dear children. 70 00:05:32,040 --> 00:05:36,080 I told you last week the word followers means imitators. 71 00:05:38,040 --> 00:05:42,360 Here's the children of God are commanded to be followers or 72 00:05:42,360 --> 00:05:45,480 imitators of God as dear children. 73 00:05:45,640 --> 00:05:50,200 And the next thing he says to them is this and walk in love. 74 00:05:50,840 --> 00:05:54,200 And I want you to notice this. Paul doesn't leave love 75 00:05:54,240 --> 00:05:57,000 undefined. He anchors it. 76 00:05:57,920 --> 00:06:03,200 He roots it firmly in the atoning work of the Lord Jesus 77 00:06:03,200 --> 00:06:07,920 on the cross. You see, true love or the love 78 00:06:07,920 --> 00:06:11,320 of God in Christ is not defined by our culture. 79 00:06:12,160 --> 00:06:14,760 It's not defined by one's emotions. 80 00:06:15,120 --> 00:06:18,800 It's not defined by one's preferences or tastes. 81 00:06:19,000 --> 00:06:23,880 No, listen to me carefully. True love is demonstrated. 82 00:06:24,400 --> 00:06:29,880 It is defined. It is declared by the person 83 00:06:29,880 --> 00:06:34,360 work of the Lord Jesus Christ. See, to understand what Paul 84 00:06:34,360 --> 00:06:38,960 means, we must understand the terms in the text. 85 00:06:39,320 --> 00:06:42,280 Walk in love. That's his command. 86 00:06:42,440 --> 00:06:46,040 So we'll ask, hi, in what way? Here's the answer. 87 00:06:46,280 --> 00:06:52,000 As Christ also have loved us and notice these words and have 88 00:06:52,000 --> 00:06:57,680 given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a 89 00:06:57,680 --> 00:07:01,200 sweet smelling savour. Now what does all this mean? 90 00:07:02,560 --> 00:07:05,600 As I pondered this and I could have left this today because I 91 00:07:05,600 --> 00:07:09,600 had another text in mind that I wanted to preach on, What does 92 00:07:09,600 --> 00:07:15,480 it mean when I read this? It means that the Lord's work or 93 00:07:15,480 --> 00:07:21,280 Christ's atoning work in the cross is indissolubly connected 94 00:07:22,240 --> 00:07:25,720 to the Christians walk in love. Let me repeat that. 95 00:07:26,760 --> 00:07:32,400 Christ's atoning work on the cross is indissolubly connected 96 00:07:32,840 --> 00:07:38,840 to the Christians walk in love. Notice three things. 97 00:07:40,080 --> 00:07:50,440 There's a test to be experienced and walk in love as Christ also 98 00:07:50,440 --> 00:07:55,200 have loved us. There's a consideration here. 99 00:07:56,720 --> 00:08:04,080 Think of the mention of the words and walk in love as Christ 100 00:08:04,080 --> 00:08:07,720 also have loved us. You see, I believe today that 101 00:08:07,720 --> 00:08:11,000 the whole of the Christian life is to be ordered. 102 00:08:11,600 --> 00:08:18,040 It is connected to, it is concentrated, lived out in the 103 00:08:18,040 --> 00:08:23,320 realm of biblical love. We'll ask the question, what's 104 00:08:23,320 --> 00:08:27,280 the yardstick? What's the standard by which to 105 00:08:27,320 --> 00:08:31,440 ascertain and discern the validity of 1's Christian 106 00:08:31,440 --> 00:08:35,640 profession? What's the yardstick to measure 107 00:08:35,840 --> 00:08:42,520 the claim to be a Christian? Is it not here that true love is 108 00:08:42,679 --> 00:08:45,160 the test? If we go back to First 109 00:08:45,160 --> 00:08:50,440 Corinthians 13, Paul says this. Though I speak with the tongues 110 00:08:50,440 --> 00:08:54,080 of men and of angels, and have not charity and become a 111 00:08:54,080 --> 00:08:56,280 sounding brass or a tinkling symbol. 112 00:08:56,840 --> 00:08:59,360 And though I have the gift of prophecy and understand all 113 00:08:59,360 --> 00:09:02,880 mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faiths so that 114 00:09:02,880 --> 00:09:06,520 I can remove mountains and have not charity, I am nothing. 115 00:09:07,120 --> 00:09:10,640 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I 116 00:09:10,640 --> 00:09:14,720 give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profited me 117 00:09:14,720 --> 00:09:17,600 nothing. Charity, that's the old English 118 00:09:17,600 --> 00:09:21,160 word for love, Suffereth long and is kind. 119 00:09:21,600 --> 00:09:25,160 Charity envieth not charity. Vaunteth not itself, is not 120 00:09:25,160 --> 00:09:28,600 puffed up, does not behave itself unseemly, Seeketh not her 121 00:09:28,600 --> 00:09:30,960 own, is not easy to provoke, think of no evil. 122 00:09:31,080 --> 00:09:34,400 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth. 123 00:09:35,640 --> 00:09:39,120 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeless all things, 124 00:09:39,440 --> 00:09:44,160 Endureth all things. Every Christian profession, 125 00:09:45,800 --> 00:09:51,560 every claim that we make, all of our activities rendered toward 126 00:09:51,560 --> 00:09:59,000 God and rendered toward men are to be measured by the yardstick 127 00:09:59,000 --> 00:10:05,640 of love. God is love and as children of 128 00:10:05,640 --> 00:10:11,320 God we have just been commanded to be imitators of God as dear 129 00:10:11,320 --> 00:10:17,280 children and walk in love. Now why mention this? 130 00:10:18,520 --> 00:10:23,920 What does it really mean? How is this walk in love to be 131 00:10:23,920 --> 00:10:30,720 manifested? Here is the summary answer. 132 00:10:32,120 --> 00:10:37,280 The highest manifestation of God's love is that which we see 133 00:10:37,760 --> 00:10:42,240 in the Lord Jesus Christ and his atoning work on our behalf in 134 00:10:42,240 --> 00:10:44,200 the cross. And that brings us to John 3 and 135 00:10:44,200 --> 00:10:46,760 16. For God so loved the world that 136 00:10:46,760 --> 00:10:50,000 he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him 137 00:10:50,160 --> 00:10:53,720 should not perish, but have everlasting life. 138 00:10:54,120 --> 00:10:59,200 And the moment Paul drops in this command and walk in love, 139 00:10:59,520 --> 00:11:04,840 we have to ask what way Paul? And here's the answer, as Christ 140 00:11:04,920 --> 00:11:08,240 also have loved us. Christ, as we said last week, is 141 00:11:08,280 --> 00:11:11,480 our patron. He's not saying walk in love 142 00:11:11,480 --> 00:11:16,320 seems right in your own eyes or walk in love is defined by an 143 00:11:16,320 --> 00:11:22,080 ungodly world. No walk in love as Christ also 144 00:11:22,080 --> 00:11:28,000 have loved us. John Calvin rightly said the 145 00:11:28,000 --> 00:11:33,480 cross of Christ is the true mirror of love. 146 00:11:34,200 --> 00:11:39,720 If you want to know what true love looks like, then look at 147 00:11:39,720 --> 00:11:43,600 Christ and the cross. Think of Him bearing the curse 148 00:11:43,600 --> 00:11:49,160 of the law for sinners. The cross is not merely the 149 00:11:49,160 --> 00:11:55,240 motivation for love. It is, but it's also and more 150 00:11:55,240 --> 00:11:59,360 importantly, the greatest manifestation, the greatest 151 00:11:59,360 --> 00:12:02,800 demonstration, the greatest declaration, the greatest 152 00:12:02,920 --> 00:12:08,920 definition of what love is. Jesus Christ in his atoning 153 00:12:08,920 --> 00:12:12,400 death in the cross, shows us something of the height, the 154 00:12:12,400 --> 00:12:17,560 depth, the breadth, the length of God's love to us. 155 00:12:18,840 --> 00:12:24,480 Notice this, in the midst of this highest appeal, walk in 156 00:12:24,480 --> 00:12:29,760 love, in this section of what scholars call to be the 157 00:12:29,760 --> 00:12:35,880 practical section of Ephesians, Paul introduces us to a very 158 00:12:35,880 --> 00:12:40,640 tremendous statement, and that statement is about or on the 159 00:12:40,640 --> 00:12:44,360 doctrine of the atonement. It can't seem to leave it alone. 160 00:12:45,320 --> 00:12:49,200 So in the test that is emphasised, think of the mention 161 00:12:49,240 --> 00:12:53,400 of walk in love. There's a consideration here. 162 00:12:53,520 --> 00:12:56,280 Notice quickly. There's also a connection here. 163 00:12:56,720 --> 00:13:01,880 You see, I believe this morning there's a direct link between 164 00:13:01,880 --> 00:13:08,320 one's doctrine and one's duty. There's a link between duty and 165 00:13:08,320 --> 00:13:11,120 doctrine. Duty and doctrine are 166 00:13:11,120 --> 00:13:14,680 indissolubly linked together. They must never be separated. 167 00:13:14,880 --> 00:13:17,400 Paul knows that one's doctrine is shallow. 168 00:13:17,880 --> 00:13:20,880 Then one's duty will be distorted. 169 00:13:23,280 --> 00:13:27,800 He knows that there's no point preaching doctrine if that 170 00:13:27,800 --> 00:13:32,520 doctrine doesn't impact upon our lives, isn't lived out, 171 00:13:32,640 --> 00:13:36,360 exercised, and experienced in one's duty. 172 00:13:37,360 --> 00:13:41,040 There's no point in preaching duty do this or do that without 173 00:13:41,040 --> 00:13:48,520 true doctrine to back it all up. And in this epistle, Paul has 174 00:13:48,520 --> 00:13:50,880 proclaimed the doctrine of election. 175 00:13:51,400 --> 00:13:55,120 He has set forth the doctrine of predestination, the doctrine of 176 00:13:55,320 --> 00:13:58,440 adoption, the doctrine of our union with Christ, the doctrine 177 00:13:58,440 --> 00:14:02,360 of regeneration. And it's usually divided up this 178 00:14:02,360 --> 00:14:06,160 book into a doctrinal section, chapters one to three, a 179 00:14:06,160 --> 00:14:09,800 practical section, chapters 4-5 and six. 180 00:14:10,760 --> 00:14:12,520 And that's the way many people look at it. 181 00:14:14,240 --> 00:14:17,680 Many professing Christians sadly neglected doctrine. 182 00:14:18,640 --> 00:14:25,840 Doctrine has seen as being cold and shallow and careless. 183 00:14:26,720 --> 00:14:28,600 But Paul doesn't neglect doctrine. 184 00:14:29,600 --> 00:14:33,320 Paul isn't finished with it. When he ends in chapter 3 here, 185 00:14:33,320 --> 00:14:37,200 he is dropping it in to us when we least expect it. 186 00:14:38,440 --> 00:14:42,040 He was one of the most objective statements on the doctrine of 187 00:14:42,040 --> 00:14:46,520 atonement and the doctrine of the atoning work of Christ. 188 00:14:47,320 --> 00:14:50,960 Notice how this doctrine of Christ's atoning work is to 189 00:14:50,960 --> 00:14:55,720 impact upon our duty. This is like a creedal statement 190 00:14:56,200 --> 00:15:00,240 that impacts upon our conduct. And that's the connection. 191 00:15:01,360 --> 00:15:05,320 You see, many people neglect doctrine and as seen in their 192 00:15:05,320 --> 00:15:08,680 lives, their lives as cold and careless and shallow. 193 00:15:09,600 --> 00:15:11,720 But we're not to neglect doctrine. 194 00:15:12,640 --> 00:15:16,840 As we walk in love, we're to remember the connection to the 195 00:15:16,840 --> 00:15:22,160 atoning work of Christ. Also here in the test that is 196 00:15:22,160 --> 00:15:25,000 emphasised, there's a confirmation. 197 00:15:26,400 --> 00:15:30,840 You see, the Bible is never satisfied with a mere general 198 00:15:30,840 --> 00:15:35,400 statement on or about the love of God. 199 00:15:37,320 --> 00:15:39,160 That's the trouble with the modern church. 200 00:15:40,160 --> 00:15:45,680 They talk of the love of God. They say nice things, they say 201 00:15:45,680 --> 00:15:51,080 smooth words, but when they talk of the love of God, it's usually 202 00:15:51,080 --> 00:15:54,840 discussed in very vague and general terms. 203 00:15:55,720 --> 00:15:58,520 They never properly define their terms. 204 00:15:59,200 --> 00:16:03,360 They never properly presented in light of the atoning work of 205 00:16:03,360 --> 00:16:06,400 Christ. And you see, for the past 50 206 00:16:06,400 --> 00:16:09,680 years, many ministers have stood in the pulpits and they have 207 00:16:09,680 --> 00:16:12,160 preached to the people and they have said, well, you know, I'm 208 00:16:12,160 --> 00:16:16,400 not really interested in doctrine, I'm interested in 209 00:16:16,400 --> 00:16:18,360 love. And they use The Beatles slogan 210 00:16:18,360 --> 00:16:20,720 of their song, All you need is love. 211 00:16:21,480 --> 00:16:26,400 We've got to love one another. Let love be manifested among 212 00:16:26,400 --> 00:16:29,200 men. Love your enemies. 213 00:16:30,760 --> 00:16:35,440 But often times love is put up against Christian doctrine. 214 00:16:35,960 --> 00:16:41,160 Now let me emphasise, and here's a confirmation, the Bible never 215 00:16:41,160 --> 00:16:46,040 speaks of love in vague terms. It never speaks of love in a 216 00:16:46,040 --> 00:16:50,120 sentimental, sloppy, sickly sort of fashion. 217 00:16:52,400 --> 00:16:58,200 The Bible always confirms the terms it employs. 218 00:16:58,920 --> 00:17:02,760 And the terms that it employs in this text, as in other places, 219 00:17:03,520 --> 00:17:08,480 is firmly anchored and firmly rooted in the atoning work of 220 00:17:08,480 --> 00:17:10,440 Christ. Remember what I've said to you 221 00:17:10,440 --> 00:17:16,359 now. Our conduct is confirmed or 222 00:17:16,359 --> 00:17:20,599 defined by our creed. And our creed, what we profess 223 00:17:20,599 --> 00:17:26,079 to believe, has to have an impact upon our character or 224 00:17:26,079 --> 00:17:28,840 upon our conduct. That's why Isaac Watts could 225 00:17:28,840 --> 00:17:32,080 sing in the last verse of his hymn that we sang last week. 226 00:17:32,400 --> 00:17:39,360 Love, so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my 227 00:17:39,360 --> 00:17:44,000 all. That's the test that is to be 228 00:17:44,600 --> 00:17:49,480 emphasised. I want you to think of the 229 00:17:49,480 --> 00:17:53,440 second thing. Is this not only the test that's 230 00:17:53,440 --> 00:17:59,360 to be emphasised, but the truth that's to be expounded. 231 00:18:01,000 --> 00:18:05,280 Notice these words if you go back to our text and walk in 232 00:18:05,280 --> 00:18:08,840 love as Christ also have loved us and have given himself for us 233 00:18:08,840 --> 00:18:13,400 an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour 234 00:18:14,840 --> 00:18:18,680 as Christ has loved us. We'll pause there. 235 00:18:18,760 --> 00:18:23,120 Who are the US? Who do you think the US is? 236 00:18:23,920 --> 00:18:27,320 Paul was including himself. I put it to you. 237 00:18:27,320 --> 00:18:31,320 I believe it's a reference to sinful men and women. 238 00:18:33,280 --> 00:18:38,520 And here is the measure of his love, not just mentions it, but 239 00:18:38,520 --> 00:18:43,600 here's the measure of it. And walk in love as Christ also 240 00:18:43,600 --> 00:18:54,800 hath loved us, not just love his heavenly Father, not just love 241 00:18:54,800 --> 00:18:59,240 the work that the Father gave him to do, not just have a love 242 00:18:59,240 --> 00:19:08,400 for, say, the angels, no, for us sinful men and women. 243 00:19:09,280 --> 00:19:13,720 And Martyn Lloyd Jones said this, we can never know the love 244 00:19:13,720 --> 00:19:19,560 of Christ until you've grasped the doctrine of sin, until 245 00:19:19,560 --> 00:19:24,000 you've grasped the truth about yourself as a Sinner by nature 246 00:19:24,240 --> 00:19:29,640 and practise. You see, if you were just a very 247 00:19:29,640 --> 00:19:33,520 good person, kind, generous, hardworking, considerate of 248 00:19:33,520 --> 00:19:37,600 others, honest, wouldn't it be strange if you were not the 249 00:19:37,600 --> 00:19:43,240 object of love? But that wouldn't tell you very 250 00:19:43,240 --> 00:19:48,160 much about his love, if he only loved people that were good and 251 00:19:48,160 --> 00:19:50,600 kind and generous and hardworking and considerate of 252 00:19:50,600 --> 00:19:55,240 others and honest. But you see, this is what the 253 00:19:55,240 --> 00:20:00,360 Bible says about His love. It says in Romans 5, verse 6. 254 00:20:00,360 --> 00:20:03,480 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ 255 00:20:03,480 --> 00:20:06,640 died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man 256 00:20:06,640 --> 00:20:08,840 will one die a peradventure for a good man. 257 00:20:08,840 --> 00:20:12,440 Some would even dare to die. But God commended his love 258 00:20:12,440 --> 00:20:17,320 toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us 259 00:20:17,400 --> 00:20:19,680 much more than being now justified by his blood. 260 00:20:19,680 --> 00:20:21,320 We shall be saved from wrath through him. 261 00:20:21,840 --> 00:20:24,600 For if when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the 262 00:20:24,600 --> 00:20:27,720 death of his Son. Much more been reconciled. 263 00:20:28,040 --> 00:20:31,520 We shall be saved by his life. And if you examine those four 264 00:20:31,520 --> 00:20:35,280 pieces of scripture that I've given you, Romans 5 verses 6 265 00:20:35,280 --> 00:20:39,080 through to 10, you will discover this is how God sees us. 266 00:20:39,440 --> 00:20:44,040 God sees us as those who are without strength, who can't save 267 00:20:44,040 --> 00:20:47,440 ourselves. God sees us as those who are 268 00:20:47,480 --> 00:20:50,320 ungodly. Not only are we without God, but 269 00:20:50,320 --> 00:20:55,080 with an anti God spirit and bias in our heart, He then sees us as 270 00:20:55,080 --> 00:20:57,880 sinners. And what does sin send us? 271 00:20:57,880 --> 00:21:00,680 Any want of conformity unto her transgression of the law of God. 272 00:21:00,800 --> 00:21:05,400 He seizes as those who have transgressed as law, and He 273 00:21:05,920 --> 00:21:11,000 designates us as enemies. For if when we were enemies, we 274 00:21:11,000 --> 00:21:17,880 were heirs of divine hostility, and even in that state, without 275 00:21:17,880 --> 00:21:22,240 strength to save ourselves, an ungodly Wretch with a bias 276 00:21:22,240 --> 00:21:26,360 against God, who had transgressed God's law, who was 277 00:21:26,360 --> 00:21:31,080 an object of divine wrath, in that state, vile, unclean, held, 278 00:21:31,080 --> 00:21:35,440 deserving, guilty, a Sinner by nature and practise. 279 00:21:35,440 --> 00:21:39,040 What do we read? Christ have loved us. 280 00:21:40,480 --> 00:21:45,560 Here's the measure. Christ loves a world full of 281 00:21:45,640 --> 00:21:51,360 sinful, messed up people. There was nothing to make Christ 282 00:21:51,360 --> 00:21:54,720 to love us. We were vile, ugly, unclean, 283 00:21:54,840 --> 00:21:59,000 foul, horrible creatures. Yet here's the sort of people 284 00:21:59,320 --> 00:22:02,440 that he loved. Let that sink in. 285 00:22:03,680 --> 00:22:07,000 Here's the reality of the truth that is emphasised. 286 00:22:07,160 --> 00:22:12,640 Walk in love as Christ hath loved us. 287 00:22:14,920 --> 00:22:19,840 Not only the reality of this truth, but think of this as an 288 00:22:19,840 --> 00:22:23,240 act of work. You see, the Lord Jesus just 289 00:22:23,240 --> 00:22:25,600 didn't allow certain things to happen to Him. 290 00:22:27,120 --> 00:22:29,720 The first thing that Paul emphasises is this. 291 00:22:31,120 --> 00:22:36,760 And hath given himself for us. When Paul's there and hath given 292 00:22:36,760 --> 00:22:41,240 himself for us, Christ did something. 293 00:22:44,000 --> 00:22:48,040 What did He do and hath given himself for us? 294 00:22:49,720 --> 00:22:52,040 Christ was active in His atoning work. 295 00:22:52,920 --> 00:23:00,800 This speaks of voluntariness. Christ was not a passive victim. 296 00:23:01,880 --> 00:23:06,000 He didn't merely give up His possession on the throne. 297 00:23:06,680 --> 00:23:10,320 He didn't merely give up his possessions. 298 00:23:10,960 --> 00:23:16,360 He didn't merely give up His prerogatives in the Godhead, 299 00:23:16,880 --> 00:23:21,720 much more He gave Himself not just things. 300 00:23:21,760 --> 00:23:23,640 Remember what we read in Philippians 2. 301 00:23:24,160 --> 00:23:26,920 Let this mind be also in you, which was also in Christ Jesus. 302 00:23:26,920 --> 00:23:29,520 Verse 5, Verse 6. For being in the form of God, 303 00:23:29,520 --> 00:23:32,360 thought it not robbery to be equal with God, but made himself 304 00:23:32,360 --> 00:23:35,640 of no reputation, took upon Him the form of a servant, and was 305 00:23:35,640 --> 00:23:38,280 made in the likeness of men, and they found in fashion. 306 00:23:38,280 --> 00:23:41,400 As a man he humbled himself and became obedient unto death, even 307 00:23:41,400 --> 00:23:45,920 the death of the cross. In all of that Christ was 308 00:23:45,920 --> 00:23:48,800 active. In all of that Christ gave 309 00:23:48,920 --> 00:23:55,040 himself. That means He gave more than His 310 00:23:55,040 --> 00:23:58,640 position, more than all His possessions, more than all His 311 00:23:58,640 --> 00:24:02,120 prerogatives. He gave himself the whole of His 312 00:24:02,120 --> 00:24:04,560 being, His whole life, His whole person. 313 00:24:04,760 --> 00:24:08,080 He He submitted and sacrificed himself. 314 00:24:08,400 --> 00:24:11,520 The activity here was entirely positive. 315 00:24:11,880 --> 00:24:17,240 His death was not forced by men. His death was not extracted due 316 00:24:17,240 --> 00:24:22,400 to an unwillingness in his part. No, Remember what he says in 317 00:24:22,400 --> 00:24:28,640 John chapter 10 and in the verse 17 after he had spoke about 318 00:24:28,760 --> 00:24:33,080 being the Good Shepherd. He says, therefore doth my 319 00:24:33,080 --> 00:24:36,040 father love me because I lay down my life, that I might take 320 00:24:36,040 --> 00:24:39,120 it again. No man taketh it from me, but I 321 00:24:39,120 --> 00:24:41,440 lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down. 322 00:24:41,560 --> 00:24:45,160 I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received 323 00:24:45,400 --> 00:24:48,760 of my father. Remember he said to Nicodemus 324 00:24:50,400 --> 00:24:52,920 like as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, Even 325 00:24:52,920 --> 00:24:57,120 so must the Son of man be lifted up the the the Bible tells us 326 00:24:57,240 --> 00:25:03,360 that he said that he he must needs go to Jerusalem. 327 00:25:05,200 --> 00:25:10,920 You see, he said for this RM come Christ's work was a real 328 00:25:10,920 --> 00:25:14,920 work. Christ work was an active work 329 00:25:15,800 --> 00:25:19,440 and when he died in the cross, His death in the cross was not 330 00:25:19,440 --> 00:25:21,320 something that happened to Christ. 331 00:25:22,880 --> 00:25:27,480 It was something Christ did because he was active. 332 00:25:28,320 --> 00:25:30,440 I'll tell you something else. If you look again at the text 333 00:25:30,440 --> 00:25:33,320 very quickly it says here an offering. 334 00:25:34,960 --> 00:25:39,080 Did you pick that up? Ephesians 5 and two, an 335 00:25:39,080 --> 00:25:41,880 offering. What is an offering? 336 00:25:42,680 --> 00:25:45,120 It's a gift that is presented. Christmas has passed. 337 00:25:45,120 --> 00:25:46,640 We presented gifts to one another. 338 00:25:46,720 --> 00:25:49,400 It was offered to one another. It was received. 339 00:25:52,240 --> 00:25:57,000 Christ gave up himself as an offering to God. 340 00:25:57,920 --> 00:26:01,240 That means Christ was a willing offering. 341 00:26:01,840 --> 00:26:05,400 The Old Testament animals that were sacrificed were brought 342 00:26:05,520 --> 00:26:10,720 unwillingly, but Jesus Christ came to the cross willingly. 343 00:26:10,920 --> 00:26:13,640 He wasn't dragged. He wasn't forced. 344 00:26:13,800 --> 00:26:18,320 He came as an offering. And again, it's reinforcing and 345 00:26:18,320 --> 00:26:21,040 teaching us what Christ has done. 346 00:26:21,280 --> 00:26:24,360 He didn't die a victim of injustice. 347 00:26:25,120 --> 00:26:28,800 He presented himself as an offering to God. 348 00:26:29,360 --> 00:26:34,720 Notice the next word here and a sacrifice to God that draws it 349 00:26:34,720 --> 00:26:38,600 directly from the Old Testament Levitical sacrificial system. 350 00:26:39,920 --> 00:26:42,280 The word sacrifice indicates what? 351 00:26:42,840 --> 00:26:44,400 What does it say to you when you read it? 352 00:26:44,880 --> 00:26:50,520 Does it not say substitution? Does it not say bloodshed? 353 00:26:51,000 --> 00:26:55,440 Does it not say identification? You see, when Paul used the word 354 00:26:55,440 --> 00:26:58,840 sacrifice and the word offering, he was thinking about the Old 355 00:26:58,840 --> 00:27:01,760 Testament teachings about offerings and the Old Testament 356 00:27:01,760 --> 00:27:05,240 teaching about sacrifice. The Old Testament sacrifices 357 00:27:05,240 --> 00:27:09,520 were temporary, they were repetitive everyday, they were 358 00:27:09,520 --> 00:27:12,720 symbolic. But Christ's sacrifice was 359 00:27:12,720 --> 00:27:16,560 final. It was once for all and of 360 00:27:16,560 --> 00:27:23,360 course it was substitutionary. Whenever a worshipper came and 361 00:27:23,360 --> 00:27:27,800 brought the animal, say it was a lamb, and he offered it to the 362 00:27:27,800 --> 00:27:33,720 priest, the animal had to be free without blemish, no spot. 363 00:27:34,480 --> 00:27:37,040 The priest. The high priest then placed his 364 00:27:37,040 --> 00:27:41,000 hands and the head of the animal to symbolise the transfer of the 365 00:27:41,000 --> 00:27:43,560 sins of the people to the head of the animal. 366 00:27:43,840 --> 00:27:49,680 The animal became the sin offering and then the animal was 367 00:27:49,680 --> 00:27:54,960 slain and the blood was taken and shed, collected in a bowl. 368 00:27:55,720 --> 00:28:00,160 And the animal was slain because it had received the punishment 369 00:28:00,320 --> 00:28:04,040 of death due to the guilt of the sins of the people. 370 00:28:05,400 --> 00:28:10,400 And then the high priest was take the blood and he would 371 00:28:10,400 --> 00:28:13,400 bring it into the inner sanctuary of the temple, 372 00:28:14,600 --> 00:28:19,240 sprinkle it upon the mercy seat of the Ark of the Covenant. 373 00:28:19,920 --> 00:28:25,640 And the body of the dead animal was then placed on the burned 374 00:28:25,760 --> 00:28:31,160 altar in the outer court, and it was burnt and the smell of that 375 00:28:31,160 --> 00:28:34,960 animal would would ascend up to God. 376 00:28:36,520 --> 00:28:39,280 That's what Paul had in mind when he used the word offering 377 00:28:39,520 --> 00:28:42,640 and especially the word sacrifice and the Genesis to 378 00:28:42,640 --> 00:28:44,880 Malachi. The message of the Bible is 379 00:28:44,880 --> 00:28:47,560 consistent because that's what happened to the Lord Jesus 380 00:28:47,560 --> 00:28:50,680 Christ on the cross. That's what happened when he 381 00:28:50,680 --> 00:28:53,280 died. His death was not symbolic. 382 00:28:53,440 --> 00:28:56,720 His death was substitutionary. His death was vicarious. 383 00:28:56,880 --> 00:28:59,720 His death appeased the divine wrath. 384 00:28:59,720 --> 00:29:02,400 The Bible says without the shedding of blood is no 385 00:29:02,400 --> 00:29:04,520 remission. And remember what we read over 386 00:29:04,520 --> 00:29:07,880 there in the book of Hebrews and Hebrews 9 and verse 26. 387 00:29:07,880 --> 00:29:12,640 We read this for then must often He have suffered since the 388 00:29:12,640 --> 00:29:16,000 foundation of the world, but now once in the end of the world, He 389 00:29:16,000 --> 00:29:20,600 appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 390 00:29:22,120 --> 00:29:27,240 Not only was there an offering and a sacrifice, but notice 391 00:29:27,240 --> 00:29:31,240 these words for a sweet smelling savour. 392 00:29:31,960 --> 00:29:36,760 In other words, it brought satisfaction, it pleased God, 393 00:29:38,240 --> 00:29:41,280 Christ once and for all sacrifice for sin. 394 00:29:41,440 --> 00:29:46,280 God accepted it, God liked it, God was pleased with it, it 395 00:29:46,280 --> 00:29:49,320 brought him joy and pleasure. God enjoyed it. 396 00:29:49,520 --> 00:29:53,480 In other words, God the Father was fully, fully satisfied with 397 00:29:53,480 --> 00:29:59,280 what the Lord Jesus had done. The law made certain demands. 398 00:29:59,280 --> 00:30:00,880 The soul that sinneth it shall die. 399 00:30:01,960 --> 00:30:05,680 And Christ came into the world and offered himself to God. 400 00:30:07,520 --> 00:30:11,080 And Christ offered himself a once and for all sacrifice on 401 00:30:11,080 --> 00:30:16,040 behalf of sinners, and that come up before God for a sweet 402 00:30:16,040 --> 00:30:20,080 smelling savour and brought God joy and satisfaction. 403 00:30:20,160 --> 00:30:23,000 The Bible says it pleased the Lord to bruise him. 404 00:30:24,560 --> 00:30:27,080 I want to point out very quickly here, and I know where time is 405 00:30:27,080 --> 00:30:32,440 going, Christ didn't die a passive victim of injustice. 406 00:30:35,120 --> 00:30:40,840 Christ didn't die as a pacifist. You see, if Christ died as a 407 00:30:40,840 --> 00:30:45,520 pacifist, it explains nothing about his cross, neither his 408 00:30:45,520 --> 00:30:49,040 blood shedding his blood atonement, neither his curse 409 00:30:49,040 --> 00:30:52,880 bearing, neither his satisfying the law of God, not even the 410 00:30:54,120 --> 00:30:58,080 veal that's rent in the temple. And two, it explains nothing. 411 00:31:00,240 --> 00:31:04,680 Christ didn't die as a pacifist resisting the violence of cruel 412 00:31:04,680 --> 00:31:07,640 man. Christ didn't die as a martyr 413 00:31:08,000 --> 00:31:12,720 for the truth. Christ didn't even die to 414 00:31:12,720 --> 00:31:17,120 demonstrate what love is. Now it includes that, but that's 415 00:31:17,120 --> 00:31:19,240 not the chief reason as to why he died. 416 00:31:20,320 --> 00:31:26,840 Christ died as a once and for all offering and sacrifice for 417 00:31:26,840 --> 00:31:29,680 our sins. And these erroneous views, 418 00:31:29,680 --> 00:31:31,320 they're preached on in many pulpits. 419 00:31:31,840 --> 00:31:33,600 Denounce them, turn away from them. 420 00:31:33,600 --> 00:31:36,760 Close up your ears, because they've all emerged, because men 421 00:31:36,760 --> 00:31:41,240 are in denial about God's holiness and God's divine 422 00:31:41,240 --> 00:31:45,720 justice and God's divine wrath. See, let me point something out. 423 00:31:45,800 --> 00:31:50,440 If God is not truly holy, then sin doesn't deserve God's wrath. 424 00:31:51,600 --> 00:31:55,520 If sin doesn't deserve God's wrath, then there's no sacrifice 425 00:31:55,520 --> 00:31:57,720 or offering for sin that's needed. 426 00:31:59,320 --> 00:32:03,840 And if there's no propitiation, no sacrifice for sin, if there's 427 00:32:03,840 --> 00:32:07,440 no proportionary substitutionary sacrifices needed, then the 428 00:32:07,440 --> 00:32:13,000 cross is merely symbolic. Here's the Apostle Paul. 429 00:32:13,800 --> 00:32:19,840 He explicitly states Christ's death was an offering, a 430 00:32:19,840 --> 00:32:23,280 sacrifice, a sweet smelling savour. 431 00:32:23,480 --> 00:32:27,640 Not to man, not to human conscience, not to the Church, 432 00:32:28,040 --> 00:32:34,320 not to the devil, but to God. Christ's death fully satisfied 433 00:32:34,320 --> 00:32:37,840 God's justice. It completely removes our guilt. 434 00:32:39,200 --> 00:32:41,880 So young people, let me emphasise this. 435 00:32:42,960 --> 00:32:47,840 Jesus Christ didn't die merely to show us what love is. 436 00:32:48,760 --> 00:32:52,560 He died to satisfy God's divine wrath and justice. 437 00:32:52,720 --> 00:32:56,640 And that's why when the Bible says he shall see if the travel 438 00:32:56,640 --> 00:32:58,520 of his soul and shall be satisfied. 439 00:32:58,920 --> 00:33:04,640 Isaiah 53 verses 10 and 12. The primary purpose of the cross 440 00:33:06,760 --> 00:33:14,840 was not towards men, but to God. To satisfy divine holiness, to 441 00:33:14,840 --> 00:33:19,760 satisfy divine righteousness, the law had to be upheld and the 442 00:33:19,760 --> 00:33:23,800 Lord Jesus on the cross perfectly accomplished eternal 443 00:33:23,800 --> 00:33:29,480 redemption for sinners. One final thing. 444 00:33:31,760 --> 00:33:35,760 We've talked about the mention of walking love. 445 00:33:36,760 --> 00:33:39,000 I've given you the measure of love. 446 00:33:39,680 --> 00:33:41,960 There's a test here to be emphasised. 447 00:33:42,360 --> 00:33:47,720 There's a truth here to be expounded, but there's a 448 00:33:47,720 --> 00:33:50,240 testimony here to be experienced. 449 00:33:52,040 --> 00:33:58,040 Notice these words and walk in love as Christ also have loved 450 00:33:58,040 --> 00:34:00,960 us and have given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to 451 00:34:00,960 --> 00:34:07,640 God for a sweet smelling savour. In light of this, if you think 452 00:34:07,640 --> 00:34:12,760 of the mention and the measure, ask yourself what is the meaning 453 00:34:12,760 --> 00:34:18,080 here and walk in love. What does walk in love mean? 454 00:34:19,880 --> 00:34:24,440 It means that this walk in love is not something coerced, not 455 00:34:24,440 --> 00:34:28,120 something manipulated, not something self-serving. 456 00:34:28,920 --> 00:34:35,159 It's a sovereign, sacrificial, supreme, steadfast love. 457 00:34:35,840 --> 00:34:40,000 It's a love that flows from a heart that's been transformed 458 00:34:40,400 --> 00:34:46,159 and changed by the grace of God. Because Christ's sacrifices 459 00:34:46,159 --> 00:34:50,800 finished and complete and accepted, we can now walk in 460 00:34:50,800 --> 00:34:56,120 love before God. We can walk in love not to earn 461 00:34:56,120 --> 00:35:01,480 God's favour, but because God's favour has been freely given. 462 00:35:03,080 --> 00:35:08,760 We love out of a sense of gratitude, not obligation. 463 00:35:10,080 --> 00:35:12,120 We love out of a sense of security. 464 00:35:12,120 --> 00:35:17,160 We are in Christ. Christian love has to be 465 00:35:17,160 --> 00:35:20,960 sacrificial. Christian love is not 466 00:35:20,960 --> 00:35:24,880 self-serving. Christian love remembers never 467 00:35:24,880 --> 00:35:30,800 atoning because only the blood of Christ atones for sin. 468 00:35:31,400 --> 00:35:33,400 It's the blood of Christ to see us. 469 00:35:34,680 --> 00:35:40,600 If I put it this way, to walk in love is to live out the 470 00:35:40,600 --> 00:35:47,240 Christian life with your life being constantly shaped by the 471 00:35:47,240 --> 00:35:51,360 cross work of Christ. Remember what John Calvin said 472 00:35:52,360 --> 00:35:55,520 and he made it abundantly plain for us so that we can 473 00:35:55,520 --> 00:36:00,240 understand. The cross of Christ is the true 474 00:36:00,600 --> 00:36:05,480 mirror of love. As we look into that mirror we 475 00:36:05,480 --> 00:36:09,640 are to reflect that love of Christ. 476 00:36:11,160 --> 00:36:16,880 She walking in love will never avoid the offence of the cross 477 00:36:17,760 --> 00:36:22,600 at all costs. To walk in love means that we'll 478 00:36:22,600 --> 00:36:30,640 never refuse and accept peace without peace with God. 479 00:36:30,640 --> 00:36:37,120 And the peace of God to walk in love means that we'll refuse to 480 00:36:37,120 --> 00:36:42,160 be soft in sin. So it's not to avoid offence at 481 00:36:42,160 --> 00:36:45,400 all cost. It's not to refuse truth for 482 00:36:45,400 --> 00:36:48,720 peace or receive truth for peace. 483 00:36:49,040 --> 00:36:53,480 It's not to be soft in sin if Christ gave himself voluntary, 484 00:36:54,680 --> 00:36:58,120 if Christ gave himself as an offering and a perfect obedience 485 00:36:58,120 --> 00:37:01,400 to God, if Christ gave himself as a sacrifice of 486 00:37:01,400 --> 00:37:06,800 substitutionary and vicarious and a sweet spelling savour, it 487 00:37:06,800 --> 00:37:08,440 was pleasing to God on our behalf. 488 00:37:09,880 --> 00:37:12,920 So then we must display something of that love of 489 00:37:12,920 --> 00:37:18,240 Christ. The fruit of our love to God has 490 00:37:18,240 --> 00:37:21,760 to be the life of Christ lived out within us. 491 00:37:22,360 --> 00:37:25,680 Remember what we read as we close in the words of Second 492 00:37:25,680 --> 00:37:30,040 Corinthians and I've tried to keep the references as short as 493 00:37:30,040 --> 00:37:34,920 possible in Second Corinthians chapter 2 and verse 14. 494 00:37:35,200 --> 00:37:41,960 We read this as we finish now. Thanks be to God, which always 495 00:37:41,960 --> 00:37:46,040 causes us to triumph in Christ and make manifest the savour of 496 00:37:46,040 --> 00:37:49,000 His knowledge by us in every place. 497 00:37:49,280 --> 00:37:53,040 For we are under God a sweet savour of Christ and them that 498 00:37:53,040 --> 00:37:57,200 are saved and in them that are perishing. 499 00:38:00,160 --> 00:38:03,800 You see, Christ just didn't die to manifest love. 500 00:38:05,960 --> 00:38:09,720 Christ crosses not just a display of divine affection 501 00:38:09,720 --> 00:38:13,560 alone, but the accomplishment of divine redemption. 502 00:38:15,080 --> 00:38:19,920 And as we live for Christ, we must look to Christ's 503 00:38:19,920 --> 00:38:23,360 sacrificial death. We remember the Old Testament 504 00:38:23,360 --> 00:38:26,720 Saints were saved by grace through faith in the personal 505 00:38:26,720 --> 00:38:29,520 work of Christ. It's the same Christ, the same 506 00:38:29,520 --> 00:38:34,400 blood, the same gospel. And our walk and love is to be 507 00:38:34,440 --> 00:38:39,080 shaped by a voluntary obedience. It's to be shaped by a life of 508 00:38:39,080 --> 00:38:41,800 self denial. It's to be a shaped by 509 00:38:41,800 --> 00:38:45,400 confidence in the finished work, and it's to be shaped by 510 00:38:45,400 --> 00:38:48,840 steadfastness and seeking the highest good of others. 511 00:38:50,000 --> 00:38:53,480 So when we're commanded to love God, when we're commanded to 512 00:38:53,480 --> 00:38:58,000 love our neighbour as ourself, we can't do that in our own 513 00:38:58,000 --> 00:39:01,720 strength and power. We can only do it by the grace 514 00:39:01,720 --> 00:39:06,960 and help of God, through the example and the cross of Christ, 515 00:39:08,520 --> 00:39:11,560 the atoning work of Christ, and the walk of love. 516 00:39:11,800 --> 00:39:14,760 May the Lord take these few words, stumbling as they are, 517 00:39:15,240 --> 00:39:19,360 and bless them to our hearts at this particular time.