Bible Study

The Gift of Eternal Life Berean Bible Study Course

Part II--The Process Of Reconciliation With God

F. Lesson 12--We Must Be Faithful In Serving The Lord

7. READ: EPHESIANS 5:1-10

a. How must we imitate God, as His children?

Answer: God's dearly loved children imitate God by living a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to His Father, (verses 1 and 2).

MORE INFORMATION AND/OR OTHER SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:

• Christ gave us the right to become children born of God.

John 1:12-13: "Yet to all who received Him [Jesus], to those who believed in His Name, He gave the right to become children of God--children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God."

• In Matthew 5:48, Jesus said to us about being imitators of God, His Father: "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."

And in Luke 6:36, Jesus commands us to, "Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful."

• Concerning our imitating God by living a life of love, just as Christ loved us, Jesus says in John 13:34-35, "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another."
• The extent of Christ's love was that He gave Himself up for us:

Galatians 1:3-5: "Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave Himself for our sins to rescue us from the present evil age, according to the Will of our God and Father, to Whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen."

And our attitude about Christ and His sacrificial love should be that of Paul, who said in Galatians 2:20:

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, Who loved me and gave Himself for me."

• Christ was a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God:

Hebrews 7:27: "Unlike the other high priests, He [Christ] does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for His own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when He offered Himself."

As dearly loved children of God, as children who imitate their Father by living a life of love, we then spread everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him, and we are to Him the aroma of Christ:

2 Corinthians 2:14-15: "But thanks be to God, Who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing."