1John
2:1b
"...And
if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the
righteous:"
The
point we want you to see is the same terminology that Paul uses, "as
dear children", John
uses the term, “my
little children”.
Back to Ephesians chapter 5. We as true believers, are members of the
Family of God as children, and we are to walk differently because we
are set apart from the rest of the world. (Special note, Israel was to have set this pattern but failed to do so because they took on the nature and character of the world and the paganism around them.) Remember the illustration
given of the Navy Seals, the men who are Seals know each other. Even in
public and in their respective work environments not by a banner, as they carry no badges to distinguish themselves, but
in the way they carry themselves. The average John Joe public does
not know them, they do nothing to stand out. God knows us because He
has been restored within us and that is all that matters to Him and
it should be all that matters to us as well.
The Man Christ Jesus is
our advocate with the Father and His ontological essence is what
makes us righteous. This righteousness is not seen by the world
but can be known because it is a fruit of His Spirit within. Our
conversation bears proof of this, though we say nothing. We do not
need to carry our Bible around with us to make people feel
uncomfortable, His presences within and around us, as glory (being
clothed in Christ) does that. Besides when we walk in Love people
know that also, as these are our badge of the fruit of His character restored. The
witness that a Son of God even though only a child, is among us.
Ephesians
5:2a
"And
walk in love,..."
Remember
a lesson or two back? I said, as a young person growing up, one of the
things that motivated me, as much as anything else was to behave myself, because of love for our Dad and Moms. I mean we were together from
the time I was able to walk until almost the day may Dad died, as we
worked side by side, and I loved him. I respected both of them because they are my parents. Though we lived miles apart we
still held the bound of love and respect. And yet I regret it, because we were from
that kind of a German background where we didn’t show that love
openly. Even to this day we are not huggers, because we didn’t grow
up in that kind of a family environment. We never touched or kissed each other,
but my goodness, Dad and grandpa and I loved each other and I
wouldn’t do anything that would have hurt either of them or Mom.
All
right, this is to be our attitude toward the Lord. He has loved us so
much that He suffered and died for us, and we are to love Him in
return with all our being. But how is true Love developed? By
learning and getting to know the targeted person of that Love. So
Paul says, "Here’s your motivation as dear children,
walk in love." Remember back in chapter 2, verse 2 Paul
uses the same terminology, only then we were in the world before
redemption, no while still in Redemption. The corral where we begin
to learn Christ and love is developed through learning and then knowing Him the target
of the Holy Spirits teaching and gently, patiently leading us.
Ephesians
2:1b-2a
"...who
were dead in trespasses and sins; Wherein in time past ye walked
according to the course of this world..."
After we have passed through Redemption's work we as
believers are to walk according to the leading of the Spirit of
God, the Holy Spirit. This then is our Salvation walking by the Spirit where we worship in Spirit and Truth with much Love and adoration of highly valuing Him Who now resides within us, as a little child would.
Ephesians
5:1-2
"Be
ye therefore followers of God, as dear children*; And
walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself
for us an offering and sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour
(aroma)."**
*it’s
just like a child who loves his parents, and the parent love his
children, and this should be our relationship. **No longer an animal
sacrifice but our praise from the heart and often our lips when in the
Spirit or out of spirit, for this pleases God.
Such
as an incense or maybe a perfume that would come from
flowers. That was what His offering and sacrifice was to God in
reality. Even though the cross was a horrible place to look at
physically, and the suffering that He went though, but you see the
end result was our redemption and then the working of salvation for
countless numbers of sinful people. It won’t be as many souls as we
would like to think, but nevertheless that work of the cross is
having it’s fruition in the Salvation, when Salvation has done or
started it perfect work, of multitudes throughout the last 2000
years. We must understand that both Redemption and Salvation are a
working of the New Covenant in the person of Christ. That is why Paul
in Hebrews states it is a far Better Covenant then the Old one ever
was.
So
our spiritual worship becomes then a sweet aroma to God because of
what Christ has done. And the fact, which Paul so well brings out,
our sacrifice in Christ on the tree, our alter of worship and praise
with great rejoicing of heart. We like to use as many Scriptures
as we can, so go on over to the book of Philippians chapter 2. This passage fits so perfectly as we walk as dear children, then
naturally it becomes a mental thing, as everything we do starts in
the heart (soul/spirit) and then works its way toward our mind. So now Paul
instructs us how this all has to work.
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