Imitating God's Love in Family Life

 

Summary

Reflecting on the profound significance of family, I shared a personal story about a birthday gift that brought back memories of my family from decades ago. This gift, a videotape of old family footage, reminded me of the irreplaceable bond and loyalty that family provides. Family, as the foundational unit established by God, is crucial for building nations and the church. However, in our modern culture, we witness the disintegration of family values, which is why it's essential to consider how God's character relates to family life.

In Ephesians 5, Paul calls us to be imitators of God, not just as His creatures but as His children, redeemed by Christ. This imitation is a call to reflect God's love and holiness in our family roles. As husbands and fathers, we are to imitate Christ, who perfectly embodies the roles of prophet, priest, and king. Christ, as a prophet, reveals God's truth; as a priest, He intercedes and sacrifices; and as a king, He rules with justice and compassion.

Husbands are called to love their wives as Christ loves the church, a self-sacrificing love that requires us to be prophets, priests, and kings in our homes. As prophets, we must teach our families the Word of God. As priests, we intercede for them in prayer and offer ourselves in service. As kings, we lead with righteousness and humility, serving our families as Christ serves the church.

The call to submission in Ephesians is often misunderstood. It is not about tyranny but about mutual respect and love, reflecting Christ's relationship with the church. True leadership in the family is about serving and loving, not dominating. As Christians, we are all called to be Christ to our neighbors, embodying His love and character in our daily lives.

Key Takeaways:

- Family is a divine institution, foundational for society and the church. It is a place of loyalty and love, reflecting God's character. In a world where family values are eroding, we must uphold the sanctity of family as God intended. [03:43]

- Imitating God involves reflecting His love and holiness in our roles as family members. As children of God, redeemed by Christ, we are called to mirror His character in our relationships. [06:30]

- Husbands are to love their wives as Christ loves the church, a call to self-sacrificing love. This involves being a prophet, priest, and king in the home, teaching, interceding, and leading with righteousness. [20:59]

- Submission in the family is about mutual respect and love, not tyranny. It reflects the relationship between Christ and the church, where leadership is about serving and loving, not dominating. [19:08]

- As Christians, we are called to be Christ to our neighbors, embodying His love and character. This begins in the family, where husbands and fathers are to be Christ-like in their love and leadership. [49:28]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:12] - Birthday Surprise
- [01:41] - Family Memories
- [03:43] - The Importance of Family
- [04:25] - Ephesians 5: Imitating God
- [06:30] - Children of God
- [07:50] - Role of Husbands and Fathers
- [09:02] - Threefold Office of Christ
- [12:45] - Christ as Prophet and Priest
- [14:08] - Submission in the Christian Home
- [20:59] - Husbands Love Your Wives
- [23:08] - Prophetic Role in the Family
- [24:35] - Priestly Role in the Family
- [29:19] - Sacrificial Love
- [33:15] - Kingly Role in the Family
- [39:28] - Slavery and Servanthood
- [46:18] - Being Christ to Our Neighbors
- [49:28] - Closing Prayer

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Ephesians 5:1-2, 21-33
- John 13:34-35
- 1 Peter 3:7

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Observation Questions:

1. In Ephesians 5:1-2, what does Paul mean when he calls us to be "imitators of God"? How does this relate to our roles within the family? [05:05]

2. How does the sermon describe the threefold office of Christ as Prophet, Priest, and King, and how are these roles relevant to husbands and fathers? [09:02]

3. What is the significance of the call to submission in Ephesians 5, and how is it often misunderstood in modern culture? [19:08]

4. According to the sermon, how does the concept of being a "servant king" apply to the role of a husband and father? [36:50]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the call to imitate Christ as a Prophet, Priest, and King challenge traditional views of leadership within the family? [13:47]

2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that mutual respect and love should manifest in the family, particularly between husbands and wives? [19:08]

3. How does the sermon interpret the role of a husband as a "servant king," and what implications does this have for family dynamics? [36:50]

4. What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between being a bondservant of Christ and the way we lead our families? [46:18]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on your role within your family. How can you better imitate Christ in your daily interactions with family members? [07:50]

2. The sermon emphasizes the importance of teaching and interceding for your family. What specific steps can you take to fulfill these roles more effectively? [23:08]

3. Consider the concept of self-sacrificing love. How can you demonstrate this type of love to your spouse or family members this week? [20:59]

4. How can you foster an environment of mutual respect and love in your home, especially in areas where there might be misunderstandings about submission? [19:08]

5. Identify one way you can serve your family as a "servant king" this week. What practical actions can you take to lead with humility and righteousness? [36:50]

6. Reflect on the idea of being Christ to your neighbors, starting with your family. What is one specific way you can embody Christ's love and character in your home this week? [49:28]

7. How can you ensure that your leadership in the family is characterized by service and love rather than dominance or control? [22:06]

Devotional

Day 1: Family as a Divine Institution
Family is not just a social construct but a divine institution established by God as the foundational unit for society and the church. In a world where family values are eroding, it is crucial to uphold the sanctity of family as God intended. The family is a place of loyalty and love, reflecting God's character. It is within the family that individuals first learn about love, sacrifice, and commitment. The disintegration of family values in modern culture calls for a renewed focus on the biblical model of family, where each member plays a vital role in nurturing and supporting one another. [03:43]

"Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate." (Psalm 127:3-5, ESV)

Reflection: How can you actively contribute to strengthening the bonds within your family today, reflecting God's love and loyalty?


Day 2: Imitating God in Family Roles
Imitating God involves reflecting His love and holiness in our roles as family members. As children of God, redeemed by Christ, we are called to mirror His character in our relationships. This means embodying the qualities of love, patience, kindness, and forgiveness in our interactions with family members. By doing so, we not only honor God but also create a nurturing environment where each member can grow spiritually and emotionally. The call to imitate God is a call to live out our faith in practical ways, demonstrating the transformative power of the Gospel in our daily lives. [06:30]

"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)

Reflection: In what specific ways can you reflect God's love and holiness in your interactions with your family today?


Day 3: Husbands as Prophets, Priests, and Kings
Husbands are called to love their wives as Christ loves the church, a call to self-sacrificing love. This involves being a prophet, priest, and king in the home, teaching, interceding, and leading with righteousness. As prophets, husbands are to teach their families the Word of God, guiding them in truth. As priests, they intercede for their families in prayer and offer themselves in service. As kings, they lead with justice and compassion, serving their families as Christ serves the church. This threefold role is a high calling that requires humility, dedication, and a deep reliance on God's grace. [20:59]

"Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word." (Ephesians 5:25-26, ESV)

Reflection: How can you embody the roles of prophet, priest, and king in your family today, leading with love and humility?


Day 4: Submission as Mutual Respect and Love
Submission in the family is about mutual respect and love, not tyranny. It reflects the relationship between Christ and the church, where leadership is about serving and loving, not dominating. True leadership in the family involves listening, understanding, and valuing each member's perspective. It is about creating an environment where everyone feels heard and respected. This mutual submission fosters a sense of unity and cooperation, allowing the family to function as a cohesive unit. By embracing this biblical model of submission, families can experience the peace and harmony that God desires for them. [19:08]

"Submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ." (Ephesians 5:21, ESV)

Reflection: How can you practice mutual respect and love in your family relationships today, fostering an environment of unity and cooperation?


Day 5: Being Christ to Our Neighbors
As Christians, we are called to be Christ to our neighbors, embodying His love and character. This begins in the family, where husbands and fathers are to be Christ-like in their love and leadership. By modeling Christ's love and character in the home, we set an example for our children and others to follow. This call extends beyond the family to our interactions with neighbors, colleagues, and the wider community. By living out our faith in tangible ways, we become a reflection of Christ's love to the world, drawing others to Him through our actions and words. [49:28]

"Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 2:4-5, ESV)

Reflection: In what ways can you be a reflection of Christ's love to your family and neighbors today, demonstrating His character in your actions and words?

Quotes


Family is the structured unit that God established upon which to build Nations and also upon which to build his church, and in my own lifetime I have witnessed the radical disintegration of family in our culture. So, I think that it's fitting that at a conference where we are examining Holiness and particularly the Holiness of God that we consider how the character of God relates to this business of family. [00:03:43]

The Apostle gives an admonition where he says, therefore be imitators of God as dear children. We know that one of the most important truths of the New Testament revelation of our Redemption is the truth of our adoption into the family of God. God in Christ Jesus, and I notice here that the call that the Apostle gives us is to the imitation of God. [00:06:30]

Husbands love your wives just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her. Husbands love your wives as much as they love you. No, love your wives as much as Christ loves his bride, as much as Christ loved his church. I am supposed to imitate the love of Jesus Christ, which is a self-sacrificing love for my wife. [00:20:59]

We wouldn't have wives as hostile to husbands if the husbands would do what God commands the husbands to do, which is to love their wives like Christ loves the church. Christ has never exercised a tyranny over his bride. He has never abused his bride. He has never demeaned his bride. He has never betrayed his bride. [00:21:59]

I am called upon to be the Principal teacher of the things of God to my wife and to my children. Now I can retreat from that obligation and turn my children over to the Sunday school or the Christian school or some other folks and say you train my children, you bring them up in the way of the Lord. [00:23:08]

The father and the husband is called to pray for his family, to pray for his kids, to pray for his wife. You remember the occasion when Jesus announced to Simon Peter that he was about to betray Jesus, that he would publicly deny him three times. And when Simon hears this, he protests vehemently, never Lord I'll never do that. [00:24:35]

All I can do for my family as their priest is to give myself to them. I mean to give me. I said to Vesta today at breakfast, our granddaughter's coming home from college this weekend for the conference and then she's going back to Chattanooga Lookout Mountain after the end of the conference and then next week she's coming home again. [00:29:19]

Christ showers us with gifts and the benevolence of his Providence, but there is nothing more precious that we receive from Jesus than Jesus. He gives the church, he gives his bride himself, not just once and for all on the cross in an act of atonement and sacrifice, but from there on throughout eternity he gives himself to his bride. [00:33:15]

We are called to be servant Kings. We have the responsibility for rule, but the rule is to be according to righteousness, and that is an awesome responsibility that I'd like to duck, frankly, and not have to deal with it. But we have that responsibility, but that responsibility is coupled as I said at the same time that we're called to be king we're called to be servants. [00:39:28]

Paul's favorite way to introduce himself in his Epistles is what? Paul a du loss, a slave of the Lord Jesus Christ to the church at Rome and so on. And then Paul extends that relationship to us when he reminds us by saying you are not your own but you have been bought with a price even the price of the blood of the curios the Lord Jesus Christ. [00:46:18]

You cannot be a slave of Jesus Christ and be a man pleaser, but if you are a slave of Jesus Christ, you cannot be a tyrant either because if we as fathers and husbands are put in a position of headship or of rule we are to rule as unto Christ and as Servants of him. [00:49:28]

Every Christian is called to be Christ to his neighbor. Now he didn't mean that in any crash way that any Christian can atone for his neighbor's sin, but what Luther was saying there is that we are called to take so seriously the imitation of Christ that by being with us, our neighbor will sense that they have learned something about the character of Jesus. [00:51:59]

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Transcript
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