Walking in Love: Our Identity in Christ
Summary
### Summary
Tonight, we delved into Ephesians chapter 5, exploring the profound transformation that occurs when we become part of God's new society, the Church. This chapter emphasizes our identity in Christ and the revolutionary concept of unity between Jews and Gentiles, forming one new family. We discussed the importance of knowing who we are in Christ, what we have, and how we should live based on that knowledge. The book of Ephesians is neatly divided into three sections: the wealth, the walk, and the warfare of the believer.
In chapter 5, Paul continues the theme of a "worthy walk," which he began in chapter 4. A worthy walk is characterized by humility, unity, variety, purity, and charity. We are called to imitate God, walking in love as Christ loved us and gave Himself for us. This love is not the superficial love often depicted in culture but a sacrificial, unconditional love that transforms us and our relationships.
Paul also warns against behaviors that hinder the flow of true love, such as fornication, uncleanness, and covetousness. These actions are incompatible with our new identity in Christ and obstruct our ability to walk in the light. Walking in the light means living in a way that reflects God's glory, holiness, and knowledge. It involves exposing and avoiding the unfruitful works of darkness.
We are also called to walk circumspectly, making the most of every opportunity because the days are evil. This means living with precision and purpose, understanding the will of the Lord, and being filled with the Spirit. Being filled with the Spirit leads to a life of worship, gratitude, and mutual submission, which is essential for healthy relationships, especially within the family.
### Key Takeaways
1. Identity in Christ: Understanding our identity in Christ is foundational. We are a new creation, part of God's new society, the Church. This identity transcends cultural and ethnic barriers, uniting us as one family in Christ. Knowing who we are in Christ empowers us to live out our faith authentically and boldly. [45:40]
2. A Worthy Walk: A worthy walk is characterized by humility, unity, variety, purity, and charity. These virtues reflect the nature of Christ and are essential for a healthy Christian life. Walking worthy means our behavior should align with our high calling as followers of Christ, even though we will never be perfect. [47:31]
3. Imitating God: We are called to imitate God by walking in love, just as Christ loved us sacrificially. This imitation is not about perfection but about striving to reflect God's character in our daily lives. True love involves sacrifice, forgiveness, and unconditional acceptance, which sets us free to love others genuinely. [50:33]
4. Walking in the Light: Walking in the light means living in a way that reflects God's glory, holiness, and knowledge. It involves exposing and avoiding the unfruitful works of darkness. This walk is marked by goodness, righteousness, and truth, which are the fruits of living in the light. [01:04:41]
5. Being Filled with the Spirit: Being filled with the Spirit is about being controlled by God's presence, leading to a life of worship, gratitude, and mutual submission. This filling is continuous and necessary for living a victorious Christian life. It brings genuine peace, joy, and fulfillment, unlike the temporary relief offered by worldly substitutes. [01:25:48]
### YouTube Chapters
1. [0:00] - Welcome
2. [41:24] - Introduction and Greetings
3. [42:04] - Ephesians Chapter 5 Overview
4. [42:56] - The Old Made New
5. [44:06] - God's New Society
6. [45:40] - Our Identity in Christ
7. [47:31] - The Worthy Walk
8. [49:13] - Walk in Humility, Unity, and Variety
9. [50:33] - Imitating God
10. [52:10] - Walk in Love
11. [56:02] - The Apostle John and Love
12. [58:08] - Love One Another
13. [01:00:30] - Sins that Hinder Love
14. [01:04:41] - Walk in the Light
15. [01:19:58] - Walk Circumspectly
16. [01:25:48] - Be Filled with the Spirit
17. [01:30:45] - The Importance of Corporate Worship
18. [01:34:49] - Submitting to One Another
19. [01:36:53] - Conclusion and Prayer
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. Ephesians 5:1-2 (NIV): "Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."
2. Ephesians 5:8-10 (NIV): "For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord."
3. Ephesians 5:15-18 (NIV): "Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit."
### Observation Questions
1. What does Paul mean by a "worthy walk" in Ephesians 5, and what characteristics define it? [47:31]
2. According to Ephesians 5:1-2, how are we called to imitate God, and what example does Christ set for us? [50:33]
3. What behaviors does Paul warn against in Ephesians 5 that hinder the flow of true love? [01:00:30]
4. How does Paul describe the concept of "walking in the light" in Ephesians 5:8-10? [01:04:41]
### Interpretation Questions
1. How does understanding our identity in Christ empower us to live out our faith authentically and boldly? [45:40]
2. What does it mean to walk circumspectly, and why is it important to make the most of every opportunity? [01:19:58]
3. How does being filled with the Spirit lead to a life of worship, gratitude, and mutual submission? [01:25:48]
4. In what ways does walking in love, as Christ loved us, transform our relationships and interactions with others? [50:33]
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your own life. How well do you understand your identity in Christ, and how does this understanding influence your daily actions and decisions? [45:40]
2. Think about a recent situation where you had the opportunity to walk in humility, unity, or purity. How did you respond, and what could you do differently next time to align more closely with a "worthy walk"? [47:31]
3. Identify a specific behavior or habit in your life that hinders the flow of true love. What steps can you take to overcome this and walk more fully in the light? [01:00:30]
4. How can you make the most of every opportunity in your daily life to reflect God's glory and holiness? Share a practical example of how you plan to do this in the coming week. [01:19:58]
5. Describe a time when you felt filled with the Spirit. How did it impact your actions and interactions with others? What can you do to seek this filling more consistently? [01:25:48]
6. Think of a relationship in your life that could benefit from more sacrificial, unconditional love. What specific actions can you take to demonstrate Christ-like love in that relationship? [50:33]
7. How can you incorporate more worship, gratitude, and mutual submission into your daily routine? Share one specific change you plan to make this week to live a more Spirit-filled life. [01:25:48]
Devotional
Day 1: Our Identity in Christ
Understanding our identity in Christ is foundational to our faith journey. When we accept Christ, we become a new creation, part of God's new society, the Church. This identity transcends cultural and ethnic barriers, uniting us as one family in Christ. Knowing who we are in Christ empowers us to live out our faith authentically and boldly. It is crucial to remember that our worth and purpose are found in Him, not in worldly achievements or societal status. This new identity calls us to live in a way that reflects our belonging to God's family, embracing the unity and diversity within the body of Christ. [45:40]
Ephesians 2:19-22 (ESV): "So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit."
Reflection: Think about how your identity in Christ influences your daily decisions and interactions. How can you better reflect your belonging to God's family in your actions today?
Day 2: A Worthy Walk
A worthy walk is characterized by humility, unity, variety, purity, and charity. These virtues reflect the nature of Christ and are essential for a healthy Christian life. Walking worthy means our behavior should align with our high calling as followers of Christ, even though we will never be perfect. It involves striving to live in a way that honors God and builds up the body of Christ. This walk requires intentionality and a commitment to grow in these virtues, allowing the Holy Spirit to transform us from the inside out. [47:31]
Colossians 1:10 (ESV): "So as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God."
Reflection: Identify one area in your life where you struggle to walk worthy of your calling. What practical steps can you take to grow in humility, unity, variety, purity, or charity this week?
Day 3: Imitating God
We are called to imitate God by walking in love, just as Christ loved us sacrificially. This imitation is not about perfection but about striving to reflect God's character in our daily lives. True love involves sacrifice, forgiveness, and unconditional acceptance, which sets us free to love others genuinely. By imitating God, we become a living testimony of His love and grace to those around us. This call to imitate God challenges us to go beyond superficial expressions of love and embrace a deeper, more transformative way of living. [50:33]
1 John 4:11-12 (ESV): "Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us."
Reflection: Think of someone in your life you need to forgive. Can you ask God to help you begin to extend His love and forgiveness to them today?
Day 4: Walking in the Light
Walking in the light means living in a way that reflects God's glory, holiness, and knowledge. It involves exposing and avoiding the unfruitful works of darkness. This walk is marked by goodness, righteousness, and truth, which are the fruits of living in the light. As we walk in the light, we become beacons of hope and truth in a world often shrouded in darkness. This call to walk in the light challenges us to examine our lives and remove anything that hinders our relationship with God. [01:04:41]
1 Thessalonians 5:5-6 (ESV): "For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober."
Reflection: What unfruitful works of darkness do you need to expose and avoid in your life? How can you actively pursue goodness, righteousness, and truth today?
Day 5: Being Filled with the Spirit
Being filled with the Spirit is about being controlled by God's presence, leading to a life of worship, gratitude, and mutual submission. This filling is continuous and necessary for living a victorious Christian life. It brings genuine peace, joy, and fulfillment, unlike the temporary relief offered by worldly substitutes. When we are filled with the Spirit, our lives become a reflection of God's love and power, impacting those around us in profound ways. This call to be filled with the Spirit invites us to surrender our lives fully to God and allow His presence to guide and transform us. [01:25:48]
Ephesians 5:18-20 (ESV): "And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself holding back from surrendering to Jesus? What would surrendering this area to Him actually look like in terms of daily habits?
Quotes
1. "We are in Christ, that's our identity. We need to know who we are, we need to know what we have, and so the wealth of the believer, as we've told you before, is the first couple of chapters, first few chapters. So we need to know who we are, what we have, and then based on that, what we are to do with what we have and who we are. So we have doctrine and duty, that's how the book is developed." [45:40] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "You want to know how to walk? Walk like Jesus walked. Oh, I could never do that. Okay, I get that, but let him be your model. Imitate him, copy him. You remember when your son or daughter was quite young, I hope, when they did this, would copy everything that you would do? Sometimes they do that just for a joke. You know, you lift your hand, they lift their hand. You turn this way, they turn this way. You say something, they say something. It can be irritating, but know, they say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Imitate God." [50:33] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Walk in love. Love is a mega-theme in our culture, has been for a long time. Books are written about love, poems written about love, songs written about love, movies have the theme of love. And yet, though it is a common refrain in our culture and has been for some time, what I see it as is a longing to experience the true love that the world wants but still can't find. Because as I look at the movies that describe love stories, I see a perversion of true love and something they would love to experience but they haven't quite." [52:10] (47 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "When you come to Christ and you realize, I don't deserve his love, but he loves me anyway. He values me. He makes me his son. He makes me his daughter. He forgives my past. He is gracious to me. I don't deserve it, but he lavishes benefits on me. It's a whole, man, I remember that when I discovered that, it set me free to be able to love people unconditionally, sacrificially. The love of God is shed abroad in our hearts, the Bible tells us." [54:49] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Redeeming the time because the days are evil. Redeeming is a word that means buy back. Buy back the time. You've lost time. All the lost time before you were saved. I've had people tell me that all the time. You know, I came to Christ late in life. Oh, I bemoan all the years wasted. Okay. Good. I'm glad you recognize that. Now buy back the time. Redeem the time. Make the most of every opportunity. And the word here for time is not the typical word chronos, but the word kairos. The idea isn't counting how much time you have left or counting time. The idea is making time count. Whatever time you have left, make that count. Do something that counts for eternity." [01:22:47] (56 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
6. "When you are drunk, you are under the control of alcohol. I've had many people who are just so stoned, weep and pray and repent, and just, you know, lean on Christ. And I remember getting so excited at first when I used to go street witnessing and lead drunks to Christ, and I would tell my elders, hey, I led this guy to Christ, and they just, hm, because they knew. . . . a week later had no recollection that he ever met me. Don't be controlled by wine or alcohol. Be filled with the Spirit. Be controlled by the Spirit." [01:26:46] (46 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
7. "Being filled with the Spirit is like a glove. A glove is meant to hold a hand. When the hand fills the glove, the glove can do what the glove was meant to do. The glove, let's say a work glove in my garage, it's sitting there right now. I could tell you what shelf it's on. It's not doing anything right now. It has no capacity to do anything right now. It can't do any work. It couldn't do any task. I couldn't say, glove, I'm going to be gone. I have a Bible study tonight. I'd like you to manage these tasks for me. It has no power. It can only work, it can only operate when a hand is filling it. Now I can control that glove. When the Holy Spirit fills your life and controls your life, God can do His work through you, in you and through you." [01:27:30] (60 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
8. "If you want to keep your interest up in spiritual things, get around other people who are interested in spiritual things. If you isolate yourself, it's easy to fall off the wagon. I haven't been to church in months. Yeah? What happened? You need, we need one another, speaking to one another in these psalms. Psalms are psalms from the Old Testament, hymns. The psalms are the 150 psalms in the Bible. Hymns were written by church leaders, early church leaders." [01:32:33] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
9. "If your Christianity doesn't work at home, it doesn't work. Don't export it. If your Christianity doesn't work at home, it doesn't work. Don't export it. Paul goes into the most basic parts of life, the marriage, the raising of children, and then into the workplace, the very basic parts of the relationship." [01:35:48] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
10. "Thank you, Father, for an opportunity to gather together as your people. Sons and daughters of the living God, not Jew, not Gentile, but all one in your body, the church. Help us, Lord, to walk in humility, in unity, exercising the variety of spiritual gifts, always walking in purity and in love, in the light, and carefully, circumspectly watching our step in a way that will bring you the most glory. Thank you, Lord, for a good soaking in the Word of God. And the Scripture tonight, in Jesus' name, amen." [01:36:53] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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