Ephesians 5:1-7 – Imitate Gods’ Heart

Key Scriptures: Ephesians 5:1-7, Hosea 6:1-6

In this sermon from Ephesians 5:1-7, I pressed our church toward what real, lived-out Christianity looks like. It is not enough to simply believe correct doctrine in our heads. True faith must become experiential — something we walk in, taste, and smell in daily life. The Holy Spirit confirms the truth of Scripture as we actually obey it. Paul calls us to be imitators of God as beloved children and to walk in love the same way Christ loved us.

Imitate God by Walking in Christ’s Loyal, Sacrificial Love

““Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma” (Ephesians 5:1-2).Children learn best by imitation. They watch their parents and copy what they see. In the same way, as God’s beloved children, we are called to imitate our Father by walking in love. But we don’t have to guess what that looks like — we look straight at Jesus. Christ’s death on the cross was not merely a payment for sin. It rose to the Father as a beautiful, fragrant aroma because of His perfect loyalty. Jesus offered both active obedience (perfectly keeping every command of God) and passive obedience (never sinning in thought, word, or deed, even under crushing pressure). That total loyalty pleased the Father more than anything else. I took the congregation back into the Old Testament to illustrate this. After the flood, Noah’s sacrifice was a pleasing aroma that moved God to promise never again to curse the ground. In Leviticus, the burnt offerings and peace offerings were repeatedly called “a fragrant aroma to the Lord” — but only when offered with a right heart. I reminded everyone of Hosea 6, where God says He desires “loyalty rather than sacrifice, and the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.” God has always been looking for a loyal heart. Cain’s offering was rejected because his heart was wrong. Nadab and Abihu died because they offered unauthorized fire. The outward act was never enough — loyalty was everything. On the cross, Jesus offered the one perfect, loyal sacrifice that satisfied God’s justice and opened the way for sinners to be forgiven. Because of His loyalty, we who were disloyal can now be called beloved children. His fragrance becomes ours by faith. This is the foundation of experiential Christianity: we don’t just study love — we walk in it.

Put Away Every Form of Disloyalty

Paul does not leave us with a vague command to “be loving.” He gets very specific and very serious: “But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints; and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks” (Ephesians 5:3-4). These sins are not minor character flaws. They are acts of deep disloyalty to our King. Sexual immorality and impurity break covenant loyalty — they are miniature versions of the spiritual adultery God hates in the Old Testament. Greed is idolatry, plain and simple. It declares, “God is not enough for me — I want more.” Filthy talk, silly talk, and coarse jesting train our hearts to laugh at what God takes seriously and grieve the Holy Spirit. In a culture soaked in pluralism that says “you do you” and “all roads lead to God,” this teaching sounds harsh. But Paul is crystal clear: “For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God” (v. 5). The kingdom is not a democracy where every lifestyle gets a vote. It is a monarchy under King Jesus. Children look like their Father. If we practice these sins as a lifestyle and refuse to repent, we reveal that we do not belong to Him. The good news is that the replacement is powerful: instead of corrupt speech, our mouths should overflow with thanksgiving. Gratitude for the cross kills lust. Gratitude for God’s provision kills greed. When we remember that our bodies were bought with a price, thanksgiving naturally pushes out filth. This is experiential Christianity at work. Try it this week. The next time you are tempted to join in crude joking or let a filthy word slip, stop and give thanks instead. You will feel the shift. Your home, your conversations, and your church fellowship will begin to carry the aroma of Christ rather than the stench of the world.

Do Not Be Deceived — Choose Loyalty Over Empty Words

“Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them” (Ephesians 5:6-7). I warned our church about the dangerous spirit of pluralism and victim mentality so common today. Many twist the grace of God into an excuse for continued sin. We must not partner with teachings, movements, or close relationships that normalize what God calls disloyalty. This has serious application in our homes. Men are called to lead with clear, sacrificial headship. Women are called to nurture with godly wisdom under that leadership. Together we raise children who learn loyalty to King Jesus instead of rebellion. I challenged every person to examine their own heart: Where am I still building my own little kingdom? Where have I made peace with hidden sin? Where have I allowed compassion to become enabling instead of a path to repentance? True love does not stay silent. Real shepherds guard the flock. If someone claims Christ but continues in open, unrepentant disloyalty, we must call them to repent out of love. The greatest kindness we can show the world is to tell them the truth: there is only one way — King Jesus. Outside of Him there is only wrath.

Conclusion

Christ gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering because of His perfect loyalty to the Father. That same loyalty is now credited to us by faith. We are not trying to earn God’s love — we are learning to walk in the love we have already received. This week, choose to imitate your Father. Walk in loyal, sacrificial love. Fill your mouth with thanksgiving instead of corruption. Reject every form of disloyalty. Repent of hidden sin and run back to the cross. The Holy Spirit will confirm His Word as you obey it. My prayer for our church in Houghton is that we would become a people whose lives rise as a sweet aroma to God — grateful, loyal, and clearly different in a disloyal and pluralistic world.

Let us experience the joy of walking as beloved children of our faithful Father.