Walk in Love - Pr. Antonio Nasser - July 12th, 2009

Ephesians 5:1-2 (NKJV)
1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.

The Greek word “peripateō = walk” appears 7 times in Ephesians.
In each of those verses, Paul shows us how we should or shouldn’t live, as children of God.

1. God's Plan for Humanity
Ephesians 2:10 (NKJV)
10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

2. Life without Jesus is Empty and Nasty
Ephesians 2:1-3 (NKJV) 1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.
Ephesians 4:17 (NKJV)
17 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, 18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart;

3. Through Jesus Christ, God made us Children of Light
Ephesians 5:8-10 (NKJV) 8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10 finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.

4. Watch your Step…
Ephesians 5:15-16 (NKJV) 15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Ephesians 5:15-16 (MSG) 15 So watch your step. Use your head. 16 Make the most of every chance you get. These are desperate times!

5. Be Imitators of God: Love One Another
Ephesians 4:1-3 (NKJV) 1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
Ephesians 5:1-2 (NKJV) 1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.

1. Love is a sacrifice
Ephesians 5:2 (NKJV)
2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.

2. Love is a gentle manner to keep the unity of the Spirit
Ephesians 4:2-3 (NIV) 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.

3. Love covers the “shame” of missing the mark
1 Peter 4:8 (NKJV) 8 And above all things have fervent love for one another, for "love will cover a multitude of sins."
Proverbs 10:12 (MSG) 12 Hatred starts fights, but love pulls a quilt over the bickering.