Paul’s 12-fold formula for successful Christian life: (5:1-21)
The Apostle Paul again uses the word “therefore” which is a continuation thought from (4:1-32). Just as children imitate their parents, we should imitate Christ. The idea is simple – that we are to make God our example and model. We can’t content ourselves comparing to men however famous they may be. We must heed the idea of (1 Pet.1:15-16) : as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”
He has manifested His greatest love by shedding His precious blood as a propitiation for our sins, we also must show the same kind of love towards others. We must also understand that God is far more superior to our example. Many errors come into the church when Jesus is presented only as an example of behaviour. We are not saved by the example of Jesus, but once saved, His example is meaningful to us. God is much more than our example to describe.
When we start imitating God, we become representatives of God, especially before those who have shut God out of their life. If we are imitators of God, as dear children, the worldly people will be compelled to realise that there is a God, for they will see God’s character reflected in ours.
Ex: An atheist once said he could get over every argument except the example of his godly mother: he could never answer that.” (Spurgeon)
As children obedient to the father, Paul gives 12 rules for Father’s household:
- Imitate Christ in love: (5:1-2): Christ has loved us and gave Himself for us. We have to display the same self-sacrificing love to others. The Lord Jesus Christ’s sacrifice was a fragrant offering . “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (Jn. 15:13). But He laid down His life for His enemies (Rom 5:10). Our love for Him is our response to His love for us. Paul compares Christ’s sacrifice on the cross to the Old Testament “fragrance” sacrifices that were presented at the altar of the temple (Lev.1:9,13,17; 2:9). The idea behind this is simply that the sacrifice is well-pleasing to God. The Son had to die to save lost sinners. Rather, it indicates that the death of Christ satisfies the holy law of God and therefore is acceptable and pleasing to the Father. The fragrance offerings are described in (Lev. 1-3); the burnt offering, the meal offering, and the peace offering. The burnt offering pictures Christ’s complete devotion to God; the meal offering, His perfection of character; and the peace offering, His making peace between sinners and God.
- Immorality and greed – avoid it: (5:3): Immorality or fornication is lightly taken by the worldly people. Paul says there must not be a hint or sexual immorality or any kind of impurity or of greed, because they are improper for God’s holy people. The sins of immorality have invaded the homes of Christians and brought grief to local churches too. Again greed may seem out of place next to fornication or immorality, but the two sins are only two different expressions of the same basic weakness of fallen nature e., uncontrolled appetite. The fornicator and the greedy or covetous person each desire to satisfy the appetite by taking what does not belong to them. “The lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes” (1 Jn.2:16). “Let there not be even a hint of these sins.”
- Refrain from obscene language: (5:4-5): Obscenity and coarse joking are so common that we begin to take it for granted. Improper language, coarse joking has no place in Christian’s conversation because it does not reflect God’s gracious presence in us. The Apostle makes it very clear that immoral and impure or greedy person has no place in the kingdom of God. In other words those who want live deliberately in sin will not share in God’s kingdom. “Whoremonger” is a translation of the Greek word ‘pornos ‘ from which we get our word Pornography, and it means “one who practices fornication or illicit sex.” The morally unclean and the covetous will join the fornicator in judgment. Paul equates covetousness with idolatry, for it is the worship of something other than God. These warnings deal with the habitual practice of sin, and not the occasional act of sin. David committed adultery, yet God forgave him and one day took him to heaven. Certainly David was disciplined for his sin, but he was not rejected by God.