Tabor Baptist Church

Introduction

• Normally looking at the book of Hebrews but wanted to extend the Easter Message
• Eph 5:1-2
• We have been studying the book of Ephesians and have come to a section on Christian Ethics
• There should be no wrath or outbursts of anger
• There should be no evil speaking or malice
• We should be kind, thinking of others, tender hearted, considerate
• We should forgive one another as Christ has not forgave us
• The Christian ethic is based on the character of God
• Different from any other ethical system in the world
• He is a Holy God
• v1 is a conclusion of what Paul has been saying previously
• Can we ever imitate God?
• Yet we called to live like Him
• There is no higher calling
• Walk in love
• How?
• As Christ has loved us and given Himself for us - love as He loved
• We are to live self-sacrificial lives
• We are going to look at An Offering and a Sacrifice
• It was for us
• It was for God

It was for Us

• This letter was going out to the Ephesians and other Christians
• The Ephesians recognised their previous worship and remembered what they were
• The lived in sexual immorality realised the futility of their mind
• Yet Christ loved us
• Whilst we were still sinners - Christ loved us
• Whilst we were repelling Christ He died for us
• Remember what we were before Christ saved us
• There is no more guilt or shame as Christ has borne this
• We are not what we were for Christ has redeemed us from all lawless deeds
• Christ died for us
• God sent His son
• Remember the flood and judgement
• God is not willing that any should perish
• We have all like sheep gone astray - there is not one person who cannot say that they have gone away from God
• Christ gave Himself as an offering and a sacrifice to God (v2)
• An offering - a gift
• A sacrifice - to bear our sin

A Voluntary Sacrifice

• John 10 - 'I am the Good Shepherd who gives His life for the sheep'
• Jesus came to do the Father's will
• He was voluntarily setting His face towards Jerusalem
• Jesus voluntarily laid down His life - He had power to lay it down and power to take it up again
• Jesus voluntarily laid down His life at the passover
• Jesus volunteered Himself in the garden of Gethsemane
• Jesus did not defend Himself in His trial - infact He agreed that He was the Son of God
• Jesus endured His beatings and mockings in silence - yielding Himself to the cross
• Not a word from Jesus as He was nailed to the cross until He was lifted up on the cross and said "Father forgive them"

A Sacrifice of Immense Love

• Isa 53:1-13
• He was the prince of glory but numbered with the criminals
• He was fulfilling Scripture
• Sin was so repugnant to Him yet He was willing to take our sin
• He made intercession for the transgressors
• He prayed for the Father's forgiveness upon them
• When you are in extreme pain and agony you pray for yourself but Christ didn't pray for Himself
• Quote from the Hymn writer
• Can you say that Christ has taken your sin?

A Sacrifice in Our Place

• Think of the thieves on the cross and the change in one of them
• Maybe it was the words of Christ that pierced his heard
• May it be that the same prayer pierces your heart this morning
• Maybe he remembered a sermon Jesus had preached
• Maybe he looked at the sign above Jesus and realised that He had a true Kingdom
• "Remember me" - a response with immortal words
• A criminal worthy of all condemnation but saved upon the cross in Jesus
• One died in Christ and one died outside of Christ
• One went to heaven and one went to hell
• Quote from Charles Wesley Hymns

It was for God

• A sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling aroma
• This is not the first time it is mentioned in Scripture - go back to Noah
• Offered a burnt sacrifice to God after the flood
• God was satisfied
• God said He was never going to send a flood again
• The Israelites offered sacrifice to God
• The whole of the sacrifice was burnt
• The aroma went up to God and He was satisfied
• Remember the scape goat
• Jesus offered Himself as a perfect sacrifice to God
• To show that sin had been dealt with
• That God had been satisfied, that God was pleased
• Jesus drank the full cup of the wrath of God
• God was pleased with the intercession of His son
• God was satisfied with Christ' sacrifice
• On the cross Jesus could not cry out 'Father' for 3 hours as the fellowship was broken
• The Father was pleased that the Son was willing to go to such lengths
• The fellowship was restored
• Think of the darkness for 6 hours
• Not an eclipse - it was the time of a full moon
• The sinner was allowed to see the face of the Saviour
• There was separation from God of the Son
• Jesus was able to say 'it is finished'
• Example from Charles Simeon

Closing Remarks

• As we believe in Jesus:
• Joy will fill our heart
• We will know forgiveness of sins
• We will cry it is finished
• Let us believe in Jesus