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NASB | Ephesians 5:1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Ephesians 5:1 Therefore become imitators of God [copy Him and follow His example], as well-beloved children [imitate their father]; |
Bible Question: Why does God ask for sacrifices? |
Bible Answer: God bless you, newtothis! In Old Testament times, God required animal sacrifices of Israel to atone for sin. This practice pointed to the coming Messiah (innocent blood shed for the remission of sin) (1 Peter 1:19-21) Because of Christ's "once for all" sacrifice on Calvary, we no longer must kill and burn animals to be forgiven. Luckily (for us and the animals) all we have to do is place faith in Christ Jesus and ask for forgiveness. But that doesn't mean that we are done "sacrificing." God asks us to sacrifice for two resons: 1. God maybe asking you to give up something so that he may replace it with something better. Some people call it "pruning" in reference to Jesus's "I am the true vine" discourse in the 15th chapter of the book of John. (And covered quite well in Bruce Wilkenson's book _Secrets of the Vine_). Sometime this sacrifice can be quite painful (I often think of it as being crucified with Christ- as Paul mentions- taking something you LOVE and allowing it to be nailed to the cross... maybe it is a comfortable home or a job you love or a church you really like). But sacrifices are always made to God's glory and with a plan. He never arbitrarily takes things away without good reason. That reason is rarely ever clear at the time but is a HUGE blessing in hindsight! Sometimes it is God's way of reminding us that he is in control - "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord , "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you."- Jeremiah 29:11-12 2. God will ask us to give up things that are standing in the way of a closer, deeper, more intimate relationship with him. (Usually these are habitual sins he is asking us to give up... looking at pornography, cheating on taxes, cursing at people who cut you off on the freeway, harboring jealousy against a friend or relative. They are sins that we may ask for forgivness for time and time again and yet continue to fall back into them time and time again. God wants us to live free. ("But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life." Romans 6:22) But freedom does not mean freedom to go on sinning but to live life free from the bondage of sin. We are to daily take up our crosses (make sacrifices) so that we may draw closer to God and He can and will draw closer to us. God wants us to be totally and utterly surrendered (sacrificed) to Him, totally dependent on Him for everything and when we are WE ARE BLESSED. |
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Questions and/or Subjects for Eph 5:1 | Author | ||
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newtothis | ||
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Amber_G | ||
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Abishak | ||
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Abishak | ||
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malspa | ||
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tanne9595 | ||
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shael | ||
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NightJay0044 | ||
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hdkidd724 | ||
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1faith1 | ||
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JoCal |