The Lord's Day Bible Message Outlines
September 6,
2009
Pastor Dana Johnson
"...Christ also has
loved us and given Himself for us...." -Ephesians
5:2
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. Notice the way
Christ's love is defined:
a. His love
is sacrificial.
b. His love is
giving.
2. Consider some
features of Christ's gracious sacrifice of love:
a. It is a
better sacrifice than the animal sacrifices of the old
dispensation. It is not a mere atonement (covering): It
takes away sin.
Hebrews
10:3-10 - But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of
sins every year. 4For it is not possible that
the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.
5Therefore, when He came into the world, He
said: "Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, But a
body You have prepared for Me. 6In burnt
offerings and sacrifices for sin You had no pleasure.
7Then I said, 'Behold, I have come; In the
volume of the book it is written of Me; To do Your will,
O God.'" 8Previously saying, "Sacrifice and
offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did
not desire, nor had pleasure in them" (which are offered
according to the law), 9then He said, "Behold,
I have come to do Your will, O God." He takes away the
first that He may establish the second. 10By
that will we have been sanctified through the offering of
the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
b. It is a
propitiation: It pleases God.
Leviticus
1:9 - 'But he shall wash its entrails and its legs with
water. And the priest shall burn all on the altar as a
burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma
to the LORD.
c. It is "for us":
It is personal and specific in its provisions.
Leviticus
1:1-4 - Now the LORD called to Moses, and spoke to him
from the tabernacle of meeting, saying,
2"Speak to the children of Israel, and say to
them: 'When any one of you brings an offering to the
LORD, you shall bring your offering of the livestock; of
the herd and of the flock. 3'If his offering
is a burnt sacrifice of the herd, let him offer a male
without blemish; he shall offer it of his own free will
at the door of the tabernacle of meeting before the LORD.
4Then he shall put his hand on the head of the
burnt offering, and it will be accepted on his behalf to
make atonement for him.
3. The love of Christ,
through the effects and consequences of His sacrifice,
enables and instructs us to:
a. Walk in
love as the beloved children of God.
Ephesians
5:2 - 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.
b. Walk in holiness
as saints.
Ephesians
5:3 - But fornication and all uncleanness or
covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is
fitting for saints.
(All
Scripture quoted is from the New King James
Version)
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