# 23: 10-29-10

Ephesians 5:1-2
Weve seen that Paul had beseeched those who would read his letter to walk worthy of the calling with
which they were called (Eph 4:1); and he has begun to show his readers just what that walk looks like; the
walk of the new man, Christ. Now as we continue, what well see is that Paul continues with a summary
statement of just how believers are to walk this way.
Now, the first verse of chapter 5 refers back to verse 32 of chapter 4, connected to it by one of Pauls
therefores for this reason. Well reread that verse together with the next two of chapter 5, which is
as far as well get, this morning.
[Ephesians 4:32-5:2]
Paul had been laying out for his readers certain aspects of their former conduct, as sons of Adam, and what
their new conduct would look like, as sons of God particularly with one another. They are to put away
malice, and the conduct that comes out of it.
In its place, they are put the needs of other members of the Body before themselves; to be compassionate
and understanding with their fellow members; and, if wronged, to forgive according to the measure with
which God in Christ forgave them freely, fully, utterly. The believers are to forgive as God forgives; to
follow His example.
Then Paul took that thought, and broadened it to how believers are to conduct themselves, in general.
Believers are to be imitators of God, as dear children; in forgiveness, and in everything they do.
The verb form of the Greek word for be in verse one actually gives more the sense of becoming; become
imitators of God, as dear children. There is the sense that this is a process.
The idea of imitating here is not to artificially mimic what another is doing merely posturing, which is
only outward form. Instead, imitating as used here means to follow their example. This requires our whole
being both the outward and the inner man.
The things that God does, that we are to follow, all originate in the heart of God; it is speaks of an action,
with its motive. So imitation here is not simply a matter of words, and works; but of thoughts and desires,
as well; a continual process of following God, which begins in our hearts. And as this process continues,
what will result, as we imitate God in this way? We will be more and more like God.
Believers are to imitate God as dear children. Here children means a born one. The word dear in the
Greek means beloved. We are Gods beloved born ones; each one born from above, by virtue of having
believed into the One God sent to redeem us, Jesus. In his second prayer of this letter, Paul called believers
the Fathers family (Eph 3:14-15); each member is a son of God.
As the beloved born ones of God, we are to follow the Fathers example. As sons of God the loved ones
of the Father we are to imitate our Father; just as in an earthly family, the Father is the example to his
household as the head of that household, whom the children are to imitate.
We are sons of God; we bear the family name. The members of Gods household are to honor that name; to
maintain an untarnished reputation for the family, out of love and respect for the Father. So we imitate our
Father; we follow His example. And as we do so, we become more and more like our heavenly Father.

# 23: 10-29-10

Like Father, like son. We are to reflect our Father in His character, His ways, so that when those outside
the family meet us, they can begin to know the Father. And what is it that will then be reflected out of the
family to the outside world? Love the love of the Father, that can then draw others into His gracious,
merciful embrace.
But our imitation of God does not just have bearing on our reflection to those outside the family; it directly
impacts the relations of those within it. In fact, that is what Paul is primarily focused on, here the
interrelations of members of Christs Body with one another. As beloved born ones, we are to follow our
Fathers example in every way, in how we interact with one another. If we did this, what would mark all of
our interactions? Love.
Love is the key. Love is the source of unity for the family of God, and love is the witness to those outside
the family. So in order for us to walk worthy of the calling with which we were called to be a son of God,
a beloved born one of the Father how must we walk? We must walk in love.
This is the love of God agape love that gives what is needed to meet the needs of the one loved. The
verb walk indicates continuous action. We are to constantly conduct ourselves along the path of our
lives, in love.
In verse 32, the measure of our forgiveness is to be the measure of the Fathers forgiveness of us, in Christ:
even as God in Christ forgave you.
Now in verse 2 of chapter 5, we see the measure of our walk of love. What is the measure? We are to
continually love as Christ also has loved us. Christ is the measure. His walk is to be the standard of our
walk.
As beloved born ones of God, we are to imitate God, adhering to the example He has given us; Christ. This
means that we are to follow in Christs steps; His walk is always to be the measure of our walk.
Look at how Paul expresses the love of Christ, here; in the most personal terms, as well as in the highest
terms. Christ loved us He loved you and me, personally. He loved us so much that He gave Himself for
us.
The Greek verb for given in verse 2 is very significant here. It means to deliver over or up to the power
of someone. In this context, it is referring to Christ delivering Himself over to Death. Christ loved us so
much that He gave up His life for us.
Notice the language that Paul uses to describe Christ giving Himself over for us. Offering; sacrifice;
sweet-smelling aroma.
As someone who was, in the flesh, Jewish; a Hebrew of Hebrews, in fact (Phil 3:5); what do you think
Paul was describing here? Would you say one of the key offerings, described in the Law of Moses? Yes.
If you were able to do your reading this week in Leviticus (chapters 1-5), you would have read the
descriptions of the five offerings which the LORD gave to Moses to be offered by the children of Israel (it
actually goes further, but the first five chapters give the essential offerings).

# 23: 10-29-10

These offerings are the burnt offering, the meal offering, the peace offering, the sin offering and the
trespass offering. Each of these offerings picture a unique aspect of the person and work of Christ, as the
Redeemer. Is there one particular offering, representing Christ, which Paul is alluding to, here? I think we
can see that there is.
First, Paul indicates that this was a sweet savor offering; an offering with a sweet-smelling aroma. Only
the first three offerings the burnt, meal and peace offerings were considered sweet savor offerings,
through which the offerer came before God for acceptance as a worshiper.
The remaining two offerings the sin and the trespass offerings were not sweet-savor offerings; the
offerer came before God, with his offering bearing the penalty for his sins. So we can see that Paul must be
referring to one of the first three offerings the burnt, meal or peace offering.
But this offering is also described as a sacrifice. The term sacrifice always indicates that blood has been
shed; the life has been given over in death. This means that Paul cant be referring to the meal offering,
which was an offering of grain in certain forms; there was no animal sacrificed in the meal offering. This
leaves us with the burnt and the peace offerings.
The fact that Paul is alluding specifically to the burnt offering is supported by the overall context of what
he is saying: Walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us.
It was out of love for us that Christ came as the Savior of the world. He came to the earth in the form of a
man, and walked here in love in perfect obedience in order to give Himself over to Death in our place.
The idea here is of the entire, perfect life of Christ, offered up to the Father in our stead.
That is the picture in the burnt offering, which well look at in more detail now in Leviticus chapter 1. This
was part of the ceremonial Law that the LORD gave to Moses for the children of Israel, a type to Israel of her
coming Messiah.
Now, as we go through this, well see that there is an offerer, an offering, and the one who actually presents
the offering to God. The offerer would be a man, a son of Israel; the offering, the prescribed animal or
grain; and the one presenting the offering to God, the priest, a son of Aaron.
But in what is pictured in type, that is, in the fulfillment, the offerer, the offering and the priest all represent
Christ. It is Christ who chose to make the offering, Christ who offered Himself in the stead of man, Christ
who offered Himself up to God.
The burnt offering is listed as the first of the five. The emphasis in the burnt offering is not so much on the
fact that it was burnt, as on that it was wholly burnt; the whole animal, in pieces, was laid upon the altar,
and burnt, as an offering to the LORD.
The word for burnt offering in the Hebrew means that which goes up, as seen in the smoke of the
sacrifice ascending heavenward. So this offering was for the LORD in its entirety. The purpose of the burnt
offering was to make the offerer acceptable to the LORD. This would mean, then, that the offering had to be
perfect.
[Leviticus 1:1-9]
v. 1-2 An offerer could bring of the herd a bull; or of the flock a ram or male goat. But we will see
further down, the offerer could also bring of the birds turtledoves, or young pigeons.

# 23: 10-29-10

These different offerings reflect different grades of the burnt offering, with the bullock being the highest, as
the animal considered of greatest value, and the birds being the lowest a poor mans offering, which any
man could bring.
Each of the animals reflects a different perspective of Christ as the burnt offering. Were just going to look
at the bullock, which pictures Christ as the Servant of Jehovah.
v. 3 Only the priest could enter the tabernacle; therefore, the offerer came to the door of the tabernacle to
present his offering.
A bull, or bullock is an animal that labors for man. The bullock being offered had to be a male without
fault a perfect animal.
The Son offered Himself to God, as the Christ, the One who would labor to bring forth to God many sons
of glory (Heb 2:10); laboring as mankinds Redeemer, Deliverer. That required the Son of God to come
down from heaven, and labor as the Son of Man.
But in order to be that perfect offering to God, the Son had to be the perfect man. This means, in addition
to being perfect in His Person, He had to live the perfect life; He had to be perfect in all His ways. His life
must be without blemish; completely unmarred by sin.
How did Jesus live that way? He walked in love. Out of His love for the Father, Jesus never did anything
for Himself, but always, only did the things that pleased His Father; the Fathers will.
Do you remember the first recorded words of Jesus, in Scripture at the age of twelve? They included this
statement: I must be about my Fathers business Lk 2:49); and what were His last words, in the Johns
record? It is finished! (Jn19:30); He had finished His Fathers work, to redeem mankind.
Jesus never did anything for His ease, His credit, His pleasure. All that could be seen in the life of Jesus
was utter devotion to the Father; this truly was His Beloved Son, in whom He was well-pleased.
Thats the bullock without blemish of the burnt offering the Servant of Jehovah, His entire, obedient life
offered up to the Father for His acceptance.
In verse 3, he NKJV next reads, he shall offer it of his own free will. In the Septuagint and several other
versions, it reads, he shall offer it to be accepted. Verse 4 then says in response to this, and it will be
accepted on his behalf.
The purpose of the burnt offering was to make the one who had come to worship acceptable to the LORD; he
is accepted in his offering, which pictures the LORDs Christ. And in the type, Christ not only represents the
bullock of the offering; He represents the offerer; He is the One who is making that perfect offering for
man.
As we saw in our passage in Ephesians, Christ loved us and gave Himself for us (Eph 5:2). He gave
Himself; He is both the offerer and the offering; the perfect worshiper of God, with the perfect act of
worship.
The offerer had further responsibilities.

# 23: 10-29-10

v. 4 The placing of the hand upon the head of the bullock showed in symbol that the bullock was being
offered in the stead of the offerer.
The word atonement here does not refer to atonement for sin, which is the satisfaction of Gods offended
justice concerning sin. There is no thought of sin at all in the burnt offering.
Atonement here means the satisfaction of the loving and holy requirement of God, upon a life. The
unblemished bullock represented Christ, who lived a life of perfect obedience to the will of His Father,
satisfying every requirement with perfect righteousness.
And through that type, the LORD accepted the offering of the bullock, and the offerer with it; the priests
acting here on behalf of the LORD in accepting the bullock.
v. 5 Now, who killed the bullock? The offerer did; here is the picture in which we see Christ offering
Himself He gave Himself for us. But notice that it says that He killed the bullock before the LORD.
The idea is primarily that it was the life of the bullock that was being offered up to the LORD; then the
animal was sacrificed. So the offering then became a sacrifice, with the death of the animal.
The bullocks blood was collected, and sprinkled on the altar (all around on the altar) of burnt offering.
In the Law, the LORD indicates that the life is in the blood (Lev 17:11). The sprinkling of the blood on the
altar shows the offering of the life of the bullock the perfect, consecrated life of Christ to the LORD the
whole life, offered to Him.
Malachi 1:12 tells us that the altar is the table of the LORD; the sacrifices are His food; in them, the LORD
finds satisfaction. Here, we see the LORD finding satisfaction concerning the One man who lived His life in
complete obedience to His will; His Christ, pictured in the bullock.
Man is a creation of God. Mans life was meant to be lived in accordance with Gods will for him; in
righteousness; but from the very first man on down through the ages, no man has ever lived his life that
way except for One Man the man, Christ Jesus who yielded His life in perfect submission to the will
of God.
The offerer had one further set of responsibilities.
v. 6-9 So the offerer was responsible for skinning the bullock, and then cutting it into pieces: head, fat,
inner parts, and legs the whole bullock, excepting the skin.
The priests provided the fire and wood, and arranged the parts in order on the wood on the altar. The inner
parts and the legs were washed with water first. Then the entire bullock was offered up to the LORD. This
was a sweet savor offering, causing the offerer to be accepted with his offering to the LORD.
You can see how personally involved the offerer was with this offering; he killed it, he skinned it, he cut it
up. This offering is of the highest level, containing the deep spiritual truths to be discovered in Christ in
His life of consecration to the Father.
When Jesus was asked which commandment is the first, the greatest, He said the first of all the
commandments was to love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind,
and with all your strength (Mk 12:28-30); that is, with your whole being.

# 23: 10-29-10

That is what we see in the parts of the bullock, arranged in their order on the wood of the altar the order
of a living person; the whole being.
First was the head, representing the mind, with its thinking. Jesus always has a mind in perfect agreement
with His Father. There was never a stray thought; never a thought out of line; never a thought for Himself.
Then the fat was laid on the wood. The fat was the source of energy for the bullock; its strength. All of the
work of Jesus all of his labor was in line with His Fathers will. Jesus never made an effort for Himself,
but poured all of His energy into obedience to His Father.
Next, the inner parts and the legs of the bullock were washed with water a reflection of the consecration
of Jesus, pure and set apart to God, within and without.
The inner parts reflect the heart of Jesus; His motives, His intents. All were pure and clear, without desire
for Himself.
Finally the legs speak of the walk of Jesus; how He conducted Himself in His life and how did Jesus
walk? He walked in love love of the Father, love of mankind marked His every obedient step. Thats
how Jesus lived His life.
These parts of the bullock were laid on the altar in their order; the mind, the energies, the heart, the walk of
Jesus all was surrendered to His Father, in love. All was offered up to the LORD, to Him alone.
The fire of Gods holiness searched that offering, and found it to be perfect. And the fire consumed the
offering. The perfect Man met the holiness of God, and was completely accepted. The offering was
completely satisfying to the LORD; a sweet savor offering.
So in the burnt offering, we see Jesus as the offerer, offering His perfect life in our stead, giving Himself
over to death, a sacrifice of perfect love. And we see Jesus in the priestly service as well, providing the
sacrifice to His Father; burning out His whole life on the altar, the cross; for love of God, for love of man.
When we join ourselves to Jesus by faith, His offering is made our offering, and we are accepted in His
completed work as the offerer, the offering, the priest. By the Fathers grace, through faith, we are accepted
in the Beloved (Eph 1:6); in Christ.
Do you remember that the offerer skinned the burnt offering? Did you wonder what happened to the skin?
Turn to Leviticus chapter 7.
[Leviticus 7:8] The skin was the only part of the bullock which was not burnt on the altar for the LORD.
That part went to the priests.
What is the significance of this? Levitical priests did not earn their position based on any quality within
themselves. The priests are sons of Aaron; they were born into their position, born to serve the LORD in His
holy tabernacle.
One of the privileges of that position was to receive portions of the sacrifices and offerings that were made.
In this particular instance, the priests are privileged to receive the skin of the burnt offering which was the
covering of the bullock, the animal that represented Christ as the perfect Servant of the LORD. That skin
was a covering of perfect holiness and righteousness.

# 23: 10-29-10

What we see is a picture of believers who are a kingdom of priests to God the Father; a position they did
not earn, but were born into, through their faith.
As priests, believers will be privileged to receive coverings of perfect holiness and righteousness glorified
bodies like that of their Lord (Phil 3:21). In fact, by faith, they are already in those glorified bodies; they
have put on the new man.
So now you can see a little more clearly what it is that Paul is laying out as the way in which a believer
walks worthy of the calling in which they are called the way to walk in love. It is the way that Christ
walked, the burnt offering revealing the total surrender of His life to the will of the Father, out of love for
Him; the total surrender of His life, in the service of man.
Where did that surrender begin? It began in heaven in eternity past. Turn to Philippians chapter 2.
[Philippians 2:5-11]
v. 5-7 As with the burnt offering, it began with the surrender of the thinking. Here is the Son, who even
before the creation of the world, surrendered all of His honor and glory as God, offering Himself to the
Father to be His bondservant; the Servant of Jehovah, pictured in the bullock.
v. 8 As the Servant of Jehovah, Jesus lived in humble submission to His Father all of His energies, His
desires, His ways offered up, surrendered to God. It was on the cross that Jesus as the burnt offering
became the burnt sacrifice; He gave Himself for us.
v. 9-11 The exaltation of Jesus began at the cross, as the fire of Gods holiness consumed the perfect
sacrifice of Jesus on the cross, the sweet savor of it ascending to heaven, fully pleasing to God. And that
exaltation continued into the resurrection and ascension of Jesus back to the right hand of the Father, where
He has been glorified with the glory which He had with the Father before the world was (Jn 17:5).
So what does this tell us, as believers, about how we are to walk in love? Its just as Paul says here in
Philippians: Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus. It begins in our thinking, too. And
what was that thinking? Look back at it again.
Jesus made Himself of no reputation. We are to make ourselves of no reputation; to have no thought for
ourselves. Our only thought is to be obedience to the will of the Father as bondservants slaves who
serve out of love for the Master. Has the Father asked us to die on a cross? No; but He does desire that we
live for Him.
That requires that we be willing to devote our energies to Him. To make what He desires the desire of our
lives. To have a heart for Him, and for those He loves. To find our motivation, not in pleasing ourselves,
but in pleasing our heavenly Father. Our whole being, surrendered to Him. That is what it means to imitate
Jesus; to walk as He walked, following in each one of His consecrated steps.
What is it that does the walking? The legs the last part of the burnt offering. This speaks of our conduct;
which, as we have seen in Ephesians, begins in the thinking (Eph 4:17-19).
But where does the conduct end; where is the outworking of the thinking seen? Through the body. The
burnt offering was the offering of the whole life to the LORD; the inner man, and the outer man; it includes
the body. Paul wrote of the offering of the body of the believer in his letter to the Romans.

# 23: 10-29-10

Turn to Romans chapter 12. Youve had this to read for several weeks, as I finally discovered where
exactly in Ephesians it fits in! So you probably have it memorized by now, which is good; the Lord will
bring it to mind at just the right times, so this mind can be in you that was in Christ Jesus.
[Romans 12:1-2] Once again, we find in a letter of Paul a statement that is marked by the language of
sacrifice.
The presenting of the bodies is another way of saying offering them. They are to be a living sacrifice. The
terms holy, acceptable to God together denote a sweet-savor offering. And the term service
specifically means divine service or worship; the service of a priest.
What does this description sound like to you the offering of the life, a sweet-savor offering? It sounds
like the burnt offering, doesnt it? This is how we imitate our Lord, and walk as He walked, in love;
following in our Masters steps, as we walk through our lives.
This statement is the culmination of what Paul has been writing in much of this letter. Therefore for this
reason because of the mercies of God:
The compassion that God has shown you to deliver you out of Adam, and into Christ, to justify you,
freeing you from the penalty of the sin;
The compassion of God, to provide you with the Holy Spirit, that you might be free from the power of the
sin and be sanctified;
His compassionate labor on your behalf, to work out His plan in you, for your good culminating in your
glorification;
Because of that compassionate love that God has extended to you, Paul now beseeches the brethren he is
begging them to present their bodies to offer them to God a living sacrifice.
What does Paul mean by a living sacrifice? As we have discussed, a sacrifice is something that is dead;
its blood has been shed. The term living sacrifice is an oxymoron. Paul could easily have chosen the
word offering, which is an entirely different word in the Greek; why did he choose the word sacrifice?
Because Paul wanted to stress that there is something that has died, and something that is alive. What has
died? You have in Adam. What is alive? You are in Christ.
You have died out of Adam, and are now in Christ, a new creation. You have been raised with Christ, in a
body of glory; the body of flesh is dead to you now; rendered inoperative; sacrificed, by faith. Theres the
living sacrifice; the glorified body, that has come out of you having been crucified with Christ.
As priests, you have received the skin of the burnt offering of the consecrated life of Christ. You have put
off the old man, Adam; you have put on the new Man, Christ.
Paul is beseeching that you will now offer that glorified body, that Christ died to give you, back to the
Father a living sacrifice that you live a consecrated life as a glorified son of God.
Its your reasonable service; its the act of service that makes sense, in light of all the mercies that the
Father has extended to you, that you might have that glorified body. It was given to you for a purpose; that
you might use it to serve the Lord. So serve Him in it.

# 23: 10-29-10

In this verse, the word present reflects a one-time action; you offer your body to the Father once,
consecrating yourself to Him. Then your walk will be the walk of Jesus; you will walk in love, pouring out
your life in obedience to God, in the service of others. Theres the walk, thats worthy of the calling with
which you were called.
Then your life will be a sweet savor offering to the Lord holy pleasing to Him. This is your act of
worship, worship of the One who was so merciful to you.
Its a decision you make once; a one-time act, to offer your body up to the Lord. But once that decision is
made, there must be a continuous renewal of the spirit of your mind, which supports your decision, to offer
up your body to the Lord; that is, we must constantly have our thinking changed. We must choose to let go
of our old thinking, and take Gods thinking in its place.
And as we let go of that old thinking, we will prove to ourselves that Gods will is good, and acceptable,
and perfect for us. Letting go of that old thinking, we will conform less and less to this world.
Thats how you used to walk according to the course of this world; according to the prince of the power
of the air; the spirit of this world. You shared his thinking; you took in his temptations, which fed the lusts
of your flesh, the lusts of your mind. You walked, serving no one but yourself.
But now, you are being more and more transformed; this actually speaks of being transfigured; Paul is
alluding to the body of glory. More and more, you walk in that body of glory; you walk in love, as Christ
walked.
You choose to have this mind in you, that was in Christ Jesus that this body is the Lords; His vessel of
honor; sanctified, set apart to Him; of genuine use to the Master, that His good work might be done through
it (2 Tim 2:21); the labor of Love.