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*A Family Portrait*
*Ephesians 5:22-6:18* *August 28, 2005*
*RECAP*
God’s vision for us (chosen~/predestined to be part of his kingdom – to the praise of his glory)
How to keep it alive (prayer)
How to live it (grace~/not works)
United in it (family)
Getting committed to it (mystery~/love)
Consumed by it (prisoner~/mature~/work~/‘one’)
Changed by it (obey)
/ ~*A Family Portrait/
*Introduction:*
The last message we had on the topic of vision in our journey through Ephesians challenged us to be changed by the vision God has for us.
What good is just seeing a vision set before us as the family of God without
experiencing it unfold within us?
Let us remind ourselves of the main points in that message since our centennial celebration last week may have diverted our train of thought with all the events and people that made it so gloriously successful.
But, in fact, the whole theme of vision was to bring us up to the centennial.
Now we need to go beyond it.
/What are the ways we must be changed by embracing God’s vision for us?/
We must think differently
We must act differently
We must talk differently
We must be more conscious of God
We must become more like God
We must become holy
Sexually
Materially
Verbally
Religiously
Categorically
Contrast dark~/light
Contrast sleep~/wake
Contrast foolish~/wise
We must understand God’s will (vision) for us
We must be spiritual in mind (reverence toward the Holy Spirit)
We must be spiritual in relationship (reverence toward others)
We must be spiritual in worship (reverence toward God)
We must submit all things to Christ (reverence toward Jesus)
In the end, it all comes down to preparing for a family portrait because being the holy family of God is what his vision for us is all about.
You know the drill: getting the kids all spruced up and putting on your best dress or suit; then going to the professional photographer to pose for your best smile.
Our passage this morning in Eph.
5:22-6:18 gives Paul’s final details in Ephesians to what this family portrait should look like – and also what threatens it.
This is the picture he wants to show to the world.
In showing this picture to the world he wants the world to see him as our heavenly Father.
His vision for us has always been about family.
Do you know when the family of God got its start?
It was in Gen. 4:25-26 when the line of Seth separated from the line of Cain.
Only the line of a costly “blood” religion – a line changed by Christ – is worthy to be called the family of God.
The line of Seth led to Noah – a preacher of righteousness (2Pet.
2:5).
The line of Cain dies out in Scripture after Gen. 4:19-24 – never to be heard from again.
“6 ¶ Then the LORD said to Cain, "Why are you angry?
Why is your face downcast?
7 If you do what is right, will you not be accepted?
But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it."”
(Ge 4:6-7 NivUS)
Then Cain killed Abel.
Cain refused change.
And so God changed the world.
“5 The LORD saw how great man’s wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time.
6 ¶ The LORD was grieved that he had made man on the earth, and his heart was filled with pain.
7 So the LORD said, "I will wipe mankind, whom I have created, from the face of the earth— men and animals, and creatures that move along the ground, and birds of the air— for I am grieved that I have made them."
8 ¶ But Noah found favor in the eyes of the LORD.”
(Ge 6:5-8 NivUS)
By the time of the flood, Noah was all that was left in man of the knowledge of God.
All the other patriarchs had died.
The construction of the ark gave stark testimony to his preaching for 120 years.
But family does indeed matter in the continuity of the knowledge of God – Noah was still alive several decades after Abraham was born.
He was called God’s friend.
“And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God’s friend.”
(Jas 2:23 NIVUS)
How about the times we are in?
Will things get better or worse before the end?
Don’t be confused by that question and how things seem to be unfolding.
It may well do both.
God will complete his kingdom before the rapture.
But you can be sure he will glorify himself in what he does.
If we are not changed (different enough from the world for the world to take notice) then God gets no glory when he takes us home.
I am coming to believe that the time of the end will show the world getting worse while the true people of God get better (polarization - more holy vs. more evil).
It is the difference that will reveal his glory.
Are you ready for change?
Are you ready for revival as the family of God?
In technological terms, we are talking about a digitally enhanced portrait here – one that shows up more clearly than ever to show the grace of God at work.
I believe the revived polarization of the people of God is what is meant by this verse:
“11 ¶ Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be?
You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.
That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat.
13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.”
(2Pe 3:11-13 NivUS)
This polarization is further explained by these enigmatic sayings in Daniel and Revelation.
What they mean is that there will come a time when nothing further can change, any further spirituality is at a standstill, and then Jesus comes.
“He replied, "Go your way, Daniel, because the words are closed up and sealed until the time of the end.
Many will be purified, made spotless and refined, but the wicked will continue to be wicked.
None of the wicked will understand, but those who are wise will understand.”
(Da 12:9-10 NIVUS)
“Then he told me, "Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this book, because the time is near.
Let him who does wrong continue to do wrong; let him who is vile continue to be vile; let him who does right continue to do right; and let him who is holy continue to be holy."
"Behold, I am coming soon!
My reward is with me, and I will give to everyone according to what he has done.”
(Re 22:10-12 NIVUS)
What this all means for us is more important than ever.
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