THE SACRIFICE THAT SATISFIED GOD (Ephesians 5:1-2)
THE SACRIFICE THAT SATISFIED GOD (Ephesians 5:1-2)
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1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children;
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2 and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.
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1. The Gift — What He Gave
++Christ… gave Himself for us
++Not something — He gave Himself
++Not a portion. Not a contribution.
++You are saved by the fullness of Christ
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++Christ is both the offerer and the offering
++Biblical love is self-giving
++“While we were yet sinners…” (Romans 5:8)
++Sovereign. Gracious. Unconditional.
++Willing surrender — “I lay it down of Myself”
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2. The God He Satisfied — To Whom He Gave
++“an offering and a sacrifice to God”
++Not Jesus calming an angry Father
++The Father sent the Son — this is God providing
++Before the cross was for us — it was unto God
++Primary direction: vertical (not horizontal)
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++God is righteous and just
++Sin is an offense against His holiness
++He forgives by satisfying justice (Romans 3:25–26)
++Was it enough to satisfy the justice of God?
++Yes — your salvation rests on justice already satisfied
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3. The Guilty He Saved — For Whom He Gave
++“for us”
++Christ came to save sinners (1 Timothy 1:15)
++Not improved sinners. Not cleaned-up sinners.
++While we were yet sinners… while we were enemies (Romans 5:8, 10)
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++Paul includes himself — the persecutor, the blasphemer
++The cross meets you at your worst
++Was it enough — for you?
++Yes — Christ died for you, exactly as you are
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4. The Will He Surrendered — How He Gave
++“He gave Himself”
++No one took His life
++He laid it down of Himself (John 10:18)
++Not forced. Not accidental.
++A willing surrender
++The cross was not taken — it was chosen
++Your salvation is the result of a willing Savior
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5. The Work He Accomplished
What Kind of Sacrifice
++“an offering and a sacrifice”
++Offering — perfect, sinless life fully pleasing to God
++Sacrifice — substitution
++“He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us” (2 Corinthians 5:21)
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++“He was pierced for our transgressions…” (Isaiah 53:5)
++He lived the life you could not live
++He died the death you deserved
++There is nothing left to add
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6. The Worship It Produced How God Received It
++“a sweet-smelling aroma”
++God accepted it - it pleased Him
++Every demand of justice - met
++Every requirement of righteousness- fulfilled
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++Every debt of sin - paid
++The cross did not fail. It was not partial.
++It worked. Completely. Finally. Perfectly.
++Was it enough? God’s answer: Yes
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7. The Love That Drove It — Why He Gave
++“Christ loved us”
++Everything flows from this
++Not obligation. Not duty.
++This was love
++“While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8)
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++Love initiated by Him — toward the undeserving
++Love that gives itself away
++Love that bears the cost
++You are remembering a loving Savior
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8. The Life It Demands — What It Calls From Us
++“Walk in love… as Christ also…”
++The cross is not only the means of salvation -
++it is the model for your life
++“Love one another… as I have loved you” (John 13:34)
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++The same self-giving love shown to you
++is now the love you show to others
++Not perfectly - but genuinely
++Not to be accepted - because you already are
++The cross that saves you is the cross that shapes you
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