Are you a sweetsmelling savor?

Just as in last week’s sermon review, I will copy below the entire passage from this week’s sermon, with footnotes regarding Pastor Allen’s illustrations and notable quotes.

Ephesians 5

1Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children(1);
2And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
3But fornication, and all uncleanness(2), or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
4Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting(3), which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
5For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man(4), who is an idolater(5), hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
6Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
7Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
8For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
9(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
10Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
11And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
12For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret(6).
13But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.
14Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.

1 We are, by nature, imitators; Allen and his brothers imitated Bruce Lee.
2 ”Paul’s point is that intimacy in marriage is not something to be stained, polluted, or joked about.
3 Pastor Allen’s examples of licentiousness included flirting, looking at pornography, “looking”
4 ”Covetousness is a dehumanizing desire; whatever we covet becomes our idol.”
5 Sexual covetousness is idolatry.
6 “Do not become partners with darkness.”