SweetSurrender

I have been trying to memorize some verses that I can use when I need to remember how much God loves me. I'd like to quote this last one:

Eph. 5:1,2 "Therefore, be imitators of God, as dear children and walk in love as Christ has loved us and given Himself as an offering and sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma."

I have realized that memorizing scripture makes you have to really understand what God is trying to say. It makes you "pick apart" the verse and you discover new meaning as you do that. This verse helped me understand how the Old and New Testiment compliment eachother. . . I don't know how to say it. Anyway, my eyes were open to how God gave a picture in the O.T. of the Jews sacrificing a lamb as an offering to God, which they were then supposed to understand the plan of Salvation when in the N.T., He gave His Son, a part of Himself, so that we could be saved.

At first, I kept thinking we were to be imitators of Christ, but then I remembered that Jesus did nothing that He didn't see His Father do first. So, we are to be imitators of God. Because He gave His Son, we are encouraged to "walk in love, which is a sweet smelling aroma" to God.

Thanx, Ray, for giving me all these verses to ponder.

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"Do not imagine that you must comprehend or understand it all before you seek and find it. For those who wait on Him, God will do more than they can conceive." Andrew Murray

Mark_18

I took it as:

Imitate God - by transforming and becoming Christlike. Act out of love, like Christ did by being a living sacrifice for God, so that He would be a sweet smelling aroma for man. A scent of what's to come.

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Luke 15:31 - And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.
Joel 2:28 - I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.
Matthew 7:7 - Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.

Psalms 126:5 - Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy.

JOKE POLICE

SweetSurrender

You are saying Christ would be a sweet smelling aroma for man? I think it means, like Christ's obedience to God, we, by walking in love, will be a sweet smelling aroma for God. As in, making God's sacrifice all the more worth it. What do you all think?

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"Do not imagine that you must comprehend or understand it all before you seek and find it. For those who wait on Him, God will do more than they can conceive." Andrew Murray

Mark_18

It does look that way, but I had the idea that it was an aroma calling man to God, because here's how the Amplified puts it:

Eph 5:1-2

THEREFORE BE imitators of God [copy Him and follow His example], as well-beloved children [imitate their father]. And walk in love, [esteeming and delighting in one another] as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a slain offering and sacrifice to God [for you, so that it became] a sweet fragrance.

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Luke 15:31 - And he said unto him, Son, thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine.
Joel 2:28 - I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.
Matthew 7:7 - Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.

Psalms 126:5 - Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy.

JOKE POLICE

Jon-Marc

My favorite is Romans 8:28 which tells me that God has it all under control, and we have nothing to worry about.

smellycat

in the later days we are to worship in spirit,in other words walk straight.

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1. GOOD BAD SALVATION

Dusty

Bonnie ..... That is beautiful and as you continue to hide the Word in your heart ..... those verses will come to mind in times you need them . The Holy Spirit will bring them to the surface. God Bless you my dear.

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Dusty

I don't think that either of you are wrong ..... Holy Spirit reveals different thoughts to different peoples. I never thought of the aroma the way you do , Mark but that is a wonderful thought.

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