Ian & Jocelyn Barker

Paul tells us in 4:32 to forgive each other “just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” He carries this same theme on into chapter 5 where he exhorts us to be “imitators of God, as beloved children.” We are to walk in love as Christ walked in love and who was a pleasing and fragrant aroma to God.

After the flood, Noah and his family came off the ark onto dry land. Noah took one of every clean animal and bird and offered a sacrifice to the Lord on an altar. Genesis 8:21 reads, “The LORD smelled the soothing aroma; and the LORD said to Himself, ‘I will never again curse the ground on account of man, for the intent of man’s heart is evil from his youth; and I will never again destroy every living thing, as I have done.’” Noah’s small offering had touched something in the heart of God and was a proper sacrifice for sin. Since man is evil from “his youth”, he has no choice but to sin because it is his nature. For this reason, He had mercy on him and promised to never again “destroy every living thing.” This was a type or a foreshadow of Christ’s pleasing sacrifice. The Old Testament sacrifices and lives of faith were only pleasing to the Father because He was looking forward to the sacrifice and faith of Christ the Son (Gal. 3:8).

As a contrast of the sons of God, Paul describes the sons of darkness and they behavior. The saints and children of God are to not act in immorality or greed, but are to give thanks. We are to give thanks because we are not prone to immorality or impurity, but those who are will not enter the kingdom of God. Yet we are to fear and be wise lest we do act fall short.