爱是神内在的本质，光是神外显的元素。神内在的爱是可感觉的，神外显的光是可看见的。我们在爱里的行事为人，该由神爱的本质和光的元素二者所构成。这该是我们行事为人内在的源头，这比恩典和真理更深。
保罗嘱咐我们要在爱里行事为人，正如基督爱我们，“为我们舍了自己，作供物和祭物献与神，成为馨香之气。”在四章三十二节，使徒摆出神作我们日常生活的模型。在这里，他陈明基督作我们生活的榜样。那里是神在基督里作我们的模型，因为那一段是以彰显在耶稣生活中神的恩典和实际（真理）为基本的元素。按照四章三十二节，我们要饶恕人，正如神在基督里饶恕了我们一样。这意思是说，神就是饶恕的模型。但在五章这里是基督自己作我们的榜样，因为这一段是以基督对我们所显出的爱，以及基督所照在我们身上的光，为基本的元素。在这里，那爱我们，为我们舍了自己的基督，乃是在爱里行事为人的榜样。
保罗说，基督“爱我们，为我们舍了自己，作供物和祭物献与神，成为馨香之气”。在圣经里，供物和祭物之间有所不同。供物是为着与神交通，祭物是为着得赎脱罪。基督为我们舍了自己，作供物使我们与神有交通，也作祭物赎我们脱离罪。
基督爱我们，为我们舍了自己。这虽是为我们，却是献与神的馨香之气。我们照祂的榜样在爱里行事为人，不该仅是为别人，也该是献与神的馨香之气。
信息重点：基督爱我们，为我们舍了自己，作供物和祭物献给神，成为馨香之气。祂也是我们在爱里生活的榜样：我们的爱和服事不只是为着别人，更该献给神，成为使神喜悦的馨香之气。
应用祷告：主耶稣，感谢你爱我，为我舍了自己。求你使我以你为榜样，在爱里生活，愿意为别人舍己，也使我的生活和服事都献给神，成为馨香之气。阿们。
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Christ as the Offering and the Sacrifice, Becoming a Sweet Savor — Eph. 5:2
Love is substance of God within, and light is the element of God expressed. Love of God can be sensed inwardly, and the shining out of the light of God can be seen. Our walk in love should be constituted of both the substance of God’s love and the shining element of light. This should be the inward source of our walk, which is deeper than grace and truth.
Paul charges us to walk in love, just as Christ loved us, “and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.” In 4:32, the apostle presents God as the pattern of our daily walk. Here he sets forth Christ as the example for our living. There it is God in Christ as our pattern since, in that section, God’s grace and truth expressed in the life of Jesus are taken as the basic elements. According to 4:32, we are to forgive others just as God in Christ has forgiven us. This means that God Himself is the model of forgiveness. But in chapter 5, Christ Himself is our example since, in this section, love expressed by Christ to us and light shined by Christ upon us are taken as the basic elements. Here, Christ who loved us and gave Himself up for us is the pattern for our walk in love.
Paul says that Christ “loved us and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.” In the Bible, there is a difference between an offering and a sacrifice. An offering is for fellowship with God, while a sacrifice is for redemption from sin. Christ gave Himself up as an offering for us so that we might have fellowship with God, and as a sacrifice to redeem us from sin.
Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us. Although this was for us, it was a fragrant aroma offered to God. As we walk in love according to His pattern, our love and walk should not be merely for others, but should also be a fragrant aroma offered to God.
Message Main Points: Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, as an offering and a sacrifice to God, becoming a fragrant aroma. He is also our pattern for living in love: our love and walk should not only be for others but should also be offered to God, becoming a fragrant aroma that pleases Him.
Daily Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for loving me and giving Yourself up for me so that I may take You as my pattern, to live in love, to be willing to give myself up for others, and to offer my life and walk to God, becoming a fragrant aroma. Amen.