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

The passage from Ephesians 5 quoted above is an important one in the context of the Apostle Paul’s letter to this beloved church. In light of beginning our recent study in the book of Leviticus, there is no doubt that the Apostle is bringing to mind the language of the burnt sacrifice offering of Leviticus 1 where we read: “And the priest shall burn all on the altar as a burnt sacrifice, an offering made by fire, a sweet aroma to the Lord.” As we noted this past Lord’s Day, that language reminded the priest and the worshiper that God was satisfied with the worship He had commanded as the people came with their sacrifice to make atonement for their sins. His wrath and justice were satisfied through the offering of the animal on the altar.