Biblical Imitation

Are you imitating Jesus Christ? Or are you imitating the world? This is the question I want to pose to you today. I want each one of us here today, including myself to take a personal inventory. Are we imitating Jesus Christ or imitating the world? Is the way you live your life lining up with God’s way of life? Or is your way of life lining up with the world? We are going to look at what it means to be imitators of God today from our text.

What is the therefore, there for? So, considering what Paul previously addressed, we are to be imitators of God. In Chapter 4 Paul covers being unified in the body of Christ and having a new life in Christ. Ephesians 4:17 says that we must no longer walk as the gentiles do in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding. Ephesians 4:22 says to put off the old self. The old self belongs to the former manner of living and is corrupt through deceitful desires. Then Ephesians 4:24 says to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. So, “Therefore, be imitators of God as beloved children.”

Ephesians 5:1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;

The idea of followers means to “imitate.”

The word imitators or imitate literally means “to mimic.” Paul is arguing that children are like their parents. William Barclay says that “Paul sets before his Christian people the highest standard in all of the world; he tells them to be imitators of God.”

Nine-year-old Tommy had just received a model ship from his great aunt who lived a considerable distance away. As he looked at the outside of the box and the picture of a completed ship, he was anxious to retrieve it from the box and see it up close for himself. When he opened the box, he was dismayed to discover that the ship was in small pieces and had to be put together by hand. His discouragement only heightened when he remembered that his dad was out of town and couldn't help him. He knew his dad would help, if only he was here. As he sat and thought he began to ponder, "What would daddy do if he were here"? He looked around the table and his eyes caught hold of the assembly instructions. He thought, 'daddy would do it right, he would follow the instructions. If I want to do it right, I've got to be like daddy.? With that he followed the instructions carefully and built a beautiful model ship. Later, when his dad saw the finished work and heard what he had done, praised his son for using his head and his heart to do the right thing.

1. God is Love; Therefore “Walk in Love” (1 John 4:8) Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. (Ephesians 5:1-2) Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Walking in love means getting past bitterness and anger. Paul warns us of bitterness and anger in verse 31-32 of the previous chapter. Warren Wiersbe says it is tragic when these attitudes show up in Christians. A real, godly love is what it takes to forgive past wrongs an to try and get along with one another. “Love covers a multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4:8)

“Paul gives several reasons why the Christian ought to walk in love.”

He is God’s Child. Having been born again, through faith in Jesus Christ, he is therefore one of the partakers of His Divine nature. And since God is love, it only makes since for God’s children to “walk in love.” the old nature, the old self is selfish, and for this reason builds walls and declares wars. But the new nature, the new self is loving, and therefore builds bridges and proclaims peace. He is God’s beloved Child. Be imitators of God as beloved children. Think about this, God speaks of us the same way He spoke of Jesus Christ His Son. “This is my beloved Son.” (Matthew 3:17) And in John 17:23, God the Father loves us as He loves the Son.” I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.” We are born into a loving relationship with the father that ought to result in our showing love to Him by the way we live. He was purchased with a great price. “Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for friends.” (John 15:13) “But He laid down his life for his enemies.” (Romans 5:10) Our love for God is a response to His love for us. c. Paul began with “walk in love” because love is the fundamental factor in the Christian life. If we walk in love, we will not disobey God or injure men because “he that loves another has fulfilled the law.” (Romans 13:8)

2. God is Light; Therefore “Walk as Children of Light” (1 John 1:5) This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. (Ephesians 5:3-14) Therefore do not become partners with them; 8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true),

This section is the main thrust of the passage. Since “God is light” and we are imitating our Father, then we should walk in the light and have nothing to do with the darkness of sin. Paul saw the non-Christian life as life in the dark. And the Christian life as life in the light. The light produces good fruit. It produces righteousness, truth, and benevolence. Barclay said the “Greeks themselves defined righteousness as men giving to God that which is their due.” He goes on to say that “truth in the New Testament is not thought to just be an intellectual thing to be grasped with the mind; it is moral truth. Not only something to be known but something that is to be done.” “The light which Christ brings makes us useful citizens of this world. It makes us men and women who never fail in duty, human or divine. The light exposes whatever is evil. The best way to rid the world of any evil is to drag it into the light. If something is being done in secret, it will continue to go one. But when it goes into the light, it dies a natural death. The surest way to cleanse the depths of our own hearts and the practices of any society in which we happen to be involved is to expose them to the light of Christ. Jesus had much to say about light and darkness. “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that[a] they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16) And then in John 3:19-21 he says, “And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. 20 For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. 21 But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.” Walking in Light or as Children of the Light means revealing God’s light in our daily lives. By our character and conduct we bring God’s light into a dark world. As God’s light, we help others find their way to Christ. The Believer has no business in the darkness.

3. God is Truth; Therefore “Walk in Wisdom” (1 John 5:6) This is he who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not by the water only but by the water and the blood. And the Spirit is the one who testifies, because the Spirit is the truth. (Ephesians 5:15-17) Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish but understand what the will of the Lord is.

When we walk in wisdom, we can discern between what is well-pleasing and what is not pleasing to God. Because God is truth, we must always walk in his truth. We must be diligent to be in the Word of God so that we know what is right, what is wrong. When we drift from God’s Word, truth starts to become muddy in our minds because we start to lose sight of who is truth, and who determines truth.

The Days are Evil. Look at the condition of the world around. God has given us a mind. “Understand” suggests using our minds to discover God’s will and then do it. God has a plan for our lives. The Christian can walk carefully and accurately because he knows what God wants him to do.

Conclusion: Are you walking in love? Are you walking in the light? Are you walking in wisdom? Are you imitating God or imitating the world? Is the way you are living today, godly or worldly? Are you holding onto bitterness? Are you holding onto anger? Are you holding on to sinful desires? Are you taking part in things that if came to light would bring shame and guilt to you? Are you walking in truth able to rightfully discern from right and wrong? Your attitude, your words, your actions, your entire being should be a visible representation of the invisible God. Adrian Rodgers said that Christians are the visible representation of the invisible God. So, what are people seeing when they see you? When they hear you? Do they think that’s a child of God who is trying to be like God? Or do they think of you being angry, bitter, mean? You might be the only visual representation of the gospel people might ever see! Leave behind the apathetic Christian life. Leave behind the dark desires you give into behind close doors. Leave behind the anger and bitterness that you have clutched onto for so long. And give yourself completely to the Lord Jesus Christ. The same power that raised Jesus from the grave is the same power that we have access to to walk as imitators of God! Therefore, be imitators of God as beloved children