Imitators of God
Reflecting God’s Character • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Today’s Reading from God’s Word
Today’s Reading from God’s Word
1 Therefore, be imitators of God, as dearly loved children,
2 and walk in love, as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God.
Introduction
Introduction
Every day, we reflect someone or something in our lives.
Our choices, words, and actions speak volumes about who we follow and what we value.
In our main text, Paul challenges us with the command “be imitators of God.”
Whether we realize it or not, our character is shaped and revealed in our relationships, reactions, and routines
Children often reflect their parents - not just in looks, but in mannerisms, voice, values, and habits.
The same is true spiritually: we reflect the one we follow.
In a world filled with shifting values and broken examples, God calls his people to be set apart — reflecting His nature in a dark and confusing world.
The Holy Spirit doesn’t suggest this — He commands it: “Be imitators of God.”
In our time together today, we will unpack the spiritual truth of Ephesians 5:1-2, discover why it matters, and learn how we can begin to live it out.
Understanding the Context
Understanding the Context
The chapter division here is unfortunate.
Ephesians 5:1 links back to the end of chapter 4 where Paul says:
32 And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.
The Christian life is marked by radical forgiveness … because God forgave us.
And note here how imitating God is tied to the replication of specific traits — not just general goodness.
Imitate God
1 Therefore, be imitators of God, as dearly loved children,
“Be imitators” in 5:1 is a command.
Not a suggestion — we are called to actively pursue the character of God.
Mimicking God means reproducing in us everything that is true of Him.
Relationship
1 Therefore, be imitators of God, as dearly loved children,
Note also this is “as dearly loved children.”
We don’t imitate God to achieve sonship — we do it because we are His sons and daughters.
Children naturally imitate those they love and trust.
Our walk must be shaped by love.
2 and walk in love, as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God.
“Walk in love” is a continual, habitual pattern of love.
It is not “love others occasionally” or “love others when you feel like it”
He says, live in love, consistently.
As Christ Loved Us
2 and walk in love, as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God.
And it is not any kind of love — in the same way Christ loved.
This sets the pattern for self-giving, self-emptying; substitutionary love.
Sacrificial Love
2 and walk in love, as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God.
He says our life becomes “a fragrant aroma,” recalling Old Testament sacrifices that pleased God. (Leviticus 1:9)
Christ’s love, as expressed by the death on the cross, was pleasing to God.
When we imitate that love, we love sacrificially, which costs us, it will become a sweet aroma to God — a life that pleases Him deeply.
Defining God’s Character
Defining God’s Character
Let’s go back to verse 1.
1 Therefore, be imitators of God, as dearly loved children,
If we are to be an imitator of God, as Paul commands in 5:1, it is important to understand who God is.
The Greek word used for "imitators" in verse 1 is mimetai, from which we get our word "mimic."
This isn’t about general inspiration; it’s about copying specific traits.
The whole Christian life is summarized in this phrase: be mimics of God.
That means we must reflect everything that is true of Him.
What is God Like?
What is God Like?
God is Love (1 John 4:8):
8 The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
God is love.
God’s love is self-sacrificial, active, and unconditional.
This love seeks the best for others even at great personal cost.
It was fully expressed in Jesus’ death on the cross.
8 But God proves his own love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Holiness (1 Peter 1:15-16):
15 But as the one who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct;
16 for it is written, Be holy, because I am holy.
God is completely set apart from sin and calls us to mirror that separation.
Holiness in God is not simple moral perfection, but utter uniqueness and moral majesty.
As His people, we are called to reflect His distinctiveness in how we live.
Faithfulness (Deuteronomy 7:9):
9 Know that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps his gracious covenant loyalty for a thousand generations with those who love him and keep his commands.
God never fails.
His promises, His truth, and His presence are constant.
He is always true to His promises.
He is utterly reliable and steadfast.
His faithfulness is the bedrock of our trust in Him.
Mercy and Grace (Psalm 103:8-12; Ephesians 2:4-5):
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of his great love that he had for us,
5 made us alive with Christ even though we were dead in trespasses. You are saved by grace!
God shows his compassion to the underserving and withholds the punishment we rightly deserve.
His grace freely offers salvation and restoration.
Justice and Righteousness (Psalm 89:14)
14 Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; faithful love and truth go before you.
God’s actions are always right.
He defends the oppressed and holds the wicked accountable.
Patience and Longsuffering (2 Peter 3:9):
9 The Lord does not delay his promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.
God does not act impulsively.
He is patient with sinners and slow to anger, giving time for repentance.
To know what God is like, we must study His self-disclosure—Scripture.
From Genesis to Revelation, God unveils his love, holiness, grace, and truth.
The whole Bible is a revelation of God's character, and the more we know Him, the clearer the standard becomes. And the more equipped are to reflect Him in the world.
Why Live According to God’s Character?
Why Live According to God’s Character?
Because of Our Identity.
1 Therefore, be imitators of God, as dearly loved children,
We are dearly loved children.
Children mimic their parents because of love, closeness, and identity.
If we are God’s children, we should reflect His.
It is the family resemblance of grace.
Because of God’s call to Holiness and Perfection.
God has always called His people to reflect His holiness and perfection.
45 For I am the Lord, who brought you up from the land of Egypt to be your God, so you must be holy because I am holy.
15 But as the one who called you is holy, you also are to be holy in all your conduct;
1 So then, dear friends, since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from every impurity of the flesh and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.
This is not a new expectation — it is a consistent biblical theme.
This call defines covenant relationship.
To bear God’s name means we must bear His image in how we live.
Holiness is not just about avoiding sin — it is about pursuing likeness to God.
Because We Are Empowered by the Spirit.
It’s kind of paradoxical.
We are commanded to imitate God — but we cannot do it on our strength.
Imitating God begins with brokenness:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the humble, for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
We come to God completely dependent on Him. The things you must read are not achieved by willpower.
As Paul says in Ephesians 3:16, we are strengthened by the Spirit:
16 I pray that he may grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with power in your inner being through his Spirit,
God provides the power to do what He commands. He commands imitation and provides transformation.
We must yield to the Spirit’s work, not attempting godliness on our own strength.
Because it is a Witness to the World
Reflecting God’s character allows the world to see Him through us. Our lives are living sermons.
35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
Our love is the greatest testimony! We make the invisible God visible!
When the church reflects God’s love, holiness, grace, and truth, it becomes a powerful witness to the world.
Because it leads to joy and flourishing
Living in accordance with God’s character isn’t just right — it’s good!
3 For this is what love for God is: to keep his commands. And his commands are not a burden,
God’s commands are not burdensome because:
they are for our benefit.
Think of how living like God brings joy, stability, and spiritual fulfillment.
As we reflect His image, we experience the wholeness and harmony we were created for.
Three Ways to Live out God’s Character
Three Ways to Live out God’s Character
Walk in Love.
Back to Ephesians 5:
2 and walk in love, as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God.
This love is not emotional. It’s sacrificial.
Christ did not love because of what He got from us.
He loved us while we were still sinners.
What would be a way you could follow through in selfless love this week — expecting nothing in return?
Pursue Holiness
Let’s go to Ephesians 4:
31 Let all bitterness, anger and wrath, shouting and slander be removed from you, along with all malice.
Note how we are to replace these with:
32 And be kind and compassionate to one another,
These are not optional, but they are the essential fruit of holiness.
What is a bad attitude or habit your holding on to that contradicts God’s holiness in your life? What small steps will you take this week to remove that?
Practice Forgiveness
Forgiveness is the clearest measure of love. How so?
God’s love is best expressed through forgiveness.
Look again at the end of 4:32:
32 A forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.
Christ bore the punishment for the offenses you committed.
Sometimes we have to take the hurt.
Who is someone you need to forgive? Will you do it? Will you trust that Christ already paid the price for that forgiveness?
As We Close
As We Close
What does God want from you? To be like Him.
But you don’t do this on your own. It’s only possible by the power of the Spirit.
When you know you must be like God, and you know you can’t be like God, you are finally ready to rely on the One who can make you like Him.
Walk in love. Walk in holiness. Walk in forgiveness.
Be imitators of God as beloved children.
