You're Either An Imitator Or An Imitation
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· 15 viewsOf those who call themselves "Christian", they are either genuine followers of Christ and those whom are following Him, or they are knockoff imitations!
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Start off with baby dedication for Carson Arnold
Ask for elders to come and pray over Thomas Arnold (leaving tomorrow for Army service)
Mention about the upcoming change in the Wednesday evening services and then becoming “prayer meetings” and about the prayer journals.
In the spring of 1945, the post-war Dutch Government, brought charges against a man by the name of Han van Meegeren, who was a mid-level Dutch artist. The charges that they brought against Mr. Meegeren, were “conspiring with the enemy”, (the enemy of course, being the Nazi regime!) The Dutch Government said that Meegeren, had worked with high ranking Nazi officials in conducting certain art transactions.
In the spring of 1945, the post-war Dutch Government, brought charges against a man by the name of Han van Meegeren, who was a mid-level Dutch artist. The charges that they brought against Mr. Meegeren, were “conspiring with the enemy”, (the enemy of course, being the Nazi regime!) The Dutch Government said that Meegeren, had worked with high ranking Nazi officials in conducting certain art transactions.
In the spring of 1945, the post-war Dutch Government, brought charges against a man by the name of Han van Meegeren, who was a mid-level Dutch artist. The charges that they brought against Mr. Meegeren, were “conspiring with the enemy”, (the enemy of course, being the Nazi regime!) The Dutch Government said that Meegeren, had worked with high ranking Nazi officials in conducting certain art transactions.
How many of you have ever heard of a man by the name of Han van Meegeren? Meegeren was an accomplished painter who wanted to really make a name for himself in the early 20th century. He perfected the ability of IMITATING the late world renown Dutch artist, Johannes Vermeer from the 17th century. Meegeren developed a technique in which he used certain ingredients in his paints that caused then to dry quickly and through a heating process, produced the cracking and aging effects of a 300 year old painting. He began selling these IMITATION Vermeer paintings as works of the famous artist that were newly discovered and the art world ate them up! Which, was also the demise of Meegeren!
How many of you have ever heard of a man by the name of Han van Meegeren? Meegeren was an accomplished painter who wanted to really make a name for himself in the early 20th century. He perfected the ability of IMITATING the late world renown Dutch artist, Johannes Vermeer from the 17th century. Meegeren developed a technique in which he used certain ingredients in his paints that caused then to dry quickly and through a heating process, produced the cracking and aging effects of a 300 year old painting. He began selling these IMITATION Vermeer paintings as works of the famous artist that were newly discovered and the art world ate them up! Which, was also the demise of Meegeren!
You see, the 2nd highest ranking Nazi leader, Hermann Göring, loved classic art work, and he was collecting famous pieces of artwork from abroad, both for himself, as well as for his, Führer, Adolf Hitler.Like when he pillaged the Louvre in Paris, taking classic artwork for his collection. So, Meegeren, via a third party, arranged and sold to this Nazi leader, a supposed famous piece of artwork, from the world renowned painter (Johannes Vermeer), and thus the Dutch charges of, “conspiring with the enemy” were later brought against Meegeren at the close of WW2, because documents were found by the officials that showed Meegeren’s name attached to the bill of sale for the IMITATION Vermeer painting!
You see, the 2nd highest ranking Nazi leader, Hermann Göring, loved classic art work, and he was collecting famous pieces of artwork from abroad, both for himself, as well as for his, Führer, Adolf Hitler.Like when he pillaged the Louvre in Paris, taking classic artwork for his collection. So, Meegeren, via a third party, arranged and sold to this Nazi leader, a supposed famous piece of artwork, from the world renowned painter (Johannes Vermeer), and thus the Dutch charges of, “conspiring with the enemy” were later brought against Meegeren at the close of WW2, because documents were found by the officials that showed Meegeren’s name attached to the bill of sale for the IMITATION Vermeer painting!
What happened next floored, both the Dutch government, as well as the world of art and its critics. Meegeren confessed, not to treason, but to forgery! He admitted of how he painted a “new” work of art by Vermeer, that was examined and believed to be authentic and then traded it to the German leader, in return for 127 works of art that the Nazi leader had already procured and that would have otherwise stayed in the hands of the Nazi regime and apart from the rest of the art world, possibly, indefinitely! Meegeren was sentenced to 1 year in prison in 1947 for his selling IMITATION artwork, but he never served a day, because he died of a heart attack within 2 months of the sentence.
What happened next floored, both the Dutch government, as well as the world of art and its critics. Meegeren confessed, not to treason, but to forgery! He admitted of how he painted a “new” work of art by Vermeer, that was examined and believed to be authentic and then traded it to the German leader, in return for 127 works of art that the Nazi leader had already procured and that would have otherwise stayed in the hands of the Nazi regime and apart from the rest of the art world, possibly, indefinitely! Meegeren was sentenced to 1 year in prison in 1947 for his selling IMITATION artwork, but he never served a day, because he died of a heart attack within 2 months of the sentence.
And when all was said and done, after the critics of the art world and the artistic connoisseurs had been fooled and duped, Han van Meegeren came away as somewhat of a hero, for saving 127 great pieces of famous artwork for his amazing ability to produce “imitation” works of a master painter, but he also managed to amass for himself, an estimated $30 million, in today’s market, from selling these fraudulent “imitations” to collectors abroad!
And when all was said and done, after the critics of the art world and the artistic connoisseurs had been fooled and duped, Han van Meegeren came away as somewhat of a hero, for saving 127 great pieces of famous artwork for his amazing ability to produce “imitation” works of a master painter, but he also managed to amass for himself, an estimated $30 million, in today’s market, from selling these fraudulent “imitations” to collectors abroad!
Why am I telling you this story this morning about a man who could imitate one of the world’s most famous painters?
Is it because I have been studying art and was fascinated by the paintings of Vermeer and thus allured by another painters ability to replicate his style so well, that he convinced the art world that these were newly discovered works of art from the master painter, from some 300 years earlier?
NO! I’m not an art lover, though I appreciate good art, I do not study it and its masters.
The reason that I mention this account to you this morning, is to make a point about those who are forgers, phonies, fakes, IMITATORS, of the REAL DEAL!
On the surface and by all physical accounts, an imitation can appear to be real and fool many, EVEN those who are the elite and professional critics of the craft!
And so this morning, I want to look at a similar scenario that we are both warned of within the Word of God, as well as exhorted to participate in within the Kingdom of God!
Now before I jump in and read some passages with you this morning and lay out the details of this message, let me first ask you a question.
Now before I jump in and read some passages with you this morning and lay out the details of this message, let me first ask you a question.
How many of you have ever purchased “imitation” objects, knowing that they are only “imitations” and not the real deal?
For instance, people buy:
Imitation harwood
imitation leather
imitation fragrances
imitation tools
imitation electronics
imitation crab meat
imitation clothing
imitation hand bags
imitation watches and jewelry
imitation artwork
etc.
Have any of you bought stuff like this?
The next thing that I will ask you then, is this. WHY DO WE BUY THE KNOCK-OFF, IMITATIONS, instead of the REAL THING?
Probably most people will answer, because they are cheaper. (That is, because they aren’t as costly to us, but they still give us the allusion and the function and the benefits of the real deal, RIGHT?!)
So, we’re going to look at something similar this morning, within the Kingdom of God.
Today’s message is entitled, “You’re Either An Imitator Or An Imitation”!
Turn with me in your Bibles, please, to the book of :
Turn with me in your Bibles, please, to the book of :
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
“30 And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption. 31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.”
Now pay close attention to what Paul is saying to you and I here. He is warning us not to live our lives in such a way, so as to bring grief and sorrow to Holy Spirit, who resides within all “true” believers in Jesus Christ.
31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. 32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.
And in keeping this understanding going, Paul mentions some things that need to be removed from our individual lives and things that should be added back in their place. (Remove all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words and slander, as well as ALL types of evil behavior. And replace these things with kindness, tenderheartedness, and forgiveness.
And then Paul reminds us that God, our Father, through Jesus Christ, has forgiven us, and so we are to follow that same example and forgive one another.
Then, in chapter 5:1-2, Paul just comes out and makes it clear as to what he is saying here,
“1 IMITATE God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children. 2 Live a life filled with love, following the example of Christ. He loved us and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God.”
“IMITATE God and follow the example of Christ”.
Paul makes it clear that a believer in Jesus Christ, is to follow the Godly examples that we have been given and pattern ourselves after God, as was demonstrated by Jesus the Christ.
In fact, Paul uses this same theme of “IMITATING” throughout his epistles:
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I urge you, then, be imitators of me.
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Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.
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Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us.
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And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit,
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For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews,
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For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate.
This idea of following the example of Paul as well as those serving along side of him, who were faithfully and accurately sharing the good news of the Gospel Message, is clearly expressed by the Apostle Paul throughout his writings.
Paul, throughout his epistles (his letters), to the churches, clearly shows how we are to live, according to the will and the commands of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
And in teaching about living the life of a follower of Jesus, Paul affirms what he is saying, by telling the believers that they should watch him and those serving with him, and that these new Christians should pattern their lives after Paul and those serving along side of him.
That is to say, Paul was saying that we should IMITATE them, because they were IMITATING Jesus!
And this concept, this understanding of IMITATING Jesus the Christ and His Word, is seen throughout the NT, as Jesus, Himself, clearly expressed to His disciples and to us what we see in ,
After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.
Jesus set the example of what and how a humble servant would look like in the Kingdom of God and then He turned around and said, if I (your Lord and master), have done this, then I expect each of you, to IMITATE my example and humbly SERVE one another!
Just as Jesus also said in , “ A disciple is not above his teacher, but everyone when he is fully trained will be like (or, IMITATE) his teacher.”
Listen again to what Jesus tells us in , “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing.”
Did you hear what Jesus just said? He, the Son of God, did nothing, in fact, could do nothing, unless He saw the Father do it and then He did the same. He followed whatever the Father was doing.
All things that pertain to our walk in the Kingdom of God are to be done according to the will of God the Father. So, even if we don’t understand the logic and reasoning as to why something is be done a certain way and at a certain time and a certain place, if it is according to the Word of God and the Spirit of God, then it is according to the will of God, and thus you and I should be IMITATING it!
Look, Peter didn’t step out of the boat, because he had a wild hair and thought, “I think that I can walk across the water!”
No, in fact, Peter did what he did, because he saw the Lord Jesus doing it and had the faith to believe that he could IMITATE Him and do the same!
You see friends, we are not only called and commissioned to IMITATE Christ, but we have also been empowered to do that very thing, by Holy Spirit and through the Grace of God.
And if we truly belong to Jesus and He is Lord of our life, then when we IMITATE Him, people see Him in us.
And the thing that people will see and feel when we are IMITATING Jesus, is the LOVE of the FATHER!
Do you remember when we were kids and someone was copying everything that we said and did and we would say, “You’re being a copy-cat” and how annoyed we were at their actions?
Well, there is a difference in IMITATING someone and being a nuisance, vs IMITATING someone as means of safety and as a correct role model and a way of life.
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For instance, suppose I go to work at a nuclear power plant and I am being trained by the lead engineer to watch a set of gauges and especially keep an eye on this one critical gauge. And he tells me that if that one gauge gets to a certain number, I am to do exactly what he does and he proceeds to show me how I am to turn a lever one quarter of a turn and push a button, instantly, and then call for help!
As I explain to my wife the new job, she asks me what does the gauge indicate and what does my turning the lever and pushing the button mean and do. I tell her, the engineer started trying to explain about the process of nuclear fusion and the heat exchange and the number of joules and blah, blah, blah,blah, blah!
I tell my wife, “Look, all I know is that if that ONE gauge hits that ONE critical number, I’m going to IMITATE that engineer and turn that lever one quarter of a turn and push that button and call for help, immediately, just like he did! Because, all that I understood and got out of the engineer’s lecture about this job, was that if that gauge hits that number and if I fail to turn that lever, exactly one quarter of a turn and push that one button and then immediately call for help, then we have a meltdown and the whole city goes by-by!
So, you can see where it is beneficial and healthy to IMITATE certain people, right?
We IMITATE people all of the time and for certain reasons.
We IMITATE people’s diets and eating habits for health benefits.
We IMITATE people’s style of clothing for fashions sake!
We IMITATE people’s financial methods to try and secure a future for retirement!
We IMITATE people out of jealousy and insecurity, just because we want to be like them and have others recognize us, like they do the other person!
Make no mistake about it, it’s not difficult to understand the concept, or the reasoning as to why we IMITATE others.
The real question and the real danger that comes into play, is WHO and WHAT are you trying to IMITATE with your life?
AND are you living your life as an IMITATION of something that you’re not?!
You see, there is a difference in IMITATING someone in your life, vs being an IMITATION of someone or something in your life!
You see, there is a difference in IMITATING someone in your life, vs being an IMITATION of someone or something in your life!
Allow me to explain this to you.
When I was still working in Physical Therapy, I worked for a particular PT company, performing outpatient Physical Therapy.
I wore a shirt with the companies logo and name on it and casual slacks every day at my office.
I IMITATED the techniques that I had been demonstrated by those who were far more knowledgeable about the realm of PT than I was, along with the knowledge that I had gained in college on the human anatomy and the basics of PT.
So, I was IMITATING the specific techniques, that got the best results for my employer, while I was being paid as an employee of that company. Got it?
Now, over the last 5-6 years, I still have some of the shirts in my closet that have the logo and the name of the company.
If I were to put on one of those shirts and a pair of casual slacks and go to one of the offices and walk around and say and do some things for people and tell them that I am an employee of this company, to the patient in the building, I might appear to be an actual PT working for this company, because I am “talking the talk”, but in reality, I am no longer just IMITATING someone within the company and their techniques for precision, but rather I am now living as an IMITATION of something that I am not!
We IMITATE methods, styles, techniques and traits for various reasons in life, but my IMITATING a police officer and his mannerisms VS my dressing up like one and becoming an IMITATION officer, are two different things and a lot more dangerous.
I won’t go to jail for IMITATING the way that an officer walks and talks, but I will go to jail for trying to fool others and make them believe that I am a police officer and that I have authority and power that I have really not been given!
That is to say, if I am trying to live as an IMITATION police officer!
Do you see what I mean?
It’s like if you have ever gone and watched, or listened to an impersonator of a famous person.
They may have their movements and facial gestures and their voice down pat, so much so, that if you closed your eyes, you would be hard pressed to tell the difference!
But, if you looked at them, you may instantly know that they are not the real person, because they look nothing like them.
Or, maybe if you could listen to them in a normal conversation, you would quickly pick up on the fact that after their rehearsed facial gestures and lines and lyrics are out of the way, they are definitely not the real deal, because their natural, normal self comes through and the facade ends!
Well, as much as we are told in the Bible to IMITATE God and do as our Lord and Savior Jesus the Christ did and pattern our lives after Him, as well as those who are more mature and living in accordance with the Word and the will of God in our lives; we must be very careful about who we are IMITATING (and do so by studying the Word of God for our lives), but also, we must make sure that who and what we say that we are, is exactly who and what we say that we are!
In other words, we should not saying and doing things in front of others to appear as a true Christian and all the while, we are actually IMITATIONS of who and what we say that we are, because behind the scenes, we are living a totally different life style than the IMITATION Christian that others see!
We may be talking the talk, but are we walking the walk in our daily lives!
Make no mistake about this guys, the Bible is clear on the fact that there will be MANY (everybody say, “MANY”), there will be MANY on the day of judgement who will stand before the Lord Jesus and declare that they were His people and that He was their Lord. Jesus, Himself, said this in ,
Make no mistake about this guys, the Bible is clear on the fact that there will be MANY (everybody say, “MANY”), there will be MANY on the day of judgement who will stand before the Lord Jesus and declare that they were His people and that He was their Lord. Jesus, Himself, said this in ,
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’
These are people who were IMITATING things of the Christ and doing good WORKS within the church world and convinced that they were fine in their relationship with Jesus.
But, in reality, they were merely IMITATION Christians.
They looked like it on the outside, because they were IMITATING the works that they were taught to do, but the one thing that they missed completely was a true, personal, intimate with Jesus Christ Himself!
The Bible warns us that there will be imposters and false teachers and false prophets who will come and try to deceive us.
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For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.
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Such people claim they know God, but they deny him by the way they live. They are detestable and disobedient, worthless for doing anything good.
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They will act religious, but they will reject the power that could make them godly. Stay away from people like that!
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Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world.
Do you see what I am saying, that the Bible clearly warns that there will be, IMITATION Christians.
And the thing is, many of these people, will be led astray and believe by the teaching that they sit under every week, that everything is fine in their life.
If this were not possible, then Jesus would not have warned us about that day, when MANY will cry out to Him and call Him, “Lord Lord” and declare their works as justification for who they think that they are.
Many of these people will be deceived by false teachers and their teachings and fall into the comfortable snare of religious works and ideas.
And all the while, even though they are IMITATING good works, they, themselves, will be nothing more than IMITATION Christians!
This is both a sobering and sound warning as well as an exhortation to all who are listening. I believe that we are in the last, of the last days and with this belief comes the all too real understanding that our Lord and Savior is near to His return.
We may not know the day, or the hour, but we can recognize the signs and the seasons that tell us that we are close!
If you know with all confidence and belief and assurance that Jesus the Christ is your Lord and Savior and that your life has been ransomed by His redeeming blood and that now, because of this, you are a follower of Him and you thus are IMITATING Jesus in order to lead others to Him, then this message is of encouragement to you.
Your eternal life is secure with Him in heaven.
BUT, if you are living your life IMITATING others and what you have been taught to do and you do NOT have a personal relationship with the Christ and with His Father, Yahweh, then this message is to warn you, that works and deeds and statements will not allow you into heaven!
So real is the threat of someone being an IMITATION of the real thing, in terms of Christianity, that the final book of the Bible, Revelation, begins with a warning to the church about this very thing!
I know that I mention quite often about the Seven Letters to the Seven churches of Revelation chapters 2 and 3, but there is strong need for this understanding in these last days.
In , Jesus made the statement that would give us some clarity as to our relationship with Him, He said,
By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
The LOVE of the Father, that is to reside within us, is the hallmark indicator of who we are!
That being said, let me close with this sobering warning as well as exhortation from and 3.
In we read of the first of the seven churches that Jesus writes to, which is the church of Ephesus. And to this church, pay close attention to what Jesus says to them. ,
In we read of the first of the seven churches that Jesus writes to, which is the church of Ephesus. And to this church, pay close attention to what Jesus says to them. ,
“I know all the things you do. I have seen your hard work and your patient endurance. I know you don’t tolerate evil people. You have examined the claims of those who say they are apostles but are not. You have discovered they are liars. You have patiently suffered for me without quitting.
“But I have this complaint against you. You don’t love me or each other as you did at first! Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first. If you don’t repent, I will come and remove your lampstand from its place among the churches. But this is in your favor: You hate the evil deeds of the Nicolaitans, just as I do.
“Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches. To everyone who is victorious I will give fruit from the tree of life in the paradise of God.
Elaborate on what Jesus has said to this church and compare to the verse in and that of the LOVE of Jesus.
Now, compare this to the church in ,
“Write this letter to the angel of the church in Philadelphia.
This is the message from the one who is holy and true,
the one who has the key of David.
What he opens, no one can close;
and what he closes, no one can open:
“I know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can close. You have little strength, yet you obeyed my word and did not deny me. Look, I will force those who belong to Satan’s synagogue—those liars who say they are Jews but are not—to come and bow down at your feet. They will acknowledge that you are the ones I love.
“Because you have obeyed my command to persevere, I will protect you from the great time of testing that will come upon the whole world to test those who belong to this world. I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take away your crown. All who are victorious will become pillars in the Temple of my God, and they will never have to leave it. And I will write on them the name of my God, and they will be citizens in the city of my God—the new Jerusalem that comes down from heaven from my God. And I will also write on them my new name.
“Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.
Max Lucado said, “Christianity, in its purest form, is nothing more than seeing Jesus. Christian service, in its purest form, is nothing more than IMITATING him who we see. To see His Majesty and to imitate him, that is the sum of Christianity.”
Max Lucado said, “Christianity, in its purest form, is nothing more than seeing Jesus. Christian service, in its purest form, is nothing more than IMITATING him who we see. To see His Majesty and to imitate him, that is the sum of Christianity.”
Like the artist Meegeren and his IMITATION paintings that I mentioned at the beginning, you and I (if we claim Christ), are either authentic Christians who are IMITATORS of our Lord and His service and known by His great LOVE, or we are IMITATION Christians who are going through the motions and IMITATING the works and known only by our title!
