Be imitators of God. A series on Ephesians, Part 9.



Read Ephesians 5:1-20


Our passage today continues with the theme of living as children of the light. Here, we are told to be imitators of Christ. This isn't a new concept; 1 John 2:6 says,  "Whoever says he abides in Him ought to walk in the same way in which He walked." And again, in 1 Peter 2:21-22, "For to this you have been called,  because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in His steps. He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in His mouth." So, to live as children of the light means we have to be imitators of God. Our passage goes on to tell us what that means. To imitate Christ means not only to do as He did but also to avoid the things He didn't do. Verse 3 tells us we are not to be sexually immoral, impure, or greedy because those things are improper for God's holy people. We are not to defile our bodies for those who do will not receive the inheritance. Christ is God and was perfect, and so, we ought to be perfect. Matthew 5:48 says, "You therefore must be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect." This also means no obscenity, foolish talk, or course joking (verse 4). Instead, we are to live a life of thanksgiving. We are not to get drunk on wine, but rather, be filled with the Holy Spirit (verse 18). Therein lies a key point. We are sinners and therefore can not attain perfection on our own. Christ sent the Spirit to help us be imitators of Christ. In John 14:26 Christ says, "but the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you." To be imitators of Christ and live in the light means we must consist in goodness, righteousness, and truth(verse 8) and actively seek to please the Lord. A wise man will seek to understand God's will (verse 15). Just as it says in Proverbs 9:10, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,  and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding." To understand God's will we must seek Him in His Word, sing psalms of praise (verse 19) and always give thanks to God. Christ set this example for us. In Luke 10:21 He gave thanks to God for giving understanding to the little children. (See also Matthew 11:25). In John 11:41 Jesus thanks God for hearing Him, and in Matthew 15:36 He thanks God for providing food. 

So to be a child of the light we are to imitate Christ in all He did. We are to be perfect as He is perfect, seek God's will, and thank God for all things. 

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