IMITATORS OF GOD
Ephesians 5:1-2

 
"Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." [NIV]

The definition of imitator is: "to follow as a pattern, model, or example: to be or appear like [resemble]"

The scripture here in Ephesians instructs us to imitate God, to follow Him as our pattern, to replicate Him in our lives as models of Him. We are to allow God to be our example in every facet and phase of our being, and in so doing becoming like or resembling Him our heavenly Father.

 

1)    HOW IS IT POSSIBLE FOR US TO BE IMITATORS OF GOD?

It is hopeless to try to imitate God if all resemblance to God is beyond our reach.

However, this is not the case. We can be confident, that while many teach and are fatally successful in magnifying the distance between God and man, His word reveals and draws us closer to Him.

a) We are like God by nature.
    God is spirit and we are spiritual beings.
    God made us in His own image.
    It is our work, our responsibility to revive that image where it has been hidden and bring it up
    to a greater resemblance of God.

b) We can imitate God in very small ways
    Because He is infinite and we are finite, does not mean we are to think that it is impossible to be like Him.
    Just as the smallest pool of water will show a perfect image/reflection of the sun, so too, we can reflect God to others.
 
c)  We are prone to unimaginable growth and improvement, by striving to imitate our Father.
    God has revealed Himself to us so we will be able to imitate Him.
    We cannot imitate what we do not know.
    Mysteries of the Divine nature will always be beyond our understanding.
    Nevertheless, we are enabled to imitate God, as we accept and live in Christ.

 

2)    IN WHAT WAYS ARE WE TO BECOME IMITATORS OF GOD?

We realize it is impossible neither to attain His almighty and awesome power nor to gain His immeasurable wisdom, yet we are able to have a portion of these Divine attributes as we surrender to and are possessed by the Spirit of God.

The resemblance to God that is most attainable and most important is moral and spiritual likeness in both character and conduct.

Consider these points especially:

a) Purity
    We are to be pure in every aspect of our walk with God.

b) Truth
    God is truth and as imitators of Him, we are to be truth.

c)  Forbearance
    We need to imitate God very much in His gentleness to sinners, His longsuffering patience, and His forgiving mercy.

d)  Love
    This is closest to the heart and very being of God, for God is love.


3)    WHY WE SHOULD BE IMITATORS OF GOD.

a)   It is our natural duty.
    Because of our new life in Christ, we also have a new nature and our conduct now must agree with the nature of God.
    Jesus said, in Matthew 5:48, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as (exactly like) your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”
    We are to strive for that perfection in Him.

b)  We are obligated because of the forgiveness thru Christ.
    The word “therefore” brings our attention to these obligations. It points back to the previous verses, where we are exhorted      to be, “… tenderhearted and forgiving of one another, even as God for Christ’s sake has for given you.”

c)  Our highest blessedness will be found in our resemblance to God.
    Even though the imitation of God may begin in toil and sacrifice, it grows into the deepest peace and the richest gladness         and the end result is eternal life.

 

4)    HOW DO WE BECOME IMITATORS OF GOD?

a) Worship
    As we worship Him, the majesty and awesomeness of God changes us into His likeness.
    We all imitate, consciously or unconsciously, what we admire.

b)  Meditation
    Those who are nearest to God in prayer and communion grow to be more like God.

c)  Obedience
    As we worship Him, meditate on Him, and imitate God then we will want to and strive to be obedient in all areas of our lives     according to His word.

d)  As little children
    Children, who are loved, adore and imitate their parents.
    We should desire to imitate our heavenly Father because we know we are loved.


Yet we must understand there can be no room for spiritual pride, for when we lose that child-like spirit we fall away from the     imitation of God.
and
We must realize those who imitate God, truly are most simple and child-like and that spirit of trust in a loving parent must be in us if we would be good imitators of God.