Be An Imitator of Christ

Ephesians 5

​As a small child often mimics the characteristics, behavior and even the expressions of a loving parent, so God’s children—followers of Jesus—are to mimic their heavenly Father.  The Son, Jesus, put the Father on display. So, if you don’t know how to pattern yourself after the Father, just take a close look at the life Jesus. He sought the Father through prayer and Glorified His Name in all He did as to bear witness and establish a Godly standard before humanity.

Christians are to reflect Jesus, the very nature of God, and His love by pray for, caring for, serving and sharing the Truth of the Gospel, Jesus Christ. Followers are to love and serve others more than themselves. Christ’s sacrifice on the cross is the supreme illustration of what it means to love. It was a fragrant offering, and it was acceptable to God. When we love others by seeking what is best for their lives, it is pleasing to God.

The culture of Ephesus embraced all forms of immorality and ungodliness, in the community, in the church, in their homes, and even in their marriages, which is God’s institution. Here in Ephesians 5, Paul told the church they are not to let the culture set the standard for them or establish their worldview. As followers of Jesus, Christian saints or “holy ones,” are to be set apart for God and see sin the way He sees it.

“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. 3 But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. 4 Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. 5 For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not become partners with them,” Ephesians 5:1–7 (ESV)
​
As Paul encourages us to live godly lives, He takes us to church and reminds us of the sacrifice Jesus made for us. If we walk in love, our whole lives will be living sacrifices, fragrant to the Lord. He reminds us that sin is ugly and possesses a stench in God’s nostrils.

“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:1–2 (ESV)

Then Paul reminds us that walking in the light produces spiritual fruit.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22–23 (ESV).

If we walk in the light, we cannot have fellowship with the darkness, which is a balance in a world that seems to be getting darker by the day.

“Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? 15 What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Therefore go out from their midst, and be separate from them, says the Lord, and touch no unclean thing; then I will welcome you, 18 and I will be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty.” 2 Corinthians 6:14–18 (ESV)

One might ask, “Then how do we love and reach them for Jesus?” The best words are intention and influence. We are to intentional make known to this person living in darkness that we are believers called to bring light and hope to this world and to them by praying for, caring for, and sharing the life changing Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Light of the World. And, we are to remind ourselves daily that we are to be the influencer; yet not be influenced by the schemes of Satan and this dark world. We must influence others in Christ more than we are being influenced by the world or this unbalanced relationship, or we must ditch the relationship. These relationships take prayer, living in the Word of God, a frequent reminder of intention, and accountability from another trusted follower of Christ.

“But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Ephesians 5:13–14 (ESV)

Dr. Tony Evan, in his Study Bible, explains Ephesians 5:13-14 this way, “Everything exposed by the light is made visible (5:13). So, does that mean we go around telling on people? No. What makes everything visible is light (5:14). If cockroaches are in a room, all you have to do is turn on the light, and they scatter. Similarly, if you live as children of light, shameful deeds will be exposed by your lifestyle and words that reflect God’s standard. You know how Jesus got in trouble with the religious leaders? By being Jesus. He just showed up, speaking truth and living righteousness. So if you’re spiritually sleeping, get up and Christ will shine.”

“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. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.” Ephesians 5:15–21 (ESV)

The message here is quite simple... Don’t waste your life! What opportunity is God giving you to maximize your potential? What has He designed and called you to do to impact His Kingdom building and how are you Glorifying Him with your gifts? When you come to Christ, you are indwelled by the Spirit, and He will never leave you and desires to work in and through you. But being filled by the Spirit is different. Dr. Evans explains, “A person filled by the Spirit is under the Spirit’s influence. Since the Greek verb “filled” is plural, Paul is emphasizing that the church must collectively operate as a Spirit-controlled environment.”

This is a reminder that we need spiritual input. We also need to speak God’s perspective to one another so that we all become full of spiritual things. We need to worship and give thanks to God regularly, being subject to one another. But not just on Sundays. After all, the moment your car leaves the filling station, you begin burning fuel. So let worship become a lifestyle and regularly fill the tanks of others with God’s perspective. That way we will be filled by the Spirit—and not some cheap substitute.

Paul’s last visit in Ephesians 5 is to the home, where he uses marriage as a picture of the relationship between Christ and the church. Christ loved us and died for us, but today He loves us and cares for us. This intimate life is pictured in the Song of Solomon and can be a reality for all who will yield to Him. Though often misunderstood, the final verses are ones to read, seek understanding and surrender selfishness in all things in marriage.

In the final 11 verses, wives are called to submit to—to voluntarily place themselves under the legitimate authority of—their husbands. Importantly, though, a wife is equal to her husband in her being—both are made in God’s “image” according to Genesis 1:27. She is not a doormat. And a wife’s submission to her husband is not absolute. It is as to the Lord. The husband cannot ask his wife to do anything outside of God’s will. She is to “respect” her husband; however, he is to love her, help her to become all that God created her to be, protect, make her feel secure and special, and even die for her if necessary, just as Christ died for the church. And the husband is responsible to the Father for His calling and actions toward his wife.

“Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, his body, and is himself its Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything to their husbands. 25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, 26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, 27 so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish. 28 In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church, 30 because we are members of his body. 31 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. 33 However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.” Ephesians 5:22–33 (ESV)
​
Today, seek God, imitate Jesus, and see if your motives, actions, responses, influence, and impact in the church, the workplace, the community, and the home are pure and Godly. Are you bringing light into the darkness?

---