Therefore, be imitators of God, as beloved children; and
walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an
offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma. (Ephesians 5:1-2,
NASB)
Before we jump into the two verses above, we must understand
the first word we read in verse one, the word, therefore. Some Bible
translations put this word after the word imitators. This verse’s word placement
does not matter. The important part is that Paul wrote it, and we need to
understand what Paul intended with this conditional word. Therefore
implies that an action or statement will result in something happening. This
tool is a literary technique used to help a person consider what the speaker
states next when considering his previous statements.
To help us understand what Paul wrote in Ephesians 5, let us
grasp what he wrote before chapter five. Chapter four told the Ephesian
believers and later believers, there must be unity in the body of believers,
the body of Christ. Verse one said believers must walk in a manner worthy of their
calling by Christ. What is this manner? The manner of Christ is one of
humility, gentleness, and patience (4:2-3). This manner includes bearing with
each other and being eager to keep the unity. Paul reminded the Ephesians they
are one body and spirit made so by having the same Lord, faith, baptism, God,
and Father (4:4-6). He reached the heart of the matter. Paul said God’s grace gives
gifts to Christians through the Holy Spirit (4:7). These gifts equip saints for
ministry, building up the body of Christ (4:13). This enables all believers to reach
the pinnacle of the unity of the faith and knowledge of Jesus Christ and to
become a mature believer to the full measure of the stature of Christ (4:7-13).
For the rest of chapter four, Paul said by growing toward maturity and unity
among the body of Christ, each believer will speak truth and be kind, which shows
itself in tenderheartedness and forgiveness toward others of the body (4:25
& 32).
Paul wrote, because of this unity and growing maturity of
Christlikeness, believers can, therefore, be imitators of God (5:1). He
wrote the word, therefore, to show the result of maturing and being
united. Every believer should and will resemble their Father God. The tender image
Paul gives is of a loved child’s relationship to his or her father. People can
relate to this image of a loving father. For those who cannot for whatever
reason, the love of a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, neighbor, or church
member can understand. For others, the relationship of the heavenly Father to
him or her is very close because of His protection and provision before he or
she became a Christian. Whoever was in your life and deeply touched your heart,
consider that relationship like the relationship of the Father to His beloved
child.
To extend this comparison, what does a child aspire to
become as they mature? Often, he or she will want to imitate the person with
whom their heart intensely connects. My mother was a nurse. As a child, my
first aspiration was to become a nurse. Why? Because my mom was very loving,
caring, and compassionate. This image portrays part of what Paul tried to
explain with his analogy. A child desires to imitate their Father. The Father (or
the analogized parent, grandparent, etc.) takes great pleasure and honor in the
child looking up to Him. He desires for His child to become ever more like Him
each day. The Father wants His children to mature into Christlikeness.
What does it mean to be imitators of God? Paul began explaining
it in chapter four. He said He wants His children to reach full maturity in
likeness to Christ so that they have unity among their brothers and sisters and
are kind (tenderhearted and forgiving) and speak truth (the truth of God, not
the world’s idea of truth). Paul continued this thought in chapter five. He
said imitators of God walk in love (5:2). Paul did not mean phileo love,
a brotherly love a person has for his or her close friendships. He wrote saying
imitators of God will walk in agape love. Agape is the love shown
to people by God. This love is sacrificial love, beyond mere feeling. Sacrificial
love intentionally chooses (wills) to act. Agape love shows a preference
for the other person over oneself, no matter what the cost. Most parents
willingly would risk their lives to save their child’s life. They prefer the
life of their child over their own. This love is about what Paul wrote in
Ephesians 5:2. God’s children are those who mature and become imitators of Him.
This means they will live out this preferential love toward their other brothers
and sisters in the faith. These believers prefer to help one another grow,
survive, and receive forgiveness. They make the choice to ensure the unity of
the body of Christ, regardless of the personal cost to themselves.
That sacrificial love made Jesus' offering of Himself in our
place a fragrant aroma to God. What parent, when seeing his or her child do a
kind and selfless act, does not beam with pride and love for his or her child? God
beams with pride at His children when they become imitators of Him in this way,
when they love as Jesus Christ loved them.
The Holy Spirit, by God’s grace, gives each believer gifts
to equip himself or herself to mature in Christ and to aid in bringing unity as
God designed for His body. This unity builds the faith of other believers,
speaks truth in love, and is kind—tenderhearted and forgiving. This unity in
the body causes each believer to be imitators of God. Each believer will desire
to be so close to God that they reflect the presence and love of Christ,
allowing others to see God. Those imitators of God are true. They are
not an inferior imitation; one the world says is sufficient. The believers who
radiate the presence and sacrifice of Christ are imitators of God, not
imitations, like faux leather. These believers desire to be closer to God. They
crave it. Believers want everyone to know about God and the sacrifice of Jesus
Christ. They care that the truth gets out and all experience life-changing and
eternal forgiveness. These Christians are tenderhearted and dedicated to
spreading the message of Jesus and His salvation. God's children, imitators of
Him, aspire to be nearer to and resemble Abba, the one who never gave up on
them and offered forgiveness. Their goal is to be like Jesus, regardless of
sacrifices. That is agape love. Agape love is a love that prefers
to benefit others instead of oneself.
“Walk in love,
just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a
sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.”
Will you live out what Jesus Christ put in you—the new
person—by His Spirit when you believed in Him? Agape love requires
action. It prefers other people over oneself. Consider what Jesus would do?
Be imitators of
God, not imitations.
