5/23/10 Ephesians 5 and 6
Imitate God
(Eph 5:1) 1Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children;
The church which is intended to be group of individuals who have repented and declared their submission and loyalty to Jesus Christ and are viewed in scripture as children at times. We all know children are very good at imitating others. Children watch adults and older kids closely and then begin to do as they have seen. The same ought to be true for those who have made Jesus Lord of their life. Jesus in the book of Hebrews is not ashamed to call us his brothers (Heb 2:11). So how do we imitate our big brother and thus God? First we must recognize that Jesus Christ was the exact representation of God incarnate or manifested in human form (Heb 1:3).
In Ephesians 5:3-5 Paul writes that we are to avoid immorality and impurity. Those how have repented and acknowledge Jesus as Lord have been transferred from darkness to light and therefore are able to live in the fruit of the Light which is all goodness, righteousness, and truth. We are not to participate with unfruitful deeds of darkness, but to expose them as the light exposes the reality of what lies in the darkness. Paul in verse 14 references what is believed to be a hymn drawn from Isaiah 29:19 and 60:1-2, the very text we began with in this week’s message. The mention of this is to conclude the thought of leaving the darkness and embracing the Light, which is Jesus Christ.
We cannot imitate God if we do not correctly investigate study, learn, interact, and abide with the living Christ. Never forget that Christ is alive and is at the right hand of God (Heb 1:3). We come to know Christ through what is revealed to us in the scriptures.
Paul then concludes how we are to imitate God in the real world with our day to day relationships. Paul addresses three sets of relationships to give us some practical advice as how to imitate God and live as children of the Light, and siblings of Jesus. To transition to this section he lays down a foundational principle that is required in any relationship “submitting to one another in the fear of Christ” verse 21. He then goes on to describe what the marital relationships are to look like as each spouse imitates God. Then bridging into chapter 6 how the family is to interact with each other specifically parents and children. Lastly, Paul mentions what was common in that culture as household slaves and how the slave master relationship was to be carried out. Today we could parallel this with a employer and employee relationship.
If we are going to imitate God we must seek to live as Christ has shown us by being and doing exactly as the Father had instructed him. When you read through the gospels again, notice how Christ handles his relationships. Although he did not have a wife, the church is considered the bride of Christ and the scriptures tells us how he loved the church and gave himself up for her (Eph 5:2). He certainly had parents and in the few places where it mentions Joseph and Mary we can learn about Jesus response. More importantly he was a Son and He had a Father whom he honored and listened to perfectly. Finally, Jesus did not have a slave, but was sold for the price of a slave and became obedient to the point of death. Yet in all this He is actually the Master to whom all things have been given (John 13:3, Col 1:16, Heb 1:2).
Prayer: Father I desire to imitate you. Everything about you is perfect, pure, good, right, justice, beautiful and magnificent. Today, may my actions words and thought reflect to a watching world who you are. My Lord and Savior Jesus led me by the Spirit who lead you and guided you. I want to love like you, I want to sacrifice like you, and I want my relationship to reflect the fruit of the Light which is goodness, righteousness, and truth. Father I know that there is much in me that needs to be transformed to image you. Begin with my mind, saturate my mind with right thoughts and attitudes. As I search the scriptures I ask that I will see and understand you more fully. Give me grace to see you as you really are. When I learn about your character and see in myself a deficiency give me grace to imitate you. Lord, I pray that our church would imitate you. Make this local church one that imitates you and in so doing it will honor, glorify, and praise your greatness, in your perfects Son’s name. Amen.