Olsen Park Church of Christ


“Imitators of God”

Introduction. Read: Ephesians 5:1-21. In his beautiful letter to  the Ephesians

         Paul had just talked to the brethren about the relationship they shared with each other as members of the “one body” that is the Lord’s church (Eph. 4:4; cf. 1:22-23).

         He will go on later to talk to them about the relationship Christians should maintain within their families,

o   With husbands demonstrating headship (Eph. 5:23),

o   Wives acting with loving respect in submission (Eph. 5:22, 33),

o   Children obedient to their parents (Eph. 6:1).

Yet, before this he talks to them about the most important relationship humans can enjoy—the relationship that makes fellowship within the church possible—the relationship that sets the patterns for family relationships—a relationship with God. He charges them “be imitators of God, as dear children” (Eph. 5:1, NKJV).

I. “Followers” or “Imitators”?

A.      Since the translation of the American Standard Version in 1901, most modern translations have rendered the Greek noun mimētēs in this text (from which our word “mimic” is derived) with the word “imitators.”

1.      Prior to this most English translations used the word “followers,” probably because it seems unnatural to think of human beings imitating Deity.

2.      Man is not God, and no efforts to mimic Him can change that!

B.      This hesitation to accept the clear sense of this text, however, may miss the modifier—“as dear children.”

1.      All of us have seen little children look at the mature actions of their parents and try their best to imitate them.

2.      Whether it is the little boy stretching to look in the mirror and act like he is shaving, or the little girl stirring a spoon pretending to mix food in an empty bowl...

II.  Children who love their parents seek to be like them.  

A.      Much of the focus of the verses that follow may reflect this objective.

1.      Why are Christians charged to “walk in love” (Eph. 5:2a)? 

2.      Because beloved children of God should imitate God in the flesh who “has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice” (Eph. 5:2b).

B.      Paul names six sinful behaviors that are “not fitting” (Eph. 5:4d).  In the context why should such things “not even be named among” Christians (Eph. 5:3d)? Because God would not practice such things!

1.      Would God engage in fornication, uncleanness, or covetousness (Eph. 5:3a-c)? Of course not—a “covetous man” is “an idolater” (Eph. 5:5)!

2.      Can we picture God engaging in “obscenity” (Eph. 5:4a,NIV)—the NKJV puts this “filthiness”—can we picture God engaging in “foolish talking or coarse jesting” (Eph. 5:4b-c, NKJV)? Of course not—our Father in heaven doesn’t talk that way!

III. Disobedient children don’t imitate their parents.

A.      Earlier in the epistle Paul reminded the Christians in Ephesus what they used to be. Read: Ephesians 2:1-3

1.       When they were “children of wrath” (Eph. 2:3)...

2.       Living as “sons of disobedience” (Eph. 2:2).

B.      If Christians fail to imitate the character and virtue of God our Father...

1.       “The wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience” (Eph. 5:6) who...

2.       Surrender “any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God” (Eph. 5:5).

C.      Imitation of our heavenly Father is not just an idealistic aspiration that’s an option no one will every really attain, it is the heart and soul of what shapes the behavior of a child of God. (cf. 1 Corinthians 11:1). Go back to Ephesians chapter five.

IV. If we don’t Imitate God, we are partners with His enemies.

A.      There is another relationship that the apostle also explores in the midst of this appeal for imitation of Deity. Paul has just spoken of God’s wrath coming upon the “sons of disobedience” (Eph. 5:6).

1.       To this, he adds the warning, “Therefore do not be partakers with them” (Eph. 5:7).

2.       The word translated “partakers” in the Greek is summetochos. The prefix sum- adds the sense of “with” or “together” to the noun metochos, which Thayer tells us is a “a partner (in a work, office, dignity).”

B.      The Hebrew writer used this word a number of times of the special relationships the Christian enjoys in Christ. He tells us through the Holy Spirit that Christians are...

1.      Read: Hebrews 3:1-2 “Partakers of the heavenly calling” (Heb. 3:1).

2.      Read: Hebrews 3:12-15 “Partakers of Christ” (Heb. 3:14), and...

3.      Read: Hebrews 6:4-6 “Partakers of the Holy Ghost”  (Heb. 6:4, KJV). Go back to Ephesians chapter five.

C.      In our text in Ephesians it is a different partnership Paul has in mind. To fail to imitate our Father makes us partners with the “sons of disobedience” who practice the “unfruitful works of darkness” (Eph. 5:11b). What a striking thought! Do we want to be counted as “partners” with God’s enemies? Of course not!

1.      Christians must “have no fellowship” with such things, or those who practice them (Eph. 5:11a).

2.      All were “once darkness” (Eph. 5:8a), but...

3.      The child who imitates His Father in heaven may “walk as children of light” (Eph. 5:8c).

4.      Paul used this same language to the church in Thessalonica. Read: 2 Thessalionians 5:1-6.

5.       How does this continue the idea of imitation of Deity? Remember what we know about God! Read: 1 John 1:5-7.

V. “Fruit of the Spirit” or “Fruit of the Light”?

A.      The issue of textual evidence.

1.      The majority of Greek manuscripts, including with the second (or possibly even first) century Chester Beatty papyrus (P46) preserve the wording “fruit of the Spirit” in Paul’s description of this walk as “children of light” producing “goodness, righteousness, and truth” (Eph. 5:9, NKJV).

2.      Most modern translations, following the Sinai, Vatican, and Alexandrian Greek manuscripts, and most ancient translations read instead “fruit of the light”  (ASV, NASB, ESV).

3.      At some point in the transmission of the text a scribe either repeated the wording of Galatians 5:22 “fruit of the Spirit” or blended the figure of light that runs throughout this passage into this description—“fruit of the light.”

B.      Those in Christ, having left darkness now “are light in the Lord” (Eph. 5:8b).

1.      They reject “fellowship” (another word for a partnership) with “the unfruitful works of darkness” but “rather expose them” (Eph. 5:11)—that’s what light does.

2.      How could an imitator of God practice such things?—“it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret” (Eph. 5:12).

3.      Instead, “all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light”—imitators of God expose the errors of darkness “for whatever makes manifest is light” (Eph. 5:13).

4.      Those who leave darkness may, “arise from the dead” in assurance that “Christ will give you light” (Eph. 5:14).

         Note: There are a number of different theories about this verse. Some believe it is a paraphrase of some OT text. Some have understood it to have been a statement revealed to the apostles and prophets during NT times. Paul cites it, almost as if it would have been familiar to his readers. This has led some to theorize that it could have been a song sung among 1st Century Christians. If so, it was an inspired song.

         Whatever the case it reflects what happens to the one who turns to Christ—Christ gives them the light of life, the light of truth, in the light of the gospel.

VI. “Look carefully.” Read: Ephesians 5:15-21

A.      Divine imitation?

1.      It may be that by this point in the text Paul is no longer emphasizing imitation of Deity, but a case could be made that this theme runs until Paul shifts to instruction on the family in verse 22.

2.      He has explained that “children of light” who bring forth the “fruit of the light” (or “of the Spirit”) seek to find “out what is acceptable to the Lord” (Eph. 5:10).

3.      Picture that little child looking up intently at his father or mother, carefully studying every move his parents make. That may be the idea Paul continues.

B.      An imitator of God will “look carefully” (Eph. 5:15, RSV, cf. ASV)—NKJV puts it “circumspectly”— how he should walk.

1.      He will “not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is” (Eph. 5:17).

2.      It is possible to understand “what is acceptable to the Lord” (Eph. 5:10) and what “the will of the Lord is” (Eph. 5:17b).

3.      How can we know “the will of the Lord”? Paul hear is not talking about God’s providence (we can’t always know that)—he is not talking about matters that God has determined but not revealed (e.g. Judgment Day—no one knows the “day and hour” (Mark 13:32).

         Paul is talking about God’s revealed will. We learn our Father’s will and character through looking to His word.

C.      Our behavior must reflect the character of our Father.

1.      Our Father in heaven would never “be drunk with wine” (Eph. 5:18a). We should be filled, with what fills Him. 

2.      As we come to understand His will in looking to His word we come to be “filled with the Spirit” (Eph. 5:18c).

D.     Christians “speaking to one another” in song “making melody in your heart” (Eph. 5:19a) may not reflect imitation of Deity—man sings to God and of God. Does God sing?

1.      Even so, children who imitate their heavenly Father offer worship “to the Lord” (Eph. 5:19b).

2.      Their interest is not “what’s in it for me?”—They are looking heavenward, “giving thanks always for all things to God the Father” (Eph. 5:20).

E.      The imitator of God will not splinter the unity of his brothers and sisters of light through selfish self-interest.

1.      He or she will be too busy, “submitting to one another in the fear of God” (Eph. 5:21).

Conclusion. The soul who looks to God with loving respect, as our Father who loves us and cares for us will willing look to the character and will of God, because such a soul wants to be just like his Father in heaven.

Kyle Pope 2013

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