Imitators of God
Ephesians 5:1
Don Jones
Introduction
I think everyone in this room knows the old adage, "the acorn does not fall far from the tree". I would have to say that after 26 years in the public school and 5000 students later that particular adage is pretty accurate. I was always amazed when I would finally meet the parent of a child, how the child behaved and in some cases even looked and dressed like the parent. I know they are supposed to look like the parent genetically, but I am talking about the mannerisms, the walk, the figures of speech, and sometimes even the glasses they wore.
Ephesians 5:1 gives us an astounding task. "Be imitators of God". What, are you kidding, that is an absolutely impossible task. Just reading the scripture is overwhelming. The whole verse reads,
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.
Whenever I read the word I am confident that through the power of the Holy Spirit we can accomplish what it says. But you have to admit as you read and think on the first four words of the verses it seems impossible. However impossible it sounds, we as individuals and as a body of believers must strive for this goal in our lives.
So how is this imitation of God to take place? How do we become imitators of God? Paul is pretty clear in his previous verses. That’s what the "therefore" is there for.
Put Off the Old Self
Anyone who joins the military knows that the first 12-16 weeks are some of the toughest weeks of life you will ever endure. It is called basic training. Some of you in this room have joined the military and some of you have seen war up close and personal. Let me take a moment to take you back to the beginning.
When you walk through the gate of the recruiting depot, whether army, navy, air force, or marine, and you take the oath of loyalty and swear you allegiance to the United States of America. From that point on your life is no longer your own, you become the property of the government, a G.I., until the United States military says otherwise.
One of the first things you do is empty your pockets of all personal belongings. Any ID, cell phone, pictures, clothes, is stripped away and all your identity is suddenly gone. You are to strip away anything or anyone that was a part of your old life. You cannot make any phone calls, except to let your parents know you are O.K. You are from that point no longer an individual with dreams goals, and aspirations, you are a soldier in the making. You are a serial number.
Paul tells us the first step in becoming imitators of God is to take off or put off our worldly clothes. Ephesians 4:22
You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;
This is the first step in becoming imitators of God. You must shed all of your old self. The Greek in this passage is in the aorist tense which means it is a once and forever action. We take off the old self one time. Old clothes signify filthy, stinky, dirty clothes that are unusable any longer. The apostle Paul even went so far as to declare his old life a pile of manure. Philippians 3:7-9 says,
But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.
How do we shed the old self when that is all we have? We shed the old self by first coming to Jesus Christ, God’s Son. When we come to know Jesus Christ as Lord we are immediately changed before God and we are clothed in the righteousness of Christ. Romans 13:14 says,
Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.
We are immediately transformed by God’s power to a new creation. We are no longer the world’s property, or satan’s, we are a new creation in Christ Jesus. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says it is an immediate change.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
In and through the power of Christ you are immediately and irrevocably changed in Him. You are His.
Put On the New Self
When you are then issued your first government uniform you and your fellow recruits all look alike. You have taken the first steps in becoming a soldier for the U S of A. Your hair goes, your identity is gone and you are at the mercy of the D.I.
You are no longer who you were in civilian life; you are now a boot, the lowest form of life on the planet. Your drill sergeant will at all times tell you what to do and how to do it. He will stay on your case from beginning to end and push you till you think you can go no longer. His goal is not to run you down but to make you the toughest soldier around. He wants you to become just like him. A squared away soldier who thinks and acts just like every other soldier in the unit.
We too are to change uniforms in a sense and clothe ourselves not in our old life but we are to "put on" our new self. Ephesians 4:24 says,
to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
When you become a believer in Christ, your mind is changed along with the desires of your heart. It is not a one time transformation but a continuing process of renewal and change. It should read, "and being made new in the attitude of your mind, put on the new self". The consequence of putting off the old self is to put on the new self through the power of the Spirit.
John Eadie says: The change is not in the mind psychologically, either in its essence or in its operation; and neither is it in the mind as if it were a superficial change of opinion on points of doctrine or practice; but it is in the spirit of the mind; in that which gives mind both its bent and its material of thought.
Simply put, upon receiving Christ as Lord, your inward desires, motives, attitudes change and continue to change to His likeness. Just as a soldier over the course of his career changes not only in looks but in mental toughness, so to the Christian changes his attitudes toward the world. Romans 12:2 says,
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
The result of this transformed mind is we begin to lead a life of righteousness and holiness. We begin to behave and speak differently. We were created to be like God in what it says is "true" righteousness. True righteousness is motivated by the love for God and love to our neighbors which we looked at the last 2 weeks. (The Great Commandment)
Imitators of God
Amazingly after 12-16 weeks of training the young men and women who finish boot camp actually know how to behave like soldiers.
One proud Marine told me that when they went to the graduation at Camp Pendleton they were absolutely in awe. The recruits were changed individuals. They had learned all of the basics.
He said he walked up to his parents and stood there waiting for them to react to his new self. He stood there for what seemed like forever and inside he was becoming more and more depressed. The parents seemed to be looking at everyone but him. Finally his grandmother who had come with him said his name like it was a question, not really sure if it was him. A grin broke out across his face and suddenly his parents looked up and began telling him they did not even recognize him. They said he was a new man.
So what does this imitator of God look and act like? Look at the scriptures with me.
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. 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.
The imitator of God is kind, compassionate, forgiving, and loving just like Christ. If we could but carry out these character qualities in our everyday life and do them to the extent that Jesus did people would not recognize us. Unfortunately most of us do not make that kind of impact because we are unwilling to focus all of our attention on the instructor.
A pastor told me his testimony one day when we both had some time to share. He told me that coming to Christ was absolutely wonderful. The weight of the world was lifted off his shoulders. The worry that had consumed him was gone. He was definitely a changed man on the inside.
He and his 4 other friends decided to go fishing like they always did on this particular weekend. He was riding up in the car and as was their custom they all had a beer in their hands except for the driver. They spent the day and were unsuccessful at fishing. They spent most of the time eating and drinking beer. On the way home the conversation drifted to him. He was very excited about the opportunity to tell them about his new found relationship in Jesus. He very boldly and with a sense of joy told them about Jesus and what He had done for him. His one friend said something that changed his life. He said, "I don’t see any difference in your life. You still act, talk, and drink just like us, so what’s the big deal?" He was crushed. He was changed in his heart but his actions didn’t depict the change.
I must confess that I too have had too keep quiet because my witness through word or deed did not point to Jesus. Like children of a regular family or a boot at graduation we must show the change in the way we live. Compared to Jesus, I am not even close. Like Paul I continue to strive. My example is not a drill sergeant or a parent but my goal is to be like Jesus. How kind and compassionate was he? When I am angry and feel my rights were violated I have to ask, how much did Jesus forgive? He forgave everything. When I absolutely hate someone I again have to ask, how much did he love us? He gave His life for you and me. John 15:134 says,
Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.
As imitators of God we must think and act like God. He is our pattern on how to live life. His Son Jesus Christ walked and talked so we could see first hand how to live. Some of the people in this room were asked to lay down their life for their country. Really if you ask them most would say they were there to accomplish the mission so that they could get themselves and their buddies home safely. Many are willing to sacrifice their lives for others.
I heard the report on a Navy Seal who lost his life in Iraq. They were on a roof top returning fire from several buildings. One Seal was assigned to watch the entrance to the roof. He saw someone down below but couldn’t get a clear shot. Before anyone knew it a grenade came up through that opening. Without hesitation the 22 year old soldier yelled "grenade" and then threw himself on the explosive a few milliseconds before it went off. He absorbed the explosion with his body to save his buddies on the roof.
Jesus died on the cross to save you and me. He didn’t save us from an explosive but He does save us from death. Tragically, many will not accept His sacrifice and in turn they will suffer spiritual death. If you need to accept Him today you can.
Invitation
Outline
Imitators of God 11-12-2006
Ephesians 5:1 WGBC
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.
1. Take of the Old Self
• Accept Jesus as Lord
• Put off the old self
• One time occurrence
• Old self is constantly corrupted
2. Put on the New Self
• New creation
• Renewal of mind/attitude
• Continual renewal
3. Imitate God
• Created to be like God/imitate Him
• Goal is true righteousness/holiness
• Live as Christ lived
• Love, forgive, kindness, compassion
Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. John 15:13
