Chapter summaries - IMITATORS OF GOD
Imitators of God (Publication pending - Winter 2009)
"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." - Ephesians 5:1
The following chapter summaries provide a brief synopsis of each one's overall theme and content. In their full version each chapter will include examples, illustrations and practical advice on implimenting the truths.
U.S. © 2008 – Rev. Mark Alan Quick
Chapter 1 - Dearly loved children
“Be imitators of God therefore, as dearly loved children.” / -Ephesians 5:1
Learning to transform every relationship into a channel of blessing begins with first learning to fully embrace the love God has for us.
We are fallen and live in a fallen world and our experiences and non-experiences have produced in us a flawed life script. Our life script is the internal “instruction manual” we draw upon to inform our thoughts and actions formed by family or origin and life experiences.
The tragedy of Romania’s orphans provides a fitting illustration of our crippled capacity to love based upon a flawed life script. Romania’s brutal dictator, President Nicolae Ceausescu, was deposed in 1989. The world was shocked at the atrocious treatment of thousands of orphans in that nation and their subsequent emotional challenges.
Similar to those orphans, our experiences and non-experiences have shaped us. We must learn how to receive God’s embrace and healing and let him edit our life script.
Chapter 2 – Walking like the Word
“Live a life of love, just as Christ loved us,” / -Ephesians 5:2
Jesus Christ’s life and love provide the pattern we are to follow. Jesus, the Word, not only illustrated the Father’s love but is himself its very embodiment.
Although he is the Son of God, he humbled himself to wash his disciples’ feet (John 13). Jesus’ act of love and service literally shocked his disciples. Among the disciples was the now infamous Judas. His were among the feet the Son of God stooped low to wash.
In our selfishness, we often refuse to love others until they meet our needs or conform to our desires. Jesus not only washed his faithful disciples’ feet but those of his soon-to-be betrayer.
So great was his love and his commitment to serve that he “became obedient to death – even death on a cross (Philippians 2)!” Jesus did not wait to be loved to love.
The Mount Everest of spiritual maturity is the ability to serve even our Judas. It is the God-given grace and vision to look past our cross and see that in our God-honoring service we can elevate the lives of others and ourselves before God. Jesus always added to others. He never subtracted. If we will learn to love as Jesus loved and to serve as Jesus served – to add to others – we will reap inner joy from God’s Spirit and many changed relationships.
Jesus was able to wash his disciples’ feet because he knew “that the Father had put all things under his power,” (John 13:3). We often refuse to make ourselves vulnerable to others. Jesus could do this because he was self-assured. We can be the same in the Spirit.
Chapter 3 – Not even a hint
“But among you there must not even be a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people.” / -Ephesians 5:3
“What would Jesus do?” That simple and as straightforward statement captures the essence of being an imitator of God.
Paul admonishes us that there must not be even “a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people.” He says this directly after challenging us to “live a life of love, just as Christ Jesus loved us.” These things are improper for us because they are completely out of character to the love Christ showed us. Jesus adds to us, he does not detract from us. All of those acts detract from others.
Most people hear the word “holy” and immediately think of solitude and extreme self-denial. They imagine someone who looks down on others whom they suppose to be morally inferior. That is not holiness. A person or thing is holy because it is set apart and dedicated to the worship of God. When we say we are striving for holiness it means we are seeking to set ourselves apart unto a life that honors God. We are striving to think and act in a manner consistent with God’s character, will and purpose.
We can never imagine Jesus acting in sexual lust, greed, or exhibiting any manner or moral uncleanness or improper speech. These would be out of character.
Chapter 4 – Offending God
“God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient” / Ephesians 5:6
Imitators of God understand that obedience to the commands of God is more than just adherence to a written code. They understand that God’s commands are an expression of his nature and that heartfelt obedience to those commands places them in harmony with God’s nature. God is pleased with our obedience because it demonstrates our agreement with his heart.
Imitators of God view every relationship as an opportunity to demonstrate values concurrent with his. They realize that godly virtue is all that will last.
We are told that God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. It is important to understand why. The Greek word for wrath in Ephesians chapter five and verse six is “orge.” This word indicates a disposition of mind. This word “wrath” indicates the disposition of God toward that which affronts his nature. When we take action contrary to Christ’s example, we are committing sin – an affront to God’s nature.
The Old Testament Bible hero Joseph understood this. Sold into slavery by his brothers he was bought by an Egyptian official name Potiphar. Pothiphar’s wife took an interest in him and though she tried to seduce him he refused. Joseph responded to her, “My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?”
Imitators of God are motivated by the love of God they have experienced and thus by a sense of high calling. This understanding motivates them to “love their enemies” like God does (Matthew 5:44), to overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21) as Christ did, to find the resolve and power to wash even the feet of Judas (John 13) as Christ did.
When we stand before God and have acted in accordance with his nature we will receive praise. If we have acted in a manner affronting his holy character (unholy acts of sexual immorality, impurity, coarse joking, or greed) then we will receive wrath.
Chapter 5 – Growing in grace
“Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.” / Ephesians 5:17
Becoming an imitator of God is a process, not an event. It is our privilege and responsibility as believers to cultivate the godly virtues.
If I am a child of God, I do not have to continue walking in the patterns that destroy relationships. Those evil desires are manifest as things like sexual immorality, idolatry, witchcraft, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition and dissensions (Galatians 5:19). These works of our unchecked sinful nature destroy relationships. On the contrary, the divine traits of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Galatians 5:22) add to every relationship. They have the power to transform them and convert them into vehicles of eternal reward and significance for us.
For this very reason that God has been gracious to give us spiritual new birth and his precious promises, Peter says in chapter one of his second epistle, “we are to make every effort to add to our faith, goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.” He tells us if we are growing in this manner we will be fruitful, we will not fall, and we will receive an abundant welcome into God’s presence.
The cultivation of each virtue just mentioned by Peter lays the foundation for the next and creates a rising level of spiritual maturity.
As we grow in grace and virtue we bloom into imitators of God. And as we become ever more like Christ our relationships are elevated and take on eternal significance to and for us.
