EPHESIANS CHAPTER 5 (5 OF 6)
Scripture: Ephesians 5:10
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Ephesians Chapter 5 (5 of 6)
Series: Ephesians
Harley Howard
Ephesians 5:10
1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
Paul commands believers to be followers of God. Someone would ask, “but aren’t believers already followers of God?” The obvious answer is yes. So then, we must find out why Paul is saying this. When you look up the word, followers, in Greek, the word is translated, an imitator. The English word, mimic is derived from the Greek word. Although the word mimic has with it oftentimes a negative connotation. It also has positive features as well. It means, to imitate closely as possible in speech, expression or gesture (behavior). It also means to resemble. Is it unreasonable for Paul to command such a behavior? No, not at all. Look at the rest of the verse. We are to imitate God because we are His beloved children. There is no question that if we are God’s children, then there is to be an ongoing desire and action towards being like our Heavenly Father. We are His children and being His children there is expected to be a behavior that is the result of that relationship. There’s no question about that.
Leviticus 11:44-45
44 For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
45 For I am the LORD that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.
Matthew 5:43-48
43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
46 For ...
Series: Ephesians
Harley Howard
Ephesians 5:10
1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
Paul commands believers to be followers of God. Someone would ask, “but aren’t believers already followers of God?” The obvious answer is yes. So then, we must find out why Paul is saying this. When you look up the word, followers, in Greek, the word is translated, an imitator. The English word, mimic is derived from the Greek word. Although the word mimic has with it oftentimes a negative connotation. It also has positive features as well. It means, to imitate closely as possible in speech, expression or gesture (behavior). It also means to resemble. Is it unreasonable for Paul to command such a behavior? No, not at all. Look at the rest of the verse. We are to imitate God because we are His beloved children. There is no question that if we are God’s children, then there is to be an ongoing desire and action towards being like our Heavenly Father. We are His children and being His children there is expected to be a behavior that is the result of that relationship. There’s no question about that.
Leviticus 11:44-45
44 For I am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy: neither shall ye defile yourselves with any manner of creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
45 For I am the LORD that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.
Matthew 5:43-48
43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
46 For ...
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