Ephesians Chapter 5 (6 of 7)
Series: The Epistle to the Ephesians
Harley Howard
1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
Here Paul gives a command for believers to become 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, Matthew 5:43-48, (Verse 43, may be, is the same word, be ye, or become, in Ephesians 5:1) Luke 6:31-36, John 1:11-12, 1st Peter 1:15-16
It is not unreasonable at all to command a righteous behavior from one who claims to be made righteous by way of salvation through faith in Christ. It is expected, and it proves that we are indeed God's beloved children. 2nd Corinthians 7:1.
Before we move on to verse 2, it is absolutely important to understand that God loves the believer. The Christian life is a love relationship with God. The word, dear, in verse 1, is translated, beloved, and it refers to:
1. Christ relationship with His Heavenly Father: Matthew 3:16-17
2. God's relationship with us as believers: 1st John 3:1-2
3. Believers relationships ...
Series: The Epistle to the Ephesians
Harley Howard
1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
Here Paul gives a command for believers to become 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, Matthew 5:43-48, (Verse 43, may be, is the same word, be ye, or become, in Ephesians 5:1) Luke 6:31-36, John 1:11-12, 1st Peter 1:15-16
It is not unreasonable at all to command a righteous behavior from one who claims to be made righteous by way of salvation through faith in Christ. It is expected, and it proves that we are indeed God's beloved children. 2nd Corinthians 7:1.
Before we move on to verse 2, it is absolutely important to understand that God loves the believer. The Christian life is a love relationship with God. The word, dear, in verse 1, is translated, beloved, and it refers to:
1. Christ relationship with His Heavenly Father: Matthew 3:16-17
2. God's relationship with us as believers: 1st John 3:1-2
3. Believers relationships ...
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