Imitating God

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.  And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (Eph. 5:1-2)

​While the Bible makes clear that salvation is by faith alone in Christ alone, there are some who take this to mean it does not matter how we live.  That while in many ways and for many reasons, it is and can be wise and good to order one’s life according to scripture, it certainly is not necessary.  However, scripture commands that we “be imitators of God, as beloved children.”  That is, if we are children of God, then we should strive to be imitators of God.  We should strive to display the character and attributes of God in our lives and in the way we interact with the world around us.  This is not a suggestion, but a commandment, as the phrase “be imitators” is in the imperative mood.  But scripture does not just stop with commanding us what to do but offers reasons as to why believers should strive to be imitators of God.  We are then told to “walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”  In other words, just as Christ was willing to give his life as a sacrifice for us, should we not be willing to give up our lives as a sacrifice for him?  Should we not be willing to surrender the way in which we live, the manner in which we spend our time?  Should we not be willing to commit the whole of our lives to serving Christ, serving his Church, and reaching the lost with the gospel?  We should, if we are thankful for what Christ has done for us.