"Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children." — Ephesians 5:1 (ESV)
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In Ephesians 5:1-20 Paul asked Ephesians to put off the old humanity and put on the new one with Jesus. Before they knew Jesus, the Ephesians were alive but spiritually dead, entrapped in purposeless life of selfishness and sin and they were deceived by dark spiritual forces of evil.
Ephesians' condition is similar to us. By the love and grace of God through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, we buried our old human habits and resurrected to live in spirit of God. We are a new creation, new humanity. The Holy Spirit works within us to extinct the old habits. Here, Paul elaborated how to do it.
First of all, in Verse 1, Paul asked us to be the imitators of God, as beloved children. It was like my 4-year-old son copying his father’s behaviours. He walked like his father, he talked like his father, he played roughly like his father, he cooked like his father. He learned and grew while copying his behaviours. As a child of God, we shall do the same, imitating God. How could we imitate God in Heaven, while we are still on earth? Let’s check the second point.
In verse 2, Paul asked us to conduct our life in love like Jesus did. Jesus is the living example how to live fulfilling our purpose and glorifying God (v.2). And He is God - "who being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness" (Philippians 2:6-8).
Third, in Verses 3-17, Paul put in contrast of what the new habits and old ones are. In short, new habits are to be holy, thankful and obedient. How we think will be shown in our actions, right? Check our actions. The actions of a new man will be all good, right and true. So that, how do I know what pleases God (v.10) and what is God’s will (v.15-17)? We must read the scriptures (Psalm 119:105) and build a relationship with God (Matthew 22:37-38).
Forth, in Verses 19-20, new humanity or new men in Christ always sing from the Spirit to Jesus - whether they are alone or together - and express gratitude to God. Singing and gratitude are natural expressions of love. If we love God, we will sing in the Spirit and give thanks. Love is related to a meaningful relationship.
The last but not the least, Verse 18, we can do those above-mentioned points of new humanity only if we live a life filled with Holy Spirit. We can only imitate God or Jesus perfectly, extinct the bad habits totally, singing and being thankful heartily, if the Holy Spirit works in us. The bottom line is that new humanity is a life led by the Holy Spirit. Amen.
To God be the glory. God bless you.
Reflection on Ephesians 5:1-20 by Veralin Uneputty
(Listen to the Podcast here)
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