Be Imitators of God, as Beloved Children

What does it mean to imitate God? How can we who are mortal imitate the immortal? How can we who are sinners imitate the sinless one?

The key is found in the words, “as beloved children.” Jesus is the beloved Son who has entered into his inheritance. We are now beloved children because we have been united to him.

Because we participate in Jesus, therefore, we imitate him.

Imitation is always rooted in participation. Because you are “in Christ” therefore you are to walk in him.

And throughout our passage here in chapter 5 Paul returns to the theme of “walking”

• in verse 2, “walk in love, as Christ loved us”
• in verse 8, “walk as children of light”
• in verse 15, “look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise, but as wise.”