Ephesians 5:1-2 Updated American Standard Version (UASV)
Be Imitators of God
5 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; ² and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you[33] and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice as a sweet fragrance to God.

The Imitation of God (vv. 1–2)

Supporting Idea: Imitate God, just as Jesus did, living a life of sacrifice to God.

5:1. Just as it is natural for an earthly child to imitate his earthly father, so should the spiritual child imitate his Heavenly Father. The word imitate comes from the word mimeomai, from which we get our word mimic. It means “to act like.”

5:2. To imitate God in this context means to walk in love. Love denies self. It is willing to give up self-interest for God’s sake. Since Jesus gave himself up for us, we ought to give ourselves up for him. To give oneself up means “to follow, to obey, to live in relationship with.” When we live with this attitude toward God, we please him just as a pleasant aroma pleases the one who smells it (see Lev. 1:17; 3:16; Isa. 53:10). Jesus became the sacrifice for our sins. We must become a living sacrifice, obeying him (see Rom. 12:1).

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