1. EPHESIANS 5:1 “Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.”

2. 1 CORINTHIANS 11:1 “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.”

3. IMITATING GOD Are certain commands given by God merely “pies in the sky” or are we aiming too low?

4. IN OUR PREVIOUS LESSON… Matthew 5:48 – “Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.” 1 John 2:6 – “He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.” 1 Peter 1:15 - “ 15 but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct…” Ephesians 5:25–29 - “ 25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her…”

5. BE MERCIFUL Luke 6:35–36 - 35 But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. 36 Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful. Eph. 2:4-7, 32; Jas. 2:12-13 Matt. 5:7; Rom. 12:8; Heb. 8:10-12

6. PURIFIES HIMSELF 1 John 3:1–3 - 1 Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. 2 Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. Jas. 4:8; 1 Pet. 1:22; Tit. 2:14 Heb. 9:14; 1 John 1:7

7. PRACTICES RIGHTEOUSNESS 1 John 3:4–9 - 4 Whoever commits sin also commits lawlessness, and sin is lawlessness. 5 And you know that He was manifested to take away our sins, and in Him there is no sin. 6 Whoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither seen Him nor known Him. 7 Little children, let no one deceive you. He who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous. Matt. 5:6, 10; 1 John 2:29; 3:10; Acts 10:35; 1 Tim. 6:11; Rom. 3:10, 21-24; 2 Cor. 5:21

8. RECEIVE ONE ANOTHER Romans 15:7–13 - 7 Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God. 8 Now I say that Jesus Christ has become a servant to the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers, 9 and that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy… Rom. 14:1-3; 5:6-11; 1 Cor. 8:7-13; 1 Cor. 10:31-11:1

9. ROMANS 6:1-6

10. 1 JOHN 4:17