“Imitators of God” Ephesians 5:1-2 Q: Can we even do this? Is it even possible to “imitate God”? (v:1a) God’s Attributes: * Communicable — those which humans can have (ex: knowledge, wisdom, goodness, love, mercy, holiness, truthfulness) * Incommunicable — cannot belong to any other being (ex: self-existence, immutability, infinity, simplicity) Ephesians 4:24 – we are putting on the new self “created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” Q: What motivation are we given to imitate God? (v.1b) * “as beloved children”: the unconditional fatherly love of God for us. Q: Specifically and practically, how are we to imitate God? (v.2a) * The chief way mortal human beings can actually imitate God is by living lives characterized by love. Q: But what is love? (v.2b) * Christian love — the love God has for us and that we are to imitate – is radical self-giving for the ultimate good of others, even enemies.