Ephesians 5:1

Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; BE YE, [ ginesthe (G1096)] - 'become.' THEREFORE - since 'God in Christ forgave you' (Ephesians 4:32). FOLLOWERS - Greek, 'imitators' of God in "love" (Ephesians 5:2): God's essential character (1 John 4:16). AS DEAR CHILDREN - Greek, 'as children beloved;' to which Ephesians 5:2 refers, "as Christ also hath loved us" ...

1._Be ye therefore followers. _The same principle is followed out and enforced by the consideration that children ought to be like their father. He reminds us that we are the children of God, and that therefore we ought, as far as possible, to resemble Him in acts of kindness. It is impossible not to perceive, that the division of chapters, in the present instance, is particularly unhappy, as it has made a separation between parts of the subject which are very closely related. If, then, we are the children of God, we ought to be _followers of God. _Christ also declares, that, unless we shew kindness to the unworthy, we cannot be the children of our heavenly Father. “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them who despitefully use you and persecute you; _that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven_; for he maketh his su

1,2 Because God, for Christ's sake, has forgiven you, therefore be ye followers of God, imitators of God. Resemble him especially in his love and pardoning goodness, as becomes those beloved by their heavenly Father. In Christ's sacrifice his love triumphs, and we are to consider it fully....

CHAPTER V. _Christians should imitate their heavenly Father, and walk in_ _love, after the example of Christ_, 1, 2. _They should avoid all uncleanness, impurity, covetousness, and_ _foolish jesting, and idolatry, because these things exclude_ _from the kingdom of God_, 3-7. _The Ephesians were once in darkness, but being now light in the_ _Lord, they are exhorted to walk in that light, and bring forth_ _the fruits of the Spirit; and to have no fellowship with the_ _workers of iniquity, whose evil deeds are manifested by the_...

BE YE THEREFORE FOLLOWERS OF GOD - Greek, “Be imitators - μιμηταὶ mimētai - of God.” The idea is not that they were to be the friends of God, or numbered among his followers, but that they were to imitate him in the particular thing under consideration. The word “therefore” - οὖν oun - connects this with the previous chapter, where he had been exhorting them to kindness, and to a spirit of forgiveness, and he here entreats them to imitate God, who was always kind and ready to forgive; compare Matthew 5:44; As he forgives us Ephesians 4:32, we should be ready to forgive others; as he has borne with our faults, we should bear with theirs; as he is ever ready to h

EXPOSITION EPHESIANS 5:1 BE YE THEREFORE IMITATORS OF GOD, AS CHILDREN BELOVED. These words are closely connected with the preceding. In Ephesians 4:32 he had urged the example of God in one very momentous matter; he now urges it in a more general sense and on another ground. We ought to forgive men because God has forgiven us—all admit that; but moreover, we ought to imitate our Father in his forgiveness and in his loving spirit, be-because beloved children should always imitate, and will always strive to imitate, what is good in a beloved father. Forgiving love is one of the great glories of our Father; it has been made peculiarly attractive in our eyes, because it has been exercised by him towards us; every consideration, therefore, ought to ind

BE YE THEREFORE FOLLOWERS OF GOD,.... Not in his works of infinite wisdom and almighty power, which is impossible; but in acts of righteousness and holiness, and particularly in acts of mercy, goodness, and beneficence; as in forgiving injuries and offences, and in freely distributing to the necessities of the saints; as the connection of the words with the preceding chapter, and the instance and example in the following verse show: and this should be done by the saints, AS DEAR CHILDREN; and because they are such by adopting grace; being predestinated unto the adoption of children, in the eternal purpose of God, and taken into that relation in the covenant of grace; and which is declared and made manifest in regeneration, and by faith in Christ Jesus: and they are dear, or beloved children, being loved with an everlasting and unchangeable love, and which is the spring and source of the...

Ephesians 5:1. _Be ye therefore followers of God,_ Or, imitators of God,- Ephesians 5:1. _As dear children;_ Children are naturally imitators. They are usually inclined to imitate their father; this is, therefore, a most comely and appropriate precept: «Be ye therefore imitators of God, as dear children.» Ephesians 5:2. _And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savor._ What a path to walk in! «Walk in love.» What a well-paved way it is! «As Christ also hath loved us.» What a blessed Person for us to follow in that divinely royal road! It would have been hard

3. THE WALK IN HOLINESS AND RIGHTEOUSNESS Chapter S 4:17-5:21 _ 1. Not as the Gentiles walk (Ephesians 4:17)_ 2. The putting off and putting on (Ephesians 4:20) 3. Followers of God (Ephesians 5:1) 4. Exhortations (Ephesians 5:3) At this point the exhortations to walk in separation begin. The “therefore” of Ephesians 4:17 refers us to the “wherefore” of Ephesians 2:11. What Gentiles are in their natural c

EPHESIANS 4:25 TO EPHESIANS 5:2. PRECEPTS OF THE NEW LIFE. Away then with lying, resentment, stealing, foul talk, bad temper, lust. Remember the common membership (Ephesians 4:25). Give the devil no scope (Ephesians 4:27). Do not grieve the Spirit (Ephesians 4:30). Be kind, tender-hearted, forgiving remembering the Divine forgiveness (Ephesians 4:32). Be imitators of your heavenly Father and walk in love, remembering the love of Christ and His oblation of