Imitating God

Aim: To more closely imitate God in everything.

Doctrine: Because the church is familialy related to God, we imitate Him. Our emulation of Christ will not be perfect (in this life), but it will nonetheless be real (as we share in His attributes).

Exegesis: How the church's imitation of God works: since we possess Christ's spiritual ''DNA'' (v. 1), we act as He does (in sacrificial love) (v. 2), and we conform our lives (by grace) to His values (vv. 3-4).

Further application: How to imitate God in a fallen world: live in the gospel principle (of Christ's full satisfaction for and of His church), love what Christ cherishes, and despise what He abhors.

Key verse: v. 1 ''Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.''