A mime

A mime

Any time you see a “therefore,” you always look to see what it is there for?. “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you, and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.”

He is saying,

“Be an imitator of God.”

In what way? In the fact that we walk in His love. We are to be the imitators of God’s love.

Do you know what the word “imitate“ means? It is the word mimetes. It is the word from which we get the English word “mime.” Have you ever seen somebody mime? They don’t say anything, do they? They express it and when they express it, it is so exaggerated that nobody misses what they are trying to say. They haven’t said a word. In other words, what Paul is saying is,

“Don’t talk about His love, walk in His love, live it, express it. Don’t tell everybody you have it, show them that you have it. Do as God does. Mime. In other words, live it out before the world.”

This word is important for us to understand.

Look in 1 Corinthians 4:11-16. We find Paul using this same word and it is very critical to understand it. I just want to make sure you have a real good grasp on what it means to imitate God, particularly God’s love. Paul is going to give you a little context here and then we are going to find the word. He says,

“To this present hour we are both hungry and thirsty, and are poorly clothed, and are roughly treated, and are homeless; and we toil, working with our own hands; when we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure; when we are slandered, we try to conciliate; we have become as the scum of the world, the dregs of all things, even until now. I do not write these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children. For if you were to have countless tutors in Christ, yet you would not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. I exhort you therefore, be imitators of me.”

In other words, do as I do. Express it. Don’t tell me that you love Jesus, show me. I have shown you. I have become the scum of this world because I want to be only one that loves Jesus Christ. You now show me that you love Jesus. Do as I do.

In 1Corinthians 11:1 he says it again:

“Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.”

1 Thes. 1:6 says the same thing.

You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit,

So does I Thessalonians 2:14,

14 For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, for you also endured the same sufferings at the hands of your own countrymen, even as they did from the Jews,

1 Peter 3:13

and who is he who will be doing you evil, if of Him who is good ye may become imitators? (Only in Textus Receptus, this is Young’s Literal translation) (Note)

and Hebrews 6:12.

that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. (note)

Mimetes means “do as I do.”

So what we are seeing here in Ephesians is, do as God does. Imitate God. Mime Him. Don’t talk it, walk it. Express God’s love to one another. That is what the new garment is all about. It shows itself in relationships.

Now I am sure somebody is saying,

“Now wait a minute. Hold on. How in the world am I going to imitate God?”

The word “love” that we are looking at in verses 1-2 is a love that is far beyond what any man could ever attain. No man, regardless of how sincere he is, can work up this kind of love. This is God’s love.

THEREFORE BE IMITATORS OF GOD: ginesthe (2PPMM) oun mimetai tou theou: (4:32; Leviticus 11:45; Matthew 5:45,48; Luke 6:35,36; 1 Peter 1:15,16; 1 John 4:11)

Therefore (3767) (oun) introduces a logical result or inference from what precedes (so, consequently)

Be (1096) (ginomai) means to become or come into existence (to be born). They were already “born” but now were to live as (”be”) newly born ones.

Imitators (3402) (mimetes from miméomai= imitate <> English = mimic) is an imitator, follower, actor, impostor. Plato said a mimetes was one who represents characters. Aristotle said it was one who is like another.

Don’t talk it
Walk it!

A mime is one who acts a part with mimic gestures and action. Have you ever seen somebody mime? They don’t say anything, do they? In other words, what Paul is saying is,

Mimetes means “do as I do.” The present imperative is a command calling for divine imitation to be their way of life. Paul says for us to continually “mimic” God’s attitudes and actions just described (strengthened by His Spirit cf prayer of Ephesians 3:16 - see note).

Remember that when you “mime” you usually let your actions speak in place of your words. How does this truth that apply to being kind, tender hearted, forgiving (see note on Ephesians 4:32). If we are to be like God, we must “mime” Him and let our actions speak louder than our words!

Barclay wrote that

“When Paul talked of imitation he was using language which the wise men of Greece could understand. Mimesis, imitation, was a main part in the training of an orator. The teachers of rhetoric declared that the learning of oratory depended on three things-theory, imitation and practice. The main part of their training was the study and the imitation of the masters who had gone before. It is as if Paul said: “If you were to train to be an orator, you would be told to imitate the masters of speech. Since you are training in life, you must imitate the Lord of all good life.” (cp notes 1 Peter 2:21) (Barclay, W: The Daily Study Bible Series, Rev. ed. Philadelphia: The Westminster Press)

What a lofty and privileged call this is - called to to be imitators of the Living and True God. Oh, Father, forgive us for forgetting all too often who we now are and more importantly “Whose” we now are (not our own but bought with a price to glorify or give a proper opinion of You in our bodies to the sons of disobedience who live in darkness!) Amen.

Jesus gave a similar exalted charge in His Sermon on the Mount…

Love (as your lifestyle = present imperative) your enemies and pray (as a lifestyle = present imperative) for those who persecute you so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous (See notes Matthew 5:44; Matthew 5:45)

Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect (See note Matthew 5:48)

AS BELOVED CHILDREN: os tekna agapeta: (Jeremiah 31:20; Hosea 1:10; John 1:12; Colossians 3:12; 1 John 3:1,2) (Jeremiah 31:20; Hosea 1:10; John 1:12; Colossians 3:12; 1 John 3:1,2)

As (5613)(os) is a comparative particle which points to the manner or character in which the imitation is to be made good, and indicates at the same time a reason for it. They are children of God, experiencing His love and this should motivate them to imitate His forgiveness. Children should be like their father, and love should meet love! How are you doing beloved of God?

Beloved (27) (agapetos from agape) means dear or very much loved (in context by God their Father!). It is a love called out of one’s heart by preciousness of the object loved.

The “Beloved” are those to whom Christ has shown love.

Children (5043) (teknon from tikto= to give birth to) is a word for children that emphasizes the birth relationship. Paul used this word teknon earlier (see note Ephesians 2:3) to point were born with Adam’s depraved nature and were fully deserving of the wrath of God. What a contrast a few chapters makes (and the love of God poured out in these Gentiles hearts)! Now they were in Christ, empowered by His Spirit and motivated by a desire to walk in a manner pleasing to their new Father, God (formerly Satan had been their “daddy”, cf John 8:44