How can we be IMITATORS of God as HIS obedient children, by doing the OPPOSITE of what God the Father has COMMANDED?
We are commanded even in the New Testament to imitate God the Father. Both Messiah and Paul renew this command in the so-called New Testament, or rather the Second Writings of the Whole Testament.
Premise: It’s an inconvenient truth, but what most modern Christians fail to realize is that when they take on a COUNTERFEIT understanding of Grace which teaches them to do away with God’s Laws Commandments and Instructions in the First Writings, (the Old Testament), they are actually training themselves and others to DISOBEY the New Testament, (the Second Writings), at the same time. You don’t believe me? I can easily prove it, without breaking a sweat.
Here are some KEY Instructions, even in the so-called New Testament, (Second Writings):
As it is written:
“Therefore be IMITATORS of God, as beloved children;” (Ephesians 5:1, NASB95 with emphasis)
“As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, “YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.”” (1 Peter 1:14-16, NASB95)
“Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48, NASB95)
Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.” (Colossians 3:12-13, NKJV)
He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.” (1 John 2:6, NKJV)
Now, these are ALL NEW TESTAMENT (Second Writings), Commandments and Instructions, and there are MANY MORE just like those.
Even in the Second Writings, we are CLEARLY instructed to become DOERS of the word, and NOT hearers ONLY, because if we are people who only hear the word and do not practice what we hear from God’s Word, we are then DECEIVING OURSELVES, (James 1:22).
The New Testament, (really they are the Second Writings of the Whole Testament), clearly instructs us to become imitators of God the Almighty Heavenly Father. We are clearly told to grow into, and to take on the nature, the character, and the behaviors of the Heavenly Father, even in the so-called New Testament. Even Paul the apostle clearly tells us that the Almighty CANNOT DENY or CONTRADICT Himself, (2 Timothy 2:13). Therefore, God’s Holiness, His Nature, His behaviors, and His Commandments CANNOT deny each other. They cannot contradict each other. They cannot cancel each other out, even according to Paul the apostle in the so-called New Testament.
Since we are told in the New Testament to become a Holy as God the Father IS Holy; since we are told to learn to imitate His perfection, His forgiveness, His tender mercies, His patience etc. and on and on; how can we even strive to take on the nature, the character, and the behaviors of the Heavenly Father, even while we do the OPPOSITE of what the Heavenly Father commanded us to do in His Word? We cannot take on the nature, the character, and the behaviors of the Almighty, by doing the OPPOSITE of what the Almighty Creator has clearly COMMANDED.
How can we become Holy, as God our Heavenly Father is Holy; how can we become Set-Apart in the same way that God the Father IS Set-Apart, if we refuse to SEPARATE ourselves away from the SAME things which God SEPARATES HIMSELF?
How can we even begin to become Holy as God our Father is Holy; if we refuse to unite ourselves, to the SAME things which the Almighty Creator purposely UNITES Himself? That’s what being holy as He is Holy means.
Since God the Almighty purposely SEPARATES Himself from everything and anything having to do with other deities or other so-called gods, the Christian who follows the Almighty, should also SEPARATE himself or herself, from ANYTHING and everything having to do with the worship of other so-called gods.
How can we be actual DOERS of the New Testament instructions such as Ephesians 5:1; Matthew 5:48; 1 Peter 1:14-16; Colossians 3:12-13; 1 John 2:6; 1 John 5:3; and countless other verses; how can we be DOERS of these New Testament Instructions and Commandments by doing the OPPOSITE of God’s Laws Commandments and Instructions?
When we do away with the Commandments of God in the Old Testament, (the First Writings), we then make it IMPOSSIBLE to even strive for, let alone to successfully obey, the requirements of the Second Writings, (the New Testament).
Brother R Michel Lankford
