IMITATORS OF GOD

John N Darby

Ephesians 4: 20-5: 21

Christian conduct, as does every duty, flows from the place we are brought into; and is spoken of in Scripture in different ways. Its motive and energy we find in Philippians 3 - Christ in glory as the object we are following after, and in pursuing which everything else is counted as loss and dung. And we get the spirit of our conversation in Philippians 2, and the pattern, too, even Christ come down, and even going down, in lowliness. And then, as representing Christ in the world, we are the “epistle of Christ.” It does not say we ought to be such, but we are, 2 Cor 3: 3. The epistle may be sadly blotted by us, but still, that is what we are “manifestly declared to be.” Here, in Ephesians, we are viewed as brought into God’s presence, holy and without blame; that is, with a nature and character that suit Him, and are the reflection of what He is. And we are seen sitting in the heavenlies “in Christ”; not running to get into glory, as in Philippians 3. Moreover, we are in the same relationship to God as Christ is, and hence, Christian conduct is spoken of in this epistle as what suits this place, and flows from it.

Through the grace and power of God I am brought into His presence, not seeking to get into it, and my duties flow from the place I am in. People speak as though men were on probation, and the day of judgment would prove how it will turn out with them, whether they will be saved or lost. This is all wrong. Of course each is tested individually, by the presentation of the gospel; but the gospel comes to man and addresses him as one already lost, and needing salvation. Men have not to wait till the judgment to know how it will turn out. It has already turned out that I am a lost sinner. God turned man out of paradise when he had sinned; and as far as he could man has turned God out of the world when He came into it in grace, in Christ. Of course God can come into it in power, and will do so; but as far as man could, he has turned Him out. Man is now lost in himself, but God has acted in grace, so that he who believes in Jesus is saved; just the opposite; and it does not need the judgment to prove either the one or the other. Judgment is for my work (Rev 20: 12), and on that ground all are already lost. But salvation is of grace, and is God’s work. What hath God wrought, Num 23: 23! God takes up man as dead in sins, and quickens him: he has a new life, and is “made the righteousness of God,” being brought to God, and set in His presence, in the same relationship as Christ.

Christian duties (and there are such), flow from the new relationship thus formed by grace, and in Christ, and we must first be in the relationship before the duties are there. People make a grievous blunder here: putting the duties as a means of getting into relationship with God. Such a thing would never be thought of in natural things. Men’s minds are clear enough about their own matters; all is simple to them: but when they come to divine things, and having to do with God, all sorts of blunders are made. How absurd it would be for all you people to get to be my children! You might be never so earnest and diligent; but no amount of earnestness would avail to form the relationship. But if you were my children, all would be simple enough, and the duty, too, to act like children. You cannot fulfil the duties of a child till you are one, or show the love of one either. How unbecoming of a servant to jump up and kiss his master! Quite proper in a child. And if we are children of God, then we are to behave ourselves as such; but our duties as children of God do not commence till we are in that place. Of course there are duties that we have as men, but on that ground we are lost. God makes us His children, and then says, ‘Now imitate your Father’. “Be ye followers [imitators] of God, as dear children”. We are brought into God’s presence, and we are to go out into, and through, the world, and show whose children we are: to show His character, and “walk worthy” of Him. “To walk worthy of God”, 1 Thess 2: 12. “Worthy of the Lord”, Col 1:10. “Worthy of the vocation”, Eph 4: 1. God Himself is our pattern, and we are to imitate Him. He loved us when we were enemies, and He causes His rain to descend “on the evil and on the good,” and we are to act in the same manner toward men. I am to be kind to the unthankful and to the evil, for instance: so here, “tender-hearted, forgiving,” and why? because my Father is. I am to forgive as, in Christ, He has forgiven me. In all things I am to look to Him, as revealed in Christ, as my pattern, and imitate Him.

Extract from Helps in Things Concerning Himself, vol 4