I Want to Be Like God When I Grow Up
Children often “dream” about what they want to be when they grow up… What do Christians want to be when they “grow up?” From Spiritual infancy (1 Pet. 2:2) to being “Full Grown” (Eph.4:14,15)
Is Growing Up to Be Like God a Blasphemous Thought? Genesis 11:1-4 would appear to say so Nebuchadnezzar tried to take the place of God… Dan. 4:28-33 Herod tried to take the place of God… Acts 12:20-23 But if God commands us to be like Him, is it blasphemy?
Matthew 5:48 Passages commanding us to be like God: For “perfect,” think “complete” We must view and treat our antagonists in the same way God viewed us (Rom. 5:6-10)… with: Love Patience Compassion Spiritual concern Matthew 5:48 “Be perfect as I am perfect”
1 Peter 1:13-16 What is holiness? “Be holy as I am holy” Passages commanding us to be like God: Is this possible? See Heb. 12:14 What is holiness? We cannot be this unless we: Are in Christ (Eph. 1:4) Gird up the loins of the mind (1 Pet. 1:13) Have honorable behavior (1 Pet. 2:11,12; Col. 3:12) Walk a certain way (Eph. 5:15-17) 1 Peter 1:13-16 “Be holy as I am holy”
Ephesus 5:1 How can we imitate God? “Be imitators of God” Passages commanding us to be like God: Is there a difference between imitation and impersonation? How can we imitate God? In the way that He loves To love as He does means: We can develop a perfect bond (Col. 3:12-14) We can cover a multitude of sins (I Pet. 4:8) We can know God (1 Jn. 4:7,8) Ephesus 5:1 “Be imitators of God”