Ephesians 5:1-2

5:1

… therefore … – the result or summary of the foregoing series of six commands is this:

Be imitators [NLT: Imitate] – another imperative command; copy, act like, follow the example of

of God – as before, I/we can never attain to this mark, but I feel called to aspire to this high calling and I think the calling is for all who claim the name of Christ

as – in the style of, or it could be: because [NLT] – since, as a result

dearly – high value, precious, close to the heart

loved – recipient of His beneficial acts, viz., atonement, grace, et al.

children – The fact that I have been adopted [as distinguished from biological entry] into God’s family does not diminish the fact that I am His child. But unlike human adoption, He has not only given me His name, He has also given me His nature. Now He calls me to implement, put into operation, that Christ-like nature He imparted to me. Then I will not only be His child through legal adoption, but also I will be His child in nature as I act, live as His child and thus demonstrate His attitude.

5:2

and – in addition, or in this context it could suggest evidencing the former by doing the latter

live a life – lifestyle, regular pattern of behavior

of – characterized by

love – actions, deeds, done on behalf of, for the benefit of others

just as – in the same manner as, in imitation of. Imitating (v. 1) the God who is love will manifest as copying His acts of love.

Christ – Messiah, God in the flesh, Emmanuel, God with us

loved – acted on our behalf, with our best interest in mind

us – while I was still a sinner, trapped in sin’s chains

and – God’s love was not marked by a warm, fuzzy feeling but rather by action, specifically...

gave – Philippians 2 tells me Christ not only gave, He also emptied. But this verse really goes even farther. Give: let go of, abandon any claim to; this is no longer mine; you can do with it whatever you choose

himself – Not just emptied, as incredible as that is. But more: let go of, abandoned all claims to his own person

[gave] up – i.e., offered up as a sacrificial offering

for – on behalf of, for the benefit of—thus an act of love

us – sinners, rebels, self-centered

as a – in the style of

fragrant – pleasant aroma

offering – “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” I’m picturing OT offerings, which were given for many different reasons. But when John the Baptizer called Jesus the “Lamb of God” he clarified that Jesus’ offering of His own person would function eternally in the role of a sin offering a la the OT, vicariously taking away the sin(s) of those who identify with the sin offering by faith.

and – in addition

sacrifice – killed in place of another; initially, at root, sacrifice means that it costs the giver, the giver experiences a loss when he gives it. But the faith concept woven into the OT sacrificial system evolved into the belief that the sacrifice—lamb, ram, goat, heifer, doves, et al., took the place of the designated beneficiary.

to God – God in Christ, God the Son, offered Himself to God the Father. Somehow this boils down to God sacrificing Himself to Himself on behalf of me—who neither knew Him nor cared about Him. “Amazing love! How can it be? That Thou my God shouldst die for me!”