We are supposed to be imitators of Jesus. 👇👇👇 Ephesians 5:1-2 NASB Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; [2] 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. How should we imitate Jesus? Walk in love and service to others. Notice that our love walk is what was emphasized; not our performance -- not our adherence to the commandments. So, Paul also said we should be imitators of himself. 👇👇👇 1 Corinthians 4:15-16 NASB "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. [16] Therefore I urge you, 𝗯𝗲 𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗺𝗲." Why would Paul want us to imitate him? Jesus was born of a woman and born under the law (Galatians 4:4). Our Lord operated while on earth within the confines of the old covenant, because the new covenant wasn't ushered in until Mt. Calvary. Jesus was born by a Jewish mother who was married to a Jewish man, and he was raised as a Jew in a Jewish home, according to Jewish laws and traditions. He kept the Sabbath, honored the feast days and kept the law perfectly. Saul, on the other hand, an old covenant Pharisee, a Pharisee of Pharisees, met the risen and ascended Christ while he was on the road to hunt for Christians he could make examples of, and Saul was changed. He even changed his name identity from the Jewish Saul to the Roman Paul. Led by the Holy Spirit to let go of his dependence upon the law and rely completely upon the presence of God in his life, Paul received the revelation of the mystery of the gospel and grace rather than law became his new paramount value. Rather than teach adherence to the commandments, Paul taught that genuine transformation and exhibition of the Fruit of the Spirit comes through embracing the gift of grace; not striving to be perfect as God is perfect. 👇👇👇 Titus 2:11-12 NASB "For the 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗲 of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people, [12] 𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘂𝘀 to 𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘆 𝘂𝗻𝗴𝗼𝗱𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱𝗹𝘆 𝗱𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗿𝗲𝘀 and to 𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝘆, 𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝗲𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗹𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝗴𝗼𝗱𝗹𝘆 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿 in the present age," I urge you today to change old covenant thinking from a legalistic view that since Jesus kept the Sabbath, I need to keep the Sabbath too, to the liberating new covenant thinking that looks toward the cross and the faithfulness, love and charity of Jesus not your own faithfulness and your own obedience.