Imitators

[B-A-C]

"Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery" -- anonymous

It's interesting how many times Paul tells us to imitate him.
He says this to the Corinthian Gentiles, the Ephesian Gentiles, and the Thessalonian Gentiles.

1 Cor 4:16; Therefore I exhort you, be imitators of me.
1 Cor 11:1; Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.

Paul also says to be an imitator of God.

Eph 5:1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children;
1 Thes 1:6; You also became imitators of us "AND (emphasis mine)" of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit,

The thought here is that Paul tried to be like Christ. In fact 1 Cor 11:1; says this exact thing.

Paul told the Thessalonian church to be imitators of the Christian (Jew) church in Judea.
1 Thes 2:14; For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, for you also endured the same sufferings at the hands of your own countrymen, even as they did from the Jews,

So if Paul tried to be like Jesus, and told us to be like him also, what does that look like?

Matt 5:48; "Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
John 5:19; Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner.
John 8:19; So they were saying to Him, "Where is Your Father?" Jesus answered, "You know neither Me nor My Father; if you knew Me, you would know My Father also."
John 15:10; "If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love.

1 Jn 2:3; By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments.
1 Jn 2:4; The one who says, "I have come to know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him;
1 Jn 2:5; but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him:
1 Jn 2:6; the one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.

1 Pet 2:21; For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps,

He also tells the Philippia Gentiles to have the same attitude as Jesus about others.

Php 2:4; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.
Php 2:5; Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,

Luke 6:46; "Why do you call Me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I say?

In fact there are verses that say we should be transformed into the image of Christ. (which would also be imitating Christ)
2 Cor 3:18; But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.
Eph 4:13; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.
Rom 8:29; For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;

1 Jn 3:7; Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous;