“Followers” in the King James refers to being “imitators” of God. We were created in the image of God and are supposed to have a life that imitates God. This is sometimes at odds with our flesh in how we respond to the world around us.

When I am upset, my flesh wants to stay upset but God’s Spirit in me wants to be at peace.

My flesh cries out for retribution, but God’s Spirit in me cries out for forgiveness.

“As dear children” is saying that we are God’s “beloved” children. He esteems us highly and claims us as His own. We do not belong to this world or to Satan. We are God’s “beloved children”. We have both denied and have been ignorant of our true Heavenly Father, having been separated from Him in our minds by our sinful choices and a lack of faith.

“Imitation” has strong ethical ties in scripture. Imitating what is good should be above imitating what is evil. Imitation seems to be a concept completely foreign to the Hebrews of Bible times. The term seems to be used more by Paul in the New Testament than anywhere else in scripture.

Likely, the Hebrews didn’t see imitation the same way as the Greeks. They considered imitation to be related to something that is fake or a false representation of something authentic. Paul emphasizes the importance of imitating Christ.

Christ has loved us first and has given Himself as a sacrifice for the sins of the world once and for all. The scripture talks about this being a sweet smelling savor to God.

Incense and perfumes were an important part of culture in Bible times, just as they are today.

Sacrifices pleasing to God were said to be a sweet odor to Him, whereas unacceptable sacrifices were not.

Jesus being the perfect sacrifice once and for all for us is said to be a sweet-smelling odor to God.

Hosea‬ ‭6‬:‭6‬ says, ”For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.“

‭‭Jesus mentions this scripture as well, stressing the importance of understanding what it means.

God desires for us to be merciful and loving towards one another more than any kind of offering or sacrifice we could give.

If we give money to the church, but treat people badly, our offering is meaningless.

If we claim to love God, and yet hate our fellow man, we fail to meet God’s standard.

Jesus was the sacrifice that we could not be.

Jesus was the offering that God could accept in our place.

We were never good enough and could never be good enough to be justified when compared with the righteousness and holiness of God.

How wonderful it is that Jesus has made us righteous, holy and justified in the eyes of the Father.