Note 1 at Eph. 5:1: Paul is using a different reason for serving God than most people would use. He is encouraging the Ephesians to walk in love (vv. 2-4) because they are God's children and it is their nature to act like their Heavenly Father. He wasn't using the motivation of fear that is so commonly used today. When fear is our motivation for serving God, it brings torment (1 Jn. 4:18). If Christians just had a true revelation of who they are and what they have in Christ, they would live holy lives out of love without the negative side effect of fear (see note 15 at v. 8, p. 1129).

Note 2 at Eph. 5:1: Paul had just spoken in the previous verses that we should put off (see note 15 at Eph. 4:24, p. 1123) the old man and put on the new man (see note 8 at 2 Cor. 5:17, p. 1005). He detailed some of the ways we were supposed to do that and culminated them by saying we should love others by walking in forgiveness even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven us (see note 28 at Eph. 4:32, p. 1125). In others words, we should imitate God (see ref. a at this verse).

How can we imitate God? We can do it because we are God's children. A child of God acts like God because of who he or she is. Children imitate their fathers. If we are dear or good children, we will imitate God. As a much loved child seeks to please his Father, so also the children of God should seek to please their Heavenly Father.

The Living Bible translates this verse, "Follow God's example in everything you do just as a much loved child imitates his father." Believer's should do and exhibit the likeness of their Father.