Contradiction with Matthew 5:48
Ephesians 5:1 calls believers to be followers of God as dear children, while Matthew 5:48 instructs them to be perfect like their heavenly Father, implying a higher standard beyond mere following.
Matthew 5:48: Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
Contradiction with Romans 3:23
Ephesians 5:1 calls for imitation of God as dear children, suggesting achievable conduct, whereas Romans 3:23 states all have sinned and fall short of God's glory, indicating a contradiction in the nature of human ability to imitate God.
Romans 3:23: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Contradiction with 1 John 1:8
Ephesians 5:1 encourages believers to be like God, implying a state of purity, whereas 1 John 1:8 acknowledges that claiming to be without sin is deceptive, contradicting the possibility of a sinless imitation.
1 John 1:8: If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
Contradiction with Ecclesiastes 7:20
Ephesians 5:1 encourages following God, suggesting righteousness is attainable, while Ecclesiastes 7:20 declares there is no righteous person who does good and never sins, contradicting the notion of being a follower in perfection.
Ecclesiastes 7:20: For [there is] not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.
Contradiction with Proverbs 20:9
Ephesians 5:1 promotes the idea of being followers of God, yet Proverbs 20:9 questions who can claim to have a pure heart and be clean from sin, directly contradicting the concept of consistently following a perfect God.
Proverbs 20:9: Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?