Imitation (Christianity)

The words "imitation" and "image" have the same root, so that imitation of something or someone involves the reflecting of some or all of their attributes. Christians are encouraged to imitate Christ as part of the process of [sanctification]

, so that their lives are a reflection or image of the life of Christ in his sonship of God and in his virtues, behaviour and intention. As is recorded in the first chapter of Genesis, "God created man in his own image". Imitation involves not simply the focus of spiritual and moral attention on the example of Christ, although this is important; it also implies the conforming or moulding of the life of the Christian, through grace, to the likeness of Christ.