Thank you for the question of following God’s example in Ephesian 5:1, “Why does the apostle Paul ask us to follow God’s example in Ephesians 5: 1?”
As one reads the preceding and the following verses of Ephesians 5:1, the Apostle Paul states the reason of selfless love for others are to be the hallmark of Christians.
The text says this in Ephesians 4, “32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. 5.1“ Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God” (A searchable online Bible in over 150 versions and 50 languages).
The text is calling believers to be compassionate and forgiving to each other. When a person is offended, the natural response is shutting down one’s kindness and seek revenge for the hurt that one The natural motto is “Hurt for Hurt, Pain for Pain.” In contradistinction to our natural tendencies, God set forth the model for us. God didn’t seek immediate retribution, but chose to forgive us when we were in debt to him. He went beyond giving us more time. He sent the solution to sin by sending his One and Only Son to pay the debt of sin so that He can forgive us. It is this gracious kindness and forgiveness action of God that believers are to follow in their lives.
Furthermore, the Apostle Paul states that his followers are to walk in the way of love. This is epitomized of Christ’s love for us by freely giving himself as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. The Apostle John states in John 13, “It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end” (NIV). Jesus demonstrated his love and humility by washing the disciples’ feet even to the death on the cross. There is no greater love than for one to lay down his life for another person. Jesus did that while we were still sinners, not his friends!
SUMMARY: As recipients of God’s sacrifice love for us so followers of Jesus Christ are to demonstrate the compassionate and sacrificial love to others.
For more perspectives:
https://www.quora.com/Why-does-the-apostle-Paul-ask-us-to-follow-Gods-example-in-Ephesians-5-1