Here is my commentary on Ephesians 5:5. I am publishing these once or twice a week, but you can read all of the available articles at our web-site, http://www.new-life.org.au

Ephesians 5:5

“For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure, or greedy person – such a man is an idolater- has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.”

The warning against sin here is particularly strong. Paul certainly wants us to understand that these sins which may not seem to be so grave as, for example, murder or robbery, they are still subject to God’s wrath .

“For of this you can be sure” means there is no doubt, no equivocation, none of those “ grey areas” which we like to insert into God’s black and white judgements.

No immoral person can inherit God’s Kingdom. Any form of marital infidelity or sexual misconduct is anathema to God. All of the sexual deviations that can be imagined undermine the sacredness of marriage and the stability of families.

The world condones, even celebrates, such sins of the flesh, but God condemns them. They elevate the flesh about the spirit, sensuality over spirituality.

The message of Ephesians is that we are holy people, set apart for God. To be holy means that we must turn away from sexual sin.

Likewise, impure people will not enter the kingdom of God. Impurity suggest a mixture. We want a little bit of the world and a little bit of religion. Impure people like to think they can have Christianity as an added extra to their lives without giving up the pleasures of the world.

God is constantly seeking to refine us or purify us. He is looking for a people who are totally dedicated to Him. He will use any means possible to burn the dross out of our hearts.

Life can be hard, but for christians there is always a purpose in suffering. Often it is the fire of refining.

God cannot stand impurity, half-heartedness, or lukewarmness. This is a state of heart that deceives us into believing that sin is not so big of a deal for the christian. After all God will forgive. But God will only forgive when we can come to repentance, and if we justify our sin we will see no need to repent of it.

A greedy person will also have no part in God’s Kingdom. To be greedy is to be an Idol worshipper. A greedy person trusts in the power of their money or other possessions to keep them safe.

Jesus referred to the god of mammon. There is nothing intrinsically wrong with being wealthy, but when our heart is captivated by money or when our trust or our identity is in our wealth, then we have turned material possessions into a false god.

A greedy person finds it hard to let go of their money, to give to the poor, or to support the mission of the church. Such greed can be fatal as Ananias and Sapphira discovered (see Acts 5). Dependency on money stopped a rich ruler from following the way of Jesus.

The people that are described in this verse have no inheritance in the Kingdom of God and of Christ.

We might think that Paul is saying that these people who have presumably professed faith in Christ will get to heaven, but only by the skin of their teeth. They will have no inheritance so they will be like homeless people on the streets of Heaven.

In 1 Corinthians 3, Paul talks about the things Christians build being tested by fire. He says that some people will enter the Kingdom with nothing of value. However, these are not greedy, impure, or immoral people. They are born again christians who have failed to build anything that is of value in eternity. They were not so much greedy or immoral as misguided or lazy or selfish.

This verse simply restates what is a common theme in scripture. A heart that is truly united to Christ will result in a changed lifestyle and a change of focus.

Do we have to be perfectly sinless to enter God’s Kingdom? No, but we do need to be pursuing God, heeding the Spirit of God, and obedient to the word of God.

Key points in this verse

• Immorality impurity, and greed are condemned by God
• Greed is a form of idolatry
• People who follow these things have no part in God’s Kingdom. They will not enter Heaven

Here is my commentary on Ephesians 5:4. I am publishing these once or twice a week, but you can read all of the available articles at our web-site, http://www.new-life.org.au

Ephesians 5:4

“Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk, or coarse joking which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.”

Paul now turns to the specific speech which should mark the conduct of christians.

In our current culture, we have a very low standard for speech, both in private and public settings. It is not uncommon to hear people shouting words which are generation ago were considered obscene and unsuitable for public utterance.

Political and community leaders have been heard using expletives when they mistakenly thought the microphones were turned off.

Even in church meetings, words which 10 or 20 years ago would have raised eyebrows are spoken without any discomfort.

We have freed up epithets related to sex (although a new form of secular puritanical censorship is emerging that says a new set of words are unacceptable) and banned racial descriptions.

The people of God and not controlled by legalism or political correctness. We are, however, to let our speech be directed by a sense of what is “ fitting” or appropriate for the holy saints of God.

Paul says certain forms of speech are “ out of place.” These things are not sinful or morally wrong. They are simply not suitable given our position in God’s Kingdom.

We do not have a list of words that must not be spoken, as these vary from place to place, culture to culture, time to time. Instead, we need to ensure that our thoughts and the words we speak out loud are led by the Holy Spirit.

The word obscenity here refers to speech that would make a morally sensitive person ashamed. Earlier Paul said that some things should not even be mentioned amongst them.

It is hard to pin down what might be intended here without indulging in the thing being forbidden. It could be assumed that various sexual deviances and practices might be included.

This is not to say that Paul is prohibiting discussion of homosexuality, for example. It is important to say that certain activities are not permissible. Where we might cross the line is where we indulge in too much detail or idle speculation .

“Foolish talk” is the sort of meaningless rubbish that a drunken person might babble.

A lot of social banter might come under this category. A little humour might be considered suitable for breaking ice and oiling social interactions. However if our conversation is limited to reciting Monty Python’s “Dead Parrot” sketch then the Holy Spirit may be lacking.

Instead of merely allowing conversation to remain at a shallow surface level, we should allow our interactions to be used for mutual edification, encouragement, and exhortation.

“Coarse joking” is a form of humour which derives amusement at the expense of others. We might think initially of sexual humour, but it includes every form of jesting which puts people down.

The point is that we are meant to be honouring people who are made in the image of God and for whom Christ died. How do we derive laughter at the cost of any person?

Instead of these forms of speech which Paul says are “ not suitable,” we should practice thankfulness.

Everything we have is a gift from the Lord. “Every good gift comes from above,” James tells us.

Any fool can tell a dirty joke or engage in meaningless twaddle. The person of faith will seek to elevate his or her thinking and speaking in order to honour God in all things. In 1Thessalonians 5:16-18, Paul tells us to “ rejoice always, pray constantly, and give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

It is God’s will that we learn to rejoice and give thanks in all circumstances. Whereas the unsaved cannot see a reason for what happens in life, the christian can always see God’s hand in their lives and find reasons to give thanks.

This is not a wilful denial of pain and suffering in life. Rather it is a contentment and celebration that in all things God is with us.

Key points in this verse:

• Some forms of speech and not suitable for the people of God
• We need to build up others with our words, not tear them down
• We should make thanksgiving a feature of our speech

Here is my commentary on Ephesians 5:3. I am publishing these once or twice a week, but you can read all of the available articles at our web-site, http://www.new-life.org.au

Ephesians 5:3

“But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality or of any kind of impurity or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people.”

A more literal translation of this verse is: “ But fornication, and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is fitting among the saints.” (NRSV)

These things, according to Paul, should be so far from our normal thinking that we who are the holy ones of God should not want to even mention them, much less commit them.

It’s might be asked, how can we avoid thinking about sexual immorality, impurity, and greed, when these are rife in our society. Well, they were common enough in the Roman Empire as well. The lusts of the flesh have always and In most places been a stumbling block for Christians.

At the very least, we should make sure that we live a life worthy of our high calling as children of God, putting Jesus first in all things.

We should review our entertainment sources. So many forms of entertainment normalise attitudes of sexuality and greed which are opposed to the holiness of God.

We should monitor our conversations and ensure that our speech does not revolve around sex or desires for new cars, faster computers, and better houses in better neighbourhoods. These are not things that should be at the centre of our thoughts and discussions.

Sexual immorality or fornication refers to the undermining of marriage. Men and women are meant to be faithful to their partners for life. The traditional marriage vows speak of “ forsaking all others for as long as you both shall live.”

Our society glamorises infidelity. Having an affair, hooking up, a bit on the side, booty call, are common terms which denote a generally permissive attitude to sex beyond marriage. Marriage is often seen as confining, boring, and suffocating. Seeing someone else can be liberating, refreshing, exciting.

On the contrary, Paul will, later in this chapter, describe marriage as being a representation of Christ’s relationship with the church. It is impossible to conceive of Christ abandoning the church to have a different covenant with a different group of people. This goes against His nature. Similarly, sexual immorality goes against the nature of God’s holy people, the saints.

The phrase “any kind of impurity” takes the standard further. Here it is not just about unfaithfulness in marriage, but any kind of sexual desire or practice which lies outside of the covenant of marriage.

We might throw into this category such things as pornography, sexualised banter, double-entendre, homosexual acts, prostitution, and much more.

The church is meant to be pure and holy, and a representation of the original pre-Fall state of Adam and Eve.

Our aim should be to pursue Christ, and when we pursue these other things, we miss the mark of our holy calling.

The word covetousness implies a ruthless kind of greed that tramples over the rights of other people in order to gain what is wanted. The classic cases of this in scripture King David’s desire for Bathsheba (2 Samuel chapters 11-12) and Ahab’s desire for Naboth’s vineyard (1 Kings chapter 21). In both cases, covetousness leads to unforeseen consequences, escalating quickly to murder.

The original sin in Genesis was to covet something that God had forbidden. “When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate.” (Genesis 3:6, NRSV)

These things (sexual immorality, impurity, and covetousness) are not fitting the God’s holy people. They relate to the fleshly nature, the old nature which is supposed to be crucified when we come to Christ.

We should not approach these things from a legalistic point of view, laying down laws in a new form of Pharisaism. The solution is not to “mortify the flesh”, but to look to Christ. As we gain a more perfect and exalted vision of Jesus, and make pursuing Him our prime objective then all of these desires will just fade away.

 

Key points in this verse:

• There are some things which Christians should be careful in talking about in their gatherings
• Sexual immorality, impurity, and covetousness should become removed from our thoughts
• We need to monitor our own speech, our entertainment, and our desires to ensure that we are not pursuing the desires of the flesh
• The solution does not lie in legalism, but in putting Jesus Christ at the centre of our thoughts and desires

Here is my commentary on Ephesians 5:2. I am publishing these once or twice a week, but you can read all of the available articles at our web-site, http://www.new-life.org.au

Ephesians 5:2

“And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”

We are to walk in love as Christ loved us. The Christian life is not a series of negatives which constrain our behaviour with boundaries of what we are not permitted to do.

The overarching command is to love God, to love our neighbours, even to love our enemies.

Paul encourages us here to make love such a part of our ethical system that it becomes the focus of our walk along the road of life. We are to walk in love footstep by footstep, day by day, loving those whom we meet.

When we practise love, what is a difficult concept at first becomes a part of our lives. This is not to suggest that love ever becomes mechanical, but the habit of concentrating on others becomes automatic.

This love again is God’s love, the love of Christ or agape love. Christ’s love is unfailing, eternal, and unchanging just as God is unfailing, eternal and unchanging.

In Christ we see how love is acted out at the human level. Christ gave Himself up for us .

Firstly Christ gave Himself up when He left the glorious throne in heaven and became a human being. He took on weakness and the various limitations of being in a body. He was subject to all the appetites of the flesh and also its demands.

Christ gave Himself up by subjecting Himself to the Jewish law, the law of Moses. He who was without sin still had to offer the various sacrifices that were ordained to reconcile sinful people to a holy God.

Christ gave Himself up by humbling Himself under the authority of religious and civil leaders. He was so much greater than they were, yet he obeyed them .

Finally, Christ gave Himself up at the cross. He was beaten, mocked, tortured, and nailed to a cross. Crucifixion was not only an intensely painful way to die, it was a shameful punishment. It was so shameful, in fact, that Roman citizens were not permitted to be crucified.

Christ gave up His divine right to be above such suffering. He gave up any human right to be vindicated and set free, despite the obviously fabricated charges brought against Him.

On the cross, Jesus bore the brunt of the Father’s wrath against sin. This was infinitely greater than the common suffering of all who were punished by crucifixion. The divine Son of God who had known an eternity of intimacy with the Father now found Himself forsaken by God.

Christ carried the burden of every sin committed, every offence against God’s righteousness, since the time of Adam, stretching to our own time and beyond. He suffered the eternity of Hell in six hours on the cross.

Christ gave Himself up to suffer on our behalf. He suffered physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

In His suffering He became a fragrant offering and a sacrifice.

In the Temple, and before that the Tabernacle, there was an altar where fragrant incense was offered continually to the Lord. The smoke from this incense was considered to be pleasing to the Lord.

So Paul tells us that Christ’s death on the cross was a fragrant offering, similar to the smell of incense wafting up to heaven.

Incense is not of itself pleasing to God. A stick of incense is just a stick. It is only when it is burnt that the incense is released. In a sense, the incense must die to release the fragrant offering that pleases the Lord.

In a similar way, the death of Christ released a fragrant offering to the Father. This offering was the reconciliation sinful humanity to the holy God. The achievement of that purpose, which stretched back even before creation, pleased God.

Christ’s death was more than a pleasant smell. It was a sacrifice. Sacrifices achieve various things in the Old Covenant, but the most important of them is atonement.

Atonement means that the death of an animal is accepted on my behalf as payment for my sin. I deserve to die for dishonouring God, but he chooses to accept an animal’s death instead.

The Old Testament describes very detailed procedures for the type of sacrifices required for various sins, as well as the method of slaughter for the animal.

The principle is simple- one sin equals one sacrifice.

Then on the Day of Atonement the sins of the whole nation were laid on the head of a goat which was driven into the wilderness.

Over and over, and in many different ways, the Lord impressed on his people the gravity of sin and their need to be made right with Him.

Now Jesus who is over and above any created being, has been offered as an atonement, the sacrifice, for our sin. He is the Lamb who takes away the sins of the world.

Every sin of every person who ever lived, and who will ever live, has been put to death with Christ on the cross.

He died so that we can live. Because of Christ’s sacrifice my sins are forgiven. I am justified and made holy so that I can enter the presence of God for ever.

We were headed for hell with no hope of rescue, but Christ died and set us on the pathway to Heaven, where we will live with God forever.

This is how much God loves us. He sent his one and only Son to be our sacrifice and our fragrant offering. Because God loves us so much, we two must walk in the love of Christ.

Key points in this verse:

• Walking in Christ’s love prevents us from viewing the Christian life as just a set of rules
• Love can become a way of life when we practise Christ’s love
• Christ gave Himself up for us in His birth, in His life, and above all in His death
• Christ’s death is a fragrant offering pleasing to the father
• Christ’s death is a sacrifice which atones or pays for our sins for eternity