Ephesians 5:3-5

Ephesians 5:3-5

But let not fornication and all moral impurity or avarice be named in you all – just as is fitting among the holy ones.  Also let not indecent behavior, foolish talk, or vulgar speech – which is not right – be named, but rather thanksgiving.  For know this while having knowledge: that all fornication, moral impurity, or avarice – that is, an idolater – does not have an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

In verse 3 we hear Paul talking about being “fit among the saints.”  Paul isn’t talking about this as if there were a bar of achievement that we have to reach.  Remember, neither we nor Paul believe in works righteousness.  It’s not like we have to do certain things and live a precise way to be saved.  We are saved because Jesus died for our sins on the cross!  That being said, God is holy and holy means “separate.”  So if God is within us, we should respond by living in a manner that respects a certain morality.  To put it bluntly, if God is holy and we are to be God’s holy ones then we need to live according to a moral standard that is separate from the rest of the world.

What morality do you think Paul is talking about here?  Why is it important to understand that this call to live as the holy ones live is not a work-righteous call?  Would you call your life a “life fitting among the holy ones?”

Second Thought:

In this section Paul gives us three images of improper behavior to focus upon.  He tells us about fornication (literally the noun is pornos, πόρνος, from which our English word pornography comes).  Fornication is simply any sexual act outside of marriage.  In Christian terms it is a sexual act performed with another person by someone who is single, divorced, or even married but doing the act with someone other than the person’s spouse.  The next word is moral impurity (literally, uncleanliness).  This is a word that includes any act or choice that makes you unclean in the presence of God.  The last major word that Paul focuses upon is avarice.  Avarice would include all kinds of greed and coveting.  Essentially, it is the passionate desire to possess either things that are not ours to possess or things that are more than we truly need.  No wonder Paul calls this idolatry!  But if we look at these three concepts, hear is what we can hear Paul telling to us.  Most human beings will struggle with either sexual sin, making ethical decisions, or wanting more than they need.  In fact, I think it is fair to say that most human beings struggle with more than just one of those things.  This is why Paul tells us to exclude these things from our life.  If we can learn to put these areas under control, then God can really use us to bring much help to a broken world!

With which of these three concepts do you personally struggle?  How do you know that you struggle there?  How can you help ensure that struggle is won in a godly manner?

Third Thought:

Paul lowers a drastic boom in the last verse of this section.  There is no place in the kingdom of God for people who live according to these three areas.  We must be careful here.  Again, we do not want to slide into works righteousness.  Remember, none of us live a good enough life to be saved on our own merit.  Rather, we are saved by Jesus Christ.  So what is Paul saying?  Paul is telling us that we should not live in a way that reinforces this behavior.  We should not live in a way that gives the impression that such behavior is acceptable.  We should not practice this behavior and say, “Oh, God will forgive me anyway.”  We should not give permission for these areas to live in our life!  Yes, they may occasionally happen; but we should repent of them, not accept or embrace them!  God has called us to humble obedience of His ways, not to some exploitation of His grace!

Do you exploit the grace of God?  Where in your life are you not living in humble obedience to His ways?

Passage for Tomorrow: Ephesians 5:6-10