Ephesians: His Glorious RichesSample

Paul reminds the Christians in Ephesus that God has saved them from the world and they must live holy lives. He drives this home with three calls to live in a godly manner (5:1–14). 

The first command, which we see in this passage, is to ‘walk in the way of love’ (v. 2). As Christians, we are dearly loved children who are called to live a holy life, characterised by following God’s example and pouring out our lives in love for each other (vv. 1–2). Walking in love means that at every step of our lives we will ask the question, ‘What is the most loving thing to do in this situation?’ This will always be that which most conforms to God’s will as revealed in Scripture. 

Paul immediately begins to apply this to our sexuality. Sex is neither sinful (God created it as a good gift) nor an entitlement (we can be fully happy and fulfilled human beings without sexual intimacy). Yet there is the danger of sexual sin, which we must avoid. Paul highlights two areas:

There are sins of action or intention (v. 3). We must avoid sexual intimacy outside the strict confines of the exclusive, lifelong relationship of marriage between one man and one woman. We must avoid impurity – anything in thought or deed that makes us unclean. We must avoid greed, which is using another person for our own selfish pleasure. 

Additionally, there are sins of speech (v. 4). These include obscenity – innuendo and filthy speech; foolish talk – jokes which make light of sexual sin; and coarse joking, whether sleazy repartee or sophisticated banter. 

Paul addresses these issues in some depth because of the prevailing immorality of first-century Ephesus and because of the sinfulness of the human heart. Why is it important that we should comply? Those who live like this will be excluded from God’s kingdom (v. 5). 

Note that this refers to a lifestyle of sin in which there is no repentance (1 Cor. 6:9–10; Rev. 21:8.); it does not refer to uncharacteristic lapses. If we fail, we can be forgiven (1:7; Ps. 32; 51). Yet the unrepentant immoral person will be exposed to God’s wrath (v. 6). People may scoff at the Christian’s sexual ethics or at their concept of future judgment, but the wrath of God is a present reality (Rom. 1:24, 26, 28) and a future danger (1 Thes. 1:9–10). We cannot avoid contact with people who see things differently, but we should not follow their lifestyle (v. 7).

Reflection

How can you remain pure in an impure world (Ps. 111:10; 119:9, 11; 2 Cor. 10:3–5)?