Ephesians 5:1-21 “Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them.
This morning at church, Pastor Obie continued in our sermon series through the Pauline Epistle of Ephesians, stating that the children of God are to imitate their heavenly Father. Being human, we are natural imitators, because we innately emulate what we like and love. It is instinctive to mimic what our imperfect but loving biological parents do (teaching values, virtues, truth, honesty, integrity, morals, community, courtesy, industry in our work ethic and healthy boundaries) during our formative years and adolescent years for life instruction and become productive adults in society. The same is true about our pure and unblemished loving Creator Father God. In Matthew 5:48 Jesus instructs us imitate God saying, “you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.” The Word of God in the Holy Scriptures of the Bible instructs us to walk in love on paths of sacred righteousness (harmonious godly, holy and right living before the face of God), as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God.
Luke 6:45 declares, “The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil.” Good produces good and evil produces evil. Therefore, in our fallen flesh of Adam we need to consciously and intentionally avoid impurity. The term “sexual immorality” in the Bible is the Greek word “porneia”, meaning any and all illicit sexual thought, word or deed (including adultery, incest, fornication, masturbation, homosexuality, pornography, etc.). Men and women were created by God for sexual purity. Marriage between one man and one women for life was designed and instituted by God and is sacred. Sex outside of the context of marriage is not love. It does not matter what sinful mankind says, because God created man and woman, so sets the standards by which we live. Sexual immorality in any way, shape or form, and all uncleanness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints (Christians, Believers, Followers of Jesus Christ, children of God, and citizen of the kingdom of Heaven) those who have repented of sin, accepted Christ as their Savior, been redeemed by the atoning sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross, and have been forgiven, received salvation and eternal life, been consecrated, blessed, hallowed and sanctified by the Holy Spirit).
For this you know, that no sexually immoral, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. The wages of sin is death. God defines life; Speak life not death. God defines what is good; Speak good, not evil. God defines what is constructive in life; constructively build up, not destroy. Walk in love and please God.
Let's continue Pastor Obie's three part message in the next post.
In Christ, Brian
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