There are those passages in the Bible that speak with a “punch” – with “Apostolic authority” (“Apostolic” with a capital “A” – not a small “a”). Apostle Paul was not “fooling around” when he wrote what he did to the “Christians” in the churches in and near Ephesus – he was “inspired” and spoke directly to the issues, influences and challenges they were facing as “the body of Christ” – the Church in his day and time.
The passage where Apostle Paul addresses His concerns is Ephesians 5:3-12 – a part of my Bible reading this morning during “coffee with the Lord” (you should take time to read it for yourself)…
And nothing has really changed… The challenges and evil influences the Church faced as “the body of Christ” within the Roman culture are in many ways replicated in ours! The temptation today, as then, very often would lead us to compromise in the area of moral purity and distinctive, transformed living in thought, speech and action.
So here goes my attempt to re-present Paul’s challenge…
The expectation:
Christians should be “new and different people” – transformed by faith in Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit. Moral purity is expected from them in sexual matters, speech, humor and the expression of their desires… The “mores” (the evil practices of the broader culture) “should not even be named among them” according to Apostle Paul). Instead “thanksgiving,” holy living and the pursuit of “what would please the Lord” should characterize those who claim to have been “born again!”
And the warning?
“You may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous [and note that this covetousness is in a “moral purity” context] – i.e. “lust”) has no inheritance in the king of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the son of disobedience. Therefor do not become partners with them!” (vss. 5-7)
The expectation and the warning is pretty clear wouldn’t you say? GOD HELP US TO BE A “NEW AND DIFFERENT” PEOPLE BY GOD’S POWER AND GRACE!
Coffee With The Lord 