EPHESIANS 5 vv3-7

Love not lust                 Chapter 5v3-7

"Walk in love", says Paul, the kind of love so vividly demonstrated by Christ in verses 1-2;   he now turns his attention to the alternative worldview of love, which is essentially lust, love of self.   In these verses 3-7 the ideas of fornication....uncleanness...covetousness are prominent.   Elsewhere Paul predicts human behaviour will become progressively acted out as "lovers of their own selves....and lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God..."    This can lead to all kinds of evil and he wants us to understand love in God's terms.   Scripture anticipates such a perversion of the greatest grace of God given to us, by placing side by side true love, and the worldly version of it.

• Romans 12v9   "Let love be without dissimulation, abhor that which is evil, cleave to that which is good."
• Ephesians 5 v1-3   "Walk in love... but fornication and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you as becometh saints."

As the saints of God, those who have been brought into fellowship with Him, there are certain things to be avoided;

• Fornication      The word is "porneia" and where it does not appear alongside of adultery, it refers to all forms of illicit sexual behaviour, including sex outside of marriage, adultery, homosexuality, incest, abuse of minors, bestiality.   This sin is particularly hateful to God, and it appears at the head of almost every list of evils in scripture.   Examples are Romans 1v29;   1 Corinthians 6v9-11;   Galatians 5v19;   Ephesians 5v2;   Colossians 3v5;   Revelation 21v8 and 22v15.   The God who created sex for the pleasure of man and the procreation of children, has spelled out the limits in which it will be enjoyed.
• Uncleanness      If fornication is the act, uncleanness is the thought, and this is just as hateful to God.   Jesus taught in Matthew chapter 5 that lust in the heart is tantamount to the act.   God defines such thoughts as uncleanness in His sight.   We cannot avoid evil thoughts, but we can avoid them becoming public, which is Paul's concern here.
• Covetousness       "pleonexia"   the desire to have what belongs to others.   We are to be content with such things as we have;   the biblical perspective is that we have what God has given to us, and that should be enough.   At the root of covetousness is dissatisfaction with what we have been given, knowing that what we have is by the gift of God.   This could refer to possessions, talents, family connections etc.   The warnings are clear... Psalm 10v3 "The Lord abhors the covetous..."   Jeremiah 22v17-19 "...Thine eyes and thine heart are not but for thy covetousness....they shall not lament for him....he shall be buried with the burial of an ass..."   Luke 12v15 "Take heed and beware covetousness."   Paul was an example of the opposite...Acts 20v33 "I have coveted no man's silver or gold or apparel."   1 Timothy 6v10 warns "The love of money is the root of all evil, which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."    Hebrews 13v5 says it all "Let your conversation(behaviour) be without covetousness and be content with such things as ye have; for He hath said I will never leave you nor forsake you."
• Filthiness, foolish talking, jesting      These things says Paul are "not convenient", or not proper for the Christian.   Paul uses this same word in Romans 1v28 and Philemon 1v8.  Obscenity, suggestive language; silly talk, idle banter; joking, witticism in a vulgar sense, glorifying folly, leading to an acceptance of the vulgar commonplace.   Instead of light, insincere, banter to engage in giving of thanks to a faithful Creator.

Those who engage in such a lifestyle, have no future inheritance in the kingdom of God.   Sexual immorality, filthiness of thoughts, covetous practices, if indulged as a lifestyle, will debar a person from the kingdom because no truly saved person will continue to live in that way.   Paul sounds the final warning that because of these things the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.   Those who are saints just do not live like this.   Salvation is not of works, but it is "unto good works".   There are many deceivers who will say otherwise, says Paul, do not be deceived!   Those of us who are saved are to live lives commensurate with our calling, it will not do to be partakers with the children of wrath.

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