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Walk in purity - biblical sexuality and light Daniel Patz, Lead Pastor Grace Church, Sunday Worship Ephesians 5:3-14 November 15th, 2009
Ephesians 5:3-14 But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. (4) Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. (5) For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. (6) Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. (7) Therefore do not become partners with them; (8) for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (9) (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), (10) and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. (11) Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. (12) For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. (13) But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, (14) for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, "Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." INTRODUCTION This passage is has many similarities to the past passage. Paul continues to instruct the church on holy living (after he had told them to live in unity). He begins a new section or paragraph and he instructs them to live in the LIGHT in regards to sexuality. This is a long paragraph or section, but I want to take it all together because it fits together. He is making a big point – seen in verse 8. “Walk in the light” To go through this passage I want to look at 3 things that are scattered throughout this section: - Don’ts - Do’s - Motivations DON’TS § Don’t let sexual immorality and impurity be named among you. (Don’t do it) – Don’t give reason for people to accuse you of this sin. o Porneia: any type of sexual sin, adultery, pornography, prostitution, promiscuousness, sex outside of marriage, homosexuality o Sadly, it is named among those who call themselves Christian today o This is the opposite of the love that is commanded and modeled in verses 1-2 § Don’t let covetousness be in your life – Idolatry o Covetousness: greedy desire to have more, covetousness (Col 3:5 – Idolatry) o Could be talking about the heart of lusting – the heart of sexual immorality § Don’t Use Filthy talk – “filthiness, foolish talk, or crude joking” o Inappropriate, talk about sinful sex in wrong and unedifying ways o Talk that demonstrates I WANT MORE § Don’t be Deceived by Empty Talk o Empty talkers will tell you that this sexuality is ok – everyone is doing it o TV, Movies, Media o Liberal Christianity § Don’t partner (associate) with those who live this way o Means – take no part in their ways o Be clearly different – it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t love and befriend them for redemptive purposes § Don’t live in the unfruitful works of darkness (similar to above) § Don’t speak casually or lightly about these things o They should not be the bunt of our jokes o They should be taken very seriously DO’S § Speak Words of Thankfulness o Instead of sexual immorality – thank God for the gift of sex o Instead of greed and longing for more and more – thank God for his provisions o Instead of talking boastful and lustful – Thank God for His grace. o We see the need for a heart of GRATITUDE instead of LUST § Walk as Christian of Light o Be full of truth, not hiding o Those who live in sexual sin are always hiding, guilty and not upfront o They use half-truths, they stress over their hypocrisy § Discern What is pleasing to the Lord o Judge, weigh out the matter – think on the things in your life – not what is wrong with this or that but what will bring pleasure to God in these things o We need to examine what we watch, what we talk about and how we talk about it. Relationships? How we give and spend and live – how we covet and are content o This is about putting into application this passage with thought and prayerful dependence on God’s wisdom § Expose Those who walk in darkness o This is tricky statement. I don’t think he means we tell everyone that we see living in immorality that they are a hell-bound pervert. o This means we speak the truth in love but at times we will have to speak hard words (usually in the context of relationship) and we will be honest when we are asked – and we probably will be asked at times because we will live DIFFERENTLY. o This means our lives itself with expose – make those in darkness feel the nakedness of their sins (no pun intended) MOTIVATIONS He sprinkles the motivations throughout this passage. I Think they can be categorized into three types of motivation: Identity, warning, benefits. Identity: § Sexual immorality, impurity and covetousness are NOT PROPER AS SAINTS § Evil talk is out of place… § You were darkness but now you are light in the Lord Every believer has a new identity. Yes they are sinners and this is important for a healthy honesty to look oneself in the mirror and recognize there is still need. But every believer is a child of grace. This means: 1. They Are Forgiven Sinners 2. They Are Empowered People 3. They Are Promised Deliverance The difference this makes is profound. When we say – don’t do that because you are light – it means that we have been greatly loved already and we have been given power and we have a powerful one working in us to deliver us from evil. God is saying to us in our new identity – YOU HAVE ENOUGH. The idols of sex and money say – You DON’T have ENOUGH and I CAN MEET YOUR NEEDS. Warning: § No inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God for the immoral and covetous § Beware – empty words – who wants to listen to empty, vain, futile, lying words § The wrath of God will be upon those who live in this sin… § The way of this darkness if full of unfruitfulness – no one wants to be unfruitful § The ways of darkness is shameful Benefits: § Walking in the light is a way of pleasing the Lord § Walking in the light brings fruitfulness § Walking in the light exposes the darkness and brings light to them – even transformation (evangelistic benefit to the lost)
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