Be Pure!
Ephesians 5:1-20
Focus: Christians are to walk worthy of our call by avoiding any hint of sexual immorality; different from the world around us.
Function: To challenge & call Christians to holy living in their sexual purity.
What is it that makes gold . . . pure gold so valuable? Why will people spend exorbitant amounts of money for gold necklaces, bracelets and rings. I have to admit that I was ignorant when it came to jewelry when I found myself looking at gold rings some
years ago. The jeweler had to educate me: there are different levels (karats) of gold– 10k, 14k, 24k. I learned: the more karats you got- the less dollars you’d have left at the end of the day! An important lesson!
And I learned that the karats had to do with the PURITY of the gold. The higher the karat, the purer the gold. That’s why the higher karats were more expensive. The Bible talks about the purity of such things as well. In his instructions on building the tabernacle, God carefully instructed the
Israelites to use pure materials. . .
Exodus 25: 9 Make this tabernacle and all its furnishings exactly like the pattern I will show you. 10 "Have them make a chest
of acacia wood-- two and a half cubits long, a cubit and a half wide, and a cubit and a half high. 11 Overlay it with pure gold, both
inside and out, and make a gold molding around it. ....36 The buds and branches shall all be of one piece with the lampstand,
hammered out of pure gold....38 Its wick trimmers and trays are to be of pure gold. (Exod 25 NIV)
In the Old Testament system of sacrifices- God made careful instruction to the people that their offerings were to be free from
defect; they were to be pure.
When anyone brings from the herd or flock a fellowship offering to the LORD to fulfill a special vow or as a freewill offering, it must be
without defect or blemish to be acceptable. (Lev 22:21 NIV)
Why did God demand purity? Because that’s how he how he created things! He created them to be pure and free from impurities!
Purity is a highly sought-after commodity in our time, isn’t it? We want purity in our jewelry; in our pearls; in our diamonds and in our gold & silver. When someone is having difficulty breathing, many times paramedics will give them pure oxygen– something
their body is rabidly craving, but their lungs can’t get enough of out of the impurities in our air! Water utilities get into trouble when their water doesn’t meet the purity standards set by the government.
Purity is still a highly sought-after commodity, isn’t it? Or is it? I look at the world around us and wonder how far from God’s standard of purity have we come? In many ways, our society ridicules purity and revels in impurity! Just think about it ...
Pornography and 1-900 numbers are a billion dollar industry, today. Standards of modesty and decency with regard to how we dress have all but evaporated in our culture. We have political action committees and other organizations in our country whose
agenda is to promote sexual perversion, deviancy and all types of pornography. Turn on your televisions. In what used to be the ‘family hour’ on American television stations, you’ll now find shows filled with sexual titillation, innuendos, the promotion of
alternative lifestyle. Shows like The Bachelor, Am I Hot: the Search for America’s Sexiest People (both on Disney-owned ABC, by the way), Joe Millionaire, Will & Grace; ALL push the boundaries of decency on the public airwaves?
Well, as I said last week, we can lament and complain about this all we want, but why should we be surprised that the world is behaving like the world? Jesus told us that he was not of this world & that his kingdom was not of this world! This world, John tells
us, is in the control of the evil one (1 John 5:19). Paul told the Corinthians to “Come out from among them”; i.e. those of the world.
(2 Cor. 6:17) The world is going to be the world– now we should do all we can to be salt & light and an influence for God in our
world, but we are FIRST & FOREMOST citizens of the Kingdom; NOT this world!
Paul’s concern in the text that _______ just read to us is not so much that society needs to be reformed (although it certainly might), but that first CHRISTIANS need to be reformed! We are to be DIFFERENT, remember? We are to walk worthy of our call!
Eph 4:1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. (NIV)
And he continues to expound upon that theme of the Christian walk ...
walk worthy of the call by preserving unity among fellow Christians! 4:3
walk worthy of our call by being different; DISTINCT, from the world around us. 4:17
And in today’s text Paul continues the same train of thought and says, “WALK WORTHY OF YOUR CALL BY AVOIDING ANY HINT OF SEXUAL IMMORALITY!”; In other words, “BE PURE!”, he says! That’s part of being different from the world; of being ‘imitators of God.’
Eph 5:1-20
1 Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us
as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. 3 But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of
greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place,
but rather thanksgiving. 5 For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person-- such a man is an idolater-- has any inheritance in
the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are
disobedient. 7 Therefore do not be partners with them.
First, Paul says, Avoid Any Hint of Sexual Sin
Notice, he doesn’t just say “Avoid Sexual Sin”; or “Don’t cheat on your wife”; or “Throw away your subscription to Playboy”-- NO... God sets the bar much, much higher than that! Avoid ANY HINT of sexual impropriety. There should be NO Question about where
you stand as a Christian in regard to sexual sin.
Not a hint of sexual immorality ... (porneia in the Greek) from which we get ‘pornography’; It’s a word used to describe all kinds of sexual sins. The Bible uses it to refer to incest, general promiscuity, prostitution ... and is also used figuratively to describe Israel’s apostasy and worship of idols. The people of God are ‘married’ to God in a sense and to worship anything else is a form of unfaithfulness.
Not a hint of impurity ... again a reference to sexual sin linked with porneia. Not a hint of greed...; literally- “the desire to have more.” How does this fit? When you think about it, greed is at the root of most sin,isn’t it? Sexual sin is a desire to satisfy the lusts of the flesh over and above the will of God. Greed isn’t just about the desire for
money, but the desire for anything that takes the place of God in our lives.
These things are ‘NOT PROPER’ for God’s people! We’re better than that! We know better! That’s not why we were created- to satisfy ourselves! We were created to bring glory to God! In our Language, as well– there should be PURITY! No ‘obscene’ talk-
i.e. talk which is shameful or disgraceful. No ‘foolish’ talk- i.e. ridiculous talk from a fool; someone without understanding; somebody
who doesn’t know what he’s talking about. No ‘Coarse joking’- Paul’s not condemning humor, here, but rather a kind of humor; a
coarse or base humor that’s rooted in indecency; innuendo, double entendres, etc. Such speech is just not fitting for Christians.
Why? Because we are DIFFERENT! What IS fitting, are words of Thanksgiving to God! Why? Because that builds others up and
glorifies God!
Paul reminds us, then, that such people have no inheritance in the Kingdom. They will rightfully experience the wrath of God
because of their disobedience! Therefore, we are NOT to be partners with them/ sharers together with them- in their disobedience!
We’re to be different!
That brings up another question:
How do we Live in a Sinful World and Not Get a Little Stain on Us?
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all
goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of
darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by
the light becomes visible, 14 for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: "Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and
Christ will shine on you."
Vs. 8 has been Paul’s main point all along: Before you knew Christ you were in darkness, but NOW you are Christians- you are
light, so LIVE LIKE IT! Its not that we are light in and of ourselves, but “in the Lord.” Jesus had said, “I am the light of the world.”
Jesus is the light and when we are in Him; when we’ve been resurrected with him in baptism, we share in that light; and as a result
we shine, too! And so fruit of that “Life in the Light” is goodness, righteousness, truth. Those things which should characterize us
as Christians – all themes he’s mentioned before in Ephesians.
So, how do we live in the world? We’re to have nothing to do with the deeds of darkness. Rather, light exposes the deeds; brings
them out! The shameful things which are supposedly done in secret are exposed by the light for what they are: SIN! We live as
LIGHTHOUSES– exposing the sinfulness of the world around us by living lives that are different; that are PURE! Jesus said, "You
are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its
stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and
praise your Father in heaven. (Matt 5:14-16 NIV) Shining our light glorifies our God! Paul commanded the Corinthians to “Flee from
sexual immorality!” (1 Cor 6:18); not just avoid, not just get away from, but FLEE; RUN AWAY as hard as you can! Folks, its that
serious!
Think about what IMPURITY & Sexual Sin has done to people... Adultery destroys relationships! It rips families apart! It kills the
soul! And it doesn’t even have to be an actual physical act! Remember, Jesus said, "You have heard that it was said, ’Do not commit
adultery.’ 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. (Matt 5:27-28 NIV)
Sexual sin can be committed in the heart as well as anywhere! What about that? Some say, “What harm is pornography viewed in
the privacy of one’s own home? It doesn’t hurt anybody.” That’s stupidity talking! “The body is a beautiful thing we should
appreciate,” someone might say. There has been too much research done to the contrary to suggest that pornography is harmless.
Besides simply demeaning people by viewing them as objects, pornography destroys by staying in the brain; by re-ordering even
how one thinks; by leading the mind into acting out in deviant ways. It can consume and become an addiction, especially for men.
Its NOT an appreciation of beauty, but an embracing and feeding of lust. If there is a clear lesson from Jesus’ statement in his
sermon on the Mt. it is that what one does with his mind does matter!
Maybe that’s why Paul continues by contrasting foolish & wise living ...
Be Wise How You Live!
15 Be very careful, then, how you live-- not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are
evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be
filled with the Spirit. 19 Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, 20
always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (NIV)
Don’t be so foolish as to live this way! Live wisely! How do we do that? Make the most of every opportunity; redeem your time
wisely, because there is real evil in this world and if Christians don’t use their time for God, then evil will use it! We try to discern, to
understand what the Lord’s will is by looking at his Word and putting IT into our minds– we let it pattern our thinking. Instead of
being filled with anything else, we are filled with the Spirit! We allow our lives to be lived under the influence of the Spirit; not wine..
Instead of obscene & foolish talk; we talk to one another in Godly talk, building one another up with psalms, hymns, spiritual songs.
And we give thanks to God, with singing, with music in our hearts to God because he has given us everything in Christ Jesus!
That’s a pretty good recipe for walking wisely in the Kingdom and NOT of the world!
Conclusion: Well, I realize that Paul’s admonition to his audience at Ephesus- and to us- is an especially challenging call. Its
challenging because it calls us to be SO different from our culture.
It’s hard to remain pure in a world that constantly bombards our minds with sexually explicit images, thoughts and song lyrics. We
live in a day when just going to the mall can be an exercise in disciplining one’s mind NOT to fall prey to certain advertisements and
posters in the store windows. We live in a day when just opening your e-mail can be a test of character. One no longer has to sink
into the shadows in the shady side of town to find an outlet for pornography. Its right there available on anyone’s computer or on
anyone’s television set. We live in a day when its common, even more & more acceptable to talk openly and publicly of the crudest
of matters. And Christians can be tempted to fall into the pattern of this world . . .
Now might be a good time to pause and remind ourselves that sexual desire is not a bad thing . . . God created us with sexual
desire. But he created it to be enjoyed in the God-ordained relationship of marriage! In fact, the very next section of Eph that we’ll
look at next week talks about the relationship between husband and wife. So, don’t misunderstand, sex isn’t bad. Our world’s mis-
use of it IS! Our world has perverted the pure!
The good news is (as Paul has reminded us in Eph) that this, too, can be overcome & forgiven!
We have a REASON to overcome this temptation & sin! “We have been blessed with every spiritual blessing in Christ” (1:3)
We have the POWER to overcome this temptation & sin! “And that power is like the working of his mighty strength which he exerted in
Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms ... (1:19)
We have been made NEW & ALIVE in Christ! “All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and
following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich
in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions-- it is by grace you have been saved.” (Eph 2:3-5 NIV)
We have been given FULL ACCESS to God through Jesus Christ. We can go to God and ask him for forgiveness because of what
Jesus has done for us. “For through him {Jesus} we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.” (2:18)
And we have one another to lean upon as fellow brothers & sisters in Christ; to help us deal with the temptations that come our way.
“There is one body and one Spirit ...” (4:4); “until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature,
attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” (4:13)
I say to you this morning, if you’ve failed in this area of sexual purity– your family is here for you this morning. God calls you to turn
away from your sin, to come back to him and ask his forgiveness. He’s longing to give it to you!
He wants to restore your relationship with your spouse. He wants to repair your marriage. He wants to heal your soul. But he can’t
do it unless you want him to! Maybe this is something you’ve struggled with for some time and you’d love for God to lift you up out
of it, but you’ve tried to do it all by yourself. I’d say to you this morning- QUIT trying to do it all by yourself and ask God to transform
you! On your knees, ask him to help you overcome! The invitation song that we’re about to sing will be an opportunity for you to
express your need for forgiveness and your desire to overcome temptation, to flee from immorality of every kind and come back to
the Lord!
If you don’t know the Lord, you’ll be surprised at how he changes your life. He takes us from the way we used to live (in darkness;
in futility of thinking; ) and transforms us each day more and more into the image of His Son. None of us are perfect, but we’re trying
to model ourselves after the one who is. If you’ve never committed your life to him by being baptized for the forgiveness of your
sins, then this morning is a wonderful opportunity . . . Won’t you come while we sing this invitation song ...?
