Proper Orbits Series

Background to passage: It’s been a while since we have been in Ephesians, so a quick overview. First three chapters are deeply theological about Christ’s role in our salvation and in the life of the church. Last three chapters are very practical. In fact the end of chapter four some of the “most Christian” of behaviors are dealt with, especially forgiveness and unity because of the love of Christ. Chapter five does begin with things that we should not be doing in verse three, and we preached the last message in May on a number of those things, but intentionally avoided sexual immorality, so we could devote more time to it in a later message.

A precursor to a message on this topic: the Christian church, Christian doctrine, and evangelicals in particular are known for a biblical stance on arena of life. To the non-Christian world, and to many in the church, an inaccurate line is drawn straight toward shame and guilt, as we ALL struggle with temptation. However, often because of the intensity of preaching and teaching on this topic, even within marriage shame is attached to enjoyment. Don’t hear what I am not saying, nor is the bible saying. Passages all over scripture speak of it’s beauty, even in an erotic sense, without shame.

So let’s re-calibrate our minds if necessary about the good and beautiful aspect of sex, because God made us beings that desire it, and it is one of a billion ways that God has designed for you to known Him, praise Him, enjoy Him, and taste a little bit of heaven before you get there.

Ephesians 5:3–5 ESV

3 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.

Opening illustration: My conviction is that the better you know the supremacy of Christ, the more sacred and satisfying and Christ-exalting your sexuality will be. I have a picture in my mind of the majesty of Christ like the sun at the center of the solar system of your life. The massive sun, 333,000 times the mass of the earth, holds all the planets in orbit, even little Pluto, 3.6 billion miles away. So it is with the supremacy of Christ in your life. All the planets of your life—your sexuality and desires, your commitments and beliefs, your aspirations and dreams, your attitudes and convictions, your habits and disciplines, your solitude and relationships, your labor and leisure, your thinking and feeling—all the planets of your life are held in orbit by the greatness and gravity and blazing brightness of the supremacy of Jesus Christ at the center of your life. If he ceases to be the bright, blazing, satisfying beauty at the center of your life, the planets will fly into confusion, a hundred things will be out of control, and sooner or later they will crash into destruction. -Piper, Sex and the Supremacy of God

Main thought: The passage deals with immorality that shouldn’t be named or practiced among the believers at Ephesus, but this morning in addition, I want to emphasize that the scripture should not be burdened with baggage that it is often saddled with; marital intimacy (which does not only include physical intimacy) is beautiful and a key to a strong marriage.

1) Our Culture is a Cesspool (v. 3-4)

Ephesians 5:3–4 ESV

3 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.

1) Our Culture is a Cesspool (v. 3-4)

Explanation: In the last 50 years or so the rapid change of the moral needle in society has created a difficult world for us to walk in our society. The move of sex from the beautiful confines of the marital bedroom into bathroom stalls of airplanes and one-night stands with first names only is unimaginable; but now normalized, accepted, and usually celebrated. Entertainment, advertising, academia, politics has pushed an agenda of about every kind of biblical perversion of sin—adultery, fornication, lust, homosexuality (and the rest of the LGBTQ+ movement), pornography, sex trafficking, child abuse, rape, and then some that I won’t mention.

Argumentation: Read the Song of Solomon, read Ezekiel 18, read 1 Corinthians for it’s prohibitions and it’s affirmations, we will see the beautiful culmination of marriage at the end of this very chapter