Vice Or Virtue (Part 1) Series

A Vices of Idolatry and Lust (Executed)

Verse: 5Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived.

Word: put to death (nekrōsate) to mortify; to treat as dead; to execute.

Note: Paul boldly applies the metaphor of death (Col. 2:20; Col. 3:3) pictured in baptism (Col. 2:12) to the actual life of the Christian. Paul’s idea is that the body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1Cr. 6:19) and is therefore subject to the leading and unction of the Holy Spirit within the believer. Thus, while the flesh sets its desires against the Spirit and the Spirit against the flesh (Gal. 5:17), b/c the Christian has been crucified w/ Christ (Gal. 2:20), he can overcome the by the blood of the lamb (2 Cr. 5:17) b/c greater is He that is in me, than he who is in the world (1 Jn. 4:4).

Idea: Believers are to make a decisive resolution to put sin to death, bringing the flesh under subjection to the Spirit-filled life.

Verse: In the same way you are to think of yourselves as dead, so far as sin is concerned, but living in fellowship w/ God through Christ Jesus. Rm. 6:11

1 Sexual Immorality

Word: immorality (porneia) illicit sexual activity outside of marriage.

Origin: The English word pornography is derived from this word – a writing or picture about sexual sin.

Originally it referred to prostitution but was later expanded to include all kinds of sexual depravation.

Note: In contrast to the perverse sexual activity often connected w/ pagan idolatrous worship of false gods, Christians are to have a differing attitude regarding the gift of sexuality.

2 Impurity

Word: impurity (akatharsia) uncleanness of thought and action; filthiness or dirty-mindedness;

3 Lust

Word: passion (pathos) a drive or desire that does not cease until it is satisfied physically.

4 Evil Desires

Word: evil desires (epithumian kakēn) a drive or desire that does not cease until it is satisfied mentally. It is sexual perversion created in the mind.

5 Greed (Idolatry)

Word: greed (pleonexia) insatiable selfishness; a covetous spirit with a unquenchable desire for more of what is forbidden. It is the root of all perversion and the defining characteristic of idolatry.

Note: Idolatry is setting anyone or anything on the throne of your life in place of God. Greed places itself above obedience to God setting itself as god which is the root cause of all sin.

Verse: You shall have no other gods before Me. Ex. 20:3

Idea: When people choose sin, they are doing nothing more than seeking to fulfill what they desire and what is pleasing to them. The problem is that the pursuit of my will over Gods’ will stands juxtaposed to the heart and will of God. In essence, people are choosing to worship themselves instead of God, and that is idolatry in it most basic form.

Reasons for Putting Sin to Death

1 The Wrath of God – The full force of God’s wrath will fall upon both sin and the sinner.