Walk As Children Of The Light (Ephesians 5:3-14) Series

Let's start today, by simply reading verses 3-4:

(3) Now, sexual immorality and all uncleanness or greediness must not be named among you,

just as it is fitting for the holy ones,

(4) and shameful behavior and foolish talk or coarse/crude joking,

which aren't proper,

but rather thanksgiving.

(5) For this you know,

knowing that every sexually immoral or unclean or greedy one, who is an idolater, does not have an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

(6) No one must deceive you with empty words,

for because of these things the wrath of God is coming on the sons of

disobedience.

Paul begins this section of Ephesians by listing three sins that we, as God's holy ones, must completely avoid: (1) sexual immorality, (2) all uncleanness, and (3) greed. Paul knows these sins are wrong, and the Ephesians know these sins are wrong. So Paul can begin here, not by saying "don't do these sins" but by saying, "don't even name these sins among you." What does this mean? "Sexual immorality, and all uncleanness or greediness must not be named among you."

All of us appreciate a good story. If someone has something hilarious happen to them, you want to hear the story, right? As I was writing this sermon, msn.com had a big story up about how a runner was attacked by a mountain lion and killed it by choking it out. No one believed him, but when they autopsied the mountain lion, his story checked out.

Crazy.

These are the kinds of stories we find ourselves talking about sometimes at church-- "the things we name among us." And there is nothing wrong with these stories. But sometimes the stories we tell among ourselves have to do with people getting caught up in sin. We say, "Did you hear what so-and-so did?" Or, "Did you hear about that pastor's affair in such-and-such a town?" And then we tell the sordid tale. Probably, we make all right noises as we tell our story. We shake our heads, we go, "tsk, tsk." We say, "What a shame."

But why are we telling this story? We're making all the right noises, saying all the right things, but if we find these stories interesting, I think it says something about ourselves. For all our talk, we find the deceitful desires of sin appealing. We find ourselves drawn to them. We know these sins are wrong; we know we shouldn't do them. But we're like a kid in a candy store, and we find ourselves wanting to get a close look. They're fascinating.

I think what Paul means when he says these sins must not be named among you, because they aren't fitting, is something like this. We hear stories like this, or we know stories like this, and we want to share. Someone else knows these stories, and we want to hear. But these sins are dangerous, and we need to treat them like they are dangerous. So these sins are not proper topics for casual conversation. If you need to warn someone about these sins, then warn them. If you're up front preaching, and the verse is about sexual immorality, you have to warn. If a fellow believer is doing these sins, you need to warn them. But don't be telling stories about celebrities, or people you know, who have been sexually immoral. This isn't the type of thing that's fitting conversation for God's holy ones.

Paul then gives three more sins to avoid naming. "Shameful behavior, foolish talk, and crude joking." These sins aren't proper. Don't name them either. Most of us, I hope, are aware when we start saying really stupid things. We make a joke we shouldn't have, and we feel gross inside afterward. That was dumb. These sins aren't proper; they aren't fitting for God's holy ones.

What is fitting? What is proper? "Thanksgiving." These are the two choices. On the one side, sexual immorality, uncleanness, greediness, shameful behavior, foolish talk, and crude joking. On the other, thanksgiving. I think at this point we need to just stop and think about this. If I was going to make two lists, a list of things to do, and a list of things not to do, I'd put "obedience" on one side, and "sin" on the other.

This wouldn't be wrong, but that's not what Paul says here. He says, "instead of talking about these things in casual conversation, be thankful."

You know you are keeping the right perspective on everything in life when you find yourself regularly thanking God. People who are thankful value what God has done for them. I was dead in my wrongdoing and sin, and God mercifully forgave my sins and made me part of his family in Christ. By all rights, I was the kind of person who was naturally destined for wrath. But God in his love made me his son.