Walk In Love Series

Quote: F. B. Meyer comments: “In love so measureless, so reckless of cost, for those who were naturally so unworthy of it, there was a spectacle which filled heaven with fragrance and God’s heart with joy". (F.B. Meyer, The Heavenlies, p. 25.)

The Lord Jesus pleased His Father by giving Himself for others. The moral is that we too can bring joy to God by giving ourselves for others. As Charles D. Meigs said: "Others, Lord, yes, others! Let this my motto be; Help me to live for others That I may live like Thee". (Charles D. Meigs. as quoted in MacDonald, W. (1995). Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments. (A. Farstad, Ed.) (p. 1941). Nashville: Thomas Nelson. 25.)

3) The Perversion (Ephesians 5:3–4)

Ephesians 5:3-4 [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. (ESV)

It should not be surprising that the misguided quest for that kind of love leads inevitably to immorality and impurity, because that kind of love is selfish and destructive, a deceptive counterfeit of God’s love. It is always conditional and is always self–centered. It is not concerned about commitment but only satisfaction; it is not concerned about giving but only getting. It has no basis for permanence because its purpose is to use and to exploit rather than to serve and to help. It lasts until the one loved no longer satisfies or until he or she disappears for someone else. Immorality and impurity cannot be sanctified or modified into anything better than what they are, which is wickedness—a crime against the holy God and the loving Savior. In 1 Corinthians 5:1–5 and 6:13–20 Paul shows that there is no place for that in the Christian life.

Porneia (immorality) refers to all sexual sin, and all sexual sin is against God and against godly love. It is the antonym of enkrateia, which refers to self–control, especially in the area of sex. It refers to inappropriate sexual activity of any kind (extra-marital, pre-marital, homosexual, or bestial) (Utley, R. J. (1997). Paul Bound, the Gospel Unbound: Letters from Prison (Colossians, Ephesians and Philemon, then later, Philippians) (Vol. Volume 8, p. 125). Marshall, TX: Bible Lessons International.).

Loss of sexual self–control leads to its opposite, which is immorality and impurity. Akatharsia (impurity) is a more general term than porneia, referring to anything that is unclean and filthy. The other ten times the word is used in the New Testament it is associated with sexual sin. It refers to immoral thoughts, passions, ideas, fantasies, and every other form of sexual corruption.

As Paul previously mentioned in Ephesians 4:19, covetousness/greed is inseparable from impurity. Every form of sexual immorality is an expression of the self–will, self–gratification, and self–centeredness of covetousness/greed. It is by nature contrary to love, which is self–giving. Immorality and impurity are but forms of covetousness/greed in the realm of sexual sin. They are manifestations of sexual covetousness and express counterfeit love which is really hate, since love seeks the purity of others and is unselfish. The way to avoid coveting others’ possessions is to concentrate with thanks upon the good things the Lord has given (Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (p. 2270). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.).