This passage was a very high standard to give the Ephesians due to the context that they lived in. Remember, they lived in an extremely sexual culture that focused on worshipping at the temple of Artemis. It is in this context that Paul writes, ” But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints.” Paul is focusing on selfishness of the flesh, and reminding them that anything outside of the biblical context of marriage is sin.
The terms, sexual immorality, impurity, and covetousness all speak to marring the image of God in His people. When we participate in viewing pornography or any inappropriate act or thought outside of marriage, we hurt the image of God, and it doesn’t “fit us properly” as Christ followers.
Satan, a created being, cannot create anything. He can twist, pervert, or mar amoral things to be immoral. If we are the Imago Dei, Satan is taking mud and throwing it on a valuable work of art.
Verse 4 reminds us that our sexuality should be celebrated as a gift from God in the way it was intended to be used. We need a high and holy view of sex. We must keep it pure. What we think colors our actions. The way we act impacts many around us and our relationship with God. We must practice a sanctified (set apart) holy life.
- Choose boundaries
- Choose biblical community
- Choose accountability
- Teach Truth
- Pray for purity
- Don’t be a passive spectator of your sanctification
- Lay down your idols
We must recognize the difference between association and participation (verse 7). We can be “in the world” but not “of the world”. Why? Verse 8 tells us that we are “children of light”. We are called to expose the darkness (verse 11) and not live a double life. We must put our contemplations in the light of the gospel and them run away from any darkness. Darkness leads to death and destruction, and your family will be impacted.
Discussion Questions:
- Where is your accountability when it comes to sexual temptation?
- Where are you vulnerable to take part “in the unfruitful works of darkness”?
- Many of the young ladies viewed on porn sites are captured through human trafficking. Pray for those girls to find freedom and for those that are trafficking people to be caught.
- Our culture is extremely sexual and immoral. How will you intentionally move towards a holy life?
