THE CHRISTIAN'S PURITY PT 1

Our Responsibility as a Child of God – to live differently than the way the world lives – speaking truth always in love – not grieving the Holy Spirit by our words, actions, desiring sin

Now we look at the Purity that comes from the walk with God –

Walk not in the way the world walks – but being imitators of Jesus Christ – God Himself – our walk should not include selfishness or hostility.

We should sever our identity with Adam – the first man – embrace our identity that represents the very character of God.

Integrity and Unity should be foundational in every aspect of our life

We are ambassadors for Christ – we in a sense speak for Him – it better be the right message!

Never forget where you came from – the old sinful identity – not embrace it but never forget it as to forget what Christ did for you!

The speech we use – the words we use – do the come from the old selfish identity or our new identity in Christ – our speech and our actions reveal who or what is in our heart – who or what we imitate –

Let us pray!

The Christian’s Purity

Ephesians 5:1–5

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. 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.

I. THE CHRIST-LIKE LIFE—vv. 1–2

1. Challenge—v. 1. Follow God in every way – Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.

Greek word here is mimetes – mim ay tace – imitator – here it means imitate God Himself – become like Him

Peter reinforces this idea in 1 Peter 2:21 – For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.

We should desire to be more like Him –

Love

Forgiveness

Grace

Mercy

We should look like His children

Science presentation examples

In 1 Corinthians 11:1 – Paul calls us to this - Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.

God told us this all the way back in the desert

Leviticus 19:2 – And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them, You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.

How we embrace or respond to our challenge – constitutes our course

2. Course—v. 2 – And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Not only speak love – not only be forgiving

Remember Ephesians 4:32 – Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Paul now challenges us to go beyond that – to truly walk in love

Remember what Jesus said in John 13:34-35 – A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

John 15:12 – “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you

1 John 4:10-11 – In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

As Christ loved –

Sacrificed self over others

John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

We are called as Christians to live a Christlike life – but if we are not careful – if we do not check ourselves with Scripture we can fall into a corrupt life.

II. THE CORRUPT LIFE—vv. 3–5

1. Sinful life—v. 3 – But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints.

His Light must be Present – It must replace the darkness that sin desires

Kill the desires of sexual immorality – adultery, fornication, homosexuality, lust –

Greek work here – porneia – we get our word porn from it –

Kill all impurity – lustful desires, profligate living (wild wasteful

Kill all covetousness – excess desire for wealth, success or even other people’s wealth

These desires of the flesh – serious sins of the flesh – cannot exist in the life of a saint

2. Sinful stories—v. 4 – Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.

Filthiness – obscenity – foul language – in the life of the saint there cannot be these

Paul warns the same in Colossians 3:8 – But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.

Foolish talk – drunken talk – buffoonery – ridiculous but amusing talk and behavior

Crude joking – humor in bad taste – smutty talk – degrading others

There is No Place for these in the life of a believer

Thanksgiving – should be replacing these in the life of believers – life of the saints – contrary to negative talk – thanksgiving – positive talk should be on the lips of believers

3. Sanctification of self—v. 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.

Is your character – your integrity – that of a believer or idolater?

Paul says BE SURE OF THIS! Eido (i-do) ginosko (ghin oce ko) – to perceive with all senses, discern, discover and to perceive knowledge – stresses it with 2 different words on discernment - in other words – YOU KNOW THIS!

Paul – warns them – warns us – do not make light of this – don’t dismiss the ramifications of sin the consequences of sin – Paul is talking about here

In Romans 1:18 Paul uses harsher words – For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 – Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.

v. 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.

Sexually immoral – Greek word – pornos again – sexual immorality - as discussed previously –

If Paul is repeating himself here – its probably important – 2.6- 3.9 billion dollar industry

As a church we excuse – premarital sex – living together before hand – self indulgence – homosexuality – even incest is being fought for

Covetous – greedy – desiring what others have – never happy with God’s provisions – 2 of the 10 commandments state not to covet – desires the world to revolve around them and they are more important – self-focused, self-indulgent, selfish

Jesus states in Luke 12:15 – And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

Colossians 3:5 – Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

Either these are present in your life or Jesus Christ is – cannot be both – either for Him or against Him – no Christian Switzerland

Are you driven by self or the Spirit – selfishness or Holy Spirit

Let us pray!

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