Ephesians 5:3

"But immorality (sexual vice) and all impurity [of lustful, rich, wasteful living] or greediness must not even be named among you, as is fitting and proper among saints (God's consecrated people)." Ephesians 5:3

Paul is still writing to Christians... people whom, like you and I, have received the Holy Spirit... and so, to pretend that Paul's use of the word immorality is illusive when we have the Holy Spirit within us, is just not the truth. The Holy Spirit reveals what is both moral and immoral. Now, as Christians, we can certainly "test" the leading of the Holy Spirit through study of God's word concerning immorality, but the Lord is showing us through Paul's letter to focus more importantly on trusting the work of Christ in us... "the Holy Spirit's leading". We are, "letting the old nature be replaced by the nature of Christ", while we continue the study of God's Word. It's not like sleep-walking... we have to be mindful, attentive, even trusting can seem as hard work, but we're still depending on Christ.

It is impossible to pick up the bible and follow every word concerning morality, apart from Christ... without the leading (guide) of the Holy Spirit, "and even if it were, what will we say to the very next issue Paul writes here, for he says, "and all impurity! The Amplified adds, "lustful, rich, wasteful living", and rightfully so, yet even that is not as sufficiently defined as the Holy Spirit's illumination, because He is showing me right now that impurity includes our thoughts toward morality in the scripture. Impurity includes thoughts... Jesus said,

"You have heard that it was said, You shall not commit adultery. But I say to you that everyone who so much as looks at a woman with evil desire for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart" Mat 5:27-28

Impurity is such a vast area of vain, useless, foolish activity that we must stay closely connected with the Holy Spirit for His help to know what is pure or not. Then, for God to add "greediness" (of many things that are sinful) to this list with immorality and impurity shows that the list does not need to be complete here in this context, because of the confidence in the work of Christ. And so, finally, He says, "these things must not even be named among you, as is fitting and proper among saints (God's consecrated people)."

There shouldn't even be any mention, no hint, no accusation, no speculation at all that we are bearing these works of the flesh as the fruit of sin and self indulgence. No one who names the name of Christ should live in such a way – through thoughts, speech, or actions – that would cause anyone inside or outside the church to think that we were living in this kind of sin. The idea is to stay as far from sin as possible, and when it is discovered within the body, to deal with it as quickly as possible... not to cover it up but to stop it. There are many today whom use the liberty they have been given in Christ to get as close as possible without going over the bounds of verse such and such, while the Holy Spirit is saying, "that's impure... that's being greedy... you can't say I love you to that person, right now... or don't eat that in front of them". We must trust the leading of the Spirit and not push the intent of scripture like it is some kind of fence line. Amen?

Let's pick up with Ephesians verse 5:4 next time.

I love you.