March 12, 2023: Pursue Purity Your Future Depends On It

"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." (Ephesians 5:5, ESV)

This scripture carries a severe warning! And we must pay attention to what Paul is saying.

To be sexually immoral refers to any sexual activity outside God's design for marriage. The word 'sexually immoral' comes from the Greek word 'porneia.'  Porneia, from which we get the word pornography, includes pornography, pre-marital, extramarital, and adultery. It consists of all sexual activity that does not honor Christ. Paul says that we are followers of Christ and part of His body. Therefore when I sin sexually, it is as though I am bringing Christ into my sin. The sin of sexual immorality can potentially destroy the relationship God created to reflect his love for his bride, the church.

The word impure comes from a Greek word meaning clean or pure. When a simple preposition is connected to it, it means unclean or impure. What is clean is made for fellowship with God. What is not clean is shut out from God. 

The last word that Paul includes in his list of three is a word that means greedy. To be driven by a power that is not of God.

There is no room for these three sins in God's kingdom. Let there be found no room for them in you as well.