Forsaking Darkness
Main Idea of Ephesians:
Ephesians reveals God’s eternal plan to unite all things in Christ, detailing our spiritual riches, the Church’s unity as His body, and our calling to live out this new identity.
Questions to Consider:
After calling us to “walk in love” (5:2), Paul immediately lists things that should “not even be heard of among you.” How do these sins (sexual immorality, greed) represent the exact opposite of Christ’s self-giving love?
Paul equates greed with idolatry. In what ways does a greedy heart place desire for “more” in the place of God?
The text says these behaviors are not “proper for saints.” What does this tell us about the new standard we are called to live by?
The warning about having “no inheritance” is severe. What are some modern “empty words” (v. 6) that try to downplay the seriousness of sin for a believer?
The Text:
“But sexual immorality and any impurity or greed should not even be heard of among you, as is proper for saints. And there must be no filthiness, foolish talk, or crude joking, which are out of place, but instead thanksgiving. For you know this for certain: No immoral, impure, or greedy person, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things God’s wrath comes on the sons of disobedience. Therefore, do not be partners with them.”
– Ephesians 5:3-7 (CSB)
Observations:
Sharp Contrast: The passage immediately contrasts the “walk in love” (v. 2) with a list of behaviors that are utterly incompatible with it.
Specific Sins Listed: Paul is not vague. He targets specific categories of sin: sexual sin (immorality, impurity), covetous sin (greed), and verbal sin (filthiness, foolish talk, crude joking).
A New Standard: The behaviors are described as not “proper for saints” and “out of place,” indicating a new standard of holiness that defines God’s people.
Severe Consequences: The consequences are not trivial; they involve exclusion from the “inheritance in the kingdom” and are connected to the “wrath of God.”
A Clear Command: The section concludes with an unambiguous command that summarizes the point: “do not be partners with them.”
Interpretation:
Following the beautiful call to imitate God by walking in sacrificial love (vv. 1-2), Paul immediately pivots to describe the opposite path—the walk that must be utterly abandoned.
A Self-Serving Walk: He lists sins that are fundamentally self-serving. Sexual immorality, impurity, and greed are all perversions of God-given desires, focused on taking for oneself rather than giving for the good of others. He explicitly calls greed “idolatry” because it replaces God with material desire as the source of one’s hope, security, and satisfaction. These actions are the antithesis of the fragrant offering of Christ.
Corrupt Speech vs. Thanksgiving: He then addresses our words, contrasting “filthiness, foolish talk, or crude joking” with the single, powerful alternative: “thanksgiving.” This implies that the speech of a believer—one who is “proper for saints”—should be characterized by gratitude and reverence, not by language that demeans, trivializes, or dishonors God and others.
A Severe Warning: Inheritance and Deception: The warning attached is one of the most severe in the New Testament: those whose lives are characterized by these things have no inheritance in God’s kingdom. This is not to say a single stumble causes one to lose salvation, but that a lifestyle of unrepentant sin is evidence that a person is not part of the kingdom at all. Paul passionately warns the Ephesians not to be deceived by “empty words”—the arguments from the surrounding culture (and even from within the church) that these things are normal, harmless, or don’t matter for a believer. His final command in this section is a clear boundary: “do not be partners with them.” We are to separate ourselves from this way of life completely.
Application:
Guard Your Heart: Take an honest inventory of your desires. Are there areas where a desire for more (greed) or impure thoughts are taking root? Confess them and ask God to re-center your heart on Him as your ultimate treasure.
Elevate Your Speech: Pay close attention to your words this week. Actively choose thanksgiving over complaining, crude humor, or gossip.
Reject “Empty Words”: Be discerning about the messages you consume from media and culture. Learn to identify and reject the subtle justifications for sin and actively ground yourself in the truth of Scripture.
Connection to the Main Idea:
This passage is a crucial part of what it means to “live out this new identity.” It draws clear ethical lines, defining what is incompatible with our new life in Christ. By forsaking these things, believers protect “the Church’s unity as His body,” as these selfish sins are the very source of division and strife.
How Does This Text Point to Christ?
This text points to Christ by contrast. The self-serving nature of these sins stands in stark opposition to Christ’s self-giving sacrifice. Furthermore, the inheritance we are warned about losing is “in the kingdom of Christ and of God.” He is the King, and His character defines the character of His kingdom. His holiness is the standard that makes these sins so utterly “out of place” for His people.
Summary:
Ephesians 5:3-7 serves as a crucial boundary for the Christian life. It commands believers to completely forsake behaviors and speech rooted in selfish desire—specifically sexual sin, greed, and corrupt talk. These actions are “out of place” for God’s holy children and, if lived as a lifestyle, indicate a person is outside the kingdom of God. We are called to reject these things and the deceptive arguments that defend them.
Be Intentional:
This week, make verse 4 your focus. Identify one specific area where your speech tends to be negative (complaining, criticism, sarcasm) and make a conscious effort to replace it with “thanksgiving.” Verbally thank God or thank someone else every time you are tempted to speak negatively.
Ask Yourself:
Is there any area of my life where I am tolerating what God says should “not even be heard of”?
How does my use of money and my desire for possessions reflect a heart of worship toward God, or a heart of idolatry toward greed?
What “empty words” from my culture am I most tempted to believe regarding sin?
Does my speech build others up and express gratitude, or does it tear down and express discontent?
Looking Ahead:
This lesson has focused on the darkness we are called to leave behind. In our next lesson, we will explore the glorious alternative Paul presents: what it means to be “light in the Lord” and how to walk in it.
Bibliography:
Carson, D. A. (General Editor). NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible (NIVBTSB). Zondervan.
Merida, Tony. Exalting Jesus in Ephesians (Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary – CCE). B&H Publishing Group.
O’Brien, Peter T. The Letter to the Ephesians (Pillar New Testament Commentary – PNTC). Eerdmans.
Stott, John R. W. The Message of Ephesians (The Bible Speaks Today – BST). InterVarsity Press.
Thielman, Frank. Ephesians (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament – BECNT). Baker Academic.
Discover more from Biblical Christian Missionary
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.