But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints; and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.

                                                                                                            Ephesians 5:3-4 

In today’s passage, Paul instructs us to avoid sexual immortality and even the speaking of such things. There are a couple of things that I believe we need to consider in this passage.

First, spiritual legalism can arise from such biblical instruction. Passages such as this one can be used to build the case for salvation through works. Consider the following:

For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.                                                           

                                                                                                               Ephesians 5:5 

This can cause people to believe that if they have ever committed anything on this list that they are either (1) not a true believer or (2) have forfeited their eternity because of their actions. This is faulty on many levels but let’s go on. Consider the following: 

Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 

                                                                                                               Ephesians 5:6 

These two verses, used in tandem, can cause what would otherwise be faithful believers to doubt their standing with God in Christ. Context is everything. As we look at the following passages, observe Paul’s context:

Therefore do not be partakers with them; for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light…

                                                                                                            Ephesians 5:7-8 

Now we get the full context of what Paul is saying. We don’t avoid these behaviors to become saints (saved individuals) we avoid these activities because we are saints (saved individuals). The reason that these things are not proper for believers is that we were formerly darkness, but now we are Light in the Lord. Salvation has and always will come through faith in the finished work of Christ on the cross. In fact, it is this security and power that allows us to say “no” to these activities altogether. Jesus did not suffer and die on the cross to begin our salvation only to leave that eternal position in our hands. He came to complete the work of salvation. Moral failure should not be a part of a believer’s life, but when it occurs, it does not disqualify that individual from salvation.

Secondly, interpreting these passages with a legalistic bent actually undermines the gospel itself. “Knowing that no immoral person has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ in God” is self-explanatory, but it is easy to read right over it. These individuals are not believers. It is not their actions that disqualify them rather it is the fact that they are not a part of the kingdom of Christ and God. When we forget other portions of scripture and isolate a passage out of context, we generally arrive at false conclusions. Jesus said that everyone who believes will not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16). If anyone is in Christ, he is no longer condemned (Romans 8:1, John 3:18). Paul told the jailer that he was to believe in the Lord Jesus and he would be saved (Acts 16:31). We know that our righteousness is not by works rather our faith is credited as righteousness (Romans 4:5). And who can ignore the clear teaching that we are justified by faith in Christ and not as a result of works (our good behavior, Galatians 2:16). When we take Paul’s instructions in Ephesians to indicate a moral lifestyle as criteria for salvation, we effectively forget everything else we have learned from scripture. The wrath of God is coming on the “sons of disobedience.” Again, these people are the unrepentant, unredeemed, unbelievers of the world who live life according to their own standards and desires. “Sons of disobedience” is not referring to Christians who have failed morally. Again, this undermines the very gospel itself. But just exactly does it do that?

The gospel is good news. It is news that Christ Jesus has come into the world to save sinners (1 Timothy 1:15). It is the reality that Christ’s obedience on the cross has made a way for us to be reconciled with God (2 Corinthians 5:18). Some may suggest that moral failure has the ability to close off an opportunity to share the gospel. Think about that for a minute. That is actually the opposite of what should happen. As God continues to redeem individuals, including Christians who have morally failed, setting them on solid, spiritual footing, why would that work against the gospel? It shouldn’t. The reason for this dilemma is that the world often views Christians as being sanctimonious. In other words, the Christian life is often viewed, (and wrongly so) by those outside of the body of Christ, as a collection of perfect people “living their lives for God.” I believe that this erroneous perception has been perpetuated by legalistic preaching rooted in passages such as the one that we are examining today. Setting legalistic expectations for believers as the focus rather than proclaiming that power of God through the cross in forgiving, restoring, and redeeming people can mislead the world (and some Christians) into thinking that it is their performance that legitimizes their message. Actually, the gospel proclaims that we are the body of Christ in spite of our struggles and failures. It is this proclamation that we are all fallen, helpless, sinners that will draw people to the cross. When the world realizes that we are not perfect rather redeemed through faith, we can begin to connect with people as people. For clarity, Christians are redeemed sinners while unbelievers are sinners who remain unredeemed. When we fail, that shouldn’t prohibit our declaration of the good news rather it should provide us an opportunity to rejoice in it. It is this ability to move through life in victory, in spite of our moral failings, that validates our message.

I think the point that Paul is making is simply that immorality, filthy speech, and all the other ways in the which the world behaves has no place in the life of a believer. I do not believe that a born again believer in Jesus Christ can constantly, consistently, and comfortably live in immorality. However, when we fail, do we sit in self-deprecation and loathing, focused on our failure or do we rely on, rest in, and proclaim the power of the gospel to heal, restore, and redeem? As believers, we have been reconciled to God through the cross and are to proclaim that message of reconciliation to the immoral. The Christian reputation is not one of perfection but of power to stand in spiritual victory even in the midst of moral failure. This is indeed the power of the gospel!