The Ethics of God’s NewPeople IV

Ephesians 5:3-7

Sexual Mores

• Triads in these verses

– Sexual Immorality

– Impurity

– Greed

Sexual Mores

• Sexual Immorality—porneia– Related to the word “pornography”– Broad word related to any type of sexual sin

– Sex is a PSYCHICAL act (1 Cor. 6:15-19)

Sexual Mores

• Impurity—unrestrained living; flaunting of sexual sin (1 Peter 4:3-4)

• Greed- How is this related?

– 1 Thess. 4:3-7

Clean in Speech• Another triad

– Obscenity– that which is shameful or disgraceful– Foolish Talk– morologia—words of a moron or a

fool– Coarse Jesting—turning of a phrase for sexual

humor

Clean in Speech

• “A dirty mind expressing itself in dirty speech.”

John Stott

Joking lowers our resistance to a taboo

Language reveals what is on the mind and in the heart

Reality of Judgment

• This is not a threat but a WARNING—this is going to happen (vv. 5-7)

• “Grace is not only a privilege and a gift but an obligation and a responsibility.” Wm. Barclay

• Romans 6: 15-17

Reality of Judgment

• Christianity may not be a religion of “rules” but it does contain commandments that true believers will follow

• Jesus said “IF YOU LOVE ME, KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS”

• Wrath will come to those who spurn His standards