Not Even a Hint

But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them.
Ephesians 5:3–7
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We are called to fight the sin in our lives so thoroughly that there wouldn’t even be a hint of it left among us. There shouldn’t even be a hint of sex outside of a monogamous heterosexual marriage in our churches. There shouldn’t even be a hint of any kind of impurity or sin. Not even a hint of greed. Not even a hint of obscene or foolish talk, or coarse joking.

‌Why? This passage gives us two reasons. First, because “these are improper for God’s holy people.” And second because “no immoral, impure or greedy person… has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.” In other words, these are the kinds of behaviors that lost people engage in, and it’s because of these behaviors that God’s wrath is coming on the world. ‌You can’t expect to live like a lost person without bringing your salvation into doubt. And you can’t expect to live like a lost person without risking sharing their fate and suffering God’s wrath. 

Now, this passage isn’t saying that anyone who ever commits any of these sins isn’t saved or can’t be saved. If that was the case, then we’d all be bound for Hell. But, what this passage is saying is that anyone who continually lives in ongoing, unrepentant sin like this isn’t saved even if they call themselves a Christian. Saved people just don’t live like that.

Many people think they are saved and treat their salvation as a free pass to sin. But, this passage reveals the hard truth that their sin has blinded them to the very real danger they are in. They can’t see that they aren’t Christians at all. They can’t see that they are actually lost and are storing up wrath for themselves for the day of God’s judgment. And that is a dangerous place to be. Don’t let your sin blind you into thinking you are safe when you are not. A tree is known by its fruit. You can't live like the Devil and think you are safe from God's wrath.