Walking with Christ | Ephesians 5:5-8
October 23, 2022
Walking with Christ
Ephesians 5:5-8
There are times in every believer’s life when knowing biblical truth and doing the right thing with that truth can be light years apart.
“For of this you can be sure.”
In other words, you should already know this stuff.
With these experiences comes the ability to understand what others may be feeling during their losses or pains.
Note: 2 Cor. 1:3-5 NIV Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. 5 For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ.
Truth: God’s grace will become more real to you as you reflect upon your past sins.
1st Disqualifier: Immorality
The Greek word is “pornos” or “fornication”
2nd Disqualifier: Impure
This was an individual who had not gotten rid of the impurities in their life
3rd Disqualifier: Greed
One who was eager to have more, especially what belongs to others.
Romans 1:22 NIV, “…although they claimed to be wise, they became fools…”
4th Disqualifier: Idolatry
At the core of idolatry is the real you.
Idolatry encompasses one’s:
- Ego
- Materialism
- Pride
- Knowledge
1 John 2:16 KJV “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.”
This results in not have any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and God.
Someone was trying to feed them false truth.
- God loves us therefore we can do what makes us feel good
- God’s grace will overlook our sins
- Romans 6:1-2 “What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?”
Each day we are to walk in the grace of God and not make any apology for sin.
Note verse 6: “Let no one deceive you with empty words.”
- no inner substance
- no kernel of truth
This type of person is just making up excuses for living in sin.
Note verse 6 “God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient.”
Thought: There are no excuses with God when it comes to living in sin.
At the very core of mankind’s heart is sin.
Romans 3:10 KJV “As it is written, there is none righteous, no, not one.”
It is only through God’s grace that we can be taken out of a destructive lifestyle of sin.
“Don’t partner with them or share in the sins that they partake in.” (vs. 7)
The word “Don’t” means to “Stop it!”
Once you were darkness itself, but now you are light. (vs. 8)
“You were, so don’t become it again.”
Conclusion
A believer who is walking in grace will be wise in their understanding of God’s truth about sin.
They won’t let themselves be deceived into doing wrong by those who continue to live a lifestyle of sin.
So, walk in grace.