In our study today, Paul is still focusing on the practical for how a child of God should be living as imitators of God and not the lost world around them.
Chapter 5
Verse 1: Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. Paul continues to be practical. The word followers means to be imitators. In other words, we are to be imitators of God as dear children. Just as a child would imitate their earthly fathers, so we should imitate our heavenly Father.
Verse 2: And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave
himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Notice that the believer is to walk in the love that Christ had for us.
Just think about what it means to love with that kind of love. He went to the
cross for us. He was wrongly accused for us. As such, he is to be out standard
and not those around us. Paul said in 2 Corinthians 10:12, For we dare not
make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend
themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing
themselves among themselves, are not wise.
The rest of the verse demonstrates how much Christ loved us in that he gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. We are to walk in that same love. Again, that is a tall order for sure.
Verse 3: But sexual immorality and all impurity or
covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Now he lists sins
that should not be named among believers. The first is fornication.
This could also be translated as immorality which includes all sexual sin.
There are five that are mentioned in the Scriptures. These include adultery, fornication,
bestiality, incest, and homosexuality. Uncleanness speaks of any
kind of impurity, and Covetousness speaks to holding on to or desiring
more, or just plain old greed. None of these things should be named among them as
becometh saints. Becometh can be translated as fitting
or proper.
As proper among
the saints could be a reference to the believing Jews as we have
discussed before. If so, it means that believers should not do the above listed
things just as Law abiding Jews do not do them. Of course, they motivation is
the keeping of the Law, and ours should be just because we are told not to.
Verse 4: Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor
jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. Filthiness means obscene which speaks of the portrayal or description
of sexual matters. Foolish talking speaks of silly talk or
buffoonery. Jesting speaks of turning words in a negative sense
or twisting them in a vulgar sense. We call it innuendo today and it is very
prevalent in our society. Finally, not convenient means
appropriate. In other words, instead of doing the afore mentioned things, we
should be giving thanks. Albert Barnes puts in this way, “Instead of
filthiness, foolish talk, and jesting, we should be using that time in the
service of God.”
Verse 5: For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean
person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the
kingdom of Christ and of God. Paul seems to be
making a reference to verse 3 and just reiterating the fact that believers should
not be involved in sexual immorality, impurity, and covetousness. Also, he
appears to be making a comparison with believing Jews who were under the Law
and those believers who were not. He doesn’t appear to be questioning their
salvation, just their behavior.
Verse 6-7: Let no man deceive you with vain words: for
because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of
disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them. This verse seems to be targeted at someone specifically that was
spreading this stuff. Paul had dealt with this issue of how to deal with
troublemakers before in Romans 16:17-18, “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark
them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have
learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus
Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the
hearts of the simple.”; Titus 3:10-11, “A man that is an heretick after
the first and second admonition reject; 11 Knowing that he that is such is
subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself,”; and in 2 Thessalonians
3:14-15, And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man,
and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed. Yet count him not as an
enemy, but admonish him as a brother.”