1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. 3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; 4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them.
Commentary
Vs. 1 "Therefore be imitators of God as dear children."
In light of God's great mercies shown us through Christ (4:32) we should all be imitators of God as dear children. And thus showing and being generous with mercy and kindness and forgiveness (essentially giving grace) is all apart of being an imitator of God who as the Apostle Paul says here views us all who believe in His Son Jesus as His own dear children.
Vs. 2 "And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma."
Walking in love towards each other is not just an exhortation but is exactly how Christ walked in love towards us all, giving His own life for us all so that we could be saved the moment we believe in Him (Eph. 1:13-14) from wrath and eternal condemnation. Therefore Jesus according to the Old Covenant burnt offering sacrifice commanded by God to make atonement for ones sins, is here described as the offering and sacrifice to God (for all our sins), a sweet smelling aroma (see Ex. 28:18; Psalm 66:15; Isaiah 53, vs. 10). Nothing then is more pleasing to God then to have reconciliation with us His creation.
Vs. 3 "But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints"
Now walking in love is not just an emotion or feeling, rather in practice it effects how we act and live towards each other (consider Rom 13:8-10). And so here we are commanded not to walk in the sexual sins which we once lived in and practiced and or justified in our ignorance, for such sins permeate this world, and are the corruption of this world, and are coming under the wrath and judgment of God (vs. 6, Col. 3:5-6).
Fornication, (here means all forms of sexual immorality) uncleanness (means depraved sexual acts and lusts) and covetousness, which is linked with adultery (see Ex. 20:17); and so here is rightly linked with all sexual sins (see Eph 4:19). Yet here the Apostle Paul has in mind covetousness in all of it's broad and encompassing Scriptural meaning of coveting anything or anyone that belongs to someone else, or is forbidden for us to have (see Deut. 5:21). For when ungodly lust unites with greed in the human heart you get covetousness (which is idolatry Col. 3:5), and so covetousness puts not only something or someone before God Himself, but it also supplants God's Will revealed in His Word for us all, with ones own will, and thus you get all of the horrific fallout that comes when an individual puts gratifying their own ungodly lusts and desires for something or someone above all else. Now Jesus Himself strongly warns us all to guard our hearts and minds from covetousness, specifically for material possessions, because coveting has a very negative and corrupting effect on the human heart and soul, and can very easily and subtly supplant ones own desires for God Himself (see Matt. 6:19-24; 19:16-22; Luke 12:15-21). Therefore covetousness is rightly linked with idolatry because no other sin outside of flagrant idolatry itself, will so readily destroy ones faith in God, and lead one into doing and justifying all kinds of injustice and wickedness and evil as covetousness (consider Psalm 10:3; Prov. 1:10-19; 15:27; Isaiah 56:11; Jer. 6:10-13; 22:13-17; Micah 2:2; Luke 16:14; Rom 13:9; James 4:2; 1 Tim. 6:10; 2 Peter 2:3, 14 etc.). Therefore in light of this sins horrific effects covetousness is not to be named among any of us who believe In the Lord Jesus Christ, and thus we are not to practice it (Heb. 13:5), nor tolerate it (1 Cor 5:9-13, 6:9-11; Eph 5:5; 1 Tim 6:3-10), because all such things belong to God's enemies, and not His family and friends (consider Jer. 5:7-9, 26-29. 9:8-9; Rom. 1:28-32; 2 Thess. 2:9-12). Hating covetousness then is a pre-requisite for having a leadership role in the local church (Ex. 18:21; 1 Tim. 3:3, 8; Titus 1:7).
Vs. 4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.
The Apostle Paul now addresses the sins of the mouth, because putting off the wicked deeds of the flesh though sanctifying of us (both individually and collectively), will not reveal much of Christ to anyone if ones heart and mouth and life is still spewing out a cesspool of garbage.
Now filthiness (αἰσχρότης, Str. 151) is obscene behavior and or obscene and unbecoming speech. While foolish talking (μωρολογία, Str. 3473) encompasses all forms of foolish and stupid talking and speech, and though "popularized" in popular culture, foolish talking only makes even the wise person look like a fool (consider Ecc. 10:1; Prov. 15:2, 14). As well it often leads one into all kinds of sins and lusts to their own ruin (consider Prov. 10:14; 18:7). Coarse jesting (εὐτραπελία, Str. 2160) is vulgar jesting, and or dirty speech, and likewise is not becoming of any Christian, for it too will come under the judgment of God (Prov. 10:31-32). And so rather than spewing out foolishness, or filth, or bitterness (Rom 3:13), we who believe In the Lord Jesus Christ have so much to be thankful for, we should use our mouths for giving of thanks (Psalm 30:1-5; Heb 12:15), which always has a positive effect on both ourselves, and others as well (consider Prov 12:14; 15:23; Acts 16:25-34).
Vs. 5 For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
The Apostle Paul now makes it clear that no fornicator, unclean person, covetous man who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God (see 1 Cor 6:9-10). Therefore people who are professing faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, but are living contrary to Him are not in the Kingdom of Christ and God. For when Christ comes into ones heart and life Christ, by His Spirit, He not only cleanses us of our old sins and transgressions, He also changes us, (2 Cor 5:17) and gives us a hunger for righteousness and holiness in our own lives, and in the lives of others as well (consider 1 John 3:7-9; 3 John 11).
Vs. 6-7 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them.
If anyone thinks that the church is a "sanctuary" from God's wrath and judgement while one is practicing such things, let them seriously consider passages like these. Now the church is a sanctuary for everyone who repents and believes in the Lord Jesus Christ through His Gospel, and thus is seeking to do God's Will. Therefore for all of us who are doing so, let us not be partakers with those who are only practicing such things (1 Cor 5:9-13; 1 Peter 4:3-5), because as the Apostle Paul warns here, the wrath of God is coming on the sons and daughters of disobedience (Rev. 22:15).
Scripture Quotation
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982.
Additional Resources Consulted
Louw, Johannes P., and Eugene Albert Nida. Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains. New York: United Bible Societies, 1996.
Strong, James. Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship, 1995.
Now filthiness (αἰσχρότης, Str. 151) is obscene behavior and or obscene and unbecoming speech. While foolish talking (μωρολογία, Str. 3473) encompasses all forms of foolish and stupid talking and speech, and though "popularized" in popular culture, foolish talking only makes even the wise person look like a fool (consider Ecc. 10:1; Prov. 15:2, 14). As well it often leads one into all kinds of sins and lusts to their own ruin (consider Prov. 10:14; 18:7). Coarse jesting (εὐτραπελία, Str. 2160) is vulgar jesting, and or dirty speech, and likewise is not becoming of any Christian, for it too will come under the judgment of God (Prov. 10:31-32). And so rather than spewing out foolishness, or filth, or bitterness (Rom 3:13), we who believe In the Lord Jesus Christ have so much to be thankful for, we should use our mouths for giving of thanks (Psalm 30:1-5; Heb 12:15), which always has a positive effect on both ourselves, and others as well (consider Prov 12:14; 15:23; Acts 16:25-34).
Vs. 5 For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
The Apostle Paul now makes it clear that no fornicator, unclean person, covetous man who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God (see 1 Cor 6:9-10). Therefore people who are professing faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, but are living contrary to Him are not in the Kingdom of Christ and God. For when Christ comes into ones heart and life Christ, by His Spirit, He not only cleanses us of our old sins and transgressions, He also changes us, (2 Cor 5:17) and gives us a hunger for righteousness and holiness in our own lives, and in the lives of others as well (consider 1 John 3:7-9; 3 John 11).
Vs. 6-7 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them.
If anyone thinks that the church is a "sanctuary" from God's wrath and judgement while one is practicing such things, let them seriously consider passages like these. Now the church is a sanctuary for everyone who repents and believes in the Lord Jesus Christ through His Gospel, and thus is seeking to do God's Will. Therefore for all of us who are doing so, let us not be partakers with those who are only practicing such things (1 Cor 5:9-13; 1 Peter 4:3-5), because as the Apostle Paul warns here, the wrath of God is coming on the sons and daughters of disobedience (Rev. 22:15).
Scripture Quotation
The New King James Version. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982.
Additional Resources Consulted
Louw, Johannes P., and Eugene Albert Nida. Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains. New York: United Bible Societies, 1996.
Strong, James. Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship, 1995.
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