This phrase occurs only once in scripture (Eph. 5:5)
declaring emphatically something all saints should know. “For you know this”:
No person who practices sexual immorality (fornication) of any sort, or morally
impurity (uncleanness) in thought or life, or one who greedily desires
(covetousness) to have more, worshiping (idolatry) the god of wealth, will have
any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and God... “For because of these
things the wrath of God comes.” This phrase is a direct appeal to the saint’s
conscious understanding of the eternally assured unalterable incompatibility of
such sins with our inheritance in the Kingdom of God. We know because God has
written it in our heart. The Apostle Paul wrote this to the church in Ephesus
in 60/61 AD. What is commonplace in the 21st century church has been damned
from the get-go!
The Amplified Bible makes God’s expectations crystal
clear: “But immorality (sexual vice) and all impurity of lustful, rich,
wasteful living, or greediness must not even be named among you, as is fitting
and proper among the saints, God’s consecrated people. Let there be no
filthiness, obscenity, indecency, nor foolish, sinful, silly and corrupt talk,
nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting or becoming; but instead voice your
thankfulness to God. For be sure of this: that no person practicing sexual vice
or impurity in thought or in life, or one who is covetous, who has lustful
desire for the property of others and is greedy for gain -- for he in effect is
an idolater -- has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no
one delude and deceive you with empty excuses and groundless arguments for
these sins, for through these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of
rebellion and disobedience. So do not associate or be sharers with them.”
“LET IT NOT EVEN BE NAMED AMONG YOU”
(Ephesians
5:3-7, Amplified Bible and NKJV)
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