seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Ephesians 5:1 Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
3 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. 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. 5 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. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7 Therefore do not be partners with them.
8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. 14 This is why it is said:
“Wake up, sleeper,
rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”
rise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”
15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
This is from the commentary.As is fitting for saints: This emphasis on sexual sin was appropriate. The culture of Paul’s day (and in the city of Ephesus especially) was given over to sexual immorality. The sort of behavior Paul says is not fitting for saints was pretty much completely approved by the culture of his day (and our own).
Therefore do not be partakers with them: Paul assumes that Christians will not have their lives habitually marked by fornication, uncleanness or covetousness. Yet we should not even occasionally be partakers with them who are.
Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord: When we are filled with the Spirit, we will have a desire to worship God and to encourage others in their worship of God.
But Paul, Jesus ate with sinners. Back in the days when Paul was being all preachy, women were not respected as equal to men. I'm not talking about the glass ceiling or the vote, I'm talking about the value of life stuff. I'm talking about the women who could not come out of their homes without fear of rape. I'm talking about women who were trapped with a husband who beat them and sold them. I'm talking about the outrageous physical and emotional abuse of the day.
When Paul was growing up, there were Jews and everyone else. Paul was a Greco Roman Jew, a mutt. Did he think he belonged?
Jesus taught us that all men and women were created by God. Jesus taught us that just being a human was special. Jesus didn't ask to see their green cards or their citizenship papers. Jesus didn't ask them to recite their birthright. Jesus loved everyone... even the whores and the male prostitutes and the gamblers and the thieves. Jesus even loved the one-eyed old woman who was stuck in her house because she couldn't see to get out. Jesus would have invited her out and healed her lonely heart.
When the Spirit of God gets into a soul, it becomes possible to be happy. When the Spirit of God gets into a soul, it's likely a body will catch herself singing a tune or humming. When the Spirit of God gets into a soul, it's possible to fight depression, deprivation, and addiction. When the Spirit of God gets into a soul, it will make itself known even in a gay bar off the Baltimore Strip.
Paul says we are to stay away from being partners with people who can't or won't put God first. [Verse 7] That's what he's telling us to do. He claims we are not strong enough to make it out of the gay bar off the Baltimore Str....If you wake up one morning and find that you have married a pimp.... Paul says run.... but you are married. You have a contract. If you wake up one morning and you find that your business partner is robbing people or blinding them or raping women.... Paul says run... but he's your partner. You have a contract.
Paul... the Spirit of God is bigger than anything humans can come up with. Paul... Jesus sat down with sinners and shared His Love.
I just don't think Paul trusted God as much as he claims.
But... if you want to appear to be a goody two shoes who never imprisoned a Christian.... if you want to appear to be a goody two shoes who never participates in any kind of sin... then yes... You should only associate with perfect people. You and the perfect people you find can glom up all the goodness of the Spirit of God and keep it all to yourself in your perfect little life... and never share with anyone outside of your church.... even if their thingy is perfectly cut and the menu is perfect. Yes... you should associate with perfect people... but you won't be acting as Jesus did... You'll be standing there holding coats while good souls never hear the Word.
Tomorrow, Paul will tell us how to run the household. I bet he'll tell us to whistle while we work... It'll be good for the soul.
This is Paul's instructions for Christian Living. [part 2].
