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Sermon Notes of Rev.Dr.I.J.W.Oakley (28-7-1996
Guisborough Evangelical Church)
Additional reading: Colossians 3:1-11; 4:2-6
The Apostle is describing how the Christian should live,
and now looks at the seamy side of life, unpleasant things, earthly things. This
was necessary teaching for the Christians then, and no less so today. Our world
is very similar to Paul’s.
In the last section he dealt with self-sacrifice, but now the issue is self-indulgence. Love that leads to lust, a virtue turned to a vice. From speaking of Christ’s sacrificial love, to speaking of love’s perversion in sexual misconduct and abuse. The Gospel has important things to say on every area of our lives, and we need to know how it applies when we are faced with uncleanness and sordidness of every day life and conversation, and the attitude of this world.
The Apostle paints a very frank and honest picture of
every day life which Christians have to meet, and from which, especially in
Paul’s readers’ case, they were rescued by the Gospel. He gives a list of
things which prevailed in people’s lives and conversation.
psrneia
kai akaqarsia pasa Fornication and all uncleanness or sexual immorality
and any kind of impurity. Every kind of sexual sin – all sexual
activity outside of God-ordained context of loving marriage with its permanence
and commitment.
pleonexia
Covetousness and greed. Either in broadest meaning, or sexually covetous
and indulgent at expense of others. C.f. covet neighbour’s wife (Exodus
20:17). Also John’s words about the lust of the flesh and lust of the eyes as
description of worldliness (1 John 2:16).
aiscrpths
Filthiness, obscenity.
mwrologia
Foolish talking. Senseless talk which cheapens a man. Sort of thing which
drunken man or fool utters. Not referring to small talk about the weather or the
family, but talk which has no value or profit in it, talking for the sake of it.
eutrapelia
Coarse joking, quick repartee which turns innocent remark into something
unclean. Quick to see double meanings.
In summary,
uncleanness in act, talk and thinking – which is the source of all. Then Paul
underlines the seriousness of it by showing God’s reaction – immoral people,
unclean people, or covetous people – such a man is an idolater (Ephesians
5:5). They put something else in the supreme place which God ought to have, and
so they will not have any inheritance in the Kingdom of God and Christ. The
people were not to be deceived about this – early Gnostics taught that the
sins of the body were not important. Today, many preach universalism – that
all will be saved. These are the “empty words” Paul warns against in v.6.
They may not be spoken with vindictive, selfish passion, but they are spoken
with a settled hostility to the holy God who is against any form of sin, in
word, thought or deed. Then comes Paul’s emphatic statement God’s wrath
comes on those who are disobedient. Partially displayed in this life, but
more fully at day of judgement and eternity.
Lest anyone
should become despondent at this point, and think “then there is no hope for
any of us”, let us for a moment recall Paul’s teaching elsewhere about
God’s salvation, about the possibilities of forgiveness and a new heart and a
new life. The Corinthians were guilty of all these sins, and many more, but Paul
said to them, Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of
God? … And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were
sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the
Spirit of our God (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).
Someone else may
say, “But Christians can fall”. Sadly they can, we only have to cite
David’s lapse into adultery. But Paul here is talking about those who
deliberately, unashamedly, proudly, boastingly live life like this – it is
characteristic of their whole life, and they are comfortable living that way. If
the Christian lapses, he will feel ashamed, unhappy, ill at ease, uncomfortable
and will turn to the Lord acknowledging his failure.
But to return to
the main argument – Paul is underlining the seriousness of sexual sin – in
deed, word, intention and thought. Characteristic of paganism, then and now.
Ancient world treated sexual immorality so lightly. Relationships before and
outside of marriage were not considered sin. In fact, it was expected, for it
was unreasonable to expect a young man to be chaste, c.f. Roman and Greek
authors. The new temple in Athens to Aphrodite, the goddess of love, was built
with the profits from prostitution. Paul’s teaching would have seemed so
strange. Chastity was one new virtue which Christianity introduced into the
world. Christianity wrought a moral miracle in so doing.
Similar
situation today with overthrow of Christian faith and now moral standards, the
so-called “sexual revolution”.
Taken from Faith Mission magazine 1996: “Descending Definitions”:
What
used to be called “disgusting” is now called “adult”.
What
used to be called “modest” is now called “sexually hung up”.
What
used to be called “chastity” is now called “neurotic inhibition”.
What
used to be called “self-indulgence” is now called “self-fulfilment”.
What
used to be called “moral irresponsibility” is now called “being freed
up”.
What
used to be called “Christian discipline” is now called “unhealthy
repression”.
What
used to be called “ethical anarchy” is now called “liberation”.
What
used to be called “living in sin” is now called “meaningful
relationship”.
What
used to be called “perversion” is now called “alternative life-style”.
What
used to be called “depravity” is now called “creative self-expression”.
Wherever we go we are aware of non-Christian standards and life –style. Paraded in newspapers, films, TV, adverts, conversations. So hard to live a Christian life in this day and age.
Basically three responses to this
situation. (1) Let it not even be named among you. (2) It is not fitting for
God’s people. (3) Thanksgiving is what should characterize us.
We should not
harbour a negative view about sex. We should be able to talk seriously about a
very important and beautiful aspect of life. Dealing with one of God’s gifts.
We should not be afraid or ashamed to give thanks for something which is God’s
good gift for the right place. It should not be debased or cheapened. To be seen
in context decreed by God – life long union of man and woman in the sanctity
of marriage bond.
Being unchaste,
committing sexual sin, undermines and violates the uniqueness and bonds of
marriage, destroys something of the family, and leads to suffering, grief and
untold unhappy consequences. And what is funny about that? Is a broken marriage,
an unwanted pregnancy, a disease, something to laugh about? Why is this so often
the topic of the world’s humour? There are two indications of a person’s
character – what makes them laugh, and what makes them weep. The Christian
sees nothing humorous in obscenity, perversion of God’s purposes, and the ruin
of people’s lives, and the cheapening of what is pure and sacred.
And there is no question of the
Christian participating in these sins. It is not fitting, not proper, and not
consistent with being a Christian. Entirely out of place. The Christian is a
saint – God has separated him from the world, saved him, caused him to
consecrate his life to Him, summoned him to a life of holiness and
Christ-likeness, to fulfil His purposes. Therefore it would be quite
inappropriate and out of the question for him to walk contrary to God’s
declared will about sex, marriage, life-long commitment. Neither can he be
casual and unclean in conversation and what he laughs at, and the jokes he
makes. Don’t let impure thoughts get a foothold in your mind – they can soon
overcome.
At all times the
Christian’s main concern is his relationship with God. Called out of sin and rescued
from the dominion of darkness and brought into the kingdom of the Son He loves
(Colossians 1:13). Every aspect of his life is to be controlled by God. The
Christian will always strive for what would please and glorify his God. Jesus
Christ who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify
for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good (Titus
2:14). God’s main concern for us is not that we should be happy, but that we
should be holy.
Instead of impurity, which is self-centred, the Christian’s life should be marked by the giving of thanks, which is God-centred. If the world is characterized by vulgarity, the Christian is characterized by thanksgiving. The Christian lives life in an atmosphere of gratitude. Give thanks in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:18), for all loveliness and beauty of God’s gifts – and that includes sex. The Christian life is not to be dull and morbid. The joy and happiness in the life should be seen in our conversation. Our sense of humour flows naturally from our joy in the Lord, and is never vulgar or ribald or harmful. Always remembering who we are and what God has done for us, our conversation should be thoughtful, helpful, and people should feel better for having spoken to us. Conversation – worthwhile, wholesome, clean, thoughtful, profitable, full of grace, seasoned with salt (Colossians 4:6).
Once again we see how up to date and relevant the Bible is. Sex is an everyday matter of speech and humour, and the attitude of the people of Christ towards it should be utterly different from that of the people of the world. How is that possible? Only by consecrating the tongue and lips.
“Take my voice and let me sing
Always,
only for my king;
Take
my lips and let them be
Filled
with messages from thee.
The
hidden depths of many a heart.
That
I may speak…
A
word in season, as from thee,
To
weary ones in needful hour.
In
kindling thought and glowing word,
Thy
love to tell, thy praise to show.”
Francis Ridley Havergal.
