"Improper Behavior"

“Improper Behavior”

 

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.  Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.   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.         Ephesians 5:3-5

 

God’s Word gives us a CLEAR and CONCISE description of the PROPER and IMPROPER BEHAVIOR of a TRUE BELIEVER.  In these verses, the Apostle Paul is giving instructions to the Believers in Ephesus, concerning their behavior and the IMPORTANCE of not conducting themselves IMPROPERLY.

 

He tells them NOT to have even a HINT of sexual immorality, or ANY kind of impurity, or greed in their lifestyle, because it is IMPROPER for God’s holy people to conduct themselves in such a manner.  He goes a little further, by saying they should not be guilty of using obscenities, foolish talk or coarse joking.  Obscenities are filthy, vulgar, shameful, profane words, which is not PROPER language for a TRUE CHILD of God.   Foolish talk is using “stupid words”.   Coarse joking is participating in OFF-COLOR or DIRTY, VULGAR jokes.  All these things are IMPROPER BEHAVIOR for the TRUE BELIEVER.

 

In verse five, Paul issues somewhat of a warning.  “NO immoral, impure or greedy person, who is an idolater, because they put other things before God, has ANY inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and of God.  In other words those who PRACTICE such evil deeds will NOT be a part of God’s Kingdom.  

 

If you are a TRUE BELIEVER, and are participating in any of these evil deeds, STOP IT!!  It is IMPROPER BEHAVIOR and will bring God’s anger upon you.  He will CHASTISE those who belong to Him.

 

If you have NOT given your HEART and LIFE to God and sexual immorality, indecency or greed is part of your lifestyle, you will NOT have an ETERNITY in Heaven, but you WILL spend ALL of ETERNITY in HELL, with ALL of its HORRORS, and NO WAY of ESCAPE.  In order to ESCAPE an ETERNITY in Hell, you MUST TURN AWAY FROM your sinful lifestyle and TURN TO God with a TRUE REPENTANT HEART, CONFESSING your sins to Him, and asking Him for His FORGIVENESS.  BELIEVING, with ALL your HEART that Jesus died for YOU, and is ALIVE in Heaven, making intercession for you, before God.  Then you MUST ACCEPT His gift of SALVATION, and become a TRUE BELIEVER with an inheritance and an ETERNITY in Heaven.   Do it NOW, while you still can.  He’s waiting and coming SOON!!!