Life in Christ is different from before

Ephesians 5:3-14

³ Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people. ⁴ Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes—these are not for you. Instead, let there be thankfulness to God. ⁵ You can be sure that no immoral, impure, or greedy person will inherit the Kingdom of Christ and of God. For a greedy person is an idolater, worshiping the things of this world.

⁶ Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him. ⁷ Don’t participate in the things these people do. ⁸ For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! ⁹ For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.

¹⁰ Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. ¹¹ Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. ¹² It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. ¹³ But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, ¹⁴ for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said,

“Awake, O sleeper,
rise up from the dead,
and Christ will give you light.”

Paul makes plain here in Ephesians 5:3-14 that once we become believers in Jesus that a transformed life is how we live.  Faith in Jesus is not a perpetual ask for forgiveness because we sin, unintentionally, intentionally or because we feel ‘trapped’ by our flesh!  Paul gives an indicative list, from sexual sin and greed to the way we speak of others identifying these behaviours as part of our old life without Christ.  These behaviours are “out of character” for the Christian (vs. 4).  Indeed, indulging these behaviours calls into question your salvation (vs. 5).  Paul knows what can happen – how we try to justify our sinfulness (vs. 6) and points us to the kind of fruit he expects to see in the life of a Christian (vs. 7-12).

For me the kicker is in verse 13 and 14.  The manner of our lives will be made evident.  What do I want people to see.  Do I have any hidden behaviours and attitudes that are shameful.  God is not about us being ashamed He is about us being made whole.  He wants us to purpose holiness in awe of the Lord – so let us not live in hidden and shameful ways let us live as people of God’s light!

Father, You have set an expectation and in God’s grace I choose You.  Empower me to live as You call me to live.

Written by Ps. Richard Botta