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Part 3 - An Introduction into the ethics of the apostle (Ephesians 4:1 – 6:20)
The corruption of the natural man (Ephesians 4:17-19)
Ephesians 4:17-19
4:17 This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardening of their heart; who being past feeling, have given themselves over to licentiousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness” (Eph. 4:17-19).
The honoured Greek culture, the Roman order as well as Jewish piety, had little value in the pastoral ministries of the Apostle Paul. There is no world view, religion or civilization that, compared with the life of Jesus Christ and the fruits of the Holy Spirit, could attain a positive evaluation. The Bible teaches us that “the intent and imagination of man´s heart is evil from his youth” (Gen. 8:21). “There is none who does good, no, not one” (Psalm 14:3).
Paul had to come to an annihilating judgement regarding the cosmopolitan city of Ephesus: “The mind of these people is base and undeserving. They are primarily occupied with perishable things and goals. Their understanding has been darkened and is no longer on the right wavelength to receive and grasp the holiness and mercy of God, let alone the truth of the Messiah, His cross and His resurrection. Spiritual life, flowing from God, is foreign to them and belongs, according to their fanciful imagination, in the realm of fairy tales. They were not only ignorant, but had also hardened themselves to the truth, so that they were no longer able to hear with the ears of the heart.”
The practical result of this diagnosis is not only a stupefied or deadened conscience, but a life crammed with food, drink and pleasure, that at times sinks to the level of gluttony, intoxication and immorality. With these debaucheries it sometimes descends to homosexuality, (Romans 1:18-32) or to child sexual abuse. Even illicit contact with animals is not taboo, which depictions from excavations have shown. Where the conscience has been deadened, the body reigns with its lusts and carnal appetite.
Since such worldly practices cost more than a little money, these “high spirited” have to save up their money or deceitfully gather it together so that they can, when the right opportunity comes, give it out again without inhibition. In this way greed, deceit, pride and an ice-cold brutality wiggle their way into their lives. A life without God is godless, and not even a cause for those affected to give much thought to.
Paul compelled those responsible for the house-church fellowships in Ephesus to not tolerate such a widespread lifestyle in their churches. They were to cordially forbid their church members to take part in heathen festivals, even when they were invited to do so by relatives and friends. The apostle underlined the indisputable consequence of this attitude by writing he had received this edict as a result of his own spiritual life in the Lord Jesus, who forbids every form of godless life, as well as every greedy lust of the heart: “You have heard that it was said to those of old, `You shall not commit adultery.` But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. And if your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell” (Matt. 5:27-30). Nowhere in the gospels do we read that a disciple of Jesus plucked out one of his eyes or hacked off one of his hands and threw it away. Yet we read that the disciples were deeply shaken at Jesus´ demand for a holy life (Matt. 19:9-10). Without the Holy Spirit they were incapable of fulfilling these commands. All Biblical counsellors know that every impure sin in the earlier life of a saint needs to be brought before and confessed to Jesus. Only then can his conscience be cleansed by His blood (1 John 1:7-10).
Prayer: Holy God, dear Father, You know all the sin we committed in our developmental years. We ask You for forgiveness for every single one of our sins, in the name of Jesus Christ. Help us and all other members of our churches to live holy, and give us the wisdom and the power of Your Spirit, so that He might impel us to live a life pleasing to You. Amen.
Questions:
- What seems strange to you in the evaluation of public life in Ephesus? What is different in the place where you live?
- Why did Paul demand an entirely different way of life for all church members?