Ephesians 5:5-7: Living in Light of Judgement

What do all these verses have in common?

2 Cor. 5:10-11, ‘For we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil. Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience.’

2 Pet. 3:11, 14, ‘Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness?’ ‘Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace.’

1 Pet. 4:7, ‘The end of all things is at hand; therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers.’

All of these verses are seeking to motivate Christians to live in light of the end of the world and the final judgement. This is what Paul is doing in Eph. 5:5-7,

‘For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not become partners with them.’

Paul we began to show in the last message is concerned about our personal purity and is motivating the Ephesians to be pure. He has highlighted the specific sins of sexual immorality, impurity and covetousness as sins which Christians must not be involved in because of their identity of saints. In the verses before us Paul goes on to give another motivation to avoid the same sins, because of the certainty of judgement. We will be dividing these verses up into four parts looking at four aspects of the judgement, the certainty of judgement, the basis of judgement, the objects of judgement and the nature of judgement.

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