Scripture Reading: Ephesians 5:8-14

Personal Morality

Intro.

1. How much do you want to go to heaven? What price are you willing to pay? One price we must pay is that of morality.

2. An appalling lack of morality in general had infiltrated the church in Corinth, 1 Cor. 6:9-11 (5:1-2).

3. The same kind of laxity toward immorality can infect brethren and churches today (language, clothing, conduct).

4. The danger of turning the grace of God into lasciviousness is real and present, Jude 4.

5. What is immorality? Gal. 5:19-21; Eph. 5:3-5, 8-12

6. We are called to holiness (sanctification), 1 Thess. 4:1-8.

a. Immorality is the unholy use of our bodies (4:4).

b. Immorality is yielding to the passions of lust (4:5).

c. Immorality is “uncleanness” (4:7).

d. Immorality is the unfruitful works of darkness, shameful and disgraceful (Eph. 5:11-12).

7. Why should we be concerned with our morality? Must maintain moral purity because of God’s grace and Christ’s return, Titus 2:11-14.

I. MORAL PURITY IS CONSISTENT WITH THE GRACE WE HAVE RECEIVED, Titus 2:11.

A. We Must Abandon Sin because We have Received Grace, Rom. 6:1-2, 12-14.

B. Fleshly Wisdom (incl. immorality) is Opposed to Grace, 2 Cor. 1:12.

C. Immorality Forfeits Grace (we sell our birthright), Heb. 12:14-16.

II. MORAL PURITY MAKES A DEFINITE DISTINCTION BETWEEN CHRISTIANS AND THE WORLD, Titus 2:12.

A. We Must Deny Ungodliness and Worldly Lusts, Rom. 13:12-14.

-Refuse, reject (a) a lack of reverence (piety) for God, and (b) worldly lusts (evil desires leading to sin, Jas. 1:15).

B. We are “Not of the World,” Jno. 15:17-19 (1 Jno. 3:13).

-Therefore, if we love the world, then we do not love God – we are “of” the world, 1 Jno. 2:15-17.

C. A Clear Line of Demarcation Must Exist Between Ourselves and the World, 2 Cor. 6:14-18.

-When this line of demarcation blurs and breaks down (through practice, compromise, and or acceptance of immoral attitudes and conduct), then we forfeit our relationship with God (cf. 7:1).

III. MORAL PURITY KEEPS US PREPARED FOR CHRIST’S RETURN, Titus 2:13.

A. Our Hope of being Glorified with Christ Compels Us to Live Pure Lives, 1 Jno. 3:1-3.

B. The Coming Destruction of the World (and its sin) Convinces Us to be Morally Pure, 2 Pet. 3:10-14.

C. Our Job is to Kill Immorality within Us, Col. 3:4-9.

IV. MORAL PURITY IS ESSENTIAL IF WE ARE TO BE (AND BE SEEN AS) THE PEOPLE OF GOD, Titus 2:14.

A. Our Lives Must Not Deny God, Titus 1:15-16.

B. Our Lives Must Set an Example that Cannot be Condemned, Titus 2:6-8 (cf. 3:3-5, 8).

Conclusion

1. With minds fully set on the grace of Christ’s return, we must come out of immorality and be holy, as God is holy, 1 Pet. 1:13-16.

2. Always be salt of the earth and the light of the world, lest we become ineffective and useless as influencers of others, Matt. 5:13-16.

By: Joe R. Price

Posted July 8, 2019