Today's Bible Study Lesson:

Today's Verse is blunt!

It leaves no doubt in one's mind!

"For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God." Ephesians 5:5

The verbal adjective "know" translates "ginosko," which often includes "perceiving and understanding" as well as the acquiring of knowledge.

The personal pronoun "ye" is included in another little verb, nearly hidden, "eimi" in its 2nd person plural form. Paul is preaching to a group, the whole Church at Ephesus!

No exceptions!

It seems that in Paul's mind no true Christianity can really exist ("eimi") in the presence of these sensual sins!

These kinds of people, simply stated, are just NOT saved!

They have no part in the Kingdom of God!

Who are they?

Paul is specific!

"Whoremongers" utilizes the noun "pornos," which we studied earlier in this series of lessons. It means a "fornicator." It is from the verb "pernemi" and means "to sell." One who sells his body! Yes, male prostitutes existed n Paul's day, as well as female. Both secularly and religiously they were abundantly present in the polytheistic Greek-Roman world.

"Unclean" people, "akathartos," are stained with filth and impurity. Morally and spiritually again! "Kathairo" first means "to cleanse" from dirt! Then from ritual impurity! And finally, from the darkness of sin! The little "a" in front of the word, the alpha privative, negates the meaning. NOT cleansed! These are folks who sin and sin and sin, chain sinning, with no thought of repentance or remorse, even though they "profess" to be saved!

Yes, the true Christian sins, but not on a wholesale level! Not with impunity! Not without sorrow! The saint of God has learned to use 1st John 1:9 consistently! "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

The idea of "covetousness" enters the list, a sensual list obviously, because lust and its companions are never satisfied! The word picture behind "covetousness" is a person who always wants more of a thing! "Pleonektes," a noun, is built upon the Greek verb "echo," meaning "to vigorously hold on to something," and "pleion," meaning "more and more!"

More girlfriends, for the sex fiend!

More affairs, for the libertine!

More one night stands, for the fornicator!

And once a person gets this far, he or she has become a devotee to one's "base" desires! Living only to satisfy his or her flesh!

Sensuality has become their very god!

Hence, they are "idolaters." If any person covets something MORE than God, he or she is immediately an idolater anyway! By definition! "Eidolon" is the Greek word for an idol. And "latreuo" is the verb for "serving or ministering" in a religious sense. A "servant" of sin!

Paul has built a "progression" here, a downward spiraling one! That is; initially fornication (where it all starts), then a filthy lifestyle (where it leads), then covetousness (once it's a habit) and finally idolatry (an addiction by now) ... with absolutely no room for Almighty God!

These folks, pleasant as they seem, and they well may be physically alluring, personality plus types, have no "inheritance" in God's Kingdom!

The modifier "no," used once in our Verse but implied twice more, is the "absolute" negative in Greek! It is placed just before the verb in the Textus Receptus; people who do NOT have any place in Heaven!

Saved people are forgiven, and they stay clean in their moral lives!

Whereas mere religious "professors," folks in Church but not in Christ, might live just anyway they please, loosely speaking.

The noun "inheritance" is "kleronomia," part of an estate. That which was given you in the "will" of a deceased loved one! "Nomos" means "law" in Greek. And "kleros" is any object used to make decisions, as in the casting of "lots," for example.

If you are saved, God has placed you in His "Will!" You have an inheritance in Glory! A mansion! Citizenship in that fair Land! Eternal Joy! Companionship with Jesus, unendingly! 

And, perhaps just to be conclusive, Paul uses two terms for Heaven, for the future state of the Child of God. He leaves no room for doubt here.

Both "the kingdom of Christ" and "and of God" are listed! That's encircles Heaven and New Jerusalem and the Millennial Kingdom, everything future and glorious and wonderful for God and Christ and the redeemed!

No Verse could be more clear!

Christianity has given the world quite a gift, moral purity!

Amen!

                                                                          --- Dr. Mike Bagwell

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