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Sexual temptation was a big problem in the ancient city of Ephesus during Apostle Paul’s time. In Ephesus, people exercised unrestrained freedom in carrying out their fleshly desires. This is not unlike the society we live in today, with people struggling, caught in a war between flesh and spirit. That is why Paul’s letter to the Ephesians is very much a letter fromGod to us today. It cautions against all manner of sexual uncleanness, with proper remedies and arguments proposed. Filthy lusts must be suppressed, while we are advised to walk in love and shun sexual sins and all uncleanness. “For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person – such a person is an idolater – has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them” (Eph. 5:5-7).
Disobedience leaves us vulnerable to spiritual darkness but a child of God pleases his Father by walking in the light. Consider King David who left himself open or vulnerable to adultery by not being in battle when he was supposed to be. He should have been obedient to the Lord; instead he lusted after another person’swife. In the Epistle to the Romans, Paul addressed the vile passions and affections that come out of our hearts, including all types of sexual immorality. In Ephesians, Paul further contrasts the unchristian life and the life in Christ in two ways. The Christian life involves a radical transformation fromthe “once” to the “now”. A Christian embodies light, not darkness.
To keep your mind on the things of God, “hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard itwell, for it is your life” (Prov. 4:13). Always remember the clear teaching in the Bible that “the body, however, is not meant for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body …Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ Himself? Shall I then take the members of Christ and unite them with a prostitute? Never! … Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body … You were bought at a price. Therefore honour God with your bodies” (1 Cor. 6:13-20).
