Ephesians 5 1 through 6. Therefore be imitators of God as beloved children and walk in love as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But fornication in all impurity or covetiousness must not even be named among

you as is fitting among the Saints. Let there be no filthiness nor silly talk nor

levity which are not fitting, but instead let there be Thanksgiving.

Be sure of this, that no fornicator or impure man or one who is covetous, that is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ

and of God.

Let no one deceive you with empty words, for it is because of these things that the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

It is utterly crucial in dealing with a text like this that we see not only what is being

prohibited by the apostle, but also how he motivates us to fulfill the prohibition.

If you don't see how it's to be done, then you don't see the gospel.

And if you don't see the gospel, then the prohibitions become letters that kill rather than spirit that gives life.

You might succeed in morality only to commit suicide. In fact, success in morality apart from the gospel is suicide.

So we have to devote our attention now this morning to not only what is being eliminated from the Christian life here, but also how it's being eliminated.

How does he get these things in verses 3 and 4 out of the lives of Christians?

But first we'll talk about what they are. What are the things that are being

prohibited in verses 3 and 4? It says, immorality, all impurity or covetousness,

must not even be named among you.

And then verse four, let there be no filthiness nor silly talk nor levity so there they are six things and this is not

a vocabulary test this is a test of your purity.

Are there any of these things in your life this morning that you are going to have to deal with once God speaks to you this morning about them.

Let's take them one at a time.

First of all, immorality at the beginning of verse three.

This is a broad word in the New Testament for

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