5 For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
Two warnings occur in verses five and six: (1) the believer’s exclusion from inheritance in God’s kingdom (v. 5), and (2) the believer’s seduction from those who have a vested interest in their non-Christian worldview (v. 6).
5 For this you know,
There is no doubt about what the Ephesian church knew regarding this verse; it was nothing new to them. This knowledge is self-evident. The church knew that sexual sin is not fitting for God’s people and that it is more congruent with non-Christian behavior.
that no fornicator,
The words “fornicator,” “unclean person,” and “covetous man” are from the same rudimentary words of verse three. Fornication was rampant in Ephesus, where phallic cults were predominating. Sexual perversion was everywhere.
unclean person,
“Unclean” here is unclean in sexual thought or lifestyle.
nor covetous man, who is an idolater,
The essence of a covetous man is idolatry (Co 3:5). Covetous people worship the creature and the things of the creature rather than the Creator.
has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
The word “has” is in the present tense, indicating fixedness of their exclusion from inheritance in the kingdom. No immoral person has part in the rewards of God’s kingdom.
The “kingdom of Christ and God” includes the church, Millennium, and the eternal state. This kingdom belongs to both Christ and God. Christ came to establish the kingdom.
PRINCIPLE:
Loss of inheritance in the kingdom is not the same as loss of salvation.
APPLICATION:
No Christian should be naïve to the fact that the pull of our pagan past is still there. It is easy to succumb to the influence of secular culture and media. This is especially true when it comes to sexual morality. Those in bondage to such things do not submit themselves to the rule of the right kingdom.
The unregenerate who practices sexual sins does not represent the kingdom of Christ and God. He classifies himself by his actions. Persistent sexual licentiousness and lasciviousness is degeneracy. This was the common practice of the temple of Artemis. The Roman equivalent was the goddess Diana.
There is a difference between accessing and inheriting the kingdom of Christ and God. Christians who practice sexual sins are out of phase with God and will not inherit rewards in the kingdom as long as they stay out of fellowship.
In Ephesians 5:4-6, I have a question, is struggling with sexual sin the same as practicing it? Like will I still have inheritance if I struggle with it, I really don’t want to commit any sexual immorality I want to live pure and when I stumble and fall into masturbation I feel shame and awful I feel conviction and I ask god for help and forgiveness and I have fellowship with him. i can go days and weeks without failing, I really appreciate want to love pure and holy I read and pray everyday to feed my soul and get to know god more. Will I still have inheritance if I have stumbled?
Stian, Struggling with sexual sin is not the same as committing the sin. Temptation is not a sin; it is a sin to yield to temptation. See my studies on James 1:13 and the studies that follow it. Those who fall into a sin will not lose their salvation but they will not be rewarded for that instance or part of their lives.