1 Be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. 3-4 But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints.  Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.  5-6 For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Ephesians 5:1-6 (English Standard Version)

Did verse 1 strike you? Christians are called there to be imitators of God! An old saying says 'imitation is the sincerest form of flattery'. But God doesn't need to be 'flattered' by us - our imitation of Him is to show His character to others. We want others to see what He is like through our actions. What is the chief action by which this is done? (vs 2)

Think of how Christ loved us. He left the glory of His Father's side to come into our sin filled world. He did not despise the shame and agony of the cross but gave Himself as an offering for our sins. He loved the Father's will even more than His own. That's the sort of love we are called to imitate. And high on this list of loving others would be putting away of all that love is not. (vs 3-4)

Sex, in itself, is not love. This is particularly true when it comes to immorality and vulgar speech. There's a tragic event in the Old Testament where a man named Amnon 'fell in love' with his half-sister Tamar. He worked out a plan where he could be alone with her, and we read: “Being stronger than she was, he violated her and lay with her.” But after that happened we're told: “Then Amnon hated her with very great hatred, so that the hatred with which he hated her was greater than the love with which he had loved her.” (2Samuel 13:14-15) That story reflects what is true when sex is only about taking advantage of others. When it's about getting what we want. It's also very true of the whole industry of pornography.

Apart from the fact that immorality is never an act of love, what’s the other reason why Paul said such things 'are out of place' for Christians, and mustn't even be part of their interest and conversation? (vs 5-6)

Those who make immorality and impurity a goal in their life will not inherit the Kingdom God has promised to those who love the Lord Jesus Christ. This is not just true of 'gay' people, it's true of 'straight' people as well if they deviate from God's will for our lives in this matter. Immorality is one aspect of the sort of the disobedient lifestyle that leads to God's wrath.

People who feel trapped in sexual sin, whether adultery or pornography, may feel there's no hope for them. But remember what Paul wrote to Christians at Corinth. He said: “Wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God! Don't be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who have sex with men, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor slanderers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God!” But then he adds: “And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” (1 Corinthians 6:9-11) That takes us back to what Paul wrote in vs 2 of today's reading. May God help us to imitate Him and the love with which He has loved us through Christ. And may we reject all that is not of such love.

For any who may read this post who might be struggling with the issue of sexual sin, if you have access to Face Book please look up my page called 'Choices', and another one, especially for Christians, called 'Snare-escape'. These may be of some help and encouragement.