The Stench of Sexual Immorality (Part Two)

For sexual sin to make the top of the list, there must be something inherent about it that flies in the face of the gospel. I think there a number of reasons that this particular version of immorality stands so opposed to Jesus' cross. Consider Paul's description of Jesus in Ephesians 5:2, "as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." What we know about Jesus from this verse is that: (1) He loved, (2) He gave himself up, (3) the purpose of His action was serving others ("for us"), and (4) His ultimate motivation was to honor God ("offering and sacrifice to God"). Of course, His giving Himself up is a description of how He loved. His giving of Himself for people who weren't able to help themselves honors God. It is a sweet smell in God's nostrils.

We are called on to behave in a way that reflects His sacrifice. The chapter begins with, "Therefore be imitators of God" and follows the theme of the latter part of Chapter 4. After describing the evil deeds and desires of the lost (which begins with "giv[ing] themselves up to sensuality"), Paul exclaims to the Ephesian Christians: "But that is not the way you learned about Christ!" (4:19-20).

Now consider that 5:3 (following verse 2's description of Christ loving and giving Himself up for us), begins with a word of contrast: "But." Consider the impact of this small conjunction. Christ's self-sacrificial love was a sweet aroma unto God..."[b]ut sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints." We could say a lot about how sexual immorality contradicts the gospel, but given the direct contrast hinged with the word "but," appears that sexual immorality often heads up list of sins because the offending sinner's attitude and actions are not reflective of Jesus'. For example, Jesus put other first, the offender puts themselves first (e.g., to get short-term pleasure). Jesus sacrifices Himself in an incredible and profound way. How does the offender sacrifice himself? He doesn't. He rather gets what he wants (e.g. sexual satisfaction). Jesus is motivated by lost sinners. The offender doesn't truly love or care about the object of his sexual immorality. Elias rightly commented to part one of this post that God designed sex to occur within marriage. When someone engages in sexual immorality, they are causing (or at least joining with) their partner to sin against God and thus bringing His wrath upon them. That is the opposite of sacrificing for another out of love. The offender just wants his darkened desires satisfied without a care for how it is damaging the other person, even to the point of pitting them against God!

This kind of self-focus, self-service, lack of care for others is actually referred to a few verses later as idolatry. When you engage in sexual immorality you act contrary to the cross. Instead of the acceptable offering to God, you serve the idol of your own self-pleasure. Instead of the sweet aroma of cross-like love, the stench of loving and worshipping yourself reaches God nose. Sexual immorality is your attempt to replace God with yourself as worthy of worship. What a terrible thing to act in a way that stands opposed to God and His gospel. Hear the sober words of verse 5: "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."

God, grant us the grace to offer sweet-smelling sacrifice to you. Guard us from coveting what is contrary to your plan for us. Help us to be satisfied in our Savior. Help us to not fall into sexual immorality. Help us, Father, to walk in a manner worthy of our calling.