“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 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. 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. Therefore do not become partners with them.” – Ephesians 5:1–7 (ESV)
👣 Imitating God Starts with Identity
Paul begins with a bold but beautiful command: “Be imitators of God, as beloved children.” This is not about pretending—it’s about reflecting our heavenly Father because we are His children.
Children imitate those they love. They learn by watching. In the same way, as those adopted by grace, we are called to mirror the character of the One who adopted us. We don’t imitate to earn His love—we imitate because we have it.
💞 Walk in Love Like Christ Walked
The primary way we imitate God is by love. Paul says, “Walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us.” Jesus didn’t just love with words—He sacrificed Himself for us.
This love is described as “a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” It echoes the language of temple worship. Christ’s death was not only for us—it was also pleasing to the Father. When we love sacrificially, our lives become a pleasing aroma to God.
🚫 What Has No Place Among God’s People
Paul now gives a sharp contrast. There are certain behaviors that don’t belong in the lives of those who follow Christ. He names three categories:
- Sexual immorality (Greek: porneia) – all forms of sexual activity outside of God’s design
- Impurity – moral filth, both physical and mental
- Covetousness – greed, lust for more, discontentment with what God provides
Paul says these things “must not even be named among you.” That doesn’t mean we don’t talk about them in the right context—it means they should be so far from our lives that they’re not part of our reputation.
🗣️ Words That Reveal Our Walk
Just as our actions should reflect Christ, so should our speech. Paul warns against:
- Filthiness – obscene, vulgar words
- Foolish talk – empty, degrading speech
- Crude joking – coarse humor that makes light of sin
Instead, he says, “Let there be thanksgiving.” Gratitude is the proper speech of the believer. It keeps our hearts aligned with grace and our mouths filled with light, not darkness.
⚠️ The Serious Warning: No Inheritance in the Kingdom
Paul is not vague. “Everyone who is sexually immoral, or impure, or covetous… has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.”
This is not about a single failure—it’s about a pattern of unrepentant sin. Those who persist in these things without repentance reveal that they are not truly part of God’s family. The gospel transforms us—inside and out.
Covetousness, Paul says, is idolatry. It’s putting something else where only God belongs. It may not be a golden calf—but it’s still worship of self, stuff, or status instead of Christ.
🧪 Don’t Be Deceived by Empty Words
Paul anticipates false teachers or cultural pressure: “Let no one deceive you…” Some will downplay sin. Some will redefine it. But truth doesn’t change with the times.
“Because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.” Paul isn’t fear-mongering—he’s reminding us of reality. Sin leads to judgment. Grace leads to holiness.
🚷 Don’t Partner with the Darkness
Finally, Paul says, “Therefore do not become partners with them.” We can’t walk in love and live in compromise. To follow Christ is to step out of darkness and live in the light of truth—even when it’s unpopular.
📣 What This Means for Us Today
1. Love Isn’t Tolerance—It’s Imitation
To walk in love is not to excuse sin—it’s to imitate Jesus. Real love confronts evil, speaks truth, and offers sacrifice for the good of others.
2. Purity Is a Reflection of Identity
We don’t avoid sin to earn salvation—we avoid sin because we belong to God. Our lifestyle reflects the kingdom we’re part of.
3. Words Matter Because Hearts Matter
What comes out of your mouth is a window into your heart. Fill your speech with grace and gratitude, not filth and foolishness.
📣 Reflection and Application
- 🪞 Does my life imitate God or blend into the world?
- 🧼 Are there hidden areas of impurity, greed, or crude speech I need to surrender?
- 💡 How can I walk in love and truth this week—reflecting Christ to others?
🛐 Prayer
Father, thank You for adopting me as Your beloved child. Help me to imitate You in love, purity, and truth. Keep my heart clean and my mouth filled with thanksgiving. Let my life shine as a reflection of Jesus in a dark world. In His name I pray, amen.
📌 Coming Up Next
Ephesians 5:8–14 — Living as Children of Light
In the next section, Paul invites us to walk as children of light—exposing darkness, bearing fruit, and awakening those asleep to the truth of Christ.
