Counterfeit Love: Impure Acts (3)

As noted last time, the first impure act that must disappear from the true Christian’s life is fornication (Eph. 5:3). May we add, however, When you really analyze words, it becomes apparent that the word fornication is avoided even in Christianity. This is plainly evident in the consistent habit of modern Bible translations rendering the Greek porneia as “immorality” instead of what it really means, fornication. This is unarguably a softening of the deeper meaning of the Greek word and makes it a little more palatable for our day. In contrast, fornication translates the force of the Greek, where “immorality” (NASB) or “sexual immorality” (NIV) plainly do not.

As textual authority Jay Green observes:  “‘Immorality,’ according to Webster, is merely that which the morals of the region do not approve. But fornication is fornication wherever it may appear on the earth; it is known in every nation on earth where English is spoken.” He’s right! Webster defines “immorality” as “an immoral act,” and then defnes “immoral” as “conflicting with generally or traditionally held moral principles.” But that still doesn’t get us to the meaning because we’re using part of the word we’re defining as part of the defintion. We must, therefore, define “moral,” which Webster says is, “relating to principles of right and wrong in behavior.” That, however, is obviously general and vague because right and wrong nowadays relative, it’s in “in the eye of the beholder.” Fornication, however, is absolutely clear. As Webster again defines, “consensual sexual intercourse between two persons not married to each other,” and that is precisely what porneia means!

How important sexual purity is! One commentator suggests that we can think of sex as a magnificent sandwich, piled high with turkey, salted just so, cheese, mayo (or, if you prefer, “the tangy taste of Miracle Whip,” as the commercial goes), lettuce, tomato, and whatever else your taste demands. Set that sandwich on a nice clean plate, set the plate on a clean checkered tablecloth, and it’s a feast. But if you found that same sandwich in a dumpster, would you shoo the flies away from it, pull it out, and eat it? Of course not. It’s been defiled and will make you sick. Likewise, sexual relations is a feast for all our senses, but outside of God’s marital design, we are feeding from the dumpster.

Second, uncleanness (akatharsia) must also disappear from the Christian’s life. This is a broader term than porneia. Paul used this word back in Ephesians 4:19. It is actually tied in with the Old Testament concepts of “clean” and “unclean.” One could become “unclean” in several ways—by eating unclean meat, for example—so Paul “borrows” the term, brings it into the Christian life, and shows that everything propagated by Satan’s counterfeit love is unclean, impure, and polluted. Not only are immoral acts impure, but immoral thoughts and fantasies are impure. Today there are books written about people’s sexual fantasies and the world has the audacity to call such things “love!”

Third, covetousness must also vanish from the Christian’s life. The Greek here (pleonexia) means “greedy desire to have more,” which is a good definition of covetousness. I recently asked a godly Christian man, a dairy farmer who was visiting our church, “How’s business?” He answered, “We’re paying the bills and the family is providing for. That’s enough.” That is the Godly attitude. The world says, “I have to have more,” while God says, “I will supply your needs” (Matt. 6:33; Phil. 4:19).

Like uncleanness, this word was used back in Ephesians 4:19 where it is translated “greediness.” Man’s underlying motive is greed, lust, and self-gratification. This fact is intensified all the more in sexual matters. Why? Because the human sexual drive is strong and if left to itself, it becomes perverted in unimaginable ways.

It is fascinating to notice that man mistakes all of what we have seen thus far to be “love,” when all of this is actually the exact opposite, “hate.” Why? Because love is selfless, not selfish; because love gives instead of takes; because love satisfies instead of gratifies. True love will always meets the true need, while gratification simply feeds lust.

It’s also significant that covetousness is an “ignored sin.” I read of a Catholic priest who reported that during his many years of hearing confessions, he heard of all kinds of sin, even crimes, but not once did he ever hear anyone confess covetousness. Indeed, we don’t think about this being sin, but it most certainly is. Not only is it greedy desire to have more, but as we’ll see later in verse 5, it is actually “idolatry,” worshipping a false god.