(Audio/Video/Text)
Title: Too Much is Not Enough
Intro:
Guys, this is going to be tough; this is going to be challenging. And the further we get into this one verse, and the message I have prepared, the harder it will be. I’m going to ask you to contribute this morning, even more so than usual.
There is hope, I promise, but this is one of those passages that certainly can “center” us and humble us very quickly.
(read/pray)
Alternate English Translations:
NKJV: 3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints;
NIV: But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people.
NASB: But sexual immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be mentioned among you, as is proper among saints;
Others?
Let’s Look at the three sins named in the original language for more clarity:
Fornication
porneia (por-ni’-ah)
Definition: illicit sexual intercourse, adultery, fornication, homosexuality, lesbianism, intercourse with animals, sexual intercourse with close relatives; Lev. 18, sexual intercourse with a divorced man or woman; Mk. 10:11-12
Can also be used as a metaphor for the worship of idols
of the defilement of idolatry, as incurred by eating the sacrifices offered to idols
Is sex bad? What makes it bad?
Answer: When WE take something good and practice it outside of the guard rails of God’s plan.
Uncleanness
akatharsia (ak-ath-ar-see’-ah)
Definition: uncleanness physically (putting on a “front” see Mt.23:27)
in a moral sense: the impurity of lustful, luxurious, profligate living, of impure motives
How are we guilty of putting on a front, especially with believers?
Don’t we live in luxury?
In what ways do we, even as believers, operate with impure motives?
PB’s note: Transparency/Honesty/Accountability
Covetousness
pleonexia (pleh-on-ex-ee’-ah)
Definition: greedy desire to have more
Is there a “non-greedy” desire to have more?
If so, what might that look like?
How many of you don’t want more?
It gets even more challenging:
“Let it once not be named among you…”
“Let there not be even a hint…”
“It must not be mentioned among you…”
Is anyone here NOT GUILTY of having “even a hint” of all three of these sins?
I know I’m not.
I have sinned sexually, and still struggle with that almost daily.
I have put on fronts in the past, and continue to wrestle with that in my own insecurities.
I always want more, whether that a faster car, bigger TV, or better lawn stripes.
Do you think Paul’s audience was any different that us? Don’t you think the weight of these words crushed them the same way they are crushing us today?
So what in world do we do with this reality?
I want to give you an answer to this question, and as we get further into Chapter five, some of this will become more clear, so it does require our patience, but for today, let me close with this:
Two Closing Thoughts:
First: Paul emphasizes the reality of all our sins so that the reality of Grace in Christ is magnified.
2 Corinthians 12:9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in (my) weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
Secondly: Contrary to what the world wants you to believe, our reputations ARE important! We represent the Kingdom of Christ as ambassadors, for HIM we ought not sin.
1 Corinthians 6:20 “…You were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”