Good Christian Behavior

“But among you there must not be either sexual immorality, impurity of any kind, or greed, as these are not fitting for the saints. Neither should there be vulgar speech, foolish talk, or coarse jesting—all of which are out of character—but rather thanksgiving.” Ephesians 5:3-4 NET

Paul is setting a high standard as he aims to illustrate the characteristics of a true believer. Many of these behaviors are specifically associated with those who have turned away from worldly desires and have taken a stand for Christ. Although it can be tempting to return to these behaviors, they may have a strong hold on your heart as they are typical behaviors of the flesh.

However, Paul is not just comparing the flesh to the spirit. He also reminds us that we have an advocate in Christ Jesus. He stands before us, empowering us to face temptation, resisting it, and inviting Jesus to be our strength. This assurance in the presence and strength of Christ gives us hope and the ability to overcome temptation. “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation, he will also provide the way of escape, so that you will be able to endure it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13 ESV

Experiencing trials and temptations is not the end in itself; it serves a purpose. We are all connected to someone greater than ourselves - Jesus. His aim is to transform us to be more like Him, not through a life filled with trials and troubles, but through love and mercy that we can experience and then share with others. As Christians, our lives are not just about ourselves; they are about Jesus and His work within us, shaping us to reflect His image. This is a beautiful representation of the marriage relationship between Christ and His church.

My role is not to cast stones at anyone who has a proclivity to sin but to recognize that we are all called to be His Bride, and He is our Bridegroom. The Bridegroom who has sacrificed everything, even dying out of love for His bride, then coming back in a resurrected body to join His Bride. A Bride who is passionately in love with her Groom does everything she can do to please Him, seeking only to be with him at every moment so her passion will overtake her. The relationship between the two is consummated by the joining of the two to become one.

It is not my role to judge those who are inclined to sin, but rather to acknowledge that we are all referred to as His Bride, and He is our Bridegroom. The Bridegroom, who has given up everything, even laying down His life out of love for His Bride, and then returning in a resurrected form to be with His Bride, is the focal point. A Bride deeply in love with her groom does everything within her power to please him, purifying and cleansing herself, desiring only to be with him at all times so that her love will consume her. Their union solidifies the bond between them, making them one.

My point is not to trivialize sin but to emphasize that our role is not that of a sinner but that of a son or daughter of the King, which is a high position with our God. Should we take advantage of sin because we are all forgiven? No way; it isn't that we now have free rein to sin because of Jesus' sacrifice so that we can be forgiven again and again. That's not the purpose of salvation, which trivializes Jesus's sacrifice. True salvation is the redemption of our old sinful life for a new life in Jesus; we have been adopted into God's family as sons and daughters, a new identity in Christ. “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?” Romans 6:1-2 ESV

Even though we have a new life in Christ, the question remains: do we still sin? The answer is yes, we do, but sin is not our new identity or a place where we stay. When we fall into sin, we have Jesus as our advocate to lift us up and continue our journey with Him, and we also have the counsel of other mature believers. As children of God, sin should not define us or be our final destination; our only destination is the Kingdom of God. Sin should only be a temporary obstacle, reminding us to get back on the path and walk with Jesus again. We are all on a journey down a holy highway leading us to our destination, and we have Jesus, our brother, to guide us there.

Paul reminds us that even though sin is out of character for a Christian, our response should be thanksgiving. Offering thanks when we are tempted by sin changes our perspective, shifting our focus from ourselves back to Jesus and the path we are meant to walk with Him. A heart filled with thanksgiving acknowledges that all we have to offer the Lord is our surrender, even in the face of sin. As long as He is in control, our inevitable outcome is certain; we don’t have to worry about our performance, for we have already died to sin, and Jesus is leading us to our destination in the Kingdom of our Heavenly Father.

Stephen Barnett