Ephesians 5:5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
We see here in verse 5 a repetition of what was mentioned in verse 3. The only difference in this verse is that now the actions have defined the person. What was the act of fornication has now become fornicators (for some reason the KJV uses whoremonger instead, but it’s word from which we get fornication in verse 3). What was the act of uncleanliness now has become an unclean person. What was the act of covetousness has now become a covetous person.
Paul wanted the church to understand this following point: these three types of individuals have no inheritance, that is, no part in the kingdom of Christ and of God. This desire is evident in that Paul addresses that the fact at the opening that they already know this – yet he sees it fit to mention again. It brings us back to verse 3 and gives us the why.
Why should the saint avoid fornication, uncleanliness, and covetousness? Because if they engage in such actions, they will make void their inheritance in the future. That is not to say that the individual loses the salvation is they fall – there is a significance in the fact that the person who doesn’t have inheritance in the kingdom is defined by their actions. It speaks not simply of falling, but of falling and not getting back up. In other words, there is no repentance.
It is better that is not named once in the life of the saint – but if the saint falls it doesn’t automatically mean they have lost their inheritance – it is when such behavior continues, that it then defines the person. They are no longer a saint (holy one), for how can one be holy when their actions are unholy? So must it be, that if one wishes to be a saint – to have an inheritance in the kingdom of a holy God, they must have the actions that reflect that – what we do ultimately defines who we are. If, God forbid, we fall, the correct response should be prompt and genuine repentance. To continue in sinful behavior will ultimately result in losing our inheritance. God forbid we should treat something so great so lightly.
The use of the word ‘inheritance’ harks back to verse 1, for children are heirs of their father. If one is a beloved child, that is, they imitate their father, they will have an inheritance, for they are beloved. What inheritance is there for the child whose father is not God? What inheritance is there the one who imitates the unholy? The inheritance only passes to the children of he who possesses the inheritance to start with, therefore, if you wish to have inheritance in heaven, you must be a child of Christ and of God, or else, you have no inheritance. The opening words of the chapter are then echoed in ‘inheritance’ – be beloved children.
The closing of this verse describes the kingdom as the kingdom of Christ and of God. It’s a curious description, found only in this passage in this order. Similar references are found with a reversed order in Revelations 11:15, 12:10.
Why ascribe the kingdom as such in this passage? There are a couple of ways to read this.
One, it points to how we follow God (verse 1) – by following Christ, God in the flesh. It’s only through Christ that we can truly see God in action in human terms. He set the example – he showed us how to live. If we wish to imitate God, we must look to Christ. If we wish to have inheritance in the kingdom – we must imitate the king, that is, God. To do so, we must imitate Christ – God in the flesh.
Two, it speaks of the fulness of the kingdom, for this kingdom which we desire to have inheritance in, is a kingdom of Christ and of God, that is, the Lamb and the Lion, the Savior and the Lord. In 2 Peter 1:11, the apostle describes the kingdom as ‘the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. For now, the kingdom is veiled if you please, but the day comes and is fast approaching when Jesus Christ will affirm His kingdom (2Ti 4:1). When that day comes – it will be a day of judgement. It will be the day that determines those who have inheritance in the kingdom and those who do not.
Many to this day are blind as to the true identity of Christ – one might read this description and come away with the implication that there are at least two persons in a Godhead, but that is not at all what is being stated. The Christ is the anointed one, the man chosen by God. This man happens to be God in the flesh. When the kingdom of Christ is fully realized, it will consecutively be the kingdom of God, for in the human person of Christ is the one divine person of the God who has always existed – therefore can one speak of the kingdom of Christ and of God as in Ephesians and yet speak as Peter does of the kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Both are describing the same thing. One has veiled the identity of Christ. The other is more open. Both are the same. The same Paul who wrote Ephesians writes in 1 Timothy 6:13-15 that Christ will reveal who is the only powerful One, the only immortal, the King of kings and Lord of lords. Right now it’s still up for debate – but there is coming a day when the Lord Jesus Christ shall return to judge all the earth. When that day comes, there will be no more debate as to who is King of kings.
May we strive to be worthy of the inheritance that He purchased with His own blood. Cast off the works of darkness – fornication, uncleanliness, and covetousness. And pursue a life of holiness.
Talking Bible 
Leave a comment