Skip to main content

Ephesians 4:19: Calloused


Ephesians 4:19
[19] They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. (ESV)

It has been said that, "Without God everything is permissible."  This axiom really sums up the way that godless Gentiles live their lives.  God is a holy God.  He has established boundaries and guidelines for our behavior that enable us to live lives that do not harm one another.  But, the Apostle Paul describes for us those who live outside of God's holy boundaries.  "They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity."

This callousness is a description of gradually becoming harder and harder due to repeated behavior.  I remember learning how to play guitar.  At first it hurt my fingers to push down the strings to form guitar chords.  But, the more I practiced I developed callouses on my fingers.  The skin on the tips of my fingers hardened and I no longer felt discomfort when playing.  This applies directly to those who repeatedly sin.  The more that they engage in their wickedness the easier it is to continue on in it.  They no longer feel any unpleasant feelings of a conscience.  This frees them to chase every type of sin which Scripture reminds us leads to their eternal death (Romans 6:23).

Now, I find a very interesting phrase in this verse in Ephesians.  Paul says that they have given themselves up to sensuality.  In Romans 1:28 Paul was describing Gentiles also.  He talks about those who have received the knowledge of God, but rejected it in order to pursue pleasures.  Listen to how he describes them:

Romans 1:28
[28] And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. (ESV)

In Ephesians he says, "they have given themselves up."  In Romans he says, "God gave them up."  Is this a conflict?  Actually, no.  God gave them up to do what they gave themselves up to do.  Here is the scary truth.  If you want to continue on and pursue your rebellion, God will let you.  Be careful what you ask for, you just might get it!

Don't be surprised when your friends, co-workers, and family members pursue sinful behaviors without having any sense of conscience.  Paul describes them as those who have hardened themselves in their pursuit of sin.  Spend time praying that God will soften them and draw them to himself.  Pray that they do not ultimately get what they ask for!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Romans 8:18: For I Consider That The Sufferings Of This Present Time Are Not Worth Comparing

Romans 8:18 [18] For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. (ESV) Perspective. What an important word. Let's be honest. We do not like the idea of suffering. We will do almost anything to avoid any kind of suffering. Some churches have gone so far as to preach against the idea of suffering, declaring it to not be a part of the true believer's life. Paul is not shy about the topic. Paul uses the sufferings of this present time as a means to consider the greater glory that awaits us. Perspective. Paul is not in any way attempting to diminish our suffering. A view toward eternity puts our suffering in a proper understanding. Yes, our suffering is terrible. In the grand scheme of eternity it is not even worth comparison. Maybe you are thinking that Paul does not know what he is talking about when it comes to suffering. In 2 Corinthians 11 Paul describes countless beatings, often near death,
2 comments
Read more

Romans 11:24: For If You Were Cut From What Is By Nature A Wild Olive Tree, And Grafted, Contrary To Nature, Into A Cultivated Olive Tree . . .

Romans 11:24 [24] For if you were cut from what is by nature a wild olive tree, and grafted, contrary to nature, into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, the natural branches, be grafted back into their own olive tree. (ESV) We continue looking at the illustration of an olive tree. The root of the tree is the covenant relationship relationship of God with Abraham. Abraham's faith is what this spiritual tree is built on. The first branches would have been the faithful people of Israel, who like Abraham, placed their faith in God. They believed God, just like Abraham, and it was credited to them as righteousness. There were branches of the people of Israel who never placed their faith in God. Because these branches were not true followers of God they were broken off of the tree. Faith in God was the essential element that made the branches true branches of this spiritual tree. Some branches remained. Others, the faithless unbelievers, were removed. After Jesu
6 comments
Read more

Romans 15:20-21: And Thus I Make It My Ambition To Preach The Gospel, Not Where Christ Has Already Been Named

Romans 15:20–21 [20] and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else's foundation, [21] but as it is written, “Those who have never been told of him will see, and those who have never heard will understand.” (ESV) We need to be reminded continually that the message of the Gospel is intended to move all across the world. Jesus said that his followers were to preach the Gospel, starting in Jerusalem, and continue preaching the Gospel to the whole world. Christians have not always been good at delivering the Gospel message as far and as often as they should. In the first century church it took intense persecution to motivate the disciples in Jerusalem to bring the Gospel to Judea and Samaria. Once the disciples fled to new regions they shared the Gospel wherever they went. Would the disciples have preached the Gospel without the persecution? We may never know. Some probably would have stayed in their co
Post a Comment
Read more