Among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed. . . . Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking. (Eph. 5:3–4)
Expanded Passage: Ephesians 5:3-5
The Saturn V rocket that launched Neil Armstrong to the moon was powerful, but even it had limits. When weight became a limiting factor, engineers implemented the Super Weight Improvement Program. As part of this, they redesigned key systems and removed others, including removing the windows and chairs for the astronauts, because keeping any of these conveniences would bar Armstrong and the other astronauts from reaching the moon.
Similarly, the pursuit of Christlikeness demands leaving things behind. Sexual immorality (i.e., any sexual activity outside of that between a husband and wife), impurity (i.e., anything morally impure), and greed are obvious candidates. Paul then raised the bar by commanding that obscenity (i.e., shamefulness, filthiness), foolish talk (i.e., discussing things contrary to God’s wisdom), and coarse jokes (i.e., suggestive or explicit humor) be left behind too. These, Paul wrote, are “improper for God’s holy people” (v. 3) and “out of place” (v. 4), and those who insist on keeping them will have no inheritance in God’s kingdom (v. 5). That is, they will never reach the Christlikeness they seek. These are the limiting factors that would bar Christians from their inheritance.
Just as engineers realized they needed to leave behind seats so the Apollo astronauts could reach the moon, Christians must leave behind anything, even our most treasured conveniences, which will bar them from reaching Christlikeness.
Leave behind everything that keeps you from being like Jesus.
Jeremy Geerdes is a pastor in Des Moines, Iowa. He is passionate about holiness and his family.
© 2026 Wesleyan Publishing House. Reprinted from Light from the Word. Used by permission. Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®.
