Saturday, November 14, 2026
Putting together a code of conduct.
“This is the will of God, your sanctification” |
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One reason Scripture calls us to moral character is that “we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil” (2 Corinthians 5:10). God sees what others do not and will judge every sin we do not confess with a repentant spirit. |
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Even when we do, the consequences of our sins remain with regard to eternal rewards: |
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God cannot reward us in the next life for sins committed in this one. Even when we confess them and are forgiven, the rewards we would have gained for faithful obedience are lost. |
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But there’s another biblical reason to refuse personal sin: because God says so. For example, he commands us to “flee from sexual immorality” (1 Corinthians 6:18). His word tells us, “Sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints” (Ephesians 5:3). To the contrary, “this is the will of God, your sanctification” (1 Thessalonians 4:3). |
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Our Lord will help us in this regard: “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, that you may be able to endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:13). Whatever his word commands, his Spirit enables. |
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“God said it and that settles it”
A good reading of Ephesians 4 and 5 gives us enough authoritative information for you and I to have a clear code of conduct:
Ephesians 4:17-32 CSB
[17] Therefore, I say this and testify in the Lord: You should no longer live as the Gentiles live, in the futility of their thoughts. [18] They are darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them and because of the hardness of their hearts. [19] They became callous and gave themselves over to promiscuity for the practice of every kind of impurity with a desire for more and more. [20] But that is not how you came to know Christ, [21] assuming you heard about him and were taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus, [22] to take off your former way of life, the old self that is corrupted by deceitful desires, [23] to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, [24] and to put on the new self, the one created according to God's likeness in righteousness and purity of the truth. [25] Therefore, putting away lying, speak the truth, each one to his neighbor, because we are members of one another. [26] Be angry and do not sin. Don't let the sun go down on your anger, [27] and don't give the devil an opportunity. [28] Let the thief no longer steal. Instead, he is to do honest work with his own hands, so that he has something to share with anyone in need. [29] No foul language should come from your mouth, but only what is good for building up someone in need, so that it gives grace to those who hear. [30] And don't grieve God's Holy Spirit. You were sealed by him for the day of redemption. [31] Let all bitterness, anger and wrath, shouting and slander be removed from you, along with all malice. [32] And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.
Ephesians 5:1-12,15-26 CSB
[1] Therefore, be imitators of God, as dearly loved children, [2] and walk in love, as Christ also loved us and gave himself for us, a sacrificial and fragrant offering to God. [3] But sexual immorality and any impurity or greed should not even be heard of among you, as is proper for saints. [4] Obscene and foolish talking or crude joking are not suitable, but rather giving thanks. [5] For know and recognize this: Every sexually immoral or impure or greedy person, who is an idolater, does not have an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. [6] Let no one deceive you with empty arguments, for God's wrath is coming on the disobedient because of these things. [7] Therefore, do not become their partners. [8] For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light- [9] for the fruit of the light consists of all goodness, righteousness, and truth- [10] testing what is pleasing to the Lord. [11] Don't participate in the fruitless works of darkness, but instead expose them. [12] For it is shameful even to mention what is done by them in secret. [15] Pay careful attention, then, to how you live-not as unwise people but as wise- [16] making the most of the time, because the days are evil. [17] So don't be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. [18] And don't get drunk with wine, which leads to reckless living, but be filled by the Spirit:
[19] speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music with your heart to the Lord, [20] giving thanks always for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, [21] submitting to one another in the fear of Christ. [22] Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord, [23] because the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of the body. [24] Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives are to submit to their husbands in everything. [25] Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself for her [26] to make her holy, cleansing her with the washing of water by the word.
We will abide by this code of conduct.
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