EPHESIANS 5:5-7 For this you know, that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them.
Know; to "know" (absolutely) in a great variety of applications and with many implications (as follow, with others not thus clearly expressed) Derivation: a prolonged form of a primary verb; The Greek word here is γινώσκω ginōskō. Strong's G1097.
Who Is An Idolator; the warning is to believers against turning away from God to idolatry, whether "openly or secretly, consciously or unconsciously". So this has the idea of looking to "another object, entity or idea that is not God" for salvation or engaging in servitude of that thing. Covetous man in this same context has to do with anyone who wants to have what belongs to others. The Greek word for idolator is εἰδωλολάτρης eidololatres. Vine's (def.Prime), Strong's G1496. Covetous is φιλάργυρος philarguros. Vine's (def C-2), Strong's G5366.
Inheritance; properly "an inherited property, an inheritance." "It is always rendered inheritance in NT, but only in a few cases in the Gospels has it the meaning ordinarily attached to that word in English, i.e., that into possession of which the heir enters only on the death of an ancestor. In Ephesians 5:5 it denotes the prospective condition and possessions of the believer in the new order of things to be ushered in at the return of Christ. The Greek word is κληρονομία kleronomia. Vine's (def B-1c), Strong's G2817.
The kingdom of God, which the morally corrupt cannot "inherit" the "inheritance" of which is likewise impossible to the present physical condition of man. Through the blood of Christ, we are cleansed of punishment for sins in an eternal sense. However, it is important to be changed to corruption through Christ. No sin can enter heaven.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. 15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
1 Corinthians 15:50-54 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed— 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”
Discussion - The parallel passages in Galatians 5:19-21 and Ephesians 5:5-6 are to be interpreted in this way. In both passages, we see the notion of merit and obedience in connection with inheritance. In neither, however, is their contextual justification for assuming that those in danger of losing their inheritance are non-Christians and have only professed their faith in Christ. That is a theological notion derived from the doctrine of perseverance in holiness, which must be forced into the text. If inheriting the kingdom in those texts refers to "going to heaven", the apostle's sublime exhortation to these believers is reduced to banal observation; "Remember, non-Christians do not go to heaven." This a profound thought and one which would have little relevance to these Galatian Christians who "Belong to Jesus Christ" (Galatians 5:24). The fact that these believers "have crucified the sinful nature" can hardly refer to the idea that all Christians have sacrificially negated the impulses of the flesh. The unexpected occurrence of the active voice may be paralleled with 1 Corinthians 9:22, "I have become all things to all men in order that by all means I might save some." This passage refers back to Romans 6:1-11, our joint crucifixion with Christ at initial salvation, which must be put into experience by reckoning and yielding." - Dillow "Reign of the Servant Kings".
Inheritance is not "entering". "Rossup continues his circular reasoning as follows. "Often New Testament passages which address believers weave in warnings that appeal even to the unsaved." but how does one know that the intent of the New Testament author is to do this unless we know that the doctrine of the saints' perseverance is real? He says "failure to inherit the kingdom due to tolerating a sinful indulgent lifestyle must mean that one will not turn out to be saved (2). He cites Galatians 5:21 and Ephesians 5:3-5, which do not prove his points unless we already know that "inherit the kingdom" = "enter the kingdom", as has been demonstrated elsewhere this equivocation is false.
1. I Bid p. 271
2. I Bid
Kingdom; "Entrance into the Kingdom of God is by the new birth, Matthew 18:3; John 3:5, for nothing that a man may be by nature, or can attain to by any form of self-culture, avails in the spiritual realm. And as the new nature, received in the new birth, is made evident by obedience, it is further said that only such as do the will of God shall enter into His Kingdom, Matthew 7:21, where, however, the context shows that the reference is to the future. The Greek word is βασιλεία basileia. Vine's (def 1), Strong's G932.
Moving to Verse 6.
Deceive; To beguile. of those who "deceive" "with empty words," belittling the true character of the sins mentioned. The Greek word is ἀπατάω apatao. Vine's (def C-1a) Strong's G538. Strong's also mentions the idea of "cheat".
Empty Words; expresses the "hollowness" of anything, the "absence" of that which otherwise might be possessed. Used metaphorically, of imaginations, Acts 4:25; of words which convey erroneous teachings. The Greek word is κενός kenos. Vine's (B-1b), Strong's G2756.
Wrath Of God; Properly, desire (as a reaching forth or excitement of the mind), i.e. (by analogy), violent passion (ire, or (justifiable) abhorrence); by implication punishment. His present anger on those who disobeyed the Lord Jesus in His gospel. Moreover God's purpose in judgment. See this study under "Children Of Wrath". Wrath of God came to signify "anger". The Greek word for anger is ὀργή orge. Strong's G3709.
Sons Of Disobedience; lit., the condition of being unpersuadable" (a, negative, peitho, "to persuade"), denotes "obstinacy, obstinate rejection of the will of God;" hence, "disobedience; The Greek word is ἀπείθεια apeitheia. Vine's (def 1), Strong's G543.
Sons has the idea of those lacking characteristics of "those who had not been deceived". - My Notes.
Verse 7.
Partakers; Partaking together with, is used as a noun "fellow partakers". The Greek word is συμμέτοχος summetochos. Vine's (def A-4). Strong's G4830.
Takeaway:
1. Inheritance "in the kingdom of God" is not the same as the inheritance of the "Holy Spirit" when we are sealed in Jesus Christ. The central idea is to "trust and obey Jesus Christ" as our Lord and Savior. We don't lose "salvation" if we sin once we have accepted the gift of salvation. What we can lose is the inheritance that God wants us to have in His kingdom. Paul later expands on these ideas in
Colossians 3:22-25 Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. 23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. 25 But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality.
Having said all that, we do not want to partake in sin or sin habitually. We should be disciplining our flesh through Christ to flee from sin.
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