The Triad of the Works of the Flesh

Ephesians 5:1-14

Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; 2 and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour. 3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; 4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. 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. 6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. 7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them. 8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: 9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) 10 proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. 12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. 13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. 14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.

The Heaven and Home Hour Radio Bulletin runs this article: How does a worm get inside an apple? Perhaps you think the worm burrows in from the outside. No, scientists have discovered that the worm comes from inside. But how does he get in there? Simple! An insect lays an egg in the apple blossom. Sometime later, the worm hatches in the heart of the apple, then eats his way out. Sin, like the worm, begins in the heart and works out through a person’s thoughts, words, and actions.

Apostle Paul recognized this reality among the Ephesian believers. He considered their lives to be in darkness and in spiritual slumber. He, in fact, advised them to walk in love, as Christ also hath loved them. Yet Paul observed fornication, uncleanness, or covetousness among them even when they are already saints (Ephesians 5:3).

Fornication, uncleanness, and covetousness form the triad of the works of the flesh.

Fornication is defined as sexual intercourse between people not married to each other. Biblically, fornication has a little wider definition as it can refer to prostitution, promiscuous behavior, or indulging in unlawful lust by either sex.

Fornication is the work of the flesh (Galatians 5:19). It is the kind of sin that humans commit against their own body (1 Corinthians 6:18). Fornication can also refer figuratively to committing idolatry (2 Chronicles 21:11; Revelation 17:2).

Sexual relations are the part of a marriage, which makes us physically joined together with our spouse (Mark 10:8-9; Ephesians 5:22-23). In the same way, believers are all joined together with Christ (1 Corinthians 6:13-17) and marriage is the earthly representation of the relationship between Christ and the Church (John 14:16-17; Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Therefore, physical purity is representative of the holiness of the temple of the Holy Spirit.

Fornication is sin. It leads us to spiritual darkness. It leads to our spiritual slumber. We need to wake up to the light of Jesus Christ amid our darkness. As fornication is true among Ephesian believers, it is also rampant among present day Christians. That is why Paul reminds believers in all eras that we should watch out for the works of the flesh in our lives.

Uncleanness, on the other hand, means an act that is determined to be morally impure and completely unacceptable to God.  It typically refers to some sexual act or public indecency. It can be gross or wanton indecency in sexual relations and is sometimes used interchangeably with licentiousness or lasciviousness, which both relate to debauchery. Uncleanness starts in a sinful heart (Mark 7:21-22) and manifests itself in fleshly or carnal actions (Galatians 5:19). It can eventually lead to a state of spiritual callousness (Ephesians 4:19).

Uncleanness is characterized by unbridled lust, excess, licentiousness, lasciviousness, wantonness, maliciousness, outrageousness, shamelessness, and insolence. Uncleanness can be categorized into three: licentiousness, lasciviousness, or debauchery, all of which are rebellious, sinful attitudes.

Licentiousness means indecent bodily movements, unchaste handling of males and females. It can also be defined as lacking moral discipline or restraint, especially in sexual conduct. The Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary defines licentiousness as undisciplined and unrestrained behavior, especially a flagrant disregard of sexual restraints. The Greek word translated as licentiousness means "outrageous conduct," showing that licentious behavior goes beyond sin to include a disregard for what is right. Licentiousness can be synonymous to lewdness that Paul warns the Roman believers to avoid (Romans 13:13). Lewdness is the quality of being very sexual or lustful in an offensive way.

Lasciviousness, on the other hand, is a gross form of wickedness that has sexual overtones in many cases. William Barclay says the word lascivious conveys the idea of a person “who is so far gone in lust and desire” that he or she ceases “to care what people say or think”. Josephus, the Jewish historian, once used the word to describe a man who indecently exposed himself to a crowd. Lastly, Nelson's Illustrated Bible Dictionary defines "lasciviousness" as the "KJV word for licentiousness.

Debauchery is the habitual and unrestrained indulgence of lust and sensuality. It is counted as one of the works of the flesh (Galatians 5:19-21). Debauchery is the result of characterized by present day partying (1 Peter 4:3), wasteful lifestyle (Luke 15:13), and unholy living (Romans 13:13).

Debauchery is always considered ungodly and encompasses all that God hates (Romans 1:18). Those who live in debauchery, among other forms of wickedness, will not inherit the kingdom of God (Galatians 5:19) but will bring destruction upon themselves in the end. As debauchery is the result of drunkenness, Paul admonished the believers to not be filled and drunk with wine but with the Spirit (Ephesians 5:18). Believers are admonished to have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness (Ephesians 5:11).

Covetousness means a strong desire to have that which belongs to another. This is synonymous with greed. The 10^th commandment that God gave to His people through Moses warns His people never to covet what is not theirs (Exodus 20:17). Jesus Christ considered covetousness or greed, along with many other sins, to defile the believers (Mark 7:20-23).

Paul reminded the believers in Ephesians that they are already counted as saints and no longer live in fornication, uncleanness, or covetousness (Ephesians 5:3). James also has this warning about lust, covetousness, and murder (James 4:2). Jesus Christ warns all his beloved to take heed and beware of covetousness (Luke 12:15). As believers, we should be on guard against all kinds of greed.

Billy Graham in his book The Holy Spirit (1988), shared about a lesson from an Eskimo fisherman who came to town every Saturday afternoon. He always brought his two dogs with him. One was white and the other was black. He had taught them to fight on command. Every Saturday afternoon in the town square the people would gather and these two dogs would fight and the fisherman would take bets. On one Saturday, the black dog would win; another Saturday, the white dog would win but the fisherman always won! His friends began to ask him how he did it. He said, “I starve one and feed the other. The one I feed always wins because he is stronger.”

This story about the two dogs tells us something about the inner warfare that comes into the life of a person who is born again. We have two natures within us, both struggling for mastery. Which one will dominate us? It depends on the one we feed.