Welcome back, my friends, and thank you for joining us as we read Ephesians chapters 4 through 6.
There is much here we could write about, but I find my focus drawn to Ephesians 4:19 (NIV):
“Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, and they are full of greed.”
This verse seems to reflect our society.
A Culture Without Restraint
Yesterday, while helping my wife at an art market, I could not help but blush at the immodesty of how many young women dressed. The weather was pleasant, with temperatures hovering around the low seventies. Between skin-tight athletic wear and nearly nonexistent tops, it was a challenge to keep my eyes from wandering. I’ve trained myself to look away, but this wasn’t one person in a crowd; it was large groups. When I looked away, I saw young men openly exhibiting lifestyles contrary to God’s design (Romans 1:26–27).
This rampant disregard for decency and embrace of sin has led to a society in decay.
Paul’s Warning to Ephesus
Paul wrote this letter while imprisoned in Rome (Ephesians 3:1; Acts 28:16–31). He had heard reports of what was happening in Ephesus, and it distressed him enough to write. They had become so insensitive to sin that it eroded their testimony. When a church does not stand on sound doctrine and insist on holy living, faith weakens (Ephesians 4:14).
The State of the Church Today
We see the same in our country. A recent survey revealed that one-third of Christians believe good works will gain them entry to heaven, and another third believe in reincarnation.(1) This shows that many churches have become so apostate they no longer teach solid biblical truth. The seeker movement has made numerical growth more important than spiritual maturity.
The Consequences of Moral Collapse
This lack of accountability spills over into society. Recently in Chicago, a judge released a man with 72 prior arrests on bond despite prosecutors’ requests. Days later, video shows him dousing a woman on a train with a flammable substance and setting her on fire.(2) We give Satan a foothold (Ephesians 4:27), and he is the enemy we battle against (Ephesians 6:12).
The Call to Holy Living
We cannot control everything in society, but the church must present a voice of reason. We all share the same sin nature at birth (Romans 3:23), but when we become a new creation in Christ (Ephesians 4:22–24), we must show the world that love, peace, and gentleness are possible (Galatians 5:22–23). This begins in our homes.
When wives respect their husbands (Ephesians 5:22–24) and husbands love their wives as Christ loved the church (Ephesians 5:25), children learn obedience (Ephesians 6:1–3). A child who does not obey parents will not respect other authority figures. Broken homes breed broken societies.
The Armor of God
It may seem a stretch to connect lewd behavior at an art market to violence in cities, but the thread is clear: these behaviors are outpourings of Satan’s influence. The church’s role is to fight against this evil. To do so, we need the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:11–17). We must wear Christ outwardly, not keep faith hidden. If righteousness does not spread, lawlessness will go unchecked.
Tomorrow, we will read Philippians 1-2.
Footnotes
- Ligonier Ministries and LifeWay Research, The State of Theology, 2022, https://thestateoftheology.com/.
- “CTA Blue Line Attack: Woman Set on Fire,” Chicago Tribune, November 18, 2025, https://www.chicagotribune.com/.