Part of S. M. Baugh on Ephesians 5:5 from his comments on the pericope of Ephesians 5:3–14
Part of S. M. Baugh on Ephesians 5:5 from his comments on the pericope of Ephesians 5:3–14
“[O]ne who bears the name of ‘brother'” who practices sins (1 Cor 5:10-11, including sexual immorality, avarice, and idolatry, as also in Ephesians 5:5). Such a one is ‘from us’ but not ‘of us’ (cf 1 John 2:19). Such a one is like Esau, who had covenental entitlement but sold it for pottage (Gen 25:29–34; see esp. Heb 12:15–7). Such a one is a ‘goat’ to be sifted out of the messianic kingdom at the end of this age, for Christ never knew them (Matt 7:21–23; 25:31–46), whereas Christ says to his true people that they ‘inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the wold’ (Matt 25:34). A person’s deeds reveal the genuineness of this profession of faith: whether it be true or false (c.g, 2:10; Matt 12:33; Rom 2:6, Jas 2:18; 1 John 3:4-10), even if sanctification in this life is but a small beginning” and discernment in these matters is painfully difficult
That being said, however, the work of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers and in the life of the church of the new-covenant era is powerful, extending to all God’s people (e.g., Jer 31:33-34; Heb 8:8-12; 2 Cor 3:1-6). Believers must presume the best of brothers and sisters in the church and work for their growth in grace (as enjoined frequently in Eph 4-5), expecting that this dire situation of apostasy will only occur in extreme cases after all attempts to reclaim wandering members is expended (e.g., Jas 5:20), and should this fail in the short term there should be good hope and prayers for restoration (e.g., 1 John 5:16; cf. 1 Tim 1:20). This was Paul’s own attitude even for a church as confused and problem filled as that in Corinth:
Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Cor 6:9-11; emphasis added by the author Dr. S. M. Baugh)
S. M. Baugh, Evangelical Exegetical Commentary: Ephesians (Bellingham: Lexham Press, 2016), 425–426.
iustitia aliena 
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