They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. But that is not the way you learned Christ!—
Ephesians
Ephesians 4:19
Verse 19 continues the characteristics of those outside the faith who have a darkened understanding and a hard heart.
They have become calloused. Calloused means hardened with use as in a calloused palm. Being alienated from God and living a life of rebellion and moral ignorance gradually hardens the heart. They have become calloused. It’s important to remember, though, that this callousness is not difficult for God to break through, if He chooses to.
In addition to being calloused, they have given themselves up to sensuality or licentiousness. There is a lack of legal and moral restraint, especially in the area of sexuality.
Notice that they have given themselves over to this. Romans 1 talks about God giving them over to the downward slide. God is under no obligation to stop this rebellious and immoral slide. Everyone of us has proven that we are in rebellion against God. We are all criminals and there is no just reason why God should pardon us. Such pardon comes only by the grace of God according to His sovereign pleasure.
And finally in verse 19, these people are described as greedy to practice every kind of unclean behavior. This is the way the world is. We should not be surprised by it. This is the way the natural man behaves.
Paul reminds us in verse 20, however, that this is not the way you learned Christ. The life in Christ, and the godless impure life that has just been described are mutually exclusive.
Exported from Logos Bible Software, 9:34 AM March 12, 2021.