Note 10 at Eph. 5:5: One of the main false teachings of Paul's day came from the Gnostics. They taught that the indulgence of sinful appetites meant nothing because the inner spirit was pure. It is true that our inner spirit remains pure despite our sins of the flesh (see note 9 at 2 Cor. 5:17, p. 1005; see note 23 at Eph. 1:13, p. 1098) but Paul makes it very clear in this passage that we are not to live in sin (see note 5 at Gal. 5:15, p. 1082). The whoremongers, the unclean, and the covetous are idolaters. An idolater does not have Christ as his God. He also doesn't have a place in God's kingdom.

Note 11 at Eph. 5:5: On the surface, this verse may look contrary to the grace that Paul taught in other places. But that's not so. For one thing, there is a difference between a person who commits an act of whoredom and a whoremonger. The word "whoremonger" (the same with "unclean" and "covetous") is describing the character or nature of a person. The American Heritage Dictionary defines "character" as "2. The moral or ethical structure of a person or group." Paul is saying that those who are by nature whoremongers, unclean, and covetous do not have any inheritance in the kingdom of God.

Christians can and sometimes do commit sexual sins and operate in covetousness, but it's not their nature. In a parallel passage of scripture from 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 (see Parallel Scriptures on facing page) Paul lists the same sins but goes on to say, "And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." He expresses this same thought in verse 8 by saying, "For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord." A Christian does not lose his righteous position in Christ and become a whoremonger even though he may have sexual relations with a whore. Sin doesn't make a Christian a sinner any more than good acts make a sinner a saint (see note 1 at Rom. 6:20, p. 783).

That is not to say that it is therefore unimportant to live holy. That is the false teaching Paul is countering here (see note 9 at v. 4, p. 1127). It is important to be holy, but not so that we can be accepted with God. God accepts us based on our faith in Christ. However, a lack of holiness is a bad witness and a direct inroad of Satan into our lives (see notes 7-8 at Rom. 6:15-16, pp. 781-782). Satan will make sure that we do not prosper if we yield to him.

So Paul is stating the characteristics of unbelievers here, and admonishing the Christians not to act like them. The very fact that Paul instructs the believers to not partake of these sins shows that Christians can partake (see note 13 at v. 7).