being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers,
Truth to Learn
When we reject God we are filled with all kinds of sin.
Behind the Words
“being filled with.” (plēroō) – to fill-up completely. The sense is that it is filled up as completely as possible, stuffed full. It is expressed here in the passive voice, meaning that it is something that was done to them.
“unrighteousness” (adikia) – that which is not conformable with justice, or that which is wrong.
“sexual immorality” (porneia) – The root of the English word pornography – fornication, lewdness, or any sexual sin.
“wickedness” (ponēria) – evilness, wickedness, maliciousness, of an evil disposition.
“covetousness” (pleonexia) – covetousness or greediness and, by implication, fraudulency or extortion.
“maliciousness” (kakia) – badness. That is, wickedness as an evil habit of the mind.
“envy” (phthonos) – envy or jealousy. Particularly the pain felt at the sight of excellence or happiness of someone else.
“strife” (eris) – strife, contention, or constant arguing.
“deceit” (dolos) – to bait, implying trickery, deceit, and fraud.
“evil-mindedness” (kakoētheia) – bad character or disposition.
“whisperers” (psithuristēs) – secret slanderers.
Meaning Explained
In yesterday’s verse we learned that since these rejecters of God did not what to retain God in their knowledge, He surrendered them to a condition where they became incapable of making good judgments. The result of this is that they do those things which are inappropriate.
Paul now says that these people, after they were surrendered by God to a mind incapable of discerning what is right, were then filled with a host of personal characteristics as described above. Is it any wonder that the foes of God in this world will go to any length to discredit and destroy the church and anyone who professes a relationship with God? And this is only a partial list of personal characteristics of those who reject God.
Lest we get too high on our own pedestal, however, let me remind you that all of us are capable of these things. They are part of our sin nature, and any of these things can rear its ugly head in any one of us when we get away from that close relationship with God, our Father. The difference is that we know God, and we can confess our sinfulness to Him, knowing that we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous one, whose blood cleanses us from all sin.
They, on the other hand, have rejected God and have no one to turn to for cleansing or mercy. And someday they will face the Judge, the One whom they have rejected!
Application
We can all think of people who are filled with one or more of these selfish sins, perhaps even people in the church! But let’s all look at our own lives and ensure that we are not controlled by any of these things. And, instead of shaking our finger at others in a condemning manner, let’s pray for them.
In God's service, for His glory,
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