"AS BECOMETH SAINTS"

INTRODUCTION-- Text to be examined: Ephesians 5:1-12

1. I want to center our attention in this lesson on one word, "becometh." The way this word is being used here follows the definition: "Fitting, suitable or appropriate." (See the negative of this in Proverbs 17:7.)
   
2. In our text, the word appears in Verse 3, but the whole text shows what is befitting, or suitable, or appropriate for Christians to do.
   
   1. Verse 1-2: "Be ye therefore imitators of God, as beloved children; walk in love, even as Christ also loved you, and gave himself up for us, an offer-ing and a sacrifice to God for an odor of a sweet smell."
      
   2. Verses 3-4: "But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as becometh saints; 4 nor filthiness, nor foolish talking, or jesting, which are not befitting: but rather giving of thanks."
      
   3. Verses 5-6: "For this ye know of a surety, that no fornicator, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no man deceive you with empty words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the sons of disobedience."
      
   4. Verses 7-12: "Be not ye therefore partakers with them; 8 For ye were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord: walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light is in all goodness and righteousness and truth), 10 prov-ing what is well-pleasing unto the Lord; 11 and have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather even reprove them" 12 for the things which are done by them in secret it is a shame even to speak of."
      

LESSON--

1. There are certain traits that are becoming to God. Psalm 93:5 "Thy testimonies are very sure: Holiness becometh thy house, O Jehovah, for evermore."
   
2. Certain traits befit Jesus Christ.
   
   1. He sought John's baptism to confirm one of those traits. Matthew 3:13-17 "Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to the Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. 14 But John would have hindered him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? 15 But Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffereth him. 16 And Jesus when he was baptized, went up straightway from the water: and lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon him; 17 and lo, a voice out of the heavens, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
      
      1. John's baptism did not apply. Acts 19:4 "And Paul said, John baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people that they should believe on him that should come after him, that is, on Jesus."
         
      2. Jesus had no sin. Hebrews 4:15 "For we have not a high priest that cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but one that hath been in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin."
         
      3. Christians are to imitate this trait, also. 1 Peter 2:21-23 "For hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22 who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 23 who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:"
         
   2. He endured the sufferings "becoming" to his role as "author of salvation." Hebrews 2:10 "For it became him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the author of their salvation perfect through sufferings."
      
   3. As poor imitators of His befitting traits, we needed a "high priest" that was "becoming" to our condition. Hebrews 7:26 "For such a high priest became us, holy, guileless, undefiled, separated from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;"
      
3. We are capable of doing things that are "becoming," or "unbecoming."
   
   1. Those who "refuse to have God in their knowledge" will certainly do things that are not fitting. Romans 1:28-32 "And even as they refused to have God in their knowledge, God gave them up unto a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not fitting; 29 being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 backbiters, hateful to God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 without understanding, covenant-breakers, without natural affection, unmerciful: 32 who, knowing the ordinance of God, that they that practise such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but also consent with them that practise them."
      
   2. There are things fitting for Women. Colossians 3:18 "Wives, be in sub-jection to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord."
      
   3. There are things fitting both men and women. 1 Timothy 2:8-10 "I desire therefore that the men pray in every place, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and disputing. 9 In like manner, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefastness and sobriety; not with braided hair, and gold or pearls or costly raiment; 10 but (which becometh women professing godliness) through good works."
      
   4. Preachers are to preach the things that "become" sound doctrine, and should set an example befitting that word. Titus 2:1, 7-8 "But speak thou the things which befit the sound doctrine:......7 in all things showing thyself an ensample of good works; in thy doctrine showing uncorrup-tness, gravity, 8 sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of us."
      

APPLICATION--- It should become a matter of intuition with Christians to do what is befitting. This is suggested in what Paul says to Philemon. Philemon 8-9