Sunday, September 18, 2016 pm
STUDIES IN EPHESIANS
Walk as Children of Light
Ephesians 5:8-14
a.
Once in darkness – the idea of darkness is following after the ways of the world.
It is to have NO light in you.
In other words, you are in a lost state and without hope.
In our last lesson we reminded ourselves that Paul had described
their former conduct and its misery – (Ephesians 2:1-3, 11-12, 4:17-19,
22, etc.). Those ways that
shun the light of the gospel.
Introducing Jesus as the Light, he notes,
“And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend
it.” (John
1:5)
As Jesus taught in John 3:19,
where He noted that men loved darkness because their deeds were evil.
Paul has previously addressed we noted this in our last lesson and
previously.
Romans 1:21 describes men who failed to glorify God who became futile in
their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
They reject God and without hope.
Luke 11:34-35 your body is full of darkness, take heed that the light
which is in you is not darkness.
1 John 2:9-11, John addresses the need to love our brethren in terms of
light and darkness. He noted
that to hate your brother is to walk in darkness which causes him to be
blinded to the truth.
There is a misery associated with those who are overtaken with the
darkness of this world!
b.
Now you are in the light of the Lord – for the first time in this letter, Paul mentions
light.
This light is a reference to following Jesus and the truth.
i.
Jesus is the light of the world –
one of the themes of the gospel of John – John 1:4-5.
1:9, John describes Him as “the
true Light which give light to every man coming into the world.”
John 8:12, “Then Jesus spoke to
them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me
shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”
John 9:5, “As long as I am in the
world, I am the light of the world.”
This was demonstrated by giving sight to a man born blind.
ii.
He told His disciples,
“Then Jesus said to them, “A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the
light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not
know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light,
that you may become sons of light.” These things Jesus spoke, and
departed, and was hidden from them.” (John 12:35-36)
iii.
Finally, He told His
disciples, “I have come as a light
into the world, that whoever believes in Me should not abide in
darkness.” (John 12:46)
iv.
That light is found in
His word – Psalm 119:105 – His word is a light to our path.
2 Peter 1:19, while speaking of the prophetic word (of the OT), he notes
we would do well to heed it as a light that shines in a dark place.
c.
Walk as children of
light – We
have addressed how the word “walk” has reference to our manner of life.
Used 7 times in Ephesians.
i.
God is the giver of this
light – James 1:17, He is the Father of lights giving us every good and
perfect gift.
1 John 1:5, says, “God is light
and in Him is no darkness at all.”
ii.
1 Thessalonians 5:5, we
are sons of light
John 3:19-21, while describing those who hated the light and walking in
darkness he notes that, “He who
does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen…”
Romans 13:12, calls for us to put on the armor of light.
d.
With the fruit of the Spirit –the idea of the fruit is the produce or results of some
effort. In this context
Paul’s point is as we walk in the light, we will produce this fruit.
i.
It is the fruit of the
Spirit – that is the results of the Spirit of God influencing our lives.
ii.
Typically, we consider
Galatians 5:22-23 where Paul contrasts the works of the flesh with the
fruit of the Spirit. Worthy
of note is how the term “fruit” in both passages is singular, meaning it
is ONE fruit and not many.
The various qualities mentioned are ALL present when the Spirit is
producing in us as He should.
iii.
Goodness
– is defined as positive, moral character that is interested in others.
(cf. BDAG). We are given to
doing good when we are in the light.
We care about others and act in their best interest.
(Cf. Rom. 5:7 – for a good man, someone would even dare to die).
NOTE: This is the only fruit mentioned here and in Galatians
5:22.
iv.
Righteousness
– we are just and do what we are supposed to do.
We are fair and equitable.
v.
Truth
– the standard by which we walk in the light.
As noted, it is Jesus who is the light.
As Jesus prayed in John 17:17, “Sanctify them by Your truth.
Your word is truth.”
e.
Finding out what is acceptable to the Lord
– the expression here means to approve or to declare something as
genuine. The NASV says,
“trying to learn what is pleasing…”.
The KJV says, “proving what is acceptable” (ASV similar).
The ESV says, “trying to discern what is pleasing…”
As I understand this, our walk declares to others and ourselves
the truth of God and His ways – we believe it and apply it.
a.
Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness
– WHEN we are walking in the light, we are going to do so with total
integrity. No compromise or
duplicity.
I am reminded of Jesus teaching in Matthew 6:24, no one can serve 2
masters…
The truth is if we are walking in the light, we are avoiding the
darkness as much as we can.
2 Corinthians 6:14, what communion has light with darkness?
2 Corinthians 11:14, tells us that even Satan transforms himself into an
angel of light, warning us to be cautious as we seek the truth.
b.
But rather expose them – is it enough to just avoid darkness?
In some instances, yes. We should flee evil company and places (2
Tim. 2:22, 1 Cor. 6:18, 15:33, etc.).
But when it comes to darkness, we must make sure others know we
do not approve! There are
times when we need to expose darkness (even if we are making a statement
by NOT participating).
When we are dealing with those walking in error, especially in our
midst, we MUST expose (reprove – KJV) them!
This is the premise of “church discipline” (1 Cor. 5:4-6, Romans
16:17, 2 Thessalonians 3:6, etc.)
2 John 9-11 implies that when one comes teaching error we don’t
receive him lest we share in his evil deeds.
Paul, Galatians 2:11-12, withstood Peter for his hypocrisy.
As we walk in the light, we expose the false teacher and his companions;
we expose those living ungodly and immoral lives; we expose those who
are seeking to divide us, etc.
c.
Why?
It is shameful even to
speak of those things done by them in secret.
Paul is noting their shameful conduct.
There are many who are proud of their ungodly behavior.
They wantonly expose themselves for who they are.
BUT, others seek to hide their sinful conduct – whether it be lustful
behaviors, scheming against the godly, or trying to slip in some form of
error. In many ways,
these are the worst and the most dangerous.
2 Peter 2:2-3 warns of the false teacher with deceptive works
deceiving others.
Jesus warned us to beware of wolves in sheep’s clothing (Matthew
7:15-16).
d.
All things that are
exposed are made manifest by the light
– this is HOW we expose error, with the light.
This implies that 1) We seek to know it and 2) we seek to live
it. By example, we let our
lights shine (Matthew 5:16).
a.
Therefore, He says, Awake, you who sleep. Arise from the dead And Christ
will give you light.
b.
This is an interesting
passage as it makes reference to something God has said.
There is no direct statement in the Old Testament, but there are
passages that refer to the idea (cf. Isaiah 26:19, 60:1, etc.).
There are other theories about this phrase, but all we NEED to
know is that in some way the Lord had warned them
c.
As we strive to walk in
the light and expose darkness what this verse teaches is absolute.
Paul challenges them to be awake – be alert to the ways of
darkness.
Romans 13:11, Paul notes that it is time to awake out of our sleep.
d.
We must also be alert -
1 Peter 5:8 calls for us to be sober and vigilant so that we will not be
devoured by the devil.
Paul warned the Ephesian elders to be watching for the wolves – Acts
20:28-30. There was a need
for awareness.
1 Thessalonians 5:5-8 says, “You
are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor
of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us
watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those
who get drunk are drunk at night. But let us who are of the day be
sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the
hope of salvation.”
e.
Friends, if we are to
walk in the light, we have to WAKE UP!
And let Christ be your light!
And
thus Paul continues his admonition to these brethren.
They are to walk in love and in light.
In our next study we will notice how they are also to walk in
wisdom. Let us resolve that
we will walk the way we ought to.
As John said in 1 John 2:6, “He
who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.”
So, how are you walking?
Think about it!