THE CHRISTIAN'S PURITY PT 2

And if we are not careful we can fall into the corrupt life - sinful life sinful words - so we must have discernment to not allow people who indulge in those to speak into our life we ended with

The speech we use – the words we use – do the come from the old selfish identity or our new identity in Christ – our speech and our actions reveal who or what is in our heart – who or what we imitate –

We must be careful not to fall into confusion but be willing to be cleansed

Let us pray

The Christian’s Purity

Ephesians 5:6-14

Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

I. THE CONFUSED LIFE—vv. 6 –10

1. Problem—v. 6. People, who try to excuse sinning. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

Colossians 2:8 – See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.

Remember verses 3-4 – But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.

There is no free pass – God’s grace, mercy and forgiveness are not free passes to continue in our old lifestyle

Wrath of God – anger exhibited in punishment – justifiable abhorrence (repulsion degusted loathing)

Sons of disobedience – Strong’s Definition – obstinate and rebellious –

when you are obstinate and rebellious life

2. People—v. 7 – Therefore do not become partners with them;

Not only not participate in these vices, these sins with people– do not associate with them

With people – (this is not do not evangelize – this is do not hang out with them in your free time especially when they are partaking in these).

It is easier to be pulled down then to pull someone up

1 Corinthians 5:9-10 – I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world.

2 Corinthians 6:14 – Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?

3. Purity—vv. 8–10. Before filled with sin, now we are filled with the Spirit. – for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.

1 John 1:5-7 – This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

Darkness – sin – death – moral failure

Light indicates majesty – glory – truth

Light dispels darkness

You were darkness BUT NOW

Children of light

Fruit of light – does not come from keeping rules but right living – fruit of light has to be Good, right, true

Galatians 5:22-23 – But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Discern to test – dokimazo – dok im ad zo - to recognize as genuine after examination, to approve, deem worthy

Not being in the light – will not produce fruit – producing fruit comes from examining and discerning what pleases God

We discern the world but not God – not in the spiritual realms

Luke 12:56 – You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of earth and sky, but why do you not know how to interpret the present time?

What pleases God –

Colossians 3:20 – Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.

Romans 14:18 – Whoever thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men.

Philippians 1:9-11 – And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Hebrews 13:21 – equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Romans 12:2 – Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

When we walked out of the confused life it leads into our cleansed life

II. THE CLEANSED LIFE—vv. 11–14

1. Separation—v. 11. Rebuked the sinful people. – Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.

Light exposes what is done in darkness – elegcho – el eng kho – to convict, expose, refute

John 3:19-20 – And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.

Luke 12:2-3 – Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops.

To expose requires that not only we not partake – participate but to not cover up or excuse either

Call sin a sin – don’t partake – don’t excuse away

We MUST live differently than the world – otherwise they see no need for a Jesus

This separation is not – do not have relationships with these people – do not participate with them, do not condone their behavior -

2. Shame—v. 12 – For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret.

It is a shame to talk about their sin.

Isaiah warns people like this 29:15 – Ah, you who hide deep from the Lord your counsel, whose deeds are in the dark, and who say, “Who sees us? Who knows us?” You turn things upside down!

So what Paul is saying here is that the Christian, by a life so essentially different from those around him, rather than by reproof in speech, is to expose their sins.

3. Showing—v. 13 – But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible,

Our life will expose sinners.

If we live and walk like Paul calls us to in 5:1-2 – our life will expose –

Ephesians 5:1-2 – Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God

1 John 1:7 – But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

Matthew 5:14, 16 – You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.

v16 – In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Acts 13:47 – For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, “‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’”

4. Sleeping—v. 14. Sinners should awake from sin – for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

Isaiah 60:1 – Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.

Many translations say – for this reason – awake o sleeper

Everything Paul has talked about cumulates here – for this reason

When you don’t partake in the sin of the world – when you are not deceived by deceitful empty words, when you walk in the light, for this reason – you wake from your sleep – rise from the dead – let the light of Christ shine through you

Romans 13:11 – Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed.

Awake from the sleep and rise from the death of sin that was you but now you are new – now the light of God shines on you – shines through you

As we close I close with some song lyrics inspired by eph 5:14, isa 60:1, rom 13:11

Awake O Sleeper by Jeremy Camp

Do you hear the lion roar? Awake O Sleeper Stand with me we'll fight the war Awake O Sleeper Let no man bring me harm I bear the marks of Jesus