Walk as children of light.
Notes
Transcript
INTRO:
15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.
Last week I told you that we were going to discuss three admonitions. Last week I gave you the first one which was “walk in love.” I told you the definition of admonition last week, “to warn or advise” and, in this case, “to instruct.” [1]The next set of instructions that Paul gives us is to “walk as children of light.”
Walk in Love (Eph. 5:1–2)
Walk As Children of Light (Eph. 5:3–14)
In this passage, Paul has given us several reasons why we should be accurate and careful in our walk.
1. It is a mark of wisdom (v. 15).
Walk in Wisdom (Eph. 5:15–17)
2. Life is short (v. 16a).
3. The days are evil (v. 16b).
Walk As Children of Light (Eph. 5:3–14)
4. God has given us a mind (v. 17a).
Since “God is light” and we are imitating our Father, then we should walk in the light and have nothing to do with the darkness of sin. Paul gives three descriptions of believers that prove his point.
5. God has a plan for our lives (v. 17b).
Point I
Ephesians 5:15–17 (NIV)
Ephesians 5:3–4 (NASB 2020)
15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.
3 But sexual immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be mentioned among you, as is proper among saints; 4 and there must be no filthiness or foolish talk, or vulgar joking, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.
1. It is a mark of wisdom (v. 15).
Only a fool drifts with the wind and tide. A wise man marks out his course, sets his sails, and guides the rudder until he reaches his destination.
We are saints (vv. 3–4). That is, we are “set-apart ones” and no longer belong to the world of darkness around us.
1. We have been “called out of darkness into His marvelous light” (1 Peter 2:9). It is beneath the dignity of a saint to indulge in the sins that belong to the world of darkness, some of which Paul names here.
1. When a man wants to build a house, he first draws his plans so he knows what he is doing.
a. Yet, how many Christians plan their days so that they use their opportunities wisely?
a. He warns us against the sexual sins (fornication, uncleanness) which were so prevalent in that day—and are prevalent today.
b. Sad to say, these sins have invaded the homes of Christians and brought grief to local churches too.
b. It’s True, we cannot know what a day may bring forth (James 4:13–17).
2. “Covetousness” may seem out of place next to fornication, but the two sins are but different expressions of the same basic weakness of fallen nature—uncontrolled appetite.
James 4:13–17 (NIV)
a. The fornicator and the covetous person each desire to satisfy the appetite by taking what does not belong to them. “The lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes” (1 John 2:16) would describe these two sins.
Boasting About Tomorrow
i. “Let there not be even a hint of these sins!” said Paul.
3. In Ephesians 5:4 he warned against sins of the tongue, which, of course, are really sins of the heart.
13 Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15 Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” 16 As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. 17 If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.
a. It is not difficult to see the relationship between the sins named in Ephesians 5:3 and those in Ephesians 5:4.
c. But it is also true that a planned life can better deal with unexpected events.
b. People who have base appetites usually cultivate a base kind of speech and humor, and often people who want to commit sexual sins, or have committed them, enjoy jesting about them.
4. Two indications of a person’s character are what makes him laugh and what makes him weep.
Someone said, “When the pilot does not know what port he is heading for, no wind is the right wind.”
a. The saint of God sees nothing humorous in obscene language or jests.
i. “Foolish talking” does not mean innocent humor but rather senseless conversation that cheapens the man and does not edify or minister grace to the hearers (Eph. 4:29).
2. Life is short (v. 16a).
b. Paul is not condemning small talk because much conversation falls into that classification. He is condemning foolish talk that accomplishes no good purpose.
“Buying up the opportunity—taking advantage of it.”
An old Chinese adage says, “Opportunity has a forelock so you can seize it when you meet it. Once it is past, you cannot seize it again.”
5. Jesting is a translation of a word that means “able to turn easily.”
1. Our English word opportunity comes from the Latin and means “toward the port.”
a. We see this word in the KJV, but in the NIV it is translated course joking.
a. It suggests a ship taking advantage of the wind and tide to arrive safely in the harbor.
i. This suggests a certain kind of conversationalist who can turn any statement into a coarse jest.
b. The gift of wit is a blessing, but when it is attached to a filthy mind or a base motive, it becomes a curse. T
b. The brevity of life is a strong argument for making the best use of the opportunities God gives us.
c. There are quick-witted people who can pollute any conversation with jests that are always inconvenient (out of place).
i. How much better it is for us to be quick to give thanks!
ii. This is certainly the best way to give glory to God and keep the conversation pure.
A Christian woman attended an anniversary dinner in honor of a friend, not knowing that there would be a program of low comedy following the meal. The so-called comedian tried to entertain the crowd with coarse humor that degraded everything that the Christian guest held to be sacred and honorable. At one point in the program, the comedian’s throat became dry. “Please bring me a glass of water,” he called to a waiter.
3. The days are evil (v. 16b).
In Paul’s time, this meant that Roman persecution was on the way (1 Peter 4:12–19).
At that point the Christian woman added, “And bring a toothbrush and a bar of soap with it!” To be sure, soap in the mouth will never cleanse the conversation, but she made her point.
1. It is foolish to waste opportunities to win the lost when soon those opportunities might be taken away by the advances of sin in society!
2. If the days were evil when Paul wrote this letter, what must be their condition today?
6. Christians who have God’s Word in their hearts (Col. 3:16) will always season their speech with salt (Col. 4:6); for grace in the heart means grace on the lips.[2]
4. God has given us a mind (v. 17a).
Point II
Ephesians 5:5–6 (NASB 2020)
Ephesians 5:17 God has given us a mind
5 For this you know with certainty, that no sexually immoral or impure or greedy person, which amounts to an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
17 Therefore do not be foolish but understand what the Lord’s will is.
6 See that no one deceives you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
We discover the will of God as He transforms the mind (Rom. 12:1–2); and this transformation is the result of the Word of God, prayer, meditation, and worship[1](2)
Romans 12:1–2 (NIV)
We are kings (vv. 5–6).
When we trusted Christ, we entered into the kingdom of God (John 3:3); but we are also awaiting the full revelation of His kingdom when He returns (2 Tim. 4:1).
A Living Sacrifice
1. Paul makes it clear that people who deliberately and persistently live in sin will not share in God’s kingdom.
12 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
“They which practice such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God” (Gal. 5:21, literal translation).
2. “Whoremonger” is a translation of the Greek word pornos, from which we get our word pornography, and it means “one who practices fornication—illicit sex.”
If God gave us a mind, then He expects us to use it, this means that learning His will involves:
3. The morally unclean and the covetous will join the fornicator in judgment.
· gathering facts
· examining them
a. Paul equates covetousness with idolatry, for it is the worship of something other than God. T
· weighing them
b. These warnings deal with the habitual practice of sin, and not the occasional act of sin. David committed adultery, yet God forgave him and one day took him to heaven.
c. Certainly David was disciplined for his sin, but he was not rejected by God.
· and praying for His wisdom
James 1:5 (NIV)
4. In Paul’s day, there were false Christians who argued that believers could live in sin and get away with it.
a. These deceivers had many arguments to convince ignorant Christians that they could sin repeatedly and still enter God’s kingdom.
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
b. “You were saved by grace!” they argued. “Therefore, go ahead and sin that God’s grace might abound!”
c. Paul answered that foolish argument in Romans 6.
We need to be in control of our thoughts.
“Sin in the life of a believer is different from sin in the life of an unsaved person!”
The following Bible verses provide guidance on controlling thoughts123:
5. God judges sin no matter where He finds it, and He does not want to find it in the life of one of His own children.
· Matthew 6:34: "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
Warren Wiersbe says he “personally believes that no true Christian can ever be lost, but he will prove the reality of his faith by an obedient life.”
· Philippians 2:4-5: "Let each of you look out not only for his own interests but also for the interests of others. Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus."
· Hebrews 12:1-2: "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith."
6. There are many professors who are not possessors (Matt. 7:21–23).
· Philippians 4:8-9: "Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
a. A Christian is not sinless, but he does sin less—and less—and less!
The Christian is a king, and it is beneath his dignity to indulge in the practices of the lost world that is outside the kingdom of God.
· 2 Corinthians 10:5: "We destroy arguments, and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ."
Point III
5. God has a plan for our lives (v. 17b).
If God saved me, He has a purpose for my life, and I should discover that purpose and then guide my life accordingly.
Ephesians 5:7–14 (NASB 2020)
7 Therefore do not become partners with them; 8 for you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consistsin all goodness, righteousness, and truth), 10 as you try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Do not participate in the useless deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; 12 for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. 13 But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. 14 For this reason it says,
1. He reveals His plan through His word.
“Awake, sleeper,
Colossians 1:9–10 (NIV)
And arise from the dead,
9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, 10 so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,
And Christ will shine on you.”
2. He reveals His plan through His spirit in our hearts.
Colossians 3:15 (NIV)
15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
We are light (vv. 7–14).
This figure is the main thrust of the passage, for Paul was admonishing his readers to “walk as children of light.”
3. He reveals His plan through the working of circumstances.
You will want to read 2 Corinthians 6:14–7:1 for a parallel passage that explains the contrasts that exist between the child of God and the unsaved person.
Romans 8:28 (NIV)
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
1. Paul did not say that we were “in the darkness,” but that we “were darkness.”
a. Now that we are saved, “what communion hath light with darkness?” After all, light produces fruit, but the works of darkness are unfruitful as far as spiritual things are concerned.
b. “For the fruit of the Spirit [or “the light”] is in all goodness and righteousness and truth.” It is impossible to be in darkness and light at the same time!
2. The light produces “goodness,” one manifestation of the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22).
a. Goodness is “love in action.” Righteousness means rightness of character before God and rightness of actions before men.
a. Both of these qualities are based on truth, which is conformity to the Word and will of God.
3. Jesus had much to say about light and darkness.
Conclusion:
a. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matt. 5:16 KJV).
The truth is, Scripture gives us a number of clear indications of God’s expressed, revealed will for our lives. Look at this sampling:
b. “Everyone that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God” (John 3:20–21 KJV).
4. To “walk as children of light” means to live before the eyes of God, not hiding anything.
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. (Rom. 12:2)
a. It is relatively easy to hide things from other people because they cannot see our hearts and minds; but “all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do” (Heb. 4:13).
For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces a repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death. (2 Cor. 7:10)
Every time I take a plane to a meeting, I must surrender myself and my luggage to a special inspection, and I am happy to do so, because this inspection helps to detect bombs. I have never been afraid to walk through the “detection tunnel” or have my luggage pass through the X-ray equipment, because I have nothing to hide.
An author asked Charles Spurgeon for permission to write his life story, and the great preacher replied, “You may write my life in the skies—I have nothing to hide!”
For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality. (1 Thes. 4:3)
5. But walking “as children of light” also means revealing God’s light in our daily lives.
a. By our character and conduct, we bring God’s light into a dark world.
b. As God’s lights, we help others find their way to Christ.
Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right. For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men. (1 Pet. 2:13–15)
c. The mind of the unsaved person is blinded by Satan (2 Cor. 4:3–4) and by sin (Eph. 4:17–19).
d. Only as we witness and share Christ can the light enter in. Just as a healthy person can assist the sickly, so a child of God can lead the lost out of darkness into God’s wonderful light.
· Reject the pattern of this world.
· Be transformed. Renew your mind.
6. Light reveals God; light produces fruit; but light also exposes what is wrong.
a. No surgeon would willingly operate in darkness lest he made a false move and take a life.
· Endure sorrow unto repentance.
· Be sanctified.
b. How could an artist paint a true picture in darkness?
i. The light reveals the truth and exposes the true character of things. This explains why the unsaved person stays clear of the church and the Bible.
· Abstain from sexual immorality.
ii. God’s light reveals his true character, and the exposure is not very complimentary.
· Submit to human authorities.
c. As we Christians Walk in light, we refuse to fellowship with the darkness, and we expose the dark things of sin for what they really are.
· Do what’s right.
i. “I am come a light into the world,” said Jesus (John 12:46).
These are just a few simple, straightforward, clear, and objective expressions of the will of God for our lives.
Charles Swindoll says in his commentary on Ephesians, “I am convinced that if we spend our time pursuing the things that God explicitly wills for us in Scripture, we won’t do the things that are against His will. Moreover, when we pursue these things the Spirit of God creates in us character and virtues that help us more easily discern the will of God in areas that are not clearly revealed.” (1)
ii. He also said to His disciples, “Ye are the light of the world” (Matt. 5:14).
d. When He was here on earth, the perfection of His character and conduct exposed the sinfulness of those around Him.
i. This is one reason why the religious leaders hated Him and sought to destroy Him. “If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin, but now they have no cloak for their sin” (John 15:22).
iii. Just as a healthy person unconsciously exposes the handicaps and sicknesses of people he visits in a hospital, so the Christian exposes the darkness and sin around him just by living like a Christian.
7. Paul tells us to live balanced lives—positively, to walk in the light; negatively, to denounce and expose the wickedness of those in the darkness.
a. It is not enough simply to expose the wickedness of those in the darkness. It is not enough simply to expose sin. We must also bear fruit.
8. But Ephesians 5:12 gives us a caution.
Ephesians 5:11–12 (NASB 2020)
(1) Charles R. Swindoll, Galatians, Ephesians, Swindoll’s Living Insights New Testament Commentary (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2015), 276–277.
(2) [1] Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 47.
11 Do not participate in the useless deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; 12 for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret.
a. Be careful how you deal with the “unfruitful works of darkness.” The motto today seems to be, “Tell it like it is!” And yet that can be a dangerous policy when it comes to exposing the filthy things of darkness, lest we unconsciously advertise and promote sin.
b. Paul said, “It is a shame even to speak of those things” (Eph. 5:12). Some preachers enjoy reveling in the sensational, so much so that their sermons excite appetites and give to the innocent more information than they need.
“But yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil” (Rom. 16:19).
I heard a story about a youth worker who felt it necessary to read all that the teenagers were reading “in order to understand them better,” and it so polluted his mind that he himself fell into sin.
9. It is not necessary for the believer to perform an autopsy on a rotting corpse to expose its rottenness.
a. All he has to do is turn on the light! “For whatsoever doth make manifest is light” (Eph. 5:13).
Conclusion:
When you think of light, you think of waking up to a new day, and Paul presented this picture (Eph. 5:14), paraphrasing Isaiah 60:1.
1. You have the same image in Romans 13:11–13 and 1 Thessalonians 5:1–10.
a. That Easter morning, when Christ arose from the dead, was the dawning of a new day for the world.
b. Christians are not sleeping in sin and death.
c. We have been raised from the dead through faith in Him.
d. The darkness of the graveyard is past, and we are now walking in the light of salvation.
e. Salvation is the beginning of a new day, and we ought to live as those who belong to the light, not to the darkness. “Lazarus, come forth!”
The believer has no business in the darkness. He is a saint, which means he is a partaker “of the inheritance of the saints in light” (Col. 1:12). He is a king, because he has been delivered “from the power of darkness” and has been translated “into the kingdom of His dear Son” (Col. 1:13). He is “light in the Lord” (Eph. 5:8).
[1]Lawrence O. Richards, New International Encyclopedia of Bible Words: Based on the NIV and the NASB, Zondervan’s Understand the Bible Reference Series (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1999), 20.
[2]Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 44–45.