Ephesians Bible Study - Eph 5:11-14

Ephesians 5:11–14 NASB95

Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. For this reason it says, “Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you.”

Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them;

for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret.

But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light.

For this reason it says,

“Awake, sleeper,

And arise from the dead,

And Christ will shine on you.”

11 Do not participate in the unfruitful 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.

Let’s address the secrecy.

Why do they do them in secret? Why the secrecy?

John 3:19–21 NASB95

“This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. “For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. “But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.”

Genesis 3:6–8 NASB95

When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was desirable to make one wise, she took from its fruit and ate; and she gave also to her husband with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings. They heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.

What benefit does exposure have against these sinful deeds?

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, “Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you.”

Isaiah 60:1 NASB95

“Arise, shine; for your light has come, And the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.

Isaiah 60:19–20 NASB95

“No longer will you have the sun for light by day, Nor for brightness will the moon give you light; But you will have the Lord for an everlasting light, And your God for your glory. “Your sun will no longer set, Nor will your moon wane; For you will have the Lord for an everlasting light, And the days of your mourning will be over.

Nothing can be hidden in the presence of God.

Therefore if we are the temple of the Holy Spirit, the church, the tabernacle of God where his presence dwells.

Repentance, reproof, and exposure of all that unholy is fitting and right.

How do we do this well as a church? This is a corporate calling.

“Expose them” or “Reprove them” is a y’all command.

Ephesians 4:1–3 NASB95

Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love, being diligent to preserve the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

2 Timothy 2:24–26 NASB95

The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.