You are Light in the Lord

Good morning, welcome to New Horizon Christian Church. Please open your Bibles to Ephesians 5.

Tinleigh Tibbs baptized last Sunday by Pastor Oscar.

Read Ephesians 5:6–11- “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.”

Pray.

Reminder of audience.

Ephesus- a culture of sexual immorality and greed.

Paul continues this theme that began in Ephesians 4- Who we are as Christians, Who we are not, and how we live as Christians.

1. The Christian life is a life of rejection.

Who we are not.

What is it that we, as followers of Jesus, are called to reject?

Rejection of false teaching.

Notice how the text begins, with a word of caution about those who might deceive.

Antinomianism.

Against law.

The opposite of legalism.

Legalism states that obedience earns is necessary in the life of the believer in that it earns salvation.

Antinomianism states the opposite, that obedience is unimportant in the entirety of the life of the Christian.

Jesus as Savior, but not as Lord.

The problem that Paul has here is not merely with a message that is being taught, but he is also likely keeping in mind the hearts that are receiving the message.

2 Timothy 4:2–4- “...preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.”

Rejection of darkness.

Darkness is the word used to describe life apart from Jesus.

Also used to describe darkened eyesight, or blindness.

Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness.

Why unfruitful?

They don’t produce what is good and right and true.

So now we have a filter through which we are to run all of what we do.

Remember, Paul writes that we are to walk, or walk around, or live, as children of light.

More on that soon, but our lives are not supposed to engage with or entertain that which would be considered darkness.

What we do, what we say, what we think about, it meant to be productive in works of righteousness, truth and goodness.

If we think perhaps this seems a bit much, look at how much further Paul takes it.

Rejection of unwise partnerships.

Do not become partners, or partakers, with them.

Who is Paul speaking of?

Those who deceive with empty, or vain and meaningless, words.

Those who are sons of disobedience.

Non-believers.

Ephesians 2:2- “…in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience…”

So what is Paul instructing here? It is likely a bit more difficult for us to hear than what we would like.

Be in deep relationship with believers of Jesus Christ.

Immerse yourself not only in the light of Christ, but in the light of His people.

Coals in a fire. They remain hot so long as they are among the coals.

2. The Christian life is a life of identity.

Who we are.

A warning given to children of God and saints.

Our identity as people of the light.

Children of light.

Children of God.

Light in the Lord.

Why this sort of language?

Jesus is the light of the world; We are the light of the world insofar as we are in Christ.

Our identity as exposers of darkness.

We are called to show the darkness for what it truly is.

We are called to show its emptiness, its meaninglessness.

And by contrast, to show the great value of the light as contrasted to the darkness.

1 Peter 3:15- “…but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect…”

Peter says we give our reasons for hope and we do so with a gentle and respectful demeanor.

We live and share differently.

We live with hope in such a way that it makes a difference in the way people see us.

Hope in other things.

Exposing the darkness involves showing the emptiness of a darkened and blind way of living.

Greek word translated expose means to refute something.

We share in a way that cares for another person’s well-being.

Here we must do some soul searching.

We share the good news of Christ not from a place of power or argument, but with a humble and gentle heart, deeply respecting those who need to hear of it.

3. The Christian life is a life of pursuit.

What we do.

Try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.

Ephesians 1:7–10- “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.”

Micah 6:8- “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”

God is not hidden, neither are His desires, His plans, His will.

Where? Where do we find all of this, what God desires, what is expected of us? Paul says to discern what pleases God. How can we know?

Psalm 1:1–2- “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night.”

Here is what Paul is talking about in Ephesians 5.

Does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of scoffers.

Instead, such a person is the one whose counsel is found in God’s law, in what God has revealed of Himself.

And the meditations of this person’s heart are set on what God has revealed of Himself in His law.

And these meditations are set on this day and night.

Our kids when they are trying to watch TV and we are trying to have a conversation with them.

Z at Joe’s Station House.

Jesus is the blessed one spoken of in Psalm 1. He is the One who lives the blessed life perfectly, and gives us the ability to walk in His footsteps.

He know’s what is pleasing to God because it is always on His mind.

Don’t we want to be like this?

Then what is taking us away from it? What stands in the way?

A.W. Tozer in That Incredible Christian: How Heaven's Children Live on Earth- “Whatever keeps me from my Bible is my enemy, however harmless it may appear to be. Whatever engages my attention when I should be meditating on God and things eternal does injury to my soul.”

In closing, please remember this brief reminder: Assuming you have placed faith in Jesus, you are beloved children of God.

Paul was writing to sinners, to those who had messed up. How do we know? Because he wrote the words in the first place.

What is interesting is that even in their struggles, Paul never calls these Christians at Ephesus children, or sons, of disobedience.

Mistakes will be made, but they are what we do, not who we are.

Consider what it means to mess up as a child. The desire of the parent is not punishment and loss of status for no reason.

Instead, correction has the aim of setting one on the right path.

Here is where we find Paul’s heart, and the very heart of God. Seeking the good of His children and informing them as to how that good comes about.

If you’ve messed up, there is the chance for repentance.

I’d like to make one more somewhat hidden point.

Our text speaks of darkness turning to light. And this was the history of these Christians at Ephesus. They were once darkness, alienated from God, and they have become children of the light.

This text, for me, gives great hope for those who continue to live in darkness.

Jerome (4th-5th Centuries)- “The darkness is being turned into light. There is not, as some heretics argue, a nature so alienated that it cannot receive salvation. Those who receive salvation- the righteous- are the light of the world.”

The point being made- The dark is never so dark that it cannot be exposed by the light.

Those in darkness can receive light.