Walk as Children of Light

Ephesians 5:8–14 ESV

8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), 10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. 13 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

Big Idea: Because Christ has brought us out of darkness, we are called to live visibly transformed lives that reflect his goodness, righteousness, and truth.

Introduction

Light is one of the Bible’s most powerful images. The opening chapter of Genesis records that God spoke into the darkness and said, “Let there be light.” The psalmist declared, “The Lord is my light and my salvation.” Jesus announced, “I am the light of the world,” and then told his disciples, “You are the light of the world.”

In Ephesians 5, Paul uses this image to describe the transformation that takes place through salvation. He does not merely say that Christians have learned more, improved their behavior, or adopted a new set of beliefs. He says that their entire identity has changed: “For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.”

Notice that Paul does not say merely that we once walked in darkness. He says we were darkness. Neither does he say merely that we have received some light. He says we are light in the Lord. Through Jesus Christ, God changes not only our destination but also our identity.

Because we are now light in the Lord, Paul commands us, “Walk as children of light.” Our daily lives should reflect the saving work Christ has accomplished within us.

1. Remember Who You Are in Christ (vs. 8)

Exodus 13:21 ESV

21 And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night.

Paul begins with a contrast between what the Ephesians once were and what they have now become. Before knowing Christ, they were darkness. Their thinking, desires, and actions had been shaped by a world separated from God. But now they are “light in the Lord.”

Their transformation did not come from their own effort. They did not escape darkness by becoming more disciplined or respectable. Christ came to them with his saving grace. He forgave their sins, awakened their hearts, and gave them a new life.

Paul’s command rests upon this new identity: “Walk as children of light.” In other words, Live like the people Christ has made you to be.

This is how the gospel changes us. The gospel does not simply give us a list of rules and tell us to do better. It announces what God has done for us in Christ. We were dead, but God made us alive. We were separated, but God brought us near. We were darkness, but now we are light in the Lord.

When God delivered Israel from slavery in Egypt, he led them through the wilderness with a pillar of fire by night. Exodus 13:21 says:

“And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light.”

Israel did not create the light that guided them. The light came from God. Their responsibility was to follow wherever God led.

The same is true for us. We do not produce the light of salvation. Jesus is the light who finds us, saves us, and leads us. Yet once his light shines into our lives, we are called to follow him.

This new identity must shape the way we understand ourselves. We are not defined primarily by our failures, our past, our temptations, or the labels others have placed upon us. If we belong to Jesus Christ, we are children of light.

Remembering who we are gives us strength to resist sin. When temptation comes, we can say, “That is not who I am anymore. I belong to Christ. I am a child of light.” Christian holiness is not an attempt to earn God’s love. It is the grateful response of those who have already received God’s love.

We should therefore ask ourselves: Does the way I live agree with the identity Christ has given me? Do my words, relationships, habits, and priorities reflect the light of Jesus?

Paul does not say, “Walk as children of light so that you might become light.” He says, “You are light in the Lord; therefore, walk as children of light.”

2. Bear the Fruit of the Light (vs. 9-10)

Daniel 1:8 ESV

8 But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king’s food, or with the wine that he drank. Therefore he asked the chief of the eunuchs to allow him not to defile himself.

Light produces visible results. When sunlight reaches a plant, it contributes to its growth and fruitfulness. In the same way, when Christ’s light fills a person’s life, it produces spiritual fruit.

Paul identifies three qualities that characterize this fruit: goodness, righteousness, and truth.

Goodness means actively seeking the well-being of others. It is more than avoiding harm. Goodness serves, encourages, forgives, gives generously, and shows compassion. A child of light does not ask only, “What am I allowed to do?” but also, “What good can I do?”

Righteousness means living in a right relationship with God and others. It includes integrity, justice, faithfulness, and obedience. Righteousness is seen when we keep our promises, treat people fairly, defend the vulnerable, and choose what honors God—even when doing so is difficult.

Truth means that our lives agree with the character and Word of God. Children of light reject deception and hypocrisy. We speak honestly, acknowledge our failures, and refuse to pretend to be something we are not.

Paul then says that we should “try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.” The Christian life requires spiritual discernment. Scripture does not give a specific command for every decision we will face. We must learn to ask prayerfully, “Will this please Christ? Does this reflect his goodness, righteousness, and truth?”

Daniel gives us an example of this kind of discernment. While living in Babylon, surrounded by pressures to compromise his faith, Daniel 1:8 tells us:

“But Daniel resolved that he would not defile himself with the king’s food, or with the wine that he drank.”

Daniel made his decision before the pressure reached its height. He determined that pleasing God mattered more than gaining the approval of those around him.

Walking in the light often requires the same kind of resolve. We must decide that pleasing Christ matters more than popularity, convenience, comfort, or personal gain.

John Wesley taught that God’s grace not only forgives us but also transforms us. Through sanctifying grace, the Holy Spirit gradually forms the character of Christ within us. We learn to love what God loves and desire what pleases him. This growth is not instantaneous, but it should be real and visible.

The question is not whether we have reached perfection in every respect. The question is whether the light of Christ is producing fruit within us. Are we becoming more generous, truthful, patient, just, compassionate, and faithful? Are we increasingly concerned with pleasing the Lord?

Fruit grows gradually, but healthy fruit should eventually become visible. If Christ’s light is truly within us, others should be able to see its effects.

3. Let Christ’s Light Expose and Transform the Darkness (vs. 11, 13-14)

John 4:29 ESV

29 “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?”

Paul now moves from bearing fruit to confronting darkness. He commands believers to “take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness.”

The works of darkness are unfruitful because they cannot produce anything that lasts. Sin may promise pleasure, freedom, or satisfaction, but its final results are shame, brokenness, and death.

Walking in the light therefore requires separation from sinful practices. Grace does not give us permission to participate in darkness. Grace gives us the power to leave it behind.

But Paul goes further: “Instead expose them.” Light does not merely avoid darkness; it reveals what darkness tries to conceal.

This does not mean that Christians should become self-righteous judges constantly pointing out everyone else’s faults. We must first allow Christ’s light to expose the darkness in our own hearts. Before we speak about the sins of the world, we must be willing to confess our pride, bitterness, greed, prejudice, dishonesty, and lack of love.

When Jesus met the Samaritan woman at the well, he brought the hidden truth of her life into the light. Yet he did not expose her in order to humiliate her. He exposed the truth so that he could offer her living water. After meeting Jesus, she returned to her town and said:

“Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” —John 4:29

Jesus knew everything about her, yet she came away from that encounter inviting others to meet him. Christ’s light revealed her life, but it also offered her grace, dignity, and a new beginning.

That is how the church must shine its light. We speak truth, but we speak it in love. We name what is destructive, but we also announce that healing is possible. We confront sin, but we point people toward the Savior.

Paul concludes with what appears to be an early Christian hymn:

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

This is both a warning and an invitation. It is a call to wake up from spiritual sleep, come out of hiding, and step into the transforming light of Jesus Christ.

Perhaps some believers in Ephesus had grown spiritually drowsy. They possessed new life but were beginning to live as though they were still in darkness. Paul calls them to awaken and return to the light.

The church needs to hear that call today. It is possible to become comfortable, distracted, or spiritually numb. We can attend worship while allowing our love for Christ to grow cold. We can profess faith while quietly making peace with attitudes and habits that do not honor God.

But Christ still calls: “Awake, O sleeper.” His light is not intended to destroy us but to restore us. When we confess our sins and bring them before him, his grace forgives, cleanses, and transforms us.

Conclusion

Paul’s message is clear: “At one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.” Therefore:

Remember who you are in Christ.

Bear the fruit of goodness, righteousness, and truth.

Let Christ’s light expose and transform the darkness.

The world does not need Christians who merely talk about the light. It needs Christians who walk in the light—people whose words are truthful, whose actions are righteous, whose hearts are good, and whose lives point others toward Jesus.

We cannot shine through our own strength. The light is not ours; it belongs to Christ. But as we remain close to him, his light shines through us.

Where have you grown spiritually sleepy? What part of your life needs to be brought into Christ’s light? What fruit does the Holy Spirit desire to produce within you?

Hear Christ’s invitation today:

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

Let us wake from spiritual sleep, step out of the shadows, and walk as children of light.