Sermon Tone Analysis

Light is both intellectual and moral.

Every Christian should be a lamppost reflecting the light that will become radiant at Christ’s coming.

Practicing Biblical Separation

These things vs. 6

lying, unrighteous anger,stealing,corrupt speech, bitter anger, sexual immorality, impurity,covetousness,filthiness, foolish talking, crude joking.

partner(vs 7): to share in their sinful practices.

“be careful of the company you keep”

We are to practice separation from unbelievers.

Why

Not What You Are Anymore

Our Former Lifestyle was darkness.

This is common among men.

Mankind’s natural darkness

Intellectual (Ignorant of God)

Our Spiritual life was darkness

They do not have the spiritual organ for receiving light.

Light requires an organ adapted for its reception (Matt.

6:22).

Where the eye is absent, or where it has become impaired from any cause, light is useless.

Man, naturally, is incapable of receiving spiritual light inasmuch as he lacks the capacity for spiritual things, 1 Cor.

2:14.

Hence believers are called ‘sons of light,’ Luke 16:8, not merely because they have received a revelation from God, but because in the New Birth they have received the spiritual capacity for it.

Moral (Total Depravity)

Not in darkness, but are darkness.

Men are morally dark.

Not that all men do all the bad they can do, but that their whole person is affected by it.

Their mind, their will, their affections, and their actions demonstrate it.

We were not only victims of Satan, but contributors to his kingdom

You are the light

When God saved you, you became the light.

Not by doing deeds of righteousness, but by becoming one with Christ.

(In the Lord)

You have a new heart, new desires to hate sin and forsake it.

You become light by becoming one withChrist.

(In the Lord)

A Christian has a purpose to forsake sin, not in order to be saved, but because he is already.

(You are light)

Not by doing deeds of righteousness.

This means avoiding joining with sinful people.

How?

Clarification

Not every type of interaction, but avoiding sinful lifestyles.

Not business deals (but maybe if sinful)

Not being friendly (but maybe if they are corrupting)

Separating from every corrupting influence.

Not joining in sinful actions.

Even believers in un-repentant sin we are to avoid

Even believers in un-repentant sin we are to avoid

1 Cor.

5:9-12

Evil deeds are fruitless.

Plants don’t produce in darkness, sin does not produce good things.

Walking in the Light

Light defined as Goodness, Righteousness,and Truth

Goodness, Righteousness,and Truth

Light=holiness=fruitfulness

Evil deeds are fruitless.

Plants don’t produce in darkness, sin does not produce good things.

No Such thing as a fruitless Christian.

Demonstrate by your life the difference.

Produce the fruit of the light!

Discerning God’s Will through experience

Takes wisdom to learn the “skill of godly living”

You must thoughtfully discern, apply,and practice.

ESVSB

The goal is not self-righteous glory but to challenge others to come to the light.EEC

Paul’s command is direct and simple: Christians who are to produce the righteous fruit of light are to have nothing at all to do with the unfruitful deeds of darkness.1

1 MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (1986).

Ephesians (p.

211).

Chicago: Moody Press.

Be an example that will convict sinners.

Our lifestyle should be a witness against sinful men.

Examples

Purity instead of profanity, honesty instead of dishonesty

Part 2

Every Christian will have to practice this priniciple in some way.

It’s not reserved for the hyper-fundamentalists or the super strict.

But separation from sin, and in some instances sinners is a matter of obedience.

-You’re not the only one who struggles with it.

You’re life might be characterized by this more than others, but your not the

-This is first a matter of obedience.

(What God requires of us)

Secondly, this is how we live in our culture.

Opening Your Mouth

We cannot just ignore sin in our world, we must expose it.

“I’d rather light a candle than curse the darkness.”

In other words, I don’t want to confront anyone and just leave them alone.

To ignore evil is to encourage it; to keep quiet about it is to help promote it.

The verb here translated expose (from elegchō) can also carry the idea of reproof, correction, punishment, or discipline.

We are to confront sin with intolerance.1

1 MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (1986).

Ephesians (p.

212).

Chicago: Moody Press.

How?

By direct confrontation!

The Word Expose: means to reprove or convince through argument or discussion.

Reprove them

Why?

Because their actions are shameful!

Example: The recent celebration of Child Drag.

Drag is the act of dressing up in “hyper-exaggerated and overly -sexualized female makeup and clothing.”

The rescent

“These mainstream media outlets encourage these young boys for “being who they are,” for standing up to critics and “haters,” and for being an inspiration to other children who might want to dress and perform as the opposite sex.”