Walking In The Light

WALKING IN THE LIGHT Spring Valley Mennonite; July 4, 2021; Ephesians 5:3-14 Happy Independence Day! While Christians alone know the real meaning of freedom from sin, there is nothing wrong with being thankful for our country in which we can worship without restriction and oppression. And while our allegiance to the Lord Jesus Christ is always to be foremost, this nation is our home. The best thing we can do for our nation is to pray for her, as well as share the gospel which alone can bring about meaningful change. We return to our study of the Book of Ephesians and find ourselves in the 5th chapter. One of the criticisms made against the Bible is that it is not practical, that it does not speak to the issues we face in the 21st century. Of course, we realize that most people who use that argument are simply trying to justify a lifestyle which is contrary to Scripture. By claiming the Bible is out of touch with reality, such critics rationalize its message which would condemn their sin. It is much like a person who refuses to visit the doctor fearing what they might learn about their health. Scripture is always practical when we apply it. But only a fool would say that today's portion of Scripture is not extremely practical, both for we believers as well as those who are still examining the claims of Christ. Few sermons are preached on this topic which contributes to the confusion in this area, especially among believers. And truthfully, I was tempted to handle these verses in a manner which would minimize the "uncomfortability factor." This morning, we are going to examine what God expects from His children regarding sexual behavior. As we go to scripture, we find that God is anything but silent on this subject. And while we may be a bit uncomfortable discussing these issues, it is vital that we understand God's perspective on sexuality. I would dare to say there is no other area of life which causes people as much trouble as this one. Dealing with our sexuality presents a major area of temptation. And our culture is not silent on the issue; if the church does not speak clearly on this issue, we stand justly condemned when accused of irrelevance. The Christian has three enemies: the world, the flesh and the devil. I cannot think of another issue where these three forces join forces against us like in the area of sexuality. Paul is speaking to a Greek-Roman culture very similar to our own in terms of sexuality. Ephesus was the site of the Temple to Diana, the goddess of sensuality. The Ephesian church was immersed in the influence of this temple which was considered one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Patronizing the male and female prostitutes was an accepted part of the worship of Diana. In the Ephesian culture, sexual perversion of every description was both common and widely accepted. Into this cesspool of immorality, the message of Christianity was preached-and very importantly to us, in such a culture Christianity flourished! Lives were transformed! Light began to penetrate the darkness as believers were changed from the inside out. Like today, it was not easy for a believer in first-century Ephesus to live a pure life in such a "cesspool society." To encourage these believers, and to all who would follow, Paul sets forth standards for Christian sexuality, standards fully as practical today as they were then. God wants us to experience His very best as we walk in the light rather than stumbling along in darkness. We begin with the third verse of chapter 5. Let's read through verse 14 to give us a feel for the whole idea Paul is expressing. Focus in on verse 8 (Read again) We are to: I. REMEMBER WHO WE ARE: SAINTS WHO ARE TO WALK IN LIGHT This is a message to believers, saints as Paul calls us. These principles build on all the fabulous, almost unbelievable truths of the previous four chapters. Remember what God has said about us? He has chosen us before the foundation of the world to be recipients of His love. We have been saved by grace through faith. We have been born of the Holy Spirit of God, and we are joint heirs of Christ, and we are guaranteed an inheritance in the future as His beloved children. We carry the spiritual genetics of our Heavenly Father, having been born of the Spirit from the dead. We are called Saints, God's chosen ones, set apart for unbelievable eternal blessing. We have been given the ability to put aside both our old selfish, self-serving nature and our old ways of thinking. We have the ability to think God's way, to be imitators of Him. We can walk in love, love both for God and our fellow man. We are new creatures-God looks at us and says, "Those are my saints!" We are told here to walk as saints, walk in the light with a totally different sexual lifestyle than the culture which surrounds us. There is possibly no other area where the contrast will be greater. A Christian committed to living by Biblical standards of sexuality will shine like a lighthouse in the darkness but also attract criticism and opposition from those who prefer to dwell in darkness. God's standard is clearly stated in verse 3: immorality, impurity and greed are not to be found in the church; such behavior is to be completely off limits for the believer. These words speak of all sexual activities outside of the boundaries of marriage. Jesus made clear in the Sermon on the Mount that immorality is not limited to actions, but also to our thought life. If you wonder why "greed" is mentioned, it has been said that "Every form of sexual immorality is an expression of the self-will, self-gratification, and the self-centeredness of greed. It is by nature contrary to love, which is self-giving. Immorality and impurity are but forms of greed in the realm of sexual sin."1 Sexual sin is the desire for self-gratification at the expense of another. Paul is not pretending that such problems do not exist in the church; he is simply stating the standard. Immorality is plainly and clearly always wrong. No one should be able to point a finger and say, "there is immorality in the church," which is what is "it is not even to be named" means. That phrase certainly does not mean that we shouldn't speak on the issue. Some have looked at such prohibitions and concluded that God must be against sex. Let me answer that question, for a proper understanding of this is vital to understanding God's love. II. IS GOD AGAINST SEX? Such thinking is one of the most destructive lies Satan ever tells. Think about it for a moment: Who designed human sexuality? Who made us like we are, male and female? And Who designed the perfect institution of marriage within which we can fully explore and express our sexuality? God made us just like we are! He gave us the wonderful gift of sexuality, and I am convinced that He delights in our enjoyment of the legitimate sexual pleasures in marriage. But our sexuality is such a powerful force that it must be directed and controlled, or it becomes incredibly destructive. The offices of counselors around the world are full of people whose lives have been shattered by the consequences of the misuse of this gift from God. This is exactly the argument Paul is making to us today. Is God against sex? Only outside of marriage. One of the ways is which we are to renew our minds and "put on the new man" is to realize that God's purpose in regulating sexuality is to protect and provide for our greatest good. Any expression of sexuality outside of the protective walls of marriage terribly wounds and harms us. While sexuality is a completely wholesome and legitimate drive, it must be controlled. God has given us that ability. Once again, God never asks us to do the impossible. In addition to this first principle that our sexuality is only to be expressed in marriage... III. OTHER SPECIFIC DIRECTIONS ARE GIVEN TO PROTECT US. Verse 4: "and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting; but rather giving of thanks." Author and Pastor John MacArthur gives us helpful insight into these terms saying, "Filthiness has to do with general obscenity, any talk that is degrading and disgraceful. It comes from the same Greek root as "disgraceful" in verse 12, where Paul says that such vile things should not even be mentioned, much less participated in and is related to the term in Colossians 3:8, meaning "dirty speech." "Mōrologia (silly talk) used only here in the New Testament, is derived from mōros (which means dull, or stupid, and is the word from which we get moron) and legō (to speak). It is stupid talk, talk only befitting someone who is intellectually deficient. It is sometimes referred to as low obscenity, foolish talk that comes from the drunk or the gutter mouth. It has no point except to give an air of dirty worldliness. "Eutrapelia (coarse jesting), on the other hand, refers to talk that is more pointed and determined. It carries the idea of quickly turning something that is said or done-no matter how innocent-into that which is obscene or suggestive. It is the filthy talk of a person who uses every word and circumstance to display his immoral wit. It is the stock-in-trade of the clever talk-show host who is never at a loss for sexual innuendo. But the low obscenity of silly talk and the "high" obscenity of coarse jesting come from the same kind of heart, the heart given over to moral filthiness.2 (unquote) We are children of the King of Heaven who is perfectly holy and righteous. Crude, lewd, suggestive comments or jokes coming from the mouth of a Christian is not "fitting." Professing one thing in our hearts then spewing out filthy talk simply doesn't fit. The word fitting means "becoming, wholesome, attractive, and refreshing." Probably all of us can think of a time when we have been exposed to something filthy, obscene, or improper in sexual matters and have come away from that experience feeling dirty and unclean. Being very practical, imagine being in a situation like the break room at work, or in a group at school or even listening to the radio or watching TV and the subject matter turns to an immoral topic. How does this verse apply in such a situation? Certainly, it means we should not join into such conversations, laughing or giving approval; certainly, we shouldn't be the one speaking! We should turn away from such talk, perhaps physically moving away. If someone comments, we should have a ready answer like, "I really don't find that amusing" or "let's talk about something else." That may, and probably will, expose you to ridicule, but it also may let you serve as a limiting factor to such crude or suggestive talk. If such topics come up on the TV, that is what the remote control is for! What is fitting conversation for the Christian? The best thing is talking about how God has blessed us, giving thanks for His grace and goodness. Our purpose in life is to bring glory to God, to "shine the light" on Who He is and what He does for us. What a contrast to coarseness and filthy talk: "Let me tell you how God has been good to me this week..." This is not easy, I would be the first to admit, but it would make for an interesting dynamic in the locker room! (Read vv. 5-6) This is the warning that immorality is a fruit of darkness and is a mark of the dark kingdom of Satan. Satan is a liar, destroyer, and murderer, and immorality and perversion are commonly seen among his victims. Someone who practices immorality, impurity, and who covets another person's body (again, that is what covetousness means in this context)-such a one cannot truly be a Christian. Understand what I am saying: If a professing Christian is engaged repeatedly in such actions, feeling no remorse or conviction of the Holy Spirit, and if they never turn from that lifestyle, then that would be a fairly good sign that their profession of faith is not genuine. Those are hard words, but I believe that is what Scripture teaches. I am not speaking of believers who stumble and fall and then repent: there are believers who fall into sin-immorality in its varied forms is perhaps the most dangerous and common of Satan's traps. There is always forgiveness, healing, and restoration for the repentant believer-but also understand that there are hard consequences to immorality. God wants to protect us and provide the absolute best. What are those "empty words" that deceive us? We hear such words all the time from these who would call "sin" anything but sin. Churches and denominations, sadly even our own, are currently accepting homosexuality as natural or a "genetic predisposition." But anyone who does not base their belief system on the plain teaching of the Bible will be speaking "empty words" on any subject, not only on immorality. Colossians 2:8: "See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ." There is no other area in which the devil's propaganda is more prevalent than in the area of sexuality. He is the father of deception, and to defend against being deceived we must live by scripture and interpret cultural practices by scripture alone. The sorry state of public morality reflects a rejection of biblical truth, and inevitably will result in a consequent outpouring of God's wrath on individuals and society. God doesn't hurl thunderbolts as expressions of wrath, but He simply allows the decaying corruption of immorality to destroy. I heard of one culture who punished murderers by tying the dead corpse of the victim to the murderer letting the rotting body spread the corruption of death. Likewise, immorality unchecked destroys its victims. Romans 1 tells how God finally abandons people to their destructive passions. Verse 7: Therefore, do not be partakers with them. IV. WE ARE TO WALK AS CHILDREN OF LIGHT (Read vv. 8-14) In contrast to the deeds of darkness, we are to put off the old and put on the new. How does the new person in Christ walk in light? Three specific aspects of light are mentioned: goodness, righteousness, and truth. Quite a contrast to the fruit of immorality! As we walk in the light, we "shine"-we reflect the glory of God by actions and attitudes of goodness, righteousness, and truth. It is difficult for people to overlook the "lifeglow" of Christlikeness. A "lightwalker" is constantly examining his life to see if what he is doing is pleasing to God. That is the sense of "trying to learn what pleases the Lord." Trying is not attempting, a "trial and error" sort of thing, but more the idea of "testing" or "examining" what we are doing to see if it conforms to God's truth. What we do for entertainment would be a good example of this. What are your standards as far as television or movies you watch? What about your internet browsing habits? How do your favorite programs stack up against these standards of goodness, righteousness, and truth? Look at verse 11: And do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them... When we watch immoral behavior on television, are we not vicariously participating in such behavior? Perhaps we would never personally engage in such things, but do we secretly take enjoyment watching others do them? When you turn the light on in your garage at night, especially this time of the year, the crickets start hopping around heading for the dark corners. As long as there was no light, they were unexposed. Matthew 5:14: "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden." When we live as we should we expose the wrong thinking and actions of the world. Perhaps this is why this church is not filled with non-believing people off the street this morning. Now maybe we didn't invite them, but most non-Christian people don't want to associate much with Christians or the church because we make them feel guilty-without saying a word. Perhaps you remember the story of a pro-golfer who was in a foursome with Billy Graham, and afterwards someone asked him what it was to golf with the great evangelist. He angerly responded, "I got tired of Billy Graham trying to cram the Bible down my throat the whole round." The same man later admitted that Billy hadn't mentioned the Bible at all; the pro had just had a bad round of golf. Now, what made him so uncomfortable being around Billy Graham? The light was shining out from Billy, and the man felt guilty as his profane lifestyle was exposed. We expose darkness just by living rightly. There is another more active way we are to expose the lies of Satan in the area of immorality: the church is to be the source of correct information on matters of sex. The failure of society in addressing these matters is proven by its record on solving such problems as teen pregnancy, broken marriages, sexual abuse, and human trafficking. Society's solutions are almost totally ineffective because sin blinds and deludes the non-believer. Paul said in 1 Timothy 3:15 that the church of the living God is the pillar and support of the truth. It is not arrogance which says that Christians have a corner on the truth; it is simply true, for we have God's Word on the subject. Abstinence works. Lifetime commitment to marriage works. Submitting to God's standards leads to complete happiness and fulfillment. And when we fail in these areas, God's forgiveness is always available as we confess and repent. Remember King David. Believers should not be shy about exposing Satan's lies about sexuality. God has intended for sex to be something beautiful, healthy, and wonderful, but only within the protective walls of marriage. Before we can wake others up to the truth, we need to wake up ourselves. Paul knew the difficulties of living out this truth. That is the meaning of verse 14: For this reason, it says, "Awake sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." Immorality in thought, word or action is totally incompatible with the new life. Immorality means death to Christian growth, blessing, and personal peace. We must confess, repent, and begin walking in the light. By our lives and words, we will help people to see that part of God's great yearning heart of love is His desire to draw us away from all which would destroy and ruin and make us unhappy and miserable, and to draw us back into the wholeness, fullness, and joyfulness of life as it is meant to be lived. Philippians 2:15 ..."prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world..." Walk as Children of light. 1 MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (1986). Ephesians (p. 200). Chicago: Moody Press. 2 MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (1986). Ephesians (p. 201). Chicago: Moody Press. --------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ --------------- ------------------------------------------------------------ 2