(Note to the reader: I began this talk by showing a video called Ribbons, available from PremierTV2006: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9K86vcHOLI. It shows how Jesus took upon himself the penalty for sin and all that binds us; see 1 Peter 2: 24-25.)
‘[Jesus the Messiah] himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed; for you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls’ (1 Peter 2:24-25).
You were like sheep going astray. That was then; but now you have returned to the shepherd and overseer of your souls. This is now.
‘For you were once darkness but now you are light in the Lord’ (Ephesians 5:8). That was then; but this is now. Or is it?
St. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians was written to Christian believers. So, those who first heard his letter being read out in church gatherings knew that they had once been in darkness, but were now called to ‘live as children of light …and find out what pleases the Lord’; ‘for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth’ (5:8-10).
I’m really looking forward to our Church weekend away later this year, from 30 September to 2 October at High Leigh in Hertfordshire. I’d love you to book a place and forms are available on the notice board. Our guest speaker for that weekend, Phil Wason, was with us a few weeks ago. He spoke on Ephesians 2: 1-10 and called his talk ‘That was then. This is now’. It was a great talk and it’s still available for listening on our Church website.
That was then. This is now. That is true for Christian believers. Do you know it to be true for you?
When Bishop Henry, the Bishop of Embu, Kenya, was with us in November last year he said it is possible to be ‘lost’ in the Church. Is that true for any of us?
God created human beings to love him, and to love each other. God loved the world. He gave the 10 commandments so that we would know how to live in community, to love God, to love each other, and to respect and uphold boundaries of justice, marriage, truth, property, work, rest and worship; but humanity broke God’s commandments time after time – and which of us can say that we’ve not sinned by breaking God’s laws and guidelines for life (see 1 John 1:8).
Humanity was ruining itself, and continually spoiling its relationship with God. Trapped by our own pride and greed we were getting nowhere; but like any parent who sees their children in danger, God came to rescue us. That’s what the coming of Jesus is all about; a life and death rescue mission for humankind.
Jesus said, “For God so loved the world that he gave his Only Begotten Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). Jesus marks out a difference between spiritual death and spiritual life. In Ephesians chapter 5 St. Paul refers to a transfer from darkness to light.
Have you believed in Jesus, put your trust in him, and begun to grow in your relationship with him?
We need the sunshine! We need its light, heat and vitamin D; and we need to orbit the sun. It needs to be at the centre of our orbit. Without the sun’s light animals, green plants and humans would quickly die; and without the sun at the centre of earth’s orbit we would not survive. If the earth began to journey outwards, away from the sun, we would die. So it is with our human existence in relation to God. We need his light, warmth and vitality as revealed in Jesus, and we need him at the centre of our existence. Otherwise we die spiritually.
So, Paul writes to believers who know where they have come from – darkness; and know where they are now to live – in the light of Jesus; and in this section before us today he is helping and encouraging believers to know how to live in the light of Jesus.
Paul writes, ‘Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us’ (5:1-2). But how are we to imitate God? The answer lies in the last verse of chapter 4, because this is a good example of where manmade chapter divisions are not always helpful. ‘Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you’ (4:32). Specifically, that is how Paul is telling us to imitate God, just as Jesus teaches us to pray, ‘Forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us’ (Matthew 6:12).
Be imitators of God. Forgive others their sins, however terrible they might be, just as God forgives our sins however small or however terrible they are.
But isn’t that painfully hard to do sometimes? Yes it is, and lies, murder, adultery and rape for example are incredibly hard to forgive. But God can and does forgive when there is true repentance, and we are told to imitate God. So let’s do it!
Here’s an example from the 1994 Rwandan genocide (www.youtube.com/watch?v=wONSfWNgQDA).
Lord, forgive us our sins as we forgive those who trespass against us.
Since Christian believers are people who are seeking to live life God’s way, no longer in darkness but living in the light of Christ, there is a right way to live. There is a right way to conduct ourselves in matters of sexual conduct. The Bible says that amongst us ‘there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people’ (5:3).
Not even a hint! That means we shouldn’t make light of, or gloss over impurity or immorality in the Church. It’s not just a call to non-participation; and we know that amongst friends and neighbours and family there are situations of impurity or immorality going on. This is a call to not make light of our own sin or the sins of others, and that includes our speaking, our thinking and our jesting about sex, marriage, relationships, and close encounters of the passionate kind.
Remember the video we saw at the start. The young man became entangled in a dangerous web of relationships; but Jesus set him free, and Jesus can do that for you if you’re involved in a relationship you should not be in. Even if there’s the smallest hint of a spark of impurity Jesus can help you.
Referring to sexual impurity Paul writes: ‘Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving’ (5:4).
So, dirty jokes, innuendos or insinuations are out of place for the believer. Now, for me as someone who loves to laugh that’s a challenge because some of the humour I hear on the Television is so funny, but as I realise the sexual innuendo I also realise it is time to turn off or turn over, not be turned on.
Perhaps this is sounding hard. It is hard! But believers are no longer darkness, controlled by urges and passions that destroy relationships and reduce self-worth. No, believers are called to live life God’s way because it’s the right way.
A man called Warren Wiersbe wrote this: “A Christian is not sinless, but a Christian does sin less.”
Dirty jokes are out; but thanksgiving for all that goes on within the marriage relationship – that’s well and truly in! For example, Moira and I attended a meal for couples to be married in Billericay churches this year.
The event was put together by the Mother’s Union at Emmanuel Church and at the end of the meal I was asked without any warning if I would say a few words. The problem is that without notes I can sometimes be a loose cannon. I knew what I wanted to say but decided I needed to say at least something sensible first! Once I’d got that over with I announced that unbeknown to many people I am actually standing here today because of the Mother’s Union. Yes indeed, I am standing here today because of my Mother’s Union with my Father – and one or two people found that funny.
I thank God for my mother’s union with my father, but the Bible says that amongst believers there must be no obscenity or foolish joking about any kind of impurity or immorality. Why; because Paul warns believers that ultimately the impure or immoral will not inherit the kingdom of God; and this is intended as a severe weather warning to people who love Jesus.
In other words, don’t be careless. Watch your words, your thoughts and your actions. Be careful not to join in. Don’t visit the strip club with the other guys from the office. Don’t join in with the jokes that demean women. Don’t even flirt with sex dating sites, and be careful to avoid situations that could compromise you.
Being careless is no laughing matter. In February 2002 Dawn Richardson had just broken up with her boyfriend. She was hurt and upset that he left her. She was driving her car at about 70MPH down the road yelling on her mobile phone at her ex. After some close calls she finally lost control of her vehicle, causing a serious fatal collision ending her own life. Let’s not be careless with our words and actions because relationships and families and our relationship with God may get seriously damaged.
‘Let no-one deceive you with empty words …do not be partners with them’ (5:6-7). Avoid teachings that sound attractive but go against what we know is true.
Paul continues, ‘Live as children of light …and find out what pleases the Lord’ (5:8-10). Becoming a Christian is not simply a moment in time when we decide to ask Jesus to forgive us. Some people prefer to talk about becoming ‘Christian’, because becoming more Christian is something we are engaged in on a daily basis; literally becoming more like Christ, more like Jesus. When we start to follow Jesus we may have no idea what pleases God. We might have a good idea what displeases him, but living in the light and producing good fruit is about discovering what pleases God. We find out by reading his word the Bible, by taking part in opportunities to grow and stretch our faith, and by putting our faith into practice.
Much of the evil in our world goes on behind closed doors, in secret, in darkness. Vicious words, destructive gossip, abuse, lies, internet pornography, and adultery for example. If these things were brought out into the light most of them would not happen.
Verses 13 and 14: ‘Everything exposed by the light becomes visible; for it is light that makes everything visible’. Sometimes bringing issues out into the light may require help from a Christian friend. It might require prayer and counselling. It might require the installation of helpful anti-pornography software on a computer. It might require giving up TV for Lent. It might require us to start saying positive things about someone behind their back. Yes, I know that’s a bit radical but it’s great. Try it! Start saying positive things about people behind their backs and watch your world and their world begin to be transformed.
And if your thoughts wander unhelpfully, St. Paul gives us this advice in his letter to the Philippian Church: ‘Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things’ (Philippians 4:8). Amen!
