“Living In Purity”
Ephesians 5:7-14
REVIEW
I. Our Wealth and Worth In Christ 1-3
II. Our Worthy Walk in Christ 4-6
A. Live in Unity 4:1-16
B. Live in Newness of life 4:17-24
C. Live in Love 4:17-24
D. Live in Purity 5:3-14
1. Guard your reputation 5:3-6
2. Guard your associations 5:7-10
3. Guard your lifestyle / practice 5:11-14
Avoid all involvement in the deeds of darkness or with any who practice them.
Live like grateful children of light who please God by their life and expose evil in the world.
INTRODUCTION
Paul encouraged the Ephesian followers of Jesus to live as children of light in a dark place.
They were surrounded by the “sons of disobedience”. Paul characterized the sons of disobedience like this…
So this I say, and affirm together with the Lord, that you walk no longer just as the Gentiles also walk, in the futility of their mind, being darkened in their understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart; and they, having become callous, have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity with greediness. 4:17-19
Their callous heart toward God disqualified them from experiencing true meaningful living. Their hardness caused ignorance, darkened understanding and futile thinking. Their callousness toward God left them only to find a sense of life in sensuality and the practice of every kind of impurity with lust. Paul affirmed the truth that in spite of the fact that the Ephesians also once lived in that darkness, they were, by God’s power, NOW children of light.
They once were dead in their trespasses and sins in which they once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, by the dictates of the spirit that continually energizes the sons of disobedience, living in the lusts of their flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath. (2:2-3)
They once were driven by sexual immorality, impurity, lust and inappropriate speech. But God saved them and raised them up and gave them new purpose and position with Christ. Rather than sons of disobedience they became children of light. They became God’s special workmanship (artistic masterpiece), created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that they should walk in them. (2:10)
They were no longer strangers and aliens, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit. (2:19, 22)
They had put off the old identity, which belonged to their former corrupt and lustful life and became renewed in the spirit of their minds, and put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. (4:22-24).
This was the basis of Paul’s call to live differently than the culture around them. They were to now live different because they actually were different.
Today I want to explore further the concept of light and walking as children of light.
In some way, our relationship to Jesus is similar to the moon and the sun. We have no light in ourselves. We can only reflect His light. At times we fully reflect His light as a full moon beautifully lights up the night sky. At other times we seem more like a crescent moon or even a new moon which reflects little or none of the sun’s glorious light. Sometimes something gets in between and prevents us from reflecting light similar to an eclipse. I like that picture even though I think it falls short of the complete reality.
God does not just call us reflectors of light. He calls us the light of the world. He calls us children whose identifying characteristic is light.
The Primary source of light
God is Light
God’s essential nature is light. The use of the term “light” communicates at several levels.
• Indicates intellectual perception – truth, knowledge, ultimate reality (God is truth)
• Indicates moral purity – holiness, purity, sinlessness, faultless (God is holy)
• Indicates ethical perfection – righteousness, justice, truthfulness, faithfulness (God is right)
• Indicates social passion warmth – love, compassion, kindness, mercy, grace, goodness (Love)
• Indicates spiritual awareness – wisdom, understanding, insight (God is all-knowing)
• Indicates power and influence – energy, power (God is all powerful)
• Indicates physical manifestation – seen and felt (God is self-revealing)
God spoke light into being even before there was a sun and stars. There is no life without light in both the material and spiritual dimensions of life. God is light. God is life. The New Testament declaration that God is light, even though profound, was not new.
King David declared…
The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the defense of my life; whom shall I dread? Psalms 27:1
How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! And the children of men take refuge in the shadow of Your wings. They drink their fill of the abundance of Your house; and You give them to drink of the river of Your delights. For with You is the fountain of life; in Your light we see light. Psalms 36:7-9
His words are a light to illuminate our way.
O send out Your light and Your truth, let them lead me; Let them bring me to Your holy hill and to Your dwelling places. Then I will go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy; and upon the lyre I shall praise You, O God, my God. Psalms 43:3-4
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Psalms 119:105
Your testimonies are wonderful; therefore my soul observes them. The unfolding of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple. Psalms 119:129-130
John identified Jesus as the Light.
In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. There came a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to testify about the Light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light. There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. Jo 1:1-9
Jesus claimed it regarding himself.
"I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life." John 8:12
Jesus had probably just celebrated the festival of lights. It was a big deal in Jerusalem. Huge torches lit up the whole city. It was an eight day celebration and remembrance of the dedication of the temple after ousting the Syrians during the Maccabean period. This is also known today as Hanukkah. The next day while the smell from the torches still filled the air, Jesus proclaimed.
"I have come as Light into the world, so that everyone who believes in Me will not remain in darkness. John 12:46
Paul proclaimed…
We do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, "Light shall shine out of darkness," is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:3-6
…He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see. To Him be honor and eternal dominion! Amen. 1 Timothy 6:15-16
James affirmed that…
Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow. James 1:17
Revelation reveals that God will be our source of light and life for eternity.
Then he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb, in the middle of its street. On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. There will no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His bond-servants will serve Him; they will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. And there will no longer be any night; and they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illumine them; and they will reign forever and ever. Revelation 22:1-5
He is the only reliable source and sustainer of life and truth
He reveals the ultimate reality.
He is absolutely pure.
He is perfect love and compassion.
His glory fills the earth.
He has NO dark side.
Jesus is the light and life that enlightens and enlivens people. Christ shines on us as predicted by Isaiah.
The responsibility of children of light
Come to the Light
"For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God." John 3:16-21
There are those who refuse to come to Jesus because they don’t want their life exposed. Those who desire truth come to the light for exposure and eradication of any evil. When we come to Him, Christ shines His light in our hearts to dispel the darkness.
For God, who said, "Light shall shine out of darkness," is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves… 2 Corinthians 4:6-7
Paul calls for us to wake up out of darkness.
"Awake, sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." Ephesians 5:14
Wake up, turn to Christ and He will shine. Come to the light.
Become the Light
Paul doesn’t just say we “reflect light”. Paul clearly says we ARE light.
for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light Ephesians 5:8
Our lives were once characterized by moral and intellectual darkness. Because of Jesus we have become morally and intellectually enlightened. This is polar opposite of the “sons of disobedience”.
But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day would overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober. 1 Thessalonians 5:4-8
Again he does not say we are in light as you might expect in contrast to “in darkness”, it ways we ARE sons of the light. Jesus affirmed the same thing.
"You are the light of the world.” Matt 5:14
We have been rescued from the kingdom of darkness and made children of light.
For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:13-14
Revisit chapter 4:17 for the contrast of the old and new core.
Live in the light
Since this is who we are it must be how we live. If we are children of light let us live in moral and intellectual light and purity. It is who we are. Live differently because we ARE different.
Therefore do not be partakers with them; for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. For this reason it says, "Awake, sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." Ephesians 5:6-14
A life lived in the light has many characteristics. Paul listed just three.
All goodness – things that are good beneficial, uplifting,
All righteousness – just treatment, conforming to a divine standard
All truth – integrity, truthful, real
The night is almost gone, and the day is near. Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts. Romans 13:11-14
Here is a reference not only of moral purity but intellectual enlightenment. Again a reference to the deeds of darkness.
but if we live in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. 1 John 1:7
When John tells us to live in the light, he is not talking about being perfect, but about living open lives – about being honest about who we are and what we do, what we believe and what we feel. Living in the light is not about being perfect, but it is about living with the lights on, so we don’t hide anything. Living in the light has to do with living according to the truth. Living in the light includes how we treat one another.
The one who says he is in the Light and yet hates his brother is in the darkness until now. The one who loves his brother abides in the Light and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But the one who hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes. 1 John 2:9-11
The word of God is a light for the children of God.
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Psalms 119:105
Do not enter the path of the wicked and do not proceed in the way of evil men. Avoid it, do not pass by it; turn away from it and pass on.
But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, that shines brighter and brighter until the full day.
The way of the wicked is like darkness; they do not know over what they stumble. Proverbs 4:14-15,18-19
Shine His light
Come to the light, become enlightened, live in the light. We are also called to share the light or shine the light. In this passage, Paul tells us to expose the darkness by the enlightened and pure way we live.
Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. 5:11-13
Evil is exposed when put shine the light one it. When we live with all goodness, righteousness and truth, we demonstrate a stark contrast to the world in which we live. The Ephesians who lived like this made a huge impact on their culture. Genuine Christianity makes a huge impact where it shines its light. It is the light of truth and purity. The church is a restraining force in the world but loses its impact when it functions with no discernable difference than the world.
Once something is exposed for what it is, even it becomes light because it is recognized as evil.
Whereas it was hidden and practiced in secret; now it is shown for what it is. Satan always wraps sin in a beautiful exterior. Sometimes it takes years for the truth to expose it for what it is. This is true of pornography, pre-marital sex, extra-marital sex, selfishness. Satan always maximizes the pleasurable benefits and minimizes the painful consequences.
Jesus instructed His disciples to make a difference by how they lived. They were the light.
"You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:13-16
Allow the light produced by their life to shine in your community. The result will cause people to notice the difference and seek out the source.
The glory given to the Father may not be now but definitely take place later.
For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties and abominable idolatries. In all this, they are surprised that you do not run with them into the same excesses of dissipation, and they malign you; but they will give account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead. 1 Peter 4:3-5
"You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.
When Christians don’t live any different than the culture around us, we lose a witness.
So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will 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, holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain. Philippians 2:12-16
By expressing thanksgiving rather than grumbling and disputing we prove that we are different. When we live in the light we illuminate the darkness. We appear as lights in a world of darkness looking for the source of true life. We are able to hold forth the word of life with authenticity. By living according to God’s truth we fulfill our role as torch bearers. We are those who exclaim the truth. We are those who expose the darkness by how we live and what we proclaim.
CONLCUSION
How bright are you shining? Full moon? Half moon? Crescent moon? Eclipse?
Is there a discernable difference in your attitudes, relationships, habits, thought patterns, service, life focus, general behavior, entertainment?
Paul calls us to awake sleeper and rise from the dead and Christ will shine on you.
Come to the light.
I am asking you to let the Holy Spirit shine His light in your heart. Let Him expose the things that block the true light of the indwelling Christ shine. How this is accomplished is the subject of the next section where Paul calls us to live in wisdom.
Be enlightened, directed and empowered by the Holy Spirit in your daily life.
Be continually filled with the Holy Spirit.
Since you are now children of light to live like children of light.
Let your light shine before people to the degree that they give glory to God.
