WALKING IN LOVE AND LIGHT.
Ephesians 5:1-9.
When we are ‘imitators’ of God as ‘beloved children,’ we will ‘walk in love’ (agape) toward one another (cf. EPHESIANS 5:1-2). Our model of love is the Lord Jesus Christ, who ‘loved us and gave Himself for us.’ His love was a sacrificial love, and His sacrifice acceptable to God.
Now, love is not to be confused with lust: but mankind has turned the beautiful gift of God into something quite ugly (EPHESIANS 5:3-4). These kinds of covetous thoughts, coarse words, and unwholesome deeds rather represent the selfish and self-indulgent gratification of a life that ‘works all uncleanness with greediness’ (cf. Ephesians 4:19). But remember, ‘we have not so learned Christ’ (cf. Ephesians 4:20).
The Greek word for “fornication” gives rise to our English word, ‘pornography.’ The word that KJV translates “uncleanness” speaks of impurity. These arise from the “covetousness” that lies at the heart of the matter (cf. Exodus 20:17; Colossians 3:5).
The antidote to all this is the “giving of thanks” to God for His good gift, and using it appropriately (EPHESIANS 5:4). This is what is “becoming” of saints (EPHESIANS 5:3).
At this point, the Apostle reminds us of the line of demarcation that should exist between Christians and the world (EPHESIANS 5:5). “For this you know,” he says, and goes on to remind us that those whose habit and lifestyle is continually given over to sexual licence (for example) have no part in “the kingdom of Christ and of God” (cf. 1 Corinthians 6:9-10; Revelation 22:15; Revelation 21:8). Sin, any sin, is abhorrent to God, and He ‘expects better things’ of His children: ‘things that accompany salvation’ (cf. Hebrews 6:9).
Further, the wrath of God is against “the children of disobedience” (EPHESIANS 5:6). That is to say, those people who ‘walk according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now works in the children of disobedience’ (cf. Ephesians 2:2). It is they, the ungodly, who are ‘like the chaff that the wind blows away;’ sinners who ‘shall not stand in the congregation of the righteous’ (cf. Psalm 1:4-5).
This is a truth that is denied by some, so “let no man deceive you” (EPHESIANS 5:6). God has only one way whereby He can forgive sin (cf. John 14:6; Acts 4:12). Outside of Christ there is no forgiveness; in Him alone can we say, ‘there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared’ (cf. Psalm 130:4).
So, it is perfectly clear that it would be totally inappropriate for those who are citizens of the Lord’s kingdom to participate in the evil deeds of the disobedient (EPHESIANS 5:7). This does not mean that we totally shun the people, or else we would have to go out of this world, but that we avoid the evil (cf. John 17:15; 1 Corinthians 5:9-10).
Paul contrasts what we once were (darkness) with what we now are (light in the Lord), and instructs us to “walk as children of light” (EPHESIANS 5:8). If we live accordingly, and operate from the perspective of our native environment (the light), we will not be assimilated to the world around us. We are to walk IN the light (cf. 1 John 1:7), for the ‘fruit of the Spirit’ (cf. Galatians 5:22-23) IS the fruit of light (EPHESIANS 5:9).
