God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. Because we are born of Him, we are children of light. What is our responsibility in this dark world? How are we to conduct ourselves among an evil generation? Find out in this message.
Teaching Notes:
Children Of Light
Ephesians 5:7-14
Intro: In this passage, Paul is teaching the believers in Ephesus how to live, now that they have become Christians. The metaphor he chooses to use in order to teach them is Light. Paul mentions light 5 times; darkness 2 times, visible 2 times, expose 2 times, secret 1 time, and shine 1 time. Why all these references to light, darkness, visible, expose, and shine? Paul is using these metaphors to explain to them that something radical has happened to them to change the core of who they are.
1. The Radical Change Of Nature:
- You were formerly darkness: Paul doesn’t say that they were “in the darkness.” He says they were darkness. That’s what he was communicating in 4:17-19 and 2:1-3. Darkness is what we were by nature. Our old lives were not characterized by light with a little darkness thrown in. It wasn’t even that we were mostly darkness with a little light. We were darkness. We weren’t basically good people. We were evil, rebellious, depraved, and damned. Because we were darkness, we were blind to God, to His truth, and to His kingdom. We were darkened in our understanding, excluded from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart.
- Now you are light in the Lord: something wonderful has taken place. It is not just that we are “in the light.” We are light! But only “in the Lord.” The Bible tells us that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all (1 John 1:5). In Isaiah 60:19 God is called an Everlasting Light. In Ps.27:1 David cries out, “The Lord is my light and my salvation.” Moreover, Jesus Christ made the claim, “I am the light of the world” (John 8:12). So, the Lord is light. If you are in the Lord, you also are light. That’s why Jesus could tell His disciples, “You are the light of the world” (Mt.5:14).
- Children of Light:He calls us children of light, because we are born of God who is light. We are sons of our Father who is the Light of the World. In other words, as children we are partakers of our Father’s nature. Since He is light, we are light. We are diametrically opposed to what we once were. What can be a greater difference than something that was once darkness, but is now light? 2 Peter 1:4 says we are partakers of the divine nature.
2. The Radical Change Of Life:
A. Believers Must Shun The Darkness: There are 2 “Do nots” in this section – vs.7 and vs.11.
- Do Not Be Partakers With Them: He begins with “therefore.” Paul has been speaking of sexual impurity and what will happen to those who practice it. He says in vs. 5 and 6 that they will be excluded from God’s kingdom, and that the wrath of God will come upon them. Because of that, don’t follow their example. If you don’t want to end up at their destination, don’t travel their road! Think of the phrase “don’t be partakers with them.” It makes me think of sitting down with a group of friends and partaking of a meal with them. Paul is saying, “You are no longer one of them. You have been changed. You are different. Therefore, don’t go on partaking with them of the things you once partook of.”
- Do Not Participate In the Unfruitful Deeds of Darkness: These are deeds that don’t produce anything good. In Romans 6:21 the Bible says, “Therefore what benefit (literally “fruit”) were you then deriving from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the outcome of those things is death.” Paul says the fruit from our old way of life was shame and death. They were unfruitful deeds of darkness.
- Instead even expose them: Why are we to expose these deeds of darkness? Because it is disgraceful even to speak of them, let alone commit them. How do we expose them? Vs.13 says it takes place when they are exposed by the light, which is us. The NIV translates the 2nd half of this verse this way, “It is light that makes everything visible.” The presence of a true child of God casts light into the darkness around it. So, shunning the darkness does not mean that we shun unsaved people. It means we shun their behavior. And we let Christ shine through us, which exposes their own deeds of darkness. They will not see their own sin until it is made visible by someone with the presence of Christ.
- Awake Sleeper and Arise from among the dead: Vs.14. The person mentioned in this verse is not dead, he’s asleep. He’s told to arise from among the dead (literal meaning). It’s as though Paul is picturing a person sleeping in a graveyard. This is a fitting description of the Christian whose life looks like the unconverted man’s life. From a distance, there is no discernible difference. They look alike. If you get really close, you can that they are breathing, or their eyes flicker, or they turn in their sleep. But you could easily mistake him for a dead man if he was lying next to a corpse. Paul is saying, “You don’t belong to the old crowd any more. You are alive to righteousness and they are dead in their sins. Arise, and start living like a man who has life! When you participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, you look just like them. Wake up! Get out of that graveyard! You don’t belong there. If you will arise, you have the promise that Christ will shine on you. His blessing will enrich your life a hundredfold. You can experience His power, joy, holiness, life and strength!
B. A Believer Must Shine The Light: Vs.8 says “but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of light.” Again, Paul is saying “Be who you are!” Live consistently with who you are on the inside. How do we walk as children of light? The answer is in vs.10. We learn what is pleasing to the Lord. That is the whole motivation for the Christian. He wants to please His Lord
- Goodness: Gal.5:22 tells us that goodness is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. What is “goodness.” It speaks of kindness, generosity, and benevolence. In Acts 10:38 we are told that Jesus went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed of the devil. In Acts 11:24 we are told that Barnabus was a good man and full of the Holy Spirit. Would others characterize your life by “goodness”? Is it a fruit that shines forth from you? Does the Lord in you make you kind, generous, and giving to others?
- Righteousness: This is doing what is right. It speaks of integrity in all your dealings with God and men. Sometimes “righteousness” in the Bible speaks of a right standing with God. At other times it speaks of right living before God. That’s what is meant in this context. Is this a fruit of your life? Do you live rightly?
- Truth: This speaks of being honest and faithful and true. The more we are good, righteous and truthful, the more we are pleasing to the Lord (vs.10). Why? Because these things are His own doing. They are His work in us. His fruit produced by His power. They are His perfections which please Himself. Is truth a fruit in your life? Are you honest and faithful?
Application: You formerly were darkness. You are now light. Are you expressing it? Are you separating from evil, exposing sin, and pleasing God? This text teaches us that there should be an obvious difference between the child of God and the non-Christian. Is the Lord shining from your life? That’s really the key. Jesus said, “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” (Mt.5:16). Are you letting your light shine? May it be so for Jesus’ sake!
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