Galatians 1:6-7 - I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.
Galatians 1:10 - For am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I striving to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a bond-servant of Christ.
Galatians 2:3-5 - But not even Titus, who was with me, though he was a Greek, was compelled to be circumcised. But it was because of the false brethren secretly brought in, who had sneaked in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to bring us into bondage. But we did not yield in subjection to them for even an hour, so that the truth of the gospel would remain with you.
Galatians 5:1 - It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.
Galatians 5:13 - For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
Galatians 5:14 - For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Hebrews 4:12 - For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
3 principles to help you grow in the light of Christ’s love
Ephesians 5:1-2 - Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma.
I. Let the Gospel Help You Grow in Personal Holiness - 5:3-7
A. Regarding the way you live - v. 3
Ephesians 5:3 - But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints…
James 2:26 - For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.
B. Regarding the way you speak - v. 4
Ephesians 5:4 - …and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.
C. Because eternity is at stake - v. 5
Ephesians 5:5 - For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
D. Realizing that some are trying to deceive you - v. 6-7
Ephesians 5:6-7 - Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them…
Romans 6:1-4 - What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin so that grace may increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it? Or do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into His death? Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.
II. Embrace and Act Upon the Light You Have in the Lord - 5:8-10
A. Because of your new identity in Christ - v. 8
Ephesians 5:8 - …for you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light…
Ephesians 5:8 - …for you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord…
Ephesians 2:1-3 - And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.
Ephesians 2:4-5 - But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)…
v. 8 - …but now you are the light of the world…
B. Because spiritual light can and must impact our daily walk - v. 9
Ephesians 5:8-9 - …walk as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth)…
Matthew 5:16 - 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.
C. With hope because we realize this is a process - v. 10
Ephesians 5:10 - …trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.
III. Expose Darkness so Christ’s Light Will Shine on You - 5:11-14
A. Be careful what you participate in - v. 11-12
Ephesians 5:11-12 - 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.
Psalm 1:1-3 - How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night. He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers.
B. Rejoice in the exposing power of the light - v. 13
Ephesians 5:13 - But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light.
C. Look for ways for Christ’s light to shine on and in you - v. 14
Ephesians 5:14 - For this reason it says, “Awake, sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
Isaiah 60:1 - Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
Our theme this year is Building on Our Heritage…so we’ve been working our way systematically through the book of Ephesians…
this morning bring us to Ephesians 5:3-14…where Paul challenges us to Live in the Light…please follow along as I read Ephesians 5:3-14
We’re talking about Living in the Light, and with the time we have remaining, let’s look for 3 principles to help you grow in the light of Christ’s love
I. Let the Gospel Help You Grow in Personal Holiness (5:3-7)
This is tied back to Paul’s statement in verses 1-2 where he said to God’s people to – “….be imitators of God, as beloved children.”
Call to mind that the Apostle previously called to mind for God’s people the glorious inheritance that belongs to every believer in Christ as a result of God adopting us into his family. And as result of that glorious spiritual truth, Paul referred to in chapter one of his letter, as sons and daughters of God, we are to progressively reflect the character of our heavenly Father.
While doing research for this sermon, I came across a story about the Moral Revolution of the 1960’s and an article written by Joseph Fletcher during that time called Situation Ethics. For those of you who grew up in that era understand that the idea of love was the sentiment of the day.
The idea of love had, by and large, no moral framework by which it operated – love was no anchored in biblical framework – but rather, upon the individual wielding it. Love is in the eye of the beholder.
Does that ring a bell to you who were raised during this era? If it does, here’s a description of the book on Goodreads.
“Igniting a firestorm of controversy upon its publication in 1966, Joseph Fletcher's Situation Ethics was hailed by many as a much-needed reformation of morality--and as an invitation to anarchy by others. Proposing an ethic of loving concern, Fletcher suggests that certain acts--such as lying, premarital sex, adultery, or even murder--might be morally right, depending on the circumstances. Hotly debated on television, in magazines and newspapers, in churches, and Fletcher's provocative thesis remains a powerful force in contemporary discussions of morality.” (Goodreads)
Now, with falsehood, there’s always a kernel of truth tethered to it, which complicates things some. For instance, there’s some truth to the saying that we are to do what love demands in certain situations.
But what Fletcher did was that he took one of God’s attributes, mainly his love, and used it as a blanket to smother other aspects of God’s character – then he categorically permitted things under the name of “love” that Scripture expressly forbids.
Therein lies the heart of the unredeemed culture…my friends, if this is what we are reflecting, it follows that we’re not reflecting our heavenly Father – we are not living in the Light of the Gospel, and we have certainly not learned Christ in this way – “if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught in Him, just as truth is in Jesus.” (Ephesians 4:20-21)
You are reflecting something else entirely – James calls it demonic (James 3:15). It’s the kind of spirit that is germane to the spirit of his age which is no different from our age.
So what the Apostle Paul does is highlights in great detail what it means to walk in love so that God’s people aren’t left to wonder or discern what love requires, you see.
So what follows in chapter 5 is a graphic description of what it means to live in the light and what the Chrisian life should look like.
In chapter 5, Paul contrasts Paul’s understanding of what it means to live in the light to the contemporary cultural understanding of what it means.
Because in Paul’s mind, nothing could be further from a life of love than to be involved in sexual relationships that are forbidden by God.
The point of this passage is that if we are His children, it follows that we will imitate Him and live in the Light.
Living in the light entails the way we live…
a. Regarding the way you live – v. 3
Ephesians 5:3 “But immorality or any impurity or greed must not even be named among you,
as is proper among saints”
Living in the light is exemplified in a kind of holy propriety in the way Christians live that is not
appreciated by unredeemed world.
In fact, what is indicative in the unredeemed world Paul described as (1) immorality (2) impurity, and
(3) greed.
Immorality (porneia) refers to all sexual sin – and with a loss of sexual control follows…
Impurity (akatharsia) refers to anything that is unclean and dirty. Our Lord applied this to decaying
bodies in a tomb (Matt. 23:27)
Other times it refers to immoral thoughts, passions, ideas, fantasies, and any other form of sexual
corruption.[1]
and what’s so interesting about greed that an immoral person is inevitably greedy because greed has
an appetite for sin and is ultimately never satisfied.
Greed is ultimately bound to immorality and impurity because it’s appetite is directed toward self.
John MacArthur “Greed is by nature contrary to love, which is self-giving. Immorality and impurity
are but forms of greed in the realm of sexual sin. They are manifestations of sexual covetousness
and express counterfeit love (which is really hate, since love seeks the purity of others and is
unselfish), masquerading as something beautiful, good, and rewarding. Because those sins seem so
attractive and promising, spouses are forsaken, children are neglected, homes are destroyed, friends
are disregarded, as no effort is spared to fulfill the desire to have the one who is lusted after – all of
that in the name of love.
Continued…“Because of the strong sexual nature of human beings, sexual sins are powerful and can become perverted in unimaginable ways. If given free reign, sexual sins to complete insensitivity to the feelings and welfare of others, to horrible brutality, and frequently to murder – as news stories testify daily.” (John MacArthur Commentary: Ephesians, 200)
No wonder why Paul said that these sins “should not even be named among Christians, “as it is proper among saints.”
“Be now imitators of your Lord,
You’re His children through His love outpoured.”
Living in the light entails the way we live…
And the sins Paul described shouldn’t be characteristic the life of a follower of Christ – not even in
the midst – Not even be named among those who inherit salvation.
And the question we have to ask is whether or not immorality, impurity and greed is characteristic in our lives and whether or not it can named among us now? And if so, what are you doing about it?
And if you name the name of Christ and are not doing anything about it – I’d be very worried.
Something is off. Because if we have been born from above – if we have been transferred from the
king because living in living entails how we live.
Living in the light also entails the way we speak…
b. Regarding the way you speak – v. 4
Paul understands that what we say flows out of a redeemed heart. The way we speak reflects the reality that we’ve been born from above, yes? (John 3:3)
It reflects the fact that He who began a good work in us will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus, yes? (Phil. 1:6)
It reflects the certainty that we have been transferred over from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of his beloved Son in whom we have redemption the forgiveness of our sins, yes? (Col. 1:13-14)
If that is all the case, the Apostle states that there….
Ephesians 5:4 “and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.”
Living in the light means we will surrender ourselves to the Spirit’s control to train our speech to not be embodied by filthiness – referring to any kind of talk that is degrading/disgraceful.[2]
And silly talk follows that of filthy speech because it gives reference to a kind of talk that is clever and witty. Then Paul connects it to coarse jesting (morologia) – used only here in the New Testament.
Paul is referring not referring just to a clever joking, but a pointed and directed crude kind of joking – it’s deliberate and intentional!
Now, we’ve seen this kind of talk before, haven’t we in our culture – it’s stock-in-trade among talk show hosts who make millions off of their clever kind of talk and sexual innuendos without end.
If living in the light means anything at all, it means that our speech won’t come from the gutter, but should be organs of thanksgiving, as Paul put it in the last part of this verse – because what comes from our mouth is a window into our hearts (Matthew 15:11).
And if it’s a window into our hearts, do we rightly understand that…
C. Because eternity is at stake – v. 5 – note what Paul says…
Ephesians 5:5 “For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.”
Paul has in mind the lifestyle of a person’s life – a routine way of life. If a person life is characterized by the sins that Paul described in verses 3-4, Paul says right out of the gate “with certainty” that such a one is not a believer, let alone have an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
If this is the way a person lives without a repentant heart, that is an indicator that the person is not truly regenerate.
The Apostle John said something similar in his letter to the churches of Asia Minor –
1 John 5:6-7 “This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; 7 but if we walk 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.”
D. Realizing that some are trying to deceive you – v. 6-7
Ephesians 5:6-7“Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them.”
1 John 3:7-8 “Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; 8 the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil.”
II. Embrace and Act Upon the Light You Have in the Lord – 5:8-10
A. Because of your new identity in Christ – v. 8
Ephesians 5:8 “for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light.”
It’s difficult to convey the force of Paul’s point here – but it’s powerful nonetheless. – we strain at
human language sometimes, but I’ll do the best to convey it as forcefully as I know how to.
Prior to coming under the foot of the cross, you weren’t simply living in the sphere of darkness – it’s not like saying ‘the lights went out and everyone was in the dark,’ – referring to living in a sphere of existence.
Paul removes that category for us here – he says this: we were darkness! Yes, prior to our coming to the foot of the cross – yes – you were formerly living in a sphere of darkness – a sphere of unbelief – it’s more than the sphere itself – you were utterly and completely and totally…darkness!
It’s completely distinct and different entirely.
“Before we came to Christ our total existence – our being as well as our behavior – was characterized by darkness. There was no other aspect to our spiritual life than that of darkness. We were children of darkness and “sons of disobedience” (Eph. 5:6). We were not simply victims of Satan’s system but were contributors to it. We were not merely in sin; our very nature was characterized by sin.” (John MacArthur: Ephesians, p. 206)
Paul wants us to understand the weight of formerly being in the community of the damned. But just as
he is mindful to remind us of what we were, he forcefully wants us to know what we are now.
v 7. – in Him we have redemption through His blood…
v. 9 – which He purposed in Him
v. 10 – the summing up of all things in Christ
v. 10-11 – In Him also we have obtained an inheritance…
We’re not just talking about being children of Light…
Paul says in our passage…
Ephesians 5:8 - for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the
Lord…
That’s a great way to answer the question…who are you?...I’m in Christ.
I’ve been washed by His blood…clothed in His righteousness…sealed by His Spirit…you can also add – I
am living in the light.
Now, if you don’t think you could honestly say that about yourself…what a great day
to become a Christian.
Aren’t you glad that’s not the end of the story?...
Ephesians 2:4–5 “But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He
loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with
Christ (by grace you have been saved)
Which is why the believer in Christ can now say for us to say…
Ephesians 5:8 8 – but now you are the Light in the world…
Believer in Christ, are you struggling in some sort of besetting sin and you need help getting pulled out? God in his providence has already provided a providential help for you today. You can speak to Pastor Rod or Alfonso or myself.
Or perhaps one of the deacons. Please don’t wait – waiting only prolongs your enslavement to your besetting sin. You didn’t learn Christ this way, did you?
And you only have one Master – and that is Christ. You know the right thing to do – please do it today.
Unbeliever, do you no longer want to be darkness because Christ has shine a light upon your heart today – today is the day of salvation for you – and you will be light. You can be a part of the community of light.
Come to the light, ’tis shining for thee; Sweetly the light has dawned upon me; Once I was
blind, but now I can see: The Light of the world is Jesus!
No darkness have we who in Jesus abide; The Light of the world is Jesus! We walk in the light
when we follow our Guide! The Light of the world is Jesus!
Praise the Lord for the reality of the “but now”…and “therefore”…
B. Because spiritual light can and must impact our daily walk – v. 9
Ephesians 5:8-9 “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)”
Did you know that living in the light of Christ follows a life of illuminated by (1) Goodness (2) Righteousness and (3) Truth
What an incredible evaluative tool? In the last week, have you been walking in the light?
In the last month…so far this year?...
or locationally, such as work, do you walk in the light…at home…at school…in your
neighborhood…
Jesus said it this way in the Sermon on the Mount
Matthew 5:16 - 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.
That’s what God has called us to be, and enabled us to be…the fruit of the light. You may say, I have such a long way to go. Well – we all do – notice what Paul said in verse 10.
C. With hope because we realize this is a process – v. 10
Ephesians 5:10 “trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.”
I’m so glad the Apostle said that, aren’t you? Don’t you love the humility of those words, don’t you? the “heavenly patience” of those words? The hopeful nature of our Paul’s God and our God.
Mindful of our human frailty
Is the God in Whom we trust;
He whose years are everlasting,
He remembers we are dust.
Our God understands that his people can and will struggle to daily surrender our will under the
control of the Lord due to the weakness of our flesh – “We do not have a high priest who
cannot sympathize with our weaknesses…” (Hebrews 4:15) Why?
Because the Lord loved and gave Himself for the believer; therefore, the believer is to love and
give himself to please the Lord.
Let the Gospel help you to grow in personal holiness. Embrace and act upon the light you have in the Lord – and third…
III. Expose Darkness so Christ’s Light Will Shine on You – 5:11-14
A. Be careful what you participate in – vv. 11-12
Paul says not to…
Ephesians 5:11-12 “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.”
In other words, we are not to identify with the wickedness of this world nor give it an opportunity to
allow it to take a foothold into our lives.
Rather,
Romans 13:14 “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard
to its lusts.”
Rather than being involved in what might be called precipice living…let me see how close I can get to the edge of sin without falling off…don’t be a fool, Christian. Don’t ever think lightly of sin, Christian – sin is always ready to pounce and its desire is for you.
Do not remove the power and horror of sin in your mind and what it can do to a man or woman of God!
God knows our human frailty far better than we do. He knew it so well he used Paul to write down Romans 13:14
Even in the things we listen to, and the subsequent way we talk…it eventually becomes participating in the unfruitful deeds of darkness…
The Persians had a rule, so Herodotus tells us, by which “it was not even allowed to speak such things as it was not allowed to do.” To jest about a thing or to make it into the mind and to bring nearer the actual doing of it. Paul warns that some things are not safe even to talk or to jest about. It is a grim commentary on human nature that many a book and many a play and many a film has had success simply because it dealt with forbidden and ugly things.” (William Barclay: Ephesians, p. 162)
Learning to walk in light follows a way of holy living such that we won’t endeavor to speak on such things, or live in way such that denies our Master who bought us.
Living in the light entails that we…
B. Rejoice in the exposing power of the light – v. 13
Ephesians 5:13 “But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light.”
Walking in the light entails means that we won’t encourage sin in our lives nor will we hide it. There’s hope here in that living in the light will always overcome.
C. Look for ways for Christ’s light to shine on and in you – v. 14
Ephesians 5:14 “ For this reason it says, “Awake, sleeper, and arise from the dead, And Christ will
shine on you.”
The verse in Isaiah literally reads…
Isaiah 60:1 - “Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. [
If this is what Paul is referring to, and we have many reasons to believe it is…what an
incredible affirmation of the deity of Christ…who is “the glory of the Lord that has risen upon
you?...
Paul says it’s Christ shining on you…
[1] John MacArthur, John MacArthur Commentary: Ephesians, 200.
[2] MacArthur Commentary: Ephesians, 200
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