Now Live the Light

Having laid theological truths and concepts in the first 3+ chapters of Ephesians, Paul continues connecting the spiritual realm to the physical realm, in the sense of its outward and daily manifestations for the believer.  He could have forsaken the theological basis, and gone right to the HOWTO, but doing so would have had unintended consequences.  The descriptions of the outward manifestations would be reduced to codes, or worse, laws, against which the performance of the believer would be judged, both by himself and others.  The descriptions would lack broad applicability, as no understanding would exist.  At worst, they become mere platitudes, powerless sayings.  Paul has avoided that by laying the spiritual basis first, and expects us to call upon that basis as he moves us forward to application, and avoid the aforementioned entanglements.

Ephesians 5:6-10

 6 Don't let anyone deceive you with meaningless words. It is because of sins like these that God's anger comes to those who refuse to obey him. 7 Don't be partners with them. 8 Once you lived in the dark, but now the Lord has filled you with light. Live as children who have light. 9 Light produces everything that is good, that has God's approval, and that is true. 10 Determine which things please the Lord.  GOD'S WORD, 1995

6 μηδεις υμας απατατω κενοις λογοις δια ταυτα γαρ ερχεται η οργη του θεου επι τους υιους της απειθειας 7 μη ουν γινεσθε συμμετοχοι αυτων 8 ητε γαρ ποτε σκοτος νυν δε φως εν κυριω ως τεκνα φωτος περιπατειτε 9 ο γαρ καρπος του φωτος εν παση αγαθωσυνη και δικαιοσυνη και αληθεια 10 δοκιμαζοντες τι εστιν ευαρεστον τω κυριω WHNU

Verse 6: Don't let anyone deceive you with meaningless words. It is because of sins like these that God's anger comes to those who refuse to obey him...μηδεις υμας απατατω κενοις λογοις δια ταυτα γαρ ερχεται η οργη του θεου επι τους υιους της απειθειας  Paul begins this section with an exhortation, a command "Let no one deceive you..."  Gentle and wise, these are to be a part of who we are.  Discerning, understanding with depth; we are not to fall prey to those who look the part, talk the part, who "have authority".  The believer has no authority but Christ; Christ calls forth servants to nurture the flock, but the Deceiver will send his own, or seek to influence Christ's -- we must be vigilant so that we are not deceived "...by vain, empty words..."  Words will be used to deceive us, just as signs will be used in the same way.  Words that sound right, but are only "almost, or mostly" right, are the most dangerous.  "On account of these things, the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience..."  See chapter 2, verses 1-3.  The "sons of disobedience" are not believers who are stubborn; they are not redeemed, yet, they can be found among The Body.  We were once like them...

Verse 7: Don't be partners with them. μη ουν γινεσθε συμμετοχοι αυτων  "Therefore, do not become closely involved with them"  Few examples show this better than today's headline: "Whitney Houston dies at age 48".  Becoming closely involved with the unredeemed, outside of ministry and evangelism, can lead to devastating consequences for the believer.

Verse 8: Once you lived in the dark, but now the Lord has filled you with light. Live as children who have light...ητε γαρ ποτε σκοτος νυν δε φως εν κυριω ως τεκνα φωτος περιπατειτε  "At one time you were darkness, but now walk in the light of the Lord as children of light"  I translated the Greek quite literally in the first part of this compound sentence, as, I think, Paul is reminding the Ephesians (and us) that they were a part of the darkness -- not parcels of light lost in darkness -- but a part of its fabric and inseparable from it, until we became children of light.  We are not all God's children; only those whom He has caused to be born-again.  Because we have been transformed, redeemed, we are exhorted to walk in our new nature -- as children of light, children of God.

Verses 9-10: Light produces everything that is good, that has God's approval, and that is true.  Determine which things please the Lord...ο γαρ καρπος του φωτος εν παση αγαθωσυνη και δικαιοσυνη και αληθεια δοκιμαζοντες τι εστιν ευαρεστον τω κυριω  How do we walk as children of light?  Paul answers immediately: "For the fruit of light is all goodness and righteousness and truth, considering (being mindful of) what is pleasing to the Lord".  Examine your walk (and I will examine mine) -- are you increasing in goodness?  are you increasing in righteousness?  does truth guide you?  If the answer to any of these three are less than an emphatic "YES", where are you going?  You are not walking squarely in the light; consider and be mindful of the things that please our Lord: always praying, always rejoicing, ministering His reconciliation to others.  What other things please Him?  Setting your heart and mind on these things will help you more fully walk in His light.

We were once a part of the darkness, which sought only our destruction.  The Enemy has not given up on that goal.  We have been made children of light, through the redemptive work of Christ, an should no longer entangle ourselves with those of the darkness.  Keep our hearts and minds set upon Him, and what is pleasing to Him, will keep our steps well-charted as His children of light.

Grace and peace,

Mark