Emphasis added in bold letters
In Dallas one
summer I worked with the Mayflower Moving Company. On several
occasions as I was riding three abreast in the cab of the truck
on the way to a job, the man sitting next to me who was not
driving would reach under the seat and pull out a magazine
filled with pictures of gorgeous naked women in seductive poses.
He would comment on each woman’s finer features and ask for my
response. How should you as a Christian respond to
such situations?
Or, maybe you’re
at work when the other workers share the latest dirty joke.
Should you laugh? Should you rebuke them? Should you say nothing
and just walk away?
These are the
difficult, real-life situations that the apostle Paul addresses
in our text. He is answering the question of how we, as children
of light, should relate to a morally dark world. He doesn’t give
us specific directions to follow when we face these difficult
situations. But he gives us comprehensive guiding principles. By
understanding these principles, each of us can think through how
to respond when these situations arise, as surely they will.
Historically,
there have been two wrong extremes in how Christians have
responded to this difficult issue. Some, in attempting to
relate to the lost, have become so much like the world in
its attitudes and behavior that there is no appreciable
difference between them and worldly people. These folks
emphasize Paul’s comments about becoming all things to all
men. Rightly, they try to minimize differences that are
merely cultural. But they often err by playing down certain
biblical truths that are offensive to worldly people, such as
sin and judgment. In so doing, they compromise the gospel. And,
they often dodge biblical standards of morality, becoming
like the world in its sinful aspects. In my judgment, the
emergent church movement often errs in this regard.
Other Christians
have over-emphasized the need to be separate from this
evil world by withdrawing from almost all contact with worldly
people, worldly activities, and what they think is worldly
appearance....
The Lord Jesus
plainly stated the biblical balance in His prayer (John
17:15-18):
“I do not ask
You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the
evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of the
world. Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth. As
You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the
world.”
So we are to be
in the world as Jesus was in the world, yet also not
to be of the world, even as Jesus was not of the world. The
way to keep this fine balance is to be sanctified (set apart) by
God’s Word of truth.
In our text, the
apostle Paul is dealing with this issue as it concerned a church
in a very pagan environment. How do we relate to our godless
culture without becoming tainted by it? His answer is: We are to
walk as children of light in this dark world, exposing the deeds
of darkness.
The theme of
light and darkness is prominent throughout the Bible. Darkness
symbolizes Satan’s evil domain and the sinful deeds of those who
do not obey God. It also represents the spiritual ignorance of
those whose sin has blinded their eyes from the light of God’s
truth (Eph. 4:18; 2 Cor. 4:4). Light pictures the knowledge of
the truth that comes when God shines into our lives. As Paul
wrote (2 Cor. 4:6),
“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.”
Light also
pictures the holiness of God (1 John 1:5), who dwells in
unapproachable light (1 Tim. 6:16). So as believers, we are
called to walk in the light, just as He Himself is in the light
(1 John 1:7), living with every area of our lives exposed to
God.
1. We are to walk as
children of light in this dark world
(5:8-10). Note two things:
A. To walk as
children of light, we must be children of light (5:8a). Paul
does not say that we used to be in the darkness, whereas now we
are in the light, although this is true (Col. 1:13; John 8:12; 1
Pet. 2:9; 1 John 1:5-7; 2:9). Rather, he says that we used to be
darkness, but now we are light in the Lord. Being children of
light implies that this profound change comes from God’s power
in the new birth. It is an act of His creative power. Just as He
at the first created light out of the darkness, so now He has
changed us from being darkness itself into being light in the
Lord.
Most of us have
had the experience of visiting a cave where the guide turned off
all of the lights for a few seconds.... You can’t even see your
hand in front of your face.... Paul says that we formerly were
darkness. We were spiritually blind. We not only didn’t see
God’s glory and truth, we didn’t have the ability or desire to
see such things. We didn’t sense our need for the Savior,
because we thought we were good enough to go to heaven and we
didn’t understand the absolute holiness and justice of God. So
we lived entirely for ourselves and our own pleasure, avoiding
the thought of death and eternity.
But, when God
saved us, He opened the eyes of our understanding so that we
saw “the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the
face of Christ” (2 Cor. 4:6). We saw our true condition as
guilty sinners, but we also saw the all sufficiency of Jesus and
His death on the cross to cover all our sins. We had a new
understanding of God’s Word and a new desire to know God and His
truth more and more. We now hate the sin that we formerly lived
in and we long to be like our Savior, holy in all our ways. We
now walk in the light, rather than in darkness, because God has
made us light in the Lord....
B. Being children
of light, we must walk as such in the midst of this dark world
(5:8b-10). Just because we are children of light does not
guarantee that
we will live that way. So Paul says, in effect, “Be what you
are!” You are light; now, walk that way! He describes it in four
ways:
(1) If we walk as
children of light, we will be good. Paul says (5:9), “for the
fruit of the Light consists in all goodness….” (The KJV has,
“the fruit of the Spirit,” but “Light” is more strongly
supported.)
Goodness is one
of God’s attributes, so to be good is to be like God. Applied to
us, goodness is a broad term for behavior that benefits others
ahead of oneself. A good person is concerned for the well-being
of others, both spiritually and in every other way. He walks in
daily dependence on the Holy
Spirit, since goodness is a fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22).
Since it is fruit, it takes time to develop. But over the years,
children of light should be growing in all goodness.
(2) If we walk as
children of light, we will be righteous. This refers to
conformity to God’s righteous standards, as set forth in His
Word. A righteous person is upright before God and before
others. He is just or fair in how he treats others.
(3) If we walk as
children of light, we will be people of truth. In the context,
the truth stands in contrast to the life of unbelievers, who are
deceived (4:22; 5:6). But we have been created in righteousness
and holiness of the truth (4:24). Thus we are to speak the truth
in love (4:15, 25). We are to be people of our word, maintaining
integrity in all things. We shouldn’t have anything to hide,
because we walk in the light....
(4) If we walk as
children of light, we will learn what is pleasing to the
Lord. ... “Trying to learn” translates a single Greek verb
that is translated “prove” in Romans 12:2,
“And do not
be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the
renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will
of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”
As our minds are
renewed through God’s Word, we prove in our experience what
pleases God. We do not determine what pleases the Lord by our
own feelings, which fluctuate, or by what the world or other
Christians say or think. We don’t even determine it by our own
conscience, in that our conscience may be improperly informed.
Rather, we learn what pleases the Lord through growing to
understand His Word.
Living to please
the Lord is a fundamental difference between the believer and
the unbeliever. An unbeliever may be a good man and even be
somewhat righteous or upright, at least outwardly. He may be
truthful. But, he does it all out of selfish motives, for his
own self-respect, or so that others will think highly of him.
...only believers
live to please the Savior. We have a new personal relationship
with this One who snatched us out of a horrible pit. We now
evaluate everything we do by the question, “Does this please the
Lord, who loved me and gave Himself for me?” So, the first
requirement for living in this dark world is to be children of
light and to walk as children of light, doing everything to
please the Lord.
2. As children of
light in this dark world, we are to expose the deeds of darkness
(5:7, 11-14).
In 5:7, Paul
says, “Therefore do not be partakers with them.” Them
refers to the sons of disobedience, who are under God’s wrath
(5:6). Not being partakers with them is the same thing that Paul
explains in 2 Corinthians 6:14-18:
"Do not be
bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have
righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light
with darkness? Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or
what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? Or what
agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the
temple of the living God; just as God said, “I will dwell in
them and walk among them; and I will be their God, and they
shall be My people. Therefore, come out from their midst and
be separate,” says the Lord. “And do not touch what is
unclean; and I will welcome you, and you shall be sons and
daughters to Me,” says the Lord Almighty."
Then, in
Ephesians 5:11-12, Paul adds, “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.” We should not be interested in hearing gossip
about the movie stars’ latest sexual sins. Such talk should
repulse us. Instead, Paul says, we should expose such sins. What
does he mean?
In the context,
he seems to mean that by our lives (primarily) and our words
(secondarily) we expose the unfruitful deeds of darkness for
what they are: disgraceful sin in God’s holy presence.Jesus
used this word when He said,
“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 3:20-21)
In other words,
by the obvious difference in how we live, our lives expose the
sin of those that are engaging in the unfruitful deeds of
darkness....
Our clean lives expose the sin of unbelievers’ lives. As God
works in their hearts, it often drives them to get their sins
washed at the cross....
A. We expose
the deeds of darkness by our godly lives as we maintain proper
separation from the world.
If we’re no different in our thinking, attitudes, words, and
behavior than those that do not know Christ, we have no message
to give them. If you profess to know Christ, but you’re not
walking in the light, conforming your life to His Word, then
please do not let unbelievers know that you claim to be a
Christian!
If you’re
comfortable with your sinful lifestyle, you may not be a genuine
Christian. But whether you are or not, don’t link the holy name
of the Lord with your disobedient lifestyle (2 Sam. 12:14).
...if you’re
walking in the light, you can no longer join in the lifestyle of
unbelievers. As 1 Peter 4:3-5 puts it,
"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 an
account to Him who is ready to judge the living and the
dead."...
B. We expose the
deeds of darkness by our godly lives and words as we maintain
proper contact with the world. Don’t go out of the world, or you
lose any contact for witness.
The Corinthian
church was confused about this. They had mistaken Paul’s command
not to associate with immoral people to mean that they cut off
contact with unbelievers. And yet they were welcoming a sinning
believer into their fellowship! Paul didn’t mean that they
should break off contact with the world. Rather, they should
cut off contact with any so-called brother who is immoral or
sinning (1 Cor. 5:9-11). Here are four guidelines to follow
as you seek to maintain proper contact with this dark world:
(1) Be on
guard—bad company corrupts good morals! You should not be best
friends with an unbeliever once you have come to Christ. Your
deepest friendships must be with those that share in common a
love for Jesus Christ and the things of God. For a believer
to enter into a close friendship, business partnership, or
marriage with an unbeliever is to violate the clear command that
we read earlier (2 Cor. 6:14-18). If you do not distance
yourself from your former friendships, those godless friends
will pull you back into your old way of life. But, what about
witness?
(2) Be alert to
your purpose—to win the lost to Christ. Jesus was known as a
friend of sinners, but He did not hang out with
them to have a good time. He came to seek and to save the
lost (Luke 19:10). He said that He didn’t come to call the
righteous, but sinners to repentance (Luke 5:32). He kept a fine
balance that is difficult to imitate: He maintained His holiness
and yet He put sinners enough at ease so that they listened to
His message.
It is in this sense that we must interpret Ephesians 5:14 (a
difficult verse). ...
Light not only
reveals sin; it also dispels the darkness. So we can call on
sinners to awake and arise, knowing that God may impart the
power to obey, resulting in them becoming children of light,
with Christ shining on them.
(3) Be sensitive
to show concern for the whole person. Jesus said (Matt. 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.”
Often, of course,
we must tell people the message of the gospel. But that message
must be backed up with genuine concern for the whole person.
If someone is hungry, feed him and tell him about Jesus. The
fruit of the light consists in goodness, which means, good deeds
that show love for people. In that context we are able to give
verbal witness to the gospel.
(4) Be bold to identify verbally with Christ when you are
pressured to compromise your convictions. This gets back to how
you respond to dirty jokes or to someone who wants you to view
pornography. Here’s the principle: Be as bold in your witness
for Christ as the other person is in his solicitation
to evil.
If they are bold
for Satan, why shouldn’t you be just as bold for the Savior?
Smile and say firmly, “That offends my Lord,” or, “I can’t do
that.” If he presses the matter, say, “I used to love that sort
of thing, but now I belong to Jesus Christ and I want to please
Him.” And share your concern for him, that he is under God’s
judgment, but that Jesus offers him a full and free pardon if he
will repent and believe in Christ.
Conclusion
The church growth
movement tells us pastors that we should make the church a place
where unbelievers feel comfortable. So, we’re supposed to avoid
subjects like sin, righteous living, and the coming judgment.
Instead, we’re to focus on how to have a happy family, how to do
well in business, how to overcome your addictions, and other
upbeat topics. In other words, we’re not supposed to expose the
unfruitful deeds of darkness, so that we don’t offend anyone.
Just tell them how much God loves them!
But Jesus said
that the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to convict (same Greek
word as “expose”) the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment.
Without that conviction, unbelievers will not see their need and
flee to the Savior. Forgiven little, they will love Jesus
little. Paul’s strategy is better: Walk as a child of light,
maintaining proper separation from the world and proper contact
with the world. As you do, your godly life and words will expose
the deeds
of darkness. Some will awake from the dead and Christ will shine
on them, as He has on you.
© 2008 by
Steven Cole. Used
with permission.
Personal note from Berit: These
Biblical guidelines recognize our human weaknesses, faults and
failures. Though we long to live in total and consistent
obedience to our beloved Lord, we stumble and fall. But all the
more, I thank Him for faithfully convicting me of my sins,
reminding me of the cross, bringing me to repentance, and
restoring to me the joy of His presence.
"If we say that we have no
sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we
confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us
our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 1
John 1:8-9
To read the entire message,
please go to: http://www.fcfonline.org/content/1/sermons/060808M.pdf
Flagstaff Christian Fellowship
More of Pastor Cole's Biblical resources
Home |Index |
Persecution |
Eternity |
What it means to be a Christian