Walk in Light
Walking Like We're Blessed • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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6 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; 8 for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light 9 (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), 10 trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; 12 for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. 13 But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. 14 For this reason it says, “Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you.”
Thesis: To show the importance of living in the light of Jesus as children of GOD, what living in the light looks like, the danger of carelessness toward sin, and the process to access the power of light when we become careless.
The Identity of Light
To move the readers toward conduct that reflects the blessings they have received, Paul uses the common illustration of light versus darkness. In this letter’s context, like many other passages, light represents moral good and darkness represents evil. Before commanding behaviors, he reminds them again that they now have a different identity from their past. Were they around darkness? Certainly. He has already said in chapter 4 that the Gentile world is darkened in their understanding and excluded from GOD. But this isn’t about the environment around them, rather what was IN them and who they were, darkness. But because GOD has blessed them with salvation from his grace, they no longer have that identity. Their new identity is light.
The Source
But the identity of light doesn’t come from themselves. It is a result of being in the Lord! He is the source of Light and being him makes ones identity Light.
The Walk in Light
Now that he has communicated their identity as light, the command is clear. They must live like children who belong to the Light. In other words, their lives need to reflect their identity!
The Outcome
But when one hears “Walk as children of the Light”, it can be challenging to understand what that looks like. So Paul gives what’s called an ‘appositive’ statement, which describes ‘walk … of the light’ in a more specific nature. If one’s identity is Light in the Lord, the outcome of their behavior should be all of three characteristics: goodness - which is excellent morality - it is everything good; righteousness - which is adhering to requirements according to a standard - the standard is Christ; truth - conformance to what is real - Truth is in Jesus and should be our continual curriculum, thus Light walking should reflect such behavior.
The Goal
Furthermore, walking as a child of the light is seen the consistent effort to prove through behavior what GOD is satisfied. Which necessitates intimacy with GOD through Jesus.
Application: GOD, are you pleased with this. Not just on Sunday when we want worship to be pleasing in his sight. But Father, what I spend time doing every morning and night, on vacation, etc. Father I want to know at all times, are you pleased!!
The Disgrace of Darkness
So we see the first command is to Walk as Children of the Light, which should be driven by the understanding that my identity is Light and not darkness. But tied to that first command is understanding more about the disgrace of darkness. The life in darkness should be seen as an utter disgrace to every believer. So much to the point that Paul says that a Child of Light shouldn’t even want to mention it. The broader context reveals what some of those are, and in verse 3, Paul says they should never be tied to believers. These were common in Ephesus and Asia Minor. Sexual immorality, which is any and every unlawful sexual activity (The only lawful sexual activity, according to our Father’s standards, is between a married Man and Woman!!). The next is impurity, which captures any and all immorality (filthy and dirty behavior, verbally and behaviorally. Further, Jesus says murder, adultery, theft, slander, etc). The next is greed, which is the excessive desire for acquiring more and more wealth.
Application: We are certainly in a country and culture where all these are prevalent. Paul says the secret activities shouldn’t even be mentioned. But we are certainly bombarded with these things through many avenues! We recite lyrics, movies, etc.
Don’t Participate
Because these things are so disgraceful, the command tied to our walk in the light, is don’t even participate. It means don’t become partners in these crimes!! In any form or fashion!! Not only are they disgraceful, but they are also unfruitful. Yeah they give results of pleasure, but absolutely none of it is beneficial toward a lifestyle in the Lord.
Application: Remember, Paul asks as question in 2 Corinthians 6:14, does light and darkness share in anything? Absolutely NOT!
Expose It
Paul says the counter action for believers is to expose them. Not expose the people, but expose the deeds themselves. How? Through walking in the light, which results in goodness, righteousness, and truth, it shows that those behaviors are wrong and displease GOD!
The Power of Exposure
Paul continues his thought by expressing the power of exposure to light. Even scientifically, whatever is exposed to light becomes visible, and it becomes light. What does that mean Brother Evans? Study in Physics reveals, If an object doesn’t reflect light to some degree, none of us could see it!! Even germs can be seen under microscopic LIGHT!! Morally, we all get this! Because when we love darkness, we don’t want to be under Gospel Light that will convict us that we’re wrong. Jesus affirms the same in
John 3:19–21 “19 “This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. 20 “For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21 “But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.””
Understanding this concept and how critical it is for believers, who are in the Lord and whose identity is Light, to not claim the light while being careless toward these disgraceful behaviors. Paul cites a familiar hymn in verse 14.
Example: A few years ago, I was knocked out, and heard a scream! I woke up and yelled in response. I heard Jessyca almost crying, but I couldn’t see her. She was pinned between our bed and wall. I moved the bed immediately and helped her up. And she said “somebody’s in the house!!” I went in full militant protect mode. Scanned the whole house room by room, turning the lights on as I went. Didn’t see nobody. We turned all the lights back out, and she then reenacted what happened. Paying close attention, I noticed when she opened our bedroom door to walk out, a small light from outside was casting her shadow in the hallway.
When you’re sleep, or half sleep, and it’s dark, it is hard to tell what’s wrong or not wrong!!! I had to WAKE UP!!! GET UP!!! TURN ON THE LIGHTS!!!
Application: Paul realized there were some believers who were sleep. Had become careless and eased about darkness. John says, we shouldn’t fix our mouths to claim we’re walking in the light, when we know we’re in darkness. The command is to “WAKE UP”. Don’t be deceived, verse 6-7, these behaviors is why God’s wrath is coming upon the children of disobedience! Are you sleeping??
Nudity is a norm. Porn is a norm. Pursuit for riches a norm. Cancel culture (slander and hate) is a norm. I have been a victim and guilty!!