Ephesians 5:6-14
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.”
Paul encouraged the Ephesians not to be deceived, not to let anyone deceive them, but to be armed with the knowledge that the wrath of God comes upon the disobedient—the immoral, impure, and covetous idolators he had just spoken of. He said not to be partakers of darkness with them for their dark days were past. They were now Light in the Lord. Notice he didn’t just call them enlightened, but Light—a source of the Light who is the Lord Himself, shining out from within them.
Because of this, they were to walk as children of Light, learning what pleases the Lord. Paul noted that Light produces fruit, which is found in all goodness, righteousness, and truth. Fruit needs Light to grow and produce what that which is life-giving. Yet, the deeds of darkness are unfruitful. They are not life-giving because the Light is not in them.
Rather than participating in darkness, expose it to the Light. Don’t speak of the evil things done in secret unless it is to expose them. Speaking of them without reproving them is disgraceful. If we accept deeds of darkness—condoning them—we are not bringing them under the authority of the Light. This makes us an accomplice with them. Instead, expose the deeds of darkness by revealing what they really are. When they are revealed to be deeds of darkness and not life-giving light, they become subject to the Light. Light dispels darkness. In the same way we are to dispel/expose/reprove the deeds of darkness by the Light within us.
Paul paraphrased from Isaiah 60:1-2 (or Isaiah 51:17) calling for them to awake from sleep and arise from the dead. God’s people need to wake up from sleep, and sinners need to arise from the dead, through the Light of Christ. He will shine on them, bringing them out of darkness and shining in them, causing life-giving fruit to grow.
Light shines. It’s what it does. It gives life to those who receive it (Him) but cannot give life to those who choose to remain in darkness. Yet all things are subject to the Light. One day the Light will reach everyone and everything, bringing some to life, and others to death.
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.”
***
Paul encouraged the Ephesians not to be deceived, not to let anyone deceive them, but to be armed with the knowledge that the wrath of God comes upon the disobedient—the immoral, impure, and covetous idolators he had just spoken of. He said not to be partakers of darkness with them for their dark days were past. They were now Light in the Lord. Notice he didn’t just call them enlightened, but Light—a source of the Light who is the Lord Himself, shining out from within them.
Because of this, they were to walk as children of Light, learning what pleases the Lord. Paul noted that Light produces fruit, which is found in all goodness, righteousness, and truth. Fruit needs Light to grow and produce what that which is life-giving. Yet, the deeds of darkness are unfruitful. They are not life-giving because the Light is not in them.
Rather than participating in darkness, expose it to the Light. Don’t speak of the evil things done in secret unless it is to expose them. Speaking of them without reproving them is disgraceful. If we accept deeds of darkness—condoning them—we are not bringing them under the authority of the Light. This makes us an accomplice with them. Instead, expose the deeds of darkness by revealing what they really are. When they are revealed to be deeds of darkness and not life-giving light, they become subject to the Light. Light dispels darkness. In the same way we are to dispel/expose/reprove the deeds of darkness by the Light within us.
Paul paraphrased from Isaiah 60:1-2 (or Isaiah 51:17) calling for them to awake from sleep and arise from the dead. God’s people need to wake up from sleep, and sinners need to arise from the dead, through the Light of Christ. He will shine on them, bringing them out of darkness and shining in them, causing life-giving fruit to grow.
Light shines. It’s what it does. It gives life to those who receive it (Him) but cannot give life to those who choose to remain in darkness. Yet all things are subject to the Light. One day the Light will reach everyone and everything, bringing some to life, and others to death.
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