The previous passages we have looked in Ephesians, Paul is calling the church to put off the old self. He is pleading and encouraging them to repent from the life of sin and rebellion and to move on to the glorious new self to which God has called them.
In verse 6 Paul begins and tells them, “Let no one deceive you.” Simple enough. Do not be fooled. Hold to the truth. Do not let anyone twist the truth and cause you to believe untrtuth. But Paul continues with these words, “with empty words.” Paul is telling the Ephesians, do not let anyone deceive into believing that sin is OK. Remember in the verses just prior to this passage that Paul listed those who would not inherit the Kingdom, now he says, “Let no one deceive you with empty words.” To be a sinner is not permissible. To be a sinner is not expected nor is it the character of a believer. We are called to holiness. “Be holy for I am holy.” “Be imitators of God.” “Go and sin no more.” Paul then states that the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. God’s wrath is upon those who attempt to deceive others or call others into sinning. “Sons of disobedience” is a Semitic expression that basically means that we are sinners in our nature. Verse 7 says, “do not be partakers with them.” Do not share in their excuses for sin. Do not follow those who are sinners because it brings God’s wrath. Do not be united with or assist those who lead others into sin. What are some common excuses for why people sin? What are some sins that people regularly commit that they make excuses for? What is the best way to respond to someone when they give excuse for their sin?
Beginning in verse 8 Paul begins to call them to living in the truth. He uses the imagery of light and darkness in the remainder of this passage. Light being the truth and darkness being sin. He says, “you were formerly darkness.” You were once a sinner. You once were consumed with sin and in sin. Then he uses one of those big words in the Bible, but. You were a sinner. Now you are not. “Now you are Light in the Lord.” Now you are holy and righteous because you now belong to the Lord. You are the Lord’s. You are not sinners because you have been made righteous in the Lord. “Walk as children of Light trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.” Verse 9 is an aside to what he is saying. If we are walking in the Light then we desire to learn what pleases the Lord. Verse 9 tells us that the fruit of the Light is goodness, righteousness and truth. We should deal with truth. We should desire to live in goodness. We should desire to live in righteousness. We should desire to live in the truth. All of this again is founded in God’s character. We are being made to look like Christ. Verse 10, “trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.” The idea here is that we are through trial and error seeking to learn what pleases the Lord. Sometimes we make it, but other times we don’t. It’s like children who are testing the limits. What is the furthest that I may go? When will I get in trouble? But instead we are trying to please him instead of what can I get away with. What are your thoughts on this idea? I have heard some say the Lord doesn’t tell us which way to go or what to do, but instead we should be told. What have you experienced in your life that demonstrates that the Lord does lead us in how to live?
Verse 11 Paul states, “Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them.” We are not to be partakers with the darkness. In 2 Corinthians 6:18, “Therefore come out of their midst.” Do not belong among the unbelieving. Do not make you living among them, but instead come out of their midst and demonstrate the calling of God. Demonstrate to an unbelieving world what holiness and the love of God looks like. The second half of verse 11 states, “but instead even expose them.” Reveal the darkness in them. What are ways that we can lovingly reveal the darkness? Would living a holy life, a loving and self-sacrificing life demonstrate the darkness in them? What about giving freely of ourselves and our time? What about thinking of others first? What about insuring the best for others at the expense of the best for ourselves? May we be a clear demonstration of God and Christ to others through the Spirit.
Verse 12 states, “It is disgraceful to speak of the things which are done by them in secret.” There are all manner of understandings of this verse. Some say this means that we should never mention the sins of others to the extent that we cannot even approach others about their sins. Then there are those who would give some sort of ranking of sins and ignore the most offensive of sins. What Paul is bringing out here is the fact that the sins they are committing are shunning the Light, and we should in no way celebrate that sinfulness in them. Just as with the Virginia Tech shootings many people are upset with how the focus has so much come upon the thoughts and actions of the shooter that they are in a very real sense perpetuating his evil.
Verse 13 says that eventually all things become visible when they are exposed by the light. The darkness is exposed when compared with the light. All sins are exposed by the professing of the truth. The sinner must be regenerated in order to be holy but through the truth their darkness will be made light.
Verse 14 is a reference to the Old Testament but not an exact quote. Often times Paul would take numerous quotes and compile them in order to make his point. But here Paul is saying that the voice of Christ, the Truth, causes people to hear and to live. The truth is what brings light to the darkness. Christ, the Truth, is what brings life to the dead.
May we be faithful to regularly taking in God’s Word. Read your Bible daily. If you can buy the Bible on tape or CD and listen in your car or as you are cleaning or exercising. Memorize the Word. Meditate on the Word.
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