Server Outage Notice: TheSeed.info is transfering to a new Server on Tuesday April 13th
| Order Of Worship (Liturgy) *Song of Adoration: Hymnal #230 “Holy, Holy, Holy!” Song of Confession: Hymnal #482 “In Doubt and Temptation” *Song of Preparation: Hymnal #116B: 6-9 “I Love the Lord, the Fount of Life and Grace” Scripture: Ephesians 5:1-21 Text: Ephesians 5:8-14 Message: Walking in Light *Song of Response: Hymnal #533 “Have Thine Own Way, Lord!” *Doxology: Hymnal #488: 1-3 “May the Mind of Christ, My Savior” |
Beloved Congregation of the Lord Jesus Christ,
I read this week that former Dutch Prime Minister Dries Van Agt and his wife Eugenie died hand in hand. Both were 93 years old. This might sound like a nice love story ending, if it was not for the fact that their death was planned as they were both euthanized, which is sometimes called by its proponents as dying with dignity. It is medical assisted suicide. Instead of a pistol or a rope, a syringe is used in a hospital.
But, the Dutch have had legal euthanasia for years. They are after all, so far ahead of the rest of us. They are enlightened and in that great virtue of a society in spiritual darkness, they are tolerant. If you disagree with their liberal agenda, you are intolerant and that is just about the worst possible thing you can be in modern society. The West is falling more and more morally and it is because they have adopted the worldview of darkness. It is the calling of the church to speak truth to the modern times and shine forth the light of Jesus Christ to the world around us. This is the call we see from Ephesians 5 this morning. Our theme is Our Lord calls us to walk in his light.
- Its Meaning
- Its Activity
- Its Result
I. Its Meaning (v. 8-9)
At the beginning of chapter 5, we saw the call to be imitators of God. In order to do that, we must know something about God. There are many attributes and descriptions of God, but in this context, the two that seem to be in the forefront is that God is love and God is light. I John 4:8 says that God is love. In I John 1:5 we read, “God is light and in him is no darkness at all.” It is this two descriptors for God that we see come together in Ephesians 5. Back in verse 2 we see that we are walk in love and now in verse 8 we are to walk as children of light.
Read verse 8. In these verses and in the previous verses there is a contrast/comparison taking place. It is the great contrast of the two types of people in the world, the believer and the unbeliever. The two kingdoms of this world, the kingdom of darkness and the kingdom of light, with two different rulers and two different goals, etc. In our text they are called darkness and light. Darkness and light are opposites.
The language of verse 8 is important, in referring to believers uses both the past and the present voice. We were and are by nature, not merely in darkness, but we were darkness. This hearkens back to Eph. 2:1-3.
Thankfully verse 8 continues and uses those important Pauline words “but now.” This once again is getting at the language of the identity that we have in Jesus Christ. He is the Lord referred to. There is no greater place to be than “in the Lord.” This is a position of eternal identity and security. So, to walk in the light then, is to find your identity, joy, and purpose in Jesus.
In verse 9 we see the characteristics of those who walk in the light. They are those who bear fruit. Here the word picture switches for a moment to a tree or plant bearing good fruit. In verse 11 it will be contrasted with the unfruitful works of darkness. The fruit is described in three ways. It is in all that is good and right and true. The description here of good or goodness is a general term. It refers to generosity or benevolence. Before the days of government welfare, it was to the church you would go if you had financial need. God’s people were benevolent and good in this sense. They gave unto the least of those knowing that they were giving unto the Lord. The second term is right. This refers to a faithfulness to people and obligations. Once again, this is reflected in God’s covenant faithfulness to us. The fruits of a godly walk makes a husband and wife stay and fight through difficult times in their marriage, they have made a commitment. Christians should be those who are dependable. And the third term characterizing those who walk in the light are true. They are those who are people of integrity, they are honest in all things. Sometimes honestly might seem to hurt us. If it does, then we accept the consequences. There is an article in the Christian Renewal this past week about an Oregon woman who wanted to adopt two children. The government did not let her because she would not give into their transgender ideology and the need to teach this falsity to her children. She could have just lied and said, yes, I will do that. But she was a Christian and she stood by her convictions. She is a person of integrity and honesty. You could add all of the heroes of faith from Hebrews 11 to exemplify what it was like to walk in the light.
Ultimately, it was the light himself, the Lord Jesus Christ. John 1 explains that JTB came to bear witness about the light, but Jesus himself was the light that had come into the world.
II. Its Activity (v. 10-12)
The activity of the believer who is walking in the light of the gospel in our text is reflected in three different things. They are all related. They all center on the honor and glory of God, which is our chief purpose or chief end. But, they are three different activities. They are found in verses 10 and 11. We are to discern God’s will, take no part in unfruitful works, and expose them.
The first activity we are called to is discernment. The believer is to discern right and wrong. The word discern means to examine or text. This echoes Rom. 12:2. They are to seek or discern the will of God in Rom. 12. Here they are to discern what is pleasing to him. They are the same thing. This is easier to do as Christians grow in maturity. Life teaches discernment.
A few years ago I had the opportunity to baptize two brothers who were in their 20’s, both raised as atheists and came to a saving knowledge of Christ. Every week they would come to church as new baby Christians with a whole list of questions. They felt bad for taking so much of my time on Sundays and I agreed to meet with them every couple weeks or have them over to my house. They asked all kinds of practical questions. Questions about the flood and the timeline of Genesis, questions about Jesus. But many of their questions were about living the Christian life. Could they work on Sunday? What to do about a difficult co-worker? How should they treat their unbelieving family members? They were learning how to take the steps of the Christian life. They were learning, sometimes through trial and error, what it means to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. It is humbling even to think here that God could be pleased with us, his creatures.
The second activity is to take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness. This continues to grow more and more difficult. The unfruitful works of darkness are all around us. Frankly, it is easier to just go along with the world around us. Think of the ridicule Mike Pence received by following Billy Graham’s advice to never go out alone for a meal with a woman he was not related to. People wondered what kind of antiquated idea was this. What Pence, who is an evangelical Christian was trying to do was to take not part in the unfruitful works of darkness. In a position and career with rampant infidelity, Pence sought to safeguard his marriage as a man of integrity. There are some places you ought not to go, some people you probably shouldn’t be close friends with, and many activities which are unpleasing to the Lord.
The other side of this coin then is to expose the unfruitful works of darkness. The apostle does this time and again in his letters. He warns the Romans, the Corinthians (twice or three times), the Colossians, the Ephesians, etc. As I reflected what it would look like today to expose the works of darkness….what are those things that are most dangerous to us as believers today, I came up with what I think are probably the four that are most dangerous.
The first is entertainment. The movies that are popular, TV shows that are common, so often do not leave the viewer unstained from sin. Be discerning. We do not have to limit ourselves to nature or history documentaries, but beware of what you are taking in. Another area of entertainment is gambling. Two weeks ago I stopped in at the bank to get 50 one dollar bills. The teller asked if they are for Super Bowl betting. I said no, the opposite, they are for my children to put in the offering basket at church. Christians spend whole vacations gambling, going to Vegas, weekends at the Casino. Christian men are involved in sports gambling. Institutional gambling is not only addictive, it is dangerous and poor stewardship. We could expose the works of darkness and how people spend their time, what they desire to do on vacation, etc. Do not listen to the lies of the world.
A second area is Sunday observance. The world tells us to work on Sunday. Chic-fil-a is closed on Sunday in light of the 4th commandment. New York City is suing the company to make them open on Sunday since they have a store by the train station and it is a public necessity. How much pressure is there to center your Lord’s Day around sports. I’ve played ice hockey in Canada with a couple guys and I said to a friend, wow, so and so is good. His response was that he might have made it to the NHL, but by the time you are about 14, you have to play on Sundays so he quit. The better your child is, the harder it is. You have to make a decision early on as your convictions as parents. Make your decision in light of Isaiah 58:13-14. The world uses the Lord’s Day as a second Saturday. Let us shine our light by honoring the day and let that be part of our Christian witness.
A third area is responsibility and victimhood. This is pushed hard on us the last decade or two. Kids are victims of their parents faulty child rearing, my lack of employment is because of someone else, my poverty is because of oppression or racism. So, the narrative is to divide in our nation and world. Whites vs. Blacks, Blacks vs. Hispanics, Jews vs. Whites, parents vs. kids, kids vs. teachers, etc. This impact economics, education, family, etc. We should not deny the presence of racism, abuse, mistreatment, etc. Christians must be pro-justice. But the cultural Marxism of identity politics, intersectionality, and all that goes with it is not pleasing to God, it is part of the unfruitful works of darkness. Let us love our neighbor and be community minded. Pick up your garbage and teach your children to do so. Might seem like a small thing, but it teaches something very important about loving your neighbor and your community.
A fourth area we talked about last week, but it is so prevalent is should be mentioned again. It is frankly the thing closest to the context of our passage this morning and that is sexuality. There was an article this week in the Christian Renewal on the division in the UMC and the next issue will speak about the CRC regarding LGBTQ issues. There is a push to accept and condone sexual perversion. No, it is a work of darkness. Don’t celebrate sin, flee sin. Add to that the goal of sensual and carnal fulfillment, open marriages, serial adultery, living together before marriage. To speak against any of it, you will be call intolerant and close-minded. Verse 12 is a reminder that it is and has always been worse that we might realize. Some things are not sermon-worthy.
Expose the works of darkness as that which is displeasing to the Lord.
III. Its Result
The result is that the light shines clearly. When the light shines clearly, it exposes that things which are in the darkness. The monster under the bed disappears when the light is turned on. The scary furnace room isn’t nearly as scary when the light is on. Wickedness is seen for what it is when the word of God exposes the works of darkness.
Brothers and sisters, we are not the light. But we reflect the light. The moon does not produce its own light, it is merely a reflection of the sun shining upon it. We reflect the light of the Son of God. This is what faith produces. Read Col. 1:13-14; John 12:36 says that we become sons of light. This is a tool for evangelism. The light is shown by our Christian witness in the world. It is an evangelistic tool. So, there is an external result in terms of our light reflecting.
There is also an external result in living in holiness. God is honored and pleased. People recognize the integrity of someone who does not take part in the unfruitful works of darkness.
But the greatest result is between the believer and God. God gives peace and grace. God elevates the heart and mind of the sinner saved by grace to his lofty throne. He cares far more for the things above than the things of this earth.
So, the call to end our text is to wake up, in verse 14. Likely a phrase from an early Christian hymn based on Isaiah 60:1-2. Wake up and let the light of Christ shine on you. This is what it means to walk in the light. As we do so, let us seek to do that which is pleasing to God for the glory of his name. Amen.
* As a matter of courtesy please advise Rev. Steven Swets, if you plan to use this sermon in a worship service. Thank-you.
(c) Copyright 2024, Rev. Steven Swets
Please direct any comments to the Webmaster
