Ephesians Chapter Five Part 3
Ephesians Chapter Five – Part 3
Now we come to a part of Ephesians chapter five that has sometimes been misused. In this part of the letter Paul addresses two states of being—in light and in darkness. Text placed in parentheses in scriptural quotes is mine.
Ephesians 5:11-13 (KJV) 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove (expose) them. 12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. 13 But all things that are reproved (exposed) are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.
Some would use this passage as justification for pointing out sin in the lives of others. Such misapplications often result in the Church and the name of Christ being maligned among the unsaved. These verses do not tell us to point out the sins of others. That would be inconsistent with God as revealed in Jesus Christ. One need only recall how Jesus dealt with the woman caught in adultery (see John 8:7) to see that calling out sin is not His way.
Instead, these verses tell us that light exposes things. While it says that we are to expose the unfruitful works of darkness, it says that the light that we have, and are, does this as a matter of course. Notice also that it is the unfruitful works, or behaviors, that are to be exposed, not people. These works are unfruitful because the Holy Spirit is not their source. They are unfruitful because they are unhealthy, unloving, and lead to death.
The prophet Isaiah foretold of the light in Isaiah 60:1-3 (KJV) “1 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. 2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. 3 And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.”
There is no need to call anyone out or walk around with signs decrying various sinful activities. As believers we carry the Light and because we do, the unfruitful works of darkness are made visible. It is simply living life in Christ that makes effective the words of Jesus in John 5:25 (KJV) “Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.” The Gospel is spread by simply bearing witness to what Jesus has done for us. The Apostle Peter points us in the right direction in 1 Peter 3:15 (KJV) “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:”. There is no hard edge to this, no pressure us you to speak well or get out of our comfort zones. There is meekness and lowliness of heart. There is an easy yoke, a light burden.
Picking up our passage in Ephesians five with verse 14, the text continues,”Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. 15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
When we live by faith, walk in the Spirit, and love people, light is shined in a dark world. The world walks in the valley of the shadow of death, but they do not realize it until they see the light of the Gospel, the light of Jesus Christ, in the people of God.
17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
God’s will is wrapped up in love. Andy Stanley, senior pastor of North Point Ministries in Atlanta Georgia (USA), wisely urges us to ask, “What does love require?” It is a good question. One worthy of our consideration. When we are confused about how best to answer it, we can look to our new God-given loving heart in which His great love is “shed abroad.” (see Romans 5:5) We can talk with Father about it. He who is love will not fail to guide us into truth.
