Here is my commentary on Ephesians 5:14. I am publishing these once or twice a week, but you can read all of the available articles at our web-site, http://www.new-life.org.au

Ephesians 5:14

“ for it is light that makes everything visible. That is why it is said:

‘ wake up O sleeper

rise from the dead

and Christ will shine on you.’”

Light makes everything visible. It is the instrument of exposing sin, depravity, and corruption.

Light, as already has been explored, reveals the hearts of people by whether they are attracted to or repelled by it. In that sense, the light of the Lord acts like a magnetic field.

For the believer, what is important is that we are constantly led by the Holy Spirit, allowing the light of the Spirit to direct our paths and give us insight into the spiritual realm around us. Without that light, we are also stumbling in the darkness unable to distinguish that which is pleasing to the Lord from that which is opposed to the Lord.

Paul now quotes a verse which seems to be related to an Old Testament text. Although the verse quotes fragments from Isaiah (9:2, 26:19, 52:1, 60:1 ), it is likely a portion of an early Christian hymn. in fact, Francis Foulkes, quoting F.F. Bruce, says it may well have been a baptismal hymn as baptism was often spoken of as moving away from darkness and into light¹.

There are three metaphors of the Christian experience of Salvation here:

1. Waking up from sleep. Many people prior to conversion can be described as sleep walking through life. They are completely unaware of their reason for being, their destiny, or the way they should live.

The movie, “The Matrix” represents the human race as being enslaved, effectively asleep, by an alien race while their minds are filled with dreams that make it feel like they are living normal lives.

When we are converted, we are woken from this slumber, to see and experience our real life.

2. Rising from death. When we come to Christ we take up our cross and die to ourselves. Jesus then raises us up to new life in him. We become a new creation.

This is the meaning of being “ born again” or “ born of the spirit.” The dominant motif in christian baptism is not washing, but death and resurrection. In baptism we are drowned and our old nature is snuffed out so that we can be raised up by Christ and into Christ.

3. Moving from darkness and into the light of Christ. “ Christ will shine on you.” For all that Paul has written about avoiding the deeds associated with darkness, this is really only possible when we are illuminated by Christ.

When the light of Christ shines on us, we are first of all exposed and vulnerable. Our true nature, as God intended, is now visible to all. We were once clothed in darkness, but now we are clothed with Christ. He shows the potential of the life he has called us to.

The light of Christ also shines on us for the purpose of enabling us to walk in the light. The Psalmist said, “ Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” (Psalm 109:105). In Christ we now have the perfect light directing our every step.

Key point in this verse:

• The light makes visible everything- both good and bad
• To come to Christ is like waking up from a dangerous sleep
• Coming to Christ is like rising from the dead
• The light of Christ covers us, leads and directs us

1Francis Foulkes::Ephesians- Tyndale New Testament Commentary Series, IVP, 1983

Here is my commentary on Ephesians 5:12-13. I am publishing these once or twice a week, but you can read all of the available articles at our web-site, http://www.new-life.org.au

Ephesians 5:12-13

“It is shameful to mention what such people do secretly, but everything exposed by the Light becomes visible.”

We live in an age where it is no longer shameful to mention what those who are controlled by Satan do in secret.

Shame is a feeling of being less than normal, of being unworthy of society, because of what we have done, or sometimes because of what has been done to us.

Western society has broadly lost all sense of shame or guilt when it comes to sexuality. Quite the reverse, in gact, when every form of potential sexual deviancy is celebrated. In a new form of tyranny, those who refuse to celebrate deviancy are shamed.

In 2020 one of the most popular songs in the USA was WAP. It would be shameful to mention what WAP stands for. I viewed the video of the song and I was overwhelmed by a feeling of being violated by some lurking evil that goes beyond the perverted sexuality of the song.

Paul says that shameful deeds are done in secret, in the dark, but the light of Christ will shine into the dark places and show up the deeds of darkness.

This is different to the current situation in which we live. There are many shameful deeds that are exposed, but rather than being transformed by the process of exposure, they are celebrated and become even more brazen. It is as if a beam of dark energy is at work rather than the light. This energy motivates and excites people to ever more wicked ways.

As Paul states earlier, we are children of the light, that is the true light of Christ. We are the light of the world.

When the true light shines on the deeds of wickedness, they are shown up for what they really are. The practitioners of such darkness then have an opportunity to repent of their actions.

The light then serves two purposes.

1. The light reveals the truth of what is really there. The false light tolerates and celebrates “diversity”, but it only reaches the most shallow levels. The true light penetrates to the heart of sin and exposes its true nature.

2. The light reveals the hearts of people so that God’s judgement is seen to be fair. Those who embrace the light repent of their sinful ways and turn to the Lord. Those who reject the light continue to pursue the ways of sin.

In John 3:19-26 we read: “ This is the judgement, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil. For all who love evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. Those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.” (New Revised Standard Version)

Some will be saved. Some of those who are in the darkness welcome the light, and they recognise the truth of sin and of salvation.

Key points in these verses:

• The deeds of darkness are shameful
• Our culture celebrates the deeds of darkness
• Followers of Jesus carry the light that reveals the reality of sin
• The light reveals both the truth about sin, and the truth about those who are in the darkness.

Here is my commentary on Ephesians 5:11. I am publishing these once or twice a week, but you can read all of the available articles at our web-site, http://www.new-life.org.au

Ephesians 5:11

“Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.”

Christians are the children of light, and so must have nothing to do with the deeds of darkness.

The deeds of darkness, that is sin, do not produce fruit. We might think that just as the Spirit produces fruit in the believer, then sin must also produce its own kind of fruit, even if it is a disgusting kind of fruit.

Paul is thinking of a plant left in a dark place. It not only produces no fruit, but will itself wither and die.

Sin does not produce anything that is worthy of eternity. Quite the opposite, in fact. The product of sin will be thrown into the fire to be burnt (see John 15:6, where Jesus talks of the fate of the branch that produces no fruit).

Sin produces results that might seem fruitful in the world, but will not last beyond this life. Since we are children of light not of darkness, we must have nothing to do with such things.

This is not “moderation in all things”, but ”have nothing to do with them.” While we are allowed to enjoy the fruits of creation which God has given us for our benefit, when it comes to sin we are to completely avoid it.

Christians have in the past, and continue into the present, to have disagreements about where the line between light and darkness should be drawn. Some avoid alcohol in faith while others drink alcohol in faith. Some have certain dress codes, while others do not have the same dress codes – all in order to please the Lord.

Where it is clear that certain practices are condemned in the Bible, we must have nothing to do with them. This is forbidden territory for christians. We must live lives of light not darkness.

While we are to avoid the fruitless deeds of darkness, we must not avoid the people who walk in the darkness. We are called to be salt and light in the world, even while we live by different rules and values. We must be friends of sinners, as Jesus was, while avoiding the sin.

To expose the deeds of darkness means we let the light of God shine on them. Paul is thinking here that, as we live in the ways of Jesus, the contrast between us and the people of the world will expose the ugly reality of sin.

We do not have to lecture the ungodly about their ways, although there is room for public proclamation of righteousness. In other words, the church must find ways of describing the kingdom lifestyle without pointing the finger at those who live differently.

Paul sees the role of Christians as shining the light of Christ so that people start to see that their own lives are dark and fruitless. This should raise the question of how people get the power to live exemplary lives, and then to them wanting to follow Jesus as the result.

This exposing the deeds of darkness is simply shining a spotlight that enables people to see clearly that their lives are indeed fruitless.

As John points out, there are people who love the darkness rather than the light because their deeds are evil (John 3:19-21). There are people in the world who are so committed to their evil deeds that no amount of light will convince them to change. They see the light as a painful thing and flee from it. This in itself exposes the darkness.

Christians are called to be imitators of Christ. We find out what pleases the Lord and delight in it so that our lives become winsome and attractive to those who welcome the light.

Key points in this verse:

• We are to have nothing to do with the deeds of darkness
• Sin produces no fruit for eternity
• As we live in the light of Christ, we will expose the deeds of darkness
• Not everyone welcomes the light