Here is my commentary on Ephesians 5:19 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 5:19

“… addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart.”

Instead of being drunk with wine, which leads to debauchery, we should together be filled with the Spirit, engaging in joyful worship of the Lord, and encouraging one another .

The word he translated as “addressing” (RSV) is rendered differently in the various versions notably “singing” (NRSV) and “speaking” (NIV). The original word mean simply to speak. In any event, Paul is clear that our songs are directed to each other as well as to the Lord. The context is therefore in gatherings of christians.

There is nothing wrong with singing hymns at home, but when Christians praise the Lord together, this edifies everyone present. Faith levels increase, and even the most discouraged or dejected believer can go away feeling empowered to persevere in the way of the Lord.

The mutual ministry” to one another” that takes place when christians meet together for worship should never be devalued. We must never stop the habit of meeting together (Hebrews 10:25).

Is is not just on Sunday mornings that christians meet together and sing together. In home groups and other meetings, we should always sing praise to the Lord. Where two or three gather, He is in the midst and He welcomes our praises (Matthew 18:20).

Paul is quite expansive in his list of types of songs that Christians should use. He does not define his terms here at, but we can make educated guesses about his meaning.

“Psalms” more than likely refers to the Old Testament Psalms which were the hymn book of the Jews. More than likely, other Scripture passages were set to music and would come under this heading.

“Hymns” is actually the transliterated form of the Greek word humnos. These were known in pagan worship as songs of praise to the various gods. We should think of traditional and contemporary hymns and praise songs.

Spiritual songs refers to the practice of allowing the Holy Spirit to direct a spontaneous flow of singing either in the native language or in tongues.

There are some groups which interpret this verse to mean “ sing psalms, psalms, and more psalms” , and so they prohibit all other forms of songs in worship. Paul here is surely saying that whenever christians meet, they should employ a wide variety of forms of music.

As opposed to those who become prone to singing under the influence of alcohol, christians will sing under the influence of the Holy Spirit.

We are to “sing and make melody to the Lord”. The point of singing is not just to have a happy time of karaoke together. It is to be a melody to the Lord. That is, our hearts and minds are to be directed towards the Lord, not just to ourselves or to each other.

The primary focus of all Christian activity should be Jesus. We are the “elect”, the called out ones of God. As was commented on earlier in Ephesians, we are being formed together into a temple for Christ (2:22) or the Body of Christ (4:15-16). Therefore, whenever the body or the temple comes together, Christ must be at the centre.

Our singing must be done with all our hearts. There is something very dead about going through a song with no enthusiasm. It is almost the opposite of praise to the Lord, perhaps an insult.

Let us recognise the power that is in the words we sing – power to lift up the heavy- hearted, power to lift high the name of Jesus, power to bring conviction, salvation, and healing. All of this is only possible when we decide to praise the Lord with all of our hearts.

I will never forget the time several years ago when, on the last night of the Hillsong conference in Sydney, as the crowd was leaving, we were summoned to return to our seats. A pastor from Tasmania testified that during the final bracket of songs, he received a healing. One of his arms was neurologically dead and could not move or sense anything. During the songs, he had raised both hands in worship, something that had previously been impossible for him.

This is the power of singing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs to the Lord.

Key points in this verse:

• We are to sing songs to each other and to the Lord
• We must use a variety of forms of musical expression
• Our singing must be wholehearted
• There is power in praise and worship

Here is my commentary on Ephesians 5:18 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 5:18

“Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit.”

Many people coming to Christ through the ages have had to wrestle with the various addictions and practices that were a part of their old life. There is no doubt that alcohol and other drugs have an appeal for many people to alleviate the misery of lives marked by abuse, neglect, failed relationships, or purposelessness. People medicate to relieve emotional pain and to give some sense of joy.

The Bible nowhere forbids the consumption of alcohol, except for those who have taken a vow. Paul indeed encourages the temperate use of wine, especially as a treatment for some ailments. Jesus himself was accused of mixing with drunkards, and we know that he created very good wine for a wedding.

However, the Bible does warn consistently about excessive consumption of alcohol. This turns something that is a gift from God into something destructive.

The word translated here as “debauchery” means both the lack of self control which drunkenness brings, as well as the waste of time and money that it entails.

Drunkenness is first condemned for the destruction of self-control which it involves. Every part of life can give us indications of what can go wrong when a person is drunk. Everyday, road fatalities and injuries occur because of alcohol use. The rate of domestic violence spikes during summer when alcohol consumption also increases. Footballers and celebrities go on rampages when under the influence of alcohol and other drugs.

Christians are required to put to death the old nature. However, being under the influence of alcohol seems to amplify the sinful nature and reduce the moderating influence of the Holy Spirit. It seems that the driving force behind these drugs is not just chemical but demonic.

Drunkenness is also condemned because of its wastefulness. Clearly, what we spend on drugs we cannot spend on productive things. What seems to be a relatively cheap form of entertainment comes at the cost of keeping people in poverty.

Of course when the substances go to their logical destination, they waste a person’s life with unemployment, homelessness, and destroyed families just a part of the human cost.

Each christian needs to come to their own conclusion about the role of various drugs in their life, and ensure that they are a positive factor in their walk with Christ.

Instead of seeking a chemically induced high, Paul says we should be “ filled with the Spirit.”

It is interesting that Spirit fullness should be contrasted with drunkenness. This goes right back to Pentecost. Then, the disciples receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit were speaking in tongues and praising God. While some people recognised that this was an actibvity of the Holy Spirit, others cynically said they were drunk (Acts 2:13).

The tense of the verb “ be filled” is a continuous imperative. This means that it is a command that is to be continually or repeatedly obeyed. We are to be regularly filled with the Holy Spirit.

There is a one-time experience for Christians often called the Baptism in the Holy Spirit. This is an occasion when we receive the power of the Holy Spirit in us. it is often accompanied by the gift of speaking in tongues, usually interpreted as a unique prayer language that comes by the inspiration of the Spirit and not through human learning. The Baptism in the Spirit is an entry point for the gifts of the Holy Spirit (see 1 Corinthians 12:1-11).

To be filled with the Holy Spirit is to be inundated by the Spirit, equipped for ministry, and empowered to do the works of Christ. We see this expression used often in the book of Acts (see for example Acts 4:31, 9:17).

We might think from the use of this expression in Acts that being filled with the Holy Spirit was something that people had no control over, indeed no say about. The Holy Spirit filled them uninvited.

Paul says we are to be filled with the Holy Spirit. This is a continuous imperative that indicates that we have some agency in the process. Clearly Paul thought so, and expected that the Ephesians did too

How can we be filled with the Holy Spirit?

Pastor Che Ahn suggests 4 steps add we can take daily to be filled with the Holy Spirit

1. Decide everyday to walk in obedience to God. In Acts 5:32 we are told that God freely gives the Holy Spirit “to those who obey Him.”
2. Ask the Father daily to fill you again with the Holy Spirit
3. Focus on the harvest that God wants to bring in, and on the way you can be a part of God’s great work
4. Be intentional about receiving an impartation from people who carry the anointing of the Holy Spirit, for example pastors and other leaders.

These are by no means prescriptive instructions. They do put us into a place of expectancy and receptivity to the Holy Spirit.

I would add to this regular times of praise and worship, so that our hearts and minds are soaking in the presence of the Holy Spirit.

Key points in this verse:

• Christians are not to be dominated by alcohol or other drugs to the point of losing self-control
• We are free to use alcohol, but we must allow this to be under the direction of the Holy Spirit
• Being filled with the Spirit is similar in some ways to being drunk
• We must seek to be continually filled with the Holy Spirit

Here is my commentary on Ephesians 5:17 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 5:17

“So do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.”

Again Paul exhorts us to turn away from the foolish ways of the ungodly, and embrace God’s way of living. In verse 15, he talked about being wise or unwise. He know speaks of being foolish.

The Greek word translated as “foolish” means more than just a lack of wisdom or information. This word refers to a moral folly in which we know what is right but deliberately choose a different action.

This is the same kind of thinking that we see in the Old Testament Psalms and Proverbs. ”The fool says in his heart, there is no God” (Psalm 14:1, 53:1) is referring to a person who wants to be able to indulge their passions without any moral, legal, or religious consequence.

A fool rejects moral reasoning because they do not want to be countable for their actions. They reject the idea of a moral law because they do not want to consider the reality of a moral law giver. All of their beliefs then become relative and fluid.

Paul is warning here that christians can choose to go down this path. We can indulge our sins and passions to such an extent that we lose sight of where God is and where we should be.

This is the path of repeated or habitual sin. We know what God wants of us but we refuse. This sin becomes an Idol because it is more precious to us than God.

Rather than being foolish, we are to understand what the will of God is. Paul has already in this letter given some standards regarding christian behaviour as opposed to that of unbelievers.

We need to listen carefully to what the spirit is teaching us through scripture. Am I walking in the light of God or am I following the way of darkness?

In order to understand the will of the Lord we must develop the pattern of regular reading of the Bible. This needs to be done slowly and carefully, not in a 5 minute tick the box mindset.

If I really believe the Bible is the word of God, then I will desire to hear what He has to say to me through it.

There are times when the Holy Spirit uses the Bible to bring us to a place of conviction. The words seem to jump off the page and echo around our head. The ordinary word ( “logos” in the Greek) becomes a declared word ( “rhema” in the Greek) with all the force of “Thus says the Lord!”

Even when we have a certain measure of hardness in our heart because of sin, the Holy Spirit can break into our disordered thinking through the words of scripture.

Similarly, when we pray and pay attention to the Holy Spirit, He can show us where we are doing well and where we need to change our way.

Conviction can come through many means, but if we place ourselves in proximity to God’s word we are more likely to understand what the will of the Lord is.

While the immediate context of this verse is about our daily conduct, understanding the will of the Lord is also about directions in the bigger questions of life. If we are used to making our daily life decisions in the will of the Lord, then the big decisions about marriage, children, work, business, and so on, will be easier to make. Having become used to submitting in the smaller things, we will have no problems in submitting in the bigger decisions.

So we must always and constantly avoid being foolish, and instead try to understand the will of the Lord.

Key points in this verse:

• Foolishness is a moral quality as much as it is about wisdom
• We are to line up our beliefs and our actions against God’s word, the Bible
• If we regularly meditate on God’s word, the Holy Spirit will convicted us when we are sinning
• To be confident that our big decisions are in accordance with God’s will, we must practice seeking him in our daily decisions.

Here is my commentary on Ephesians 5:15-16. 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 5:15-16

“Be careful then how you live, not as unwise people but as wise, making the most of the time, because the days are evil.”

There is a choice to be made between living as wise or unwise people.

To be wise is to follow the teachings of Scripture. Jesus said that the wise man who built his life on solid rock is the man who lives on the principle of obeying Jesus’ commands. (Matthew 7:24-27)

We all have a choice to live in obedience to Christ, the wise choice, or in accordance with the desires of our sinful nature.

The Greeks were devoted in their culture to pursuing wisdom. Philosophers were celebrities because they helped people to understand what wisdom was and how to get it. There were many schools of philosophy which taught wisdom according to the teachings of their favourite philosopher.

Paul is saying that wisdom is not an abstract philosophy but is found in obedience to the ways of the Lord.

In the previous verses, from chapters 4 and 5, Paul has listed the various qualities that relate to the light and the darkness, the spirit and the flesh, God’s way and our own way. The way of wisdom lies in choosing God’s way.

In the Greek, Paul uses the word to walk, translated here as “live”. To walk in the ways of wisdom is to allow God’s values to inform the choices that we make each day. Godliness does not come through making bold choices at times of crisis when the stakes seem high. True godliness is grown through wise choices made each day.

We are to make the most of the time in this walk of wisdom.

We do not know when we will be taken from this life either in the normal process of death, or by the return of Jesus. We must be sure to wisely use our remaining time, whether it be long or short.

Interestingly, Paul uses a particular word for time here. He uses the word kairos which means a special appointed time. The word for normal time is chronos which means the time measured by clocks and calendars. The times that are kairos times are the times of God’s opportunity, God’s appointment.

We are, therefore, to see our lives as occasions for God’s activity to break through.

The conversations that we have, the opportunities to share God’s love with other people, the chances to pray with and for people are all kairos times.

To be wise in the ways of the Lord is to have our eyes open to the moments of meeting with the Lord and being directed by the Holy Spirit.

These opportunities are found in the apparently chance encounters that we have with other people. Am I being asked to share the good news? Is healing or another miracle required here?

When we are in tune with the Holy Spirit, walking by faith, each day becomes kairos.

We must live in this way because the days are evil.

The Prince of Darkness controls so much of human life. The days are evil because sinful human beings continue to sin and then blame God for the consequences.

Christians are not to be passive in this situation. We are called to be the light in the darkness.

We must not live as the people of the world do. We are supposed to be redeeming the darkness, showing people how to find the light. We cannot do this by living the same as everyone else.

The people of the world live as unwise because they do not know God, the giver of wisdom. As the people of God walk in the wisdom of God, we will actively turn the evil days into days of glory and righteousness.

Key points in these verses:

• We are to live as wise people by obeying the words of Jesus
• Wisdom does not come from learning, but from following Jesus
• Every day with Jesus is an appointed time
• The times are evil but they can be turned around by christians choosing to live in obedience to Christ

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

Here is my commentary on Ephesians 5:10. 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 5:10

“Find out what pleases the Lord.”

The children of light do not just sit back and let the light flow through them as passive vessels, like a window. In all parts of the Christian walk, we have a partnership with the Holy Spirit. We do things in cooperation with God.

So Paul tells us now that we must “find out what pleases the Lord.”

The word translated as ”find” has a sense of continual testing and proving – as a metal or alloy might be tested. This suggests an experimental approach, a continuing testing of where the Lord is leading us.

There are some boundaries laid down for us in the Bible. We can find out some general expressions in the Ten Commandments and in the ministry of Jesus. These supply, if you like, the boundaries for what pleases the Lord.

Within these boundaries there is infinite scope for discovering what pleases the Lord. And as the word “ test” indicates, there may be times when in our creative approach to serving the Lord, we may fail, finding instead what displeases God . But that’s not a bad thing, as it helps to define where the boundaries are.

Each of us has been called and created to serve the Lord and to fellowship with the Lord in a unique way. Our spiritual DNA is unique, so our own way of pleasing the Lord may be different to others .

Religion prescribes only one way, the “Appropriate Way”, to worship God. But in our creativity and in the way we are created, we should all find a way to worship and serve that is designed just for us .

Prayer is the starting point in this. if I do not talk to the Lord about what pleases Him, then I’ll never find out what He wants.

Even our way to pray needs to be set free from the confines of religious practice. Some people pray sitting down, others walking, still others lying prostrate. All of these ways of praying are pleasing to the Lord.

When we give generously to a person in need, that pleases the Lord.

When we pray for healing or for a really big miracle and we believe that God can do it and wants to do it, that is pleasing to the Lord. Whenever we do something in faith, the Lord is pleased.

When we talk to our neighbours about Jesus, just from the sheer joy of loving him and not out of the sense of duty, then the Lord is pleased.

When we speak up for the oppressed and downtrodden, then the Lord is pleased.

There is so much that pleases the Lord because he is proud of his children.

Each day there will be opportunity to discover what pleases the Lord. Every day will bring us chances to pray and praise, to love our neighbour, and to be like Jesus.

Each day I need to ask the Lord “what will I do that pleases you today?” Each day it will be different, because God is always taking us into new places, with new people and new tasks.

This is not duty, this is joy! it is not “I have to please the Lord,” but “ I get to please the Lord!”

This process starts with Scripture, the word of God, but it is completed in prayer and relationship with the Holy Spirit.

Key points in this verse:

• Finding out what pleases God is an ongoing process
• We each have a unique way to delight the lord
• It is relational not religious

Here is my commentary on Ephesians 5:9. 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 5:9

“For the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true.”

A note on translations:

All the modern translations of the Bible translate this verse as “ the fruit of the Light.” The King James version and New King James Version translat it as “the fruit of the Spirit.”

In Greek, as in English, the words are quite different in sound and in meaning, so how did we get to this point of two very different translations possibilities?

There are many ancient manuscripts of the various Scriptures still available to us. There were no printing presses or other mechanical means of copying text back at the time when the Scriptures were written and copied. It was all by hand. Also, the scriptures of the New Testament were in great demand, and so a lot of copying was being done.

Sometimes people make mistakes. Sometimes people made “ improvements” as they went.

Somewhere along the line, somebody appears to have changed “ fruit of the light” to “ fruit of the Spirit” perhaps confusing this verse with Galatians 5:22.

Even though this change crept into some very early manuscripts,the overwhelming majority have “the fruit of the light.”

The KJV. and New KJV have opted for the “ fruit of the Spirit”, based on the best evidence from 500 years ago. Most modern translations think “ the fruit of the light” is the more likely form of the original words written by Paul.

Whichever version we follow, the meaning is basically the same whether attributed to “the light” or to “the Spirit.” What is important is that various translators can come to different conclusions from the best of motives.

The light is God. in Christ we are light ( see previous verses). The fruit of the light, then, is the outworking of God in our lives. Just as fruit grow naturally on any healthy plant, the light should produce certain fruit in our lives.

Paul has written at some length about the lives of the people who live in darkness. There is a fruit of this kind of living that christians must avoid if they are to walk with the Lord.

Now he tells us three qualities of the fruit of the light .

Firstly, the fruit of the Light is found in all that is good.

The word “good” here means virtuous and profitable. It suggest a moral dimension to our lifestyle.

To say that the fruit of the light is found in goodness means that the christian is to live a life that is morally upright and which is good for the person and also for those around him. The light shines in the darkness and is shown by the good life of christians.

For all that our society increasingly opposes the church’s teaching, it is equally amazed at acts of unimaginable forgiveness exercise by christians towards those who hurt them

Secondly, the fruit of the light is found in what is right.

The word here is the same as that often translated righteous. In other words we are to be seen as without corruption or sin.

Some Christian see the fact that God forgives our sins and makes us righteous in Christ as an excuse to continue to sin. If we have the light in us, then the fruit of the light will make us righteous in nature as well as in our status before God.

Thirdly, the fruit of the light is found him what is true.

Truth is a very under-valued concept in our post- modern culture. By redefining truth to be purely subjective, we have deleted the meaning of the word.

Some objective truths remain. Even if you are certain that it is not your truth, gravity will accelerate you to the ground at 9.8 metres per second squared .

This fluidity of truth that says what is true for you may not be true for me is an undermining of any basis for society. If we cannot count on 2 + 2 is always equal to four, then science, engineering, construction, business, agriculture, relationships, and law will all collapse.

Paul says that as children of light, the fruit of light will be seen in what is true. We will be people of integrity who do what we promise and live by the values we espouse.

Key points in this verse:

• Bible translations can vary without being deceptive or false
• Christians are to grow the fruit of light in their lifestyle
• Fruit, spiritual or natural, come as a result of a healthy plant or person.

Here is my commentary on Ephesians 5:7-8. 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 5:7-8

“Therefore do not the associated with them, for once you were darkness but now in the Lord you are light. Live as children of the light.”

We must have nothing to do with disobedient people on whom God’s wrath is coming down. (Ephesians 5:6)

This does not mean that we should try to separate ourselves completely from the world. How can the light shine in the darkness if the light shuns the darkness?

It does mean that we need to be careful about our friendships. We must ensure that the people who are disobedient to God are not the people who are influencing our thoughts and our values.

This is always a delicate balance for christians who are called to be “in the world” but not “of the world.”

We were once darkness but now, in the Lord, we are light.

This is a binary state – we are either light or darkness, for Christ or against Him. There are no grey areas.

Before we were united with Christ, we lived in the darkness. We shared the nature of darkness – the sin and depravity of the world.

As children of darkness, we set our own destiny and lived by our own values. We were headed for eternal judgement, which is the fate of all who choose the darkness over the light.

Then Jesus came into our lives. The darkness was overtaken by the light. We made a quantum leap, a leap of faith. We crossed over from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light.

All of this was by the grace of God. We had little say in it except to agree that we needed salvation.

In Christ, we are now light. The light of Christ shines from us into the darkness. The darkness cannot overcome light.

Some people feel that they are not very good at being light in the darkness. It is true that some seem to have a brighter light than others, in that they live an exemplary Christian life.

If you had ever been in a pitch black space, such as a cave, where there is literally no light, you may have seen a match or candle lit. What would seem to be a very weak light in the middle of the day, has great brightness in perfect darkness.

Even the weakest of christians shine as beacons in the darkness of the world. As long as we are trying to be faithful to the Lord, His life will shine through it.

This light is “in the Lord.” He is the source of light that flows from us and shines in the darkness. The brightness of the light, the amount of light that shines, is proportional to the power of the presence of Christ in our lives.

Sin can dim the light. Sin is like a film of grease on a lamp. It does not extinguish the light, but it does make the light less clearly seen. It may blur the focus, making the light of Christ less distinguishable. It might add colours that are not meant to be there.

Therefore, Paul tells us that we must live as children of the light. It seems odd that many who have crossed over from darkness into light still live by the laws and customs of the kingdom of darkness.

If we have truly been born of the Spirit then the works of the Spirit will grow in us. For some this is a rapid process, but for many it is a long, slow process of daily turning to the Lord.

Over time, we will see the fruits of darkness diminish in our lives, and the fruit of the Holy Spirit should increase.

Like many things in the walk with the Lord, this is both the grace of God together with hard work on our part. We have to decide to walk as children of the light, while also remaining humble to receive the power to change.

Key points in these verses:

• We must not allow the people of darkness to influence our own attitudes and deeds
• We were once darkness, but God lifted this up into the kingdom of light
• We must live as children of the light
• Do not be discouraged if you feel that your light is inadequate. Keep trusting the Lord.