Children of Light in 2010
Ephesians 5:6-10
This sermon was preached by Rev. Chris Roberts during the morning service on Sunday, December 27, 2009.
We have been away from Ephesians for just over a month now. To keep it fresh in our minds, before we get to our passage for today I want to give you a brief summary overview of Ephesians. And to keep that from being too monotonous, I will give you the summary in rhyme.
Ephesians chapter one, Paul’s only just begun.
He shows us what God’s done through Jesus Christ his Son.
Redemption! We’re set free! With God we’ve harmony!
Ephesians chapter two, by grace, through faith, it’s true!
Dead in your sins were you, but God, he brought us through;
Salvation full and free, Christ paid the price for me!
Ephesians chapter three, we’ve unity, you see!
The cross joined you to me, to show eternally,
The glory, the power, the love, of God Almighty above!
Ephesians chapter four, God’s opened up the door
Given workers to the chore of making something more
Of the people he has called till Christ is all in all!
Ephesians chapter five, to walk like Christ we’ll strive
To put aside all drive of the flesh in our lives.
With bride and groom we see that Christ has cherished me!
Ephesians chapter six, the devil’s evil tricks,
Cannot begin to nix our Lord’s mighty fix!
Put on his armor, saints! Your surety never faints!
Ephesians is God’s gift so we’re not left adrift
But Christ will us uplift and bridge the terrible rift
Thus, as you come and go, serve Christ and in him grow!
In just a few days we begin yet another year. 2010! These days a lot of people talk about making new year’s resolutions but I don’t know that anyone actually makes them anymore. There is something depressing about resolving to lose weight in the coming year right at the end of a month and a half of gluttony. But as we look at a new year we usually do have certain goals in mind, or certain milestones we expect to achieve.
As a father I anticipate certain events with my children. In 2010 Brendan will take his first step, followed by lots more. Naomi will probably read her first book. Hannah will turn three, which means she won’t be two anymore.
As a pastor I expect other things. Some with more joyful expectation than others. I have already been considering what I will preach in the coming months. I have thought about our outreach work, thought about our desire to expand our ministry. But I also expect that one of the trends in 2009 will continue. When 2010 comes to a close, some of you will not be here. I do not say that lightly. As the march of time continues we remember that the Lord has written every one of our days and one day we will reach our last.
Why would I say such depressing things? Because as we enter 2010 I want you to live with a sense of urgency. You are not promised tomorrow on this earth, so how are you living today? And as you consider your goals for 2010, where does God fit in?
In Ephesians Paul has been instructing believers on what it means to live like Christ and not like the world. Last time we looked at Paul’s teaching on sexual purity, a topic we will also see tonight when we return to the Sermon on the Mount. Do not be like the world with its loose morals and promiscuity but be like Christ and walk in purity and faithfulness. But the world sounds so tempting, so alluring! Maybe if I just go along a little bit… whether the temptation be for sexual immorality or dishonesty in your taxes or unfaithfulness to God or neglectful parenting or a million other things, the world has a host of ways to tempt us away from God.
Does it surprise us that Paul calls for faithfulness, that he urges us to resist the world and follow God? In Ephesians 5:6-10 Paul warns the children of light not to live like the sons of disobedience. As we go into 2010, let’s consider which of these we want to be.
Ephesians 5:6-10
For Christians, dangers lurk everywhere. We live for God and work in his kingdom yet we must continue to live in the world. We are surrounded by people walking in the flesh and we are vulnerable to the attacks and temptations of Satan. Thus spiritual warfare becomes an important theme for Paul in Ephesians and even here he warns us of the battle between light and darkness.
The battle lines are drawn between the children of light and the sons of disobedience. Paul has talked about the sons of disobedience before. In Ephesians 2:1-3 he describes their spiritual state, which was also our spiritual state before Christ: And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
The sons of disobedience are those people whose lives are so characterized by sin that their very nature can be described in terms of their rebellion. They are lost humanity, the result of living in sin, living apart from the forgiving grace of God. Paul says more about them in Ephesians 4:18-19, They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity.
Such people are not content to sin alone but seek to bring others into their depravity. We are surrounded by the enticements of sinful minds, trying to draw us into their sin. But Scripture is filled with warnings against following the world and the ways of Satan. That is Paul’s emphasis in this passage: do not be deceived, and so led astray.
What are some of the sinful leadings of the world? We could give many examples, but here are a few. The world tempts us to sexual immorality through our eyes and mind and through our bodies, giving ourselves to people not our spouses. The world tempts us to injustice, mistreating and abusing the poor for our own gain. The world tempts us to lie on our taxes. The world tempts us to be unfaithful to God, pursuing the things of this world more than a relationship with God.
In each of these the world may offer fine sounding arguments. These sons of disobedience are not ignorant of the truth but they never handle it rightly. When they come to you with fine sounding arguments you will hear in their words hints of truth but those hints are to disguise the deception that would lead you astray.
Consider the last item in our list. The world tempts us to be unfaithful to God, pursuing the things of this world more than a relationship with God. So how about this argument: Come now, ye saints, don’t you know that God has created this world for you to enjoy? He has filled the world with such lovely things and has given you a family to provide for. Why shouldn’t you want the best for them? A nicer house, a better car, a bigger television, the nicest clothes, these are all things God has provided for you. So acquire them, and enjoy them!
There is truth in those words but it is truth that can lead to destruction. It leads to a life of complacency and living for possessions. Too many Christians have sacrificed biblical faithfulness on the altar of comfort.
One more example. Abortion. It is said that the leading cause of abortion is poverty (I might suggest that sexual immorality and sinful priorities are the leading causes, but what do I know?) A child born to a poor mother will only increase her financial difficulty. He will grow up in a hard life, never having a chance to succeed, most likely falling into a life of crime. It would be better to spare him the troubles life will bring, better also to spare the mother the economic distress. After all, she is not ready to raise a child, spare her that burden! And with so many empty words, the world justifies murder.
So be careful how you respond to the arguments of the world. Do not be quick to agree when some of their words sound true. What do the rest of their words say, how do their arguments line up with Scripture? In 2 Corinthians 10:5 Paul says that we take every thought captive to obey Christ. This is how the Christian mind is to work. Not an empty channel, allowing anything to filter through. I don’t like the concept of an open mind. We need to consider arguments but not as though everything were equally valid. Our standard is the Bible and we need to take every thought captive and see how it measures up to God’s Word.
But having considered the arguments of the world, Paul goes on to consider their actions. In verse 7 he tells us, do not become partners with them. He does not mean we are to have nothing to do with non-Christians but we are not to join with them in their sin. It does not matter what the reason or occasion, we are never justified in going along with the sin of the world.
Peer pressure is a powerful force for young and old alike. I have a firefighter friend in Mississippi who constantly struggles with the pornography that is rampant at his workplace. It would be so easy for him to watch the videos while at the station, to laugh at the dirty jokes, to linger over the pictures on the wall. But he resists, he fights, he does not partner with them in their sin.
Far from joining with the world in sin, we are to let sinners know the destructive nature of their actions. In verse 11 Paul tells us, Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. Do not participate with them, let them know their error! “But then I will be ostracized, they will look down on me!” Why would this surprise you? They crucified your Lord. But for love he was willing to endure the cross. How much do you love your neighbor? Enough to share truth with them?
There is a warning given to those who practice the works of darkness. Paul tells us in verse 6 that because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. This is why we must speak truth to those who continue in sin. They are not simply making bad choices, tragic life decisions, casual mistakes – they are on the path to Hell. When we ignore their sin – and especially when we join in their sin! – we help them on their way.
Paul gives another reason for us to avoid the works of darkness. In verse 8 we are reminded that at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Christian, you are no longer darkness! Back in 4:17 Paul told us, you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. He says no longer because it is how we once walked. We noted in 2:1-3 that we were once sons of disobedience. We once walked in futility, living in rebellion to God. But no longer, for you are now children of light.
In Acts 26:20 Paul stands before King Agrippa, sharing with him the things of Christ. He says that his call was that Gentiles should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance. In other words, their lives should reflect their claim. You claim to be a child of God, that makes you children of light – are your deeds in keeping with your claim?
Note verses 9-10: …the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true, and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Living as children of light, our actions will display that which is good and right and true and our highest goal will be the pleasure of God. We will not live for our own good but for God’s glory, knowing that this is the only way to have a meaningful life.
When we began we spoke of living with urgency. None of us know what the day will bring. Young or old, our lives are in God’s hands. What will be our focus, our goal for 2010? I pray we will not heed the empty words of the world, the ways of the sons of darkness, but that we will live as children of light, obedient to God, following His Word.