In this chapter, there's much mention of walk and our walk with God.
And in verse 8 it mentions this idea of walking in the light.
And it says, for one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the world.
Walk as children of light.
We all know, I'm sure, it's not an easy thing to live as a Christian in the world in which we are today.
If it was easy, I think we should be asking ourselves questions.
Why? Where are we going wrong?
Because the Bible makes it quite clear to us that it's not going to be easy.
Whether we're looking at it in the Old Testament or the New Testament,
we find right throughout all the generations of God's people,
that in Christian life, walking with God is not an easy thing.
But we also see too, as you think of our walk with God,
that there are so many blessings and privileges in it as well.
Seeing that, even in hearing the men praying,
we come with all that's sort of going wrong around us in our own lives as well.
But we also come giving thanks to God for all that we have through the creation,
the wonder of creation,
and the wonder of the fact that we have his word that still speaks to us.
So there's so much variety in our lives.
There's the challenges and there's the joys,
there's the highs and there's the lows.
And we see that even as we read in this chapter in Ephesians.
You see the similarities of the world in which we live today,
the challenges that they were facing are the same challenges that we face today as well.
So how do we cope with the challenges that we face on a daily basis?
How do we cope with people who spurn God,
reject God,
go so blatantly against the law of God?
How do we deal with people who make God just a joke,
make a laugh of God?
We look around as we see all that,
but as well as that,
how do we deal with ourselves?
How do we cope with ourselves?
And we think of our own hearts,
how they can be hard,
how they can be cold,
how we can be distant from God.
How do we cope with that?
How do we tell a generation coming after us how to live as Christians?
How do we tell our young people,
this is how you deal with the pressures to conform in this world?
When society says the norm is one thing,
but the Bible says something very different.
When we hear our young people saying that they're the ones who are odd
because they don't do these things,
how do we help them stand up and say,
no,
you are the ones who are in the wrong.
We have the word of God as the light to our feet,
and it helps us along the way.
So there's all of these challenges going on.
How do we encourage people to seek the Lord?
How do we show them the light of the gospel in a world that says the gospel is strange
or at odds with the world,
the day that we live in,
the age that we live in?
How do we show the reality of the gospel
and the power of the gospel
and the beauty of the gospel to our people who are blind?
We have all of these challenges to face.
To live as a Christian today isn't easy,
but we shouldn't be surprised.
And we can take heart because of the word of God
and that word that is even before us this evening,
the light of the gospel that we have.
And that's really the theme that Paul has in this section
as we think of the light and being imitators of God
as he starts at verse 1 in chapter 5.
Therefore, be imitators of God as beloved children and walk in love.
You have that theme of walking with God there from the outset of the chapter.
You have the theme of darkness and light throughout these verses as well.
And it is all about our walk with God.
How do we walk as Christians in this world?
Well, there's two things I just want us to take,
especially our two points are really from verse 8,
but it surrounds these verses as well.
And they are the change of life that we see here
and the call to live.
The change and the call.
Because Paul makes it very clear where the change comes in.
We see that with these words,
one time you were darkness,
but now you are light.
So there's the change that has come in.
But it doesn't end there.
Because then he goes on to say in the same verse
that you are to walk as children of light.
So it's to go on.
How are we to live?
We are to live walking as children of light.
So I just want to take these two things from this verse this evening.
The change and the call to live.
So the first thing we see here is the change.
Paul in these verses tells us that there is to be a difference in us
to those around us who are not believers.
But he does this in showing what we once were.
And notice what it says.
He shows us the difference by saying,
you were once darkness,
but now you are light.
The change is there for us.
And Paul in the letter to the Ephesians,
he quite often uses,
he uses this phrase often,
you were.
You see it a few times throughout the chapters here.
You were.
It says in chapter one,
you were sealed.
So it kind of begins with this idea of the Christian,
you are sealed in Christ.
You are brought in to Christ.
But he also makes it clear that you were dead.
You were dead in your sin.
So he's clear that what we were as well.
You were dead in your sins.
You were separated from Christ,
he says as well.
You were separated from Christ.
So once we were not with Christ,
we were separated from him.
He says you were far off.
Again,
it's that kind of distance.
It's this,
you were far off.
But then he says,
you were called.
So as you read through the letters of the Ephesians,
all these words,
you were,
it shows the whole change that comes into the Christian life.
How we are sealed,
is that we are brought from death to life in Christ.
We were separated and far off,
but we were called.
And so Paul is using all of these descriptions to remind us of the change that came about in our lives.
But the two of them,
the two that stand out for me in terms of these where,
is when you look at the fact of dead in your sins and the darkness that we see here.
Because what does he say?
Well, first,
what doesn't he say?
When you go back to that text in chapter 3,
when you were dead in your trespasses and sins,
he doesn't say you were dying in your sins.
He doesn't say you were falling away in your sins.
He says you were dead.
You were,
there was nothing.
You were dead in your sins.
There was no life at all.
You were dead.
But you were made alive in Christ.
So it's dramatic.
You were dead.
And it just shows us that's what we were.
And it changes,
the remarkable changes that we are brought to life through faith in Christ.
And you see,
it's quite similar here in verse 8 and chapter 5 as well.
It's a missing word,
if you like,
that changes.
At one time,
you were darkness.
You would expect in.
You were in darkness.
But it's not there.
It says you were darkness.
And that's the reality as well.
It's not just that we could say,
well,
I didn't know where I was.
I was.
I was lost.
It was not me.
He says,
no,
you were darkness.
Not just you were in darkness,
but you were darkness.
And that just adds to what he's saying here.
It's not just the reality of you were dying in sin or you were in darkness.
It's more than that.
You were dead in your sin.
And you were darkness.
You were the darkness in this world.
And then he changes that by saying,
you are light.
So again,
you might expect to say,
and maybe even more so expect to say,
you are now in light.
But he says,
you are light.
And then we see the burden of responsibility in this change.
You were darkness.
Everything that you showed to the world was darkness.
But now,
you are light.
Not just in the light,
but you are light.
You are what the world sees now.
A change has taken place.
And so,
it's dramatic.
And that's what being brought to life in Christ is.
It's dramatic.
For everyone who is brought,
not just from darkness,
but in the sense of being in it,
but being the darkness,
to being made light.
And being brought from death to life.
It's dramatic.
So you are light.
Light.
And when you think of Jesus himself,
and when you think here of verse 1,
be imitators of God as beloved children.
When you think of being light,
we have to think of Jesus.
And we have to go back to the Gospel of John,
especially chapter 8.
And there in the Gospel of John,
chapter 8,
towards the beginning of the chapter,
Jesus is talking to a crowd then.
And it's at the end of a festival.
The festival of booths,
or the festival of tabernacles,
it was called.
And as this festival came to a close,
on the last night of the festival,
four great pillars of light were lit.
Enormous pillars.
It was said there was about 65 litres of oil
in each pillar burning.
And this light shone over Jerusalem as a whole,
and shone almost outwith Jerusalem.
There was so much light.
But then as the festival closed,
and there was much dancing and celebrating
at this festival,
as the festival closed,
the light would go out.
And it was at that point
that Jesus said to them in verse 11,
and Jesus spoke again to them saying,
I am the light of the world.
So he is the light of the world.
That's what he was making so clear there.
And he says,
whoever follows me
will not walk in darkness,
but will have the light of life.
The Christian will have the light of life.
And that's what we see Paul making so clear here.
Being imitators of God
as dearly beloved children.
Walk in love.
That's where he begins in this chapter.
And then in verse 8 he says,
you were darkness,
but now you are light.
When you become a Christian,
when you're born again,
it's not just the surroundings that change.
It's you.
You are changed.
Not just taken out of darkness
and put somewhere new.
You were part of darkness,
and now you're light.
A change takes place.
The Spirit of God awakens us
to see the sin in our heart
and to seek the Lord.
But we're not just in light.
We are light.
And so there needs
to be a difference.
There needs to be a difference in us.
If we are to be light in this world,
we have to reflect
the glory of Christ
in our lives.
And many people have approached this
in different ways.
How then are we to live
in this world?
What are we to be?
How is the change
to be seen by others?
We kind of find
we go from extremes,
one extreme to another,
where some people say,
well, we can be in this world.
We can become all things
to all men.
And they go on in this life
just seeking to live
almost just like they were
in some ways.
Doing the things they once did.
But saying,
maybe I'm a Christian now.
I'm trying to compartmentalise life
as a Christian
and saying,
oh, I can still do these things.
I'm not that different.
And to go to that extreme
is dangerous
because we often err
on falling back
into our old ways.
And it happens.
Or we downplay truth.
We don't hold on to the truth
as we should
because we don't offend people.
So we can be like those
who are blowing in the wind.
You think of the decision
of the Supreme Court just now
and how you see people
all of a sudden
speaking very differently.
When that wasn't the case,
when it hadn't been made
that clear in law,
so many were just going along
with what they thought
people wanted to hear.
Now it's made law,
they've got a different opinion.
So it's like blowing in the wind.
It's our truth,
whatever we want to believe.
And that's the danger
with a Christian as well.
We can be blown around
by the wind of change as well
if we're erring
in that side of things.
But the other danger is
that we go to the other extreme
where we separate ourselves
completely.
And Paul again
makes clear that
we are to be
in the world
but not of the world.
So it's finding that place
where we don't just
bring ourselves
out of the world
and completely
a bit like the Amish people
who
not wanting to be influenced
by a godless culture
just take themselves
right out of things
and live just by themselves
in their own ways
and over time
they've just become
so odd
to the world.
Same as being a monk.
You can think
we should just take ourselves
right out of things.
Sometimes we feel
like we just want to get away
from the world
but we still have to be
in the world
because that's what
this is saying to us.
You were darkness
but now
you are light.
And if we are to be light
well that light
has to shine.
It has to shine
into this world.
We are to be light.
We know we can't be
the perfect light
but we are still
to be the light
that shows the glory
of God.
Someone once
put it like this.
He said
when the sun sets
and the moon rises
we see the moon
because the sun
reflects
its light
off it.
We sometimes
see the moon
full
and on a bright
full moon night
it can be
so bright at times.
Other times
it might be a half moon
or a quarter moon
and it's dimmer.
And he said
likewise
it is with the church.
When Christ
has
departed
this world
the church
is to be his witness
but it's reflecting
that light
and there's times
he said
when the church
reflects
like a full moon
brightly shining
into this world.
There's been glorious
times for the church
reformation times
revival times
times of great blessing
other times
when the light
has not been
so bright.
We could think
of our own day
is the light
shining as bright
it's been dark
but maybe we are
seeing glimpses
of more light
coming
but it's all
about reflecting
the glory
of God.
And our prayer
is that we would
be this light
in this world
that people would
see the change
and that people
would desire
that change
in their own lives
and their own hearts.
You were darkness
but now
you are
the light.
So
we see
this
change
but we also see
there's this call
to live.
It's not just
about coming
to Christ
in faith
and that's it.
You were darkness
but now
you are light
in the world.
Walk
as children
of the light
for the fruit
of light
is found
in all that is
good
and right
and true.
And so
he's going on here
there's this call
to live
to walk
as children
of light
you must be
children of light.
must be
the children
of God.
We were blind.
It wasn't just
that we didn't
see God's glory
we were incapable
of seeing it.
We couldn't
see it.
We had no ability
or desire
to see such a thing.
We didn't even sense
a need of the saviour.
We didn't understand
the justice
and holiness
of God.
They meant
nothing to us.
Issues of life
death
and eternity
these were just
words.
But the call
to live
is when God
comes
and opens our eyes
to the understanding
and seeing things
anew.
I think it was
Morda that quoted
the text from
2 Corinthians
the light
of the knowledge
of the glory
of God
in the face
of Jesus Christ.
We have seen that
and we are called
by God.
And we begin
then to see
our condition
as guilty sinners
but we also see
the wonder
of the grace
of our Lord
Jesus Christ.
We see his death
on the cross.
We see all
that it meant
and entailed
all it showed
us of our sin.
But then we see
the glory
of his resurrection.
We see the fact
that he is risen
and that he is
coming again
and all of these
things
they begin
to open our eyes
and to give us
understanding
and we begin
to live
in the light
of this truth
in the light
of the gospel
in the knowledge
of the glory
of God
in the face
of Jesus Christ.
So we come
to faith
and we go on
in faith
and we seek
to live
as children
of light
but how do we
do this?
Well
the fruit
of light
as it says
here is found
in all
that is good
and right
and true.
So you have
these three words
all that is
is good
the fruit
of light
consists
of these things.
Goodness
is one of the
attributes
of God
wisdom
power
holiness
justice
goodness
and truth
that is how
God
is described
and verse 1
says
be imitators
of God.
So this goodness
should be
in us.
Behind the word
goodness
here is
generosity
serving
the Lord
and that can
go back
to verse 2
walk in love
as Christ
loved us
and gave
himself up
for us
a fragrant
offering
and sacrifice
to God.
The goodness
of our Lord
the generosity
of our Lord
and that he
gave all
for us
and so in
walking in the
light
we should be
marked
in that way
as well
with the
goodness
of Christ
in us.
You are
light
therefore
this goodness
should be
part of our
lives
to walk
in dependence
of him.
Again
goodness
is seen
as one of
the fruits
of the spirit
in Galatians 5
and since
it's a fruit
it can take
time to
develop in
us as we
probably know
too well
change in
our hearts
is ongoing
that sanctification
so goodness
should always
be growing
in us
that generosity
of spirit
of God
then we see
too we are
to walk as
children of
light with
this righteousness
all that is
right
we should
walk as
children of
light
for the
fruit of
the light
is found
in all
that is
good
and right
so righteousness
is part
of it
seeking to
conform to
the righteous
standards
of God's
word
and in
every way
that we
live
upright
before God
and before
others
that's what's
behind
this word
how do we
treat all
people around
us
how do we
show the
justice of
God to
all around
us
so the
righteousness
of this
light should
be growing
in us
as well
and then the
third one
there we see
we are to
be a people
of truth
honesty
and again
integrity
comes into
this as well
the life of
the unbelievers
is those who
are deceived
those who have
believed a lie
who are being
led astray
but we are to
be marked out
by truth
let no one
it says
in verse 6
deceive you
with empty
words
so we have
the word
of God
we have
truth
in the word
of God
and all of
these things
should be
working together
in us
so that as
we see
these three
then it
leads us
then into
verse 10
trying to
discern
what is
pleasing
to the
Lord
and where
do we
find
where do
we discern
what is
pleasing
to our
Lord
what we
find it
in his
word
we don't
make up
our own
truth
we have
the truth
of God
and so
for this
to walk
as children
of the light
we need
to be
with
God
corporately
together
informally
together
and personally
in all
of these
ways
making
Jesus
our
priority
every day
walking
in the
light
and when
you look
at the
light
that there
is in
Christ
and coming
to him
there's
this
progression
in our
lives
as well
there's a
few
texts
just
four
texts
I want
to
highlight
as we
conclude
one is
Exodus
34
and you
go back
to the
time
when
Moses
was up
Mount
Sinai
when he
came down
from Mount
Sinai
it says
he didn't
realize
that the
skin of
his face
shone
because he
had been
talking
with God
so you
have there
the light
of the
glory
of God
shining
in the
face
of Moses
because he
had been
talking
with God
so there's
the reality
for us
to be
talking
with God
to be
in the
presence
of God
and then
you come
into the
New Testament
and you have
Matthew
chapter 5
verse 14
so if we
have the
light in us
we are to
let that
light shine
you are the
light of the
world
a city
set in a
hill
cannot be
hidden
nor do
people light
a lamp
and put it
under a
basket
but on a
stand
and it
gives light
to all
in the
house
in the
same way
let your
light shine
before others
so they may
see your
good works
and give
glory to
your
father
who is
in heaven
let this
light
shine
before
others
we have
this light
you were
darkness
and now
you are
light
then we
have the
text here
in Ephesians
that comes
in verse
14
it says
there
therefore
it says
awake
o sleeper
and arise
from the
dead
and Christ
will shine
in you
it's almost
like there's a
summary there
of Paul's
letter to the
Ephesians
you were
dead in your
sins
awake
it is time
to awake
and to
rise
and Christ
will shine
in you
so here
is the
hope
that we
have
as the
Christian
the Christian
life
is full
of
challenges
but we
must live
in the
darkness
of this
world
by being
lights
in this
world
by allowing
Christ
to shine
in us
and so
as we
go on
in this
world
we also
have the
hope
of
eternity
as well
the darkness
that we are
taken out
of here
the light
that we
are
is with
the hope
of the
fullness
of this
glory
and we
see that
in the
gospel of
Matthew
chapter 13
verse 43
where it
says then
the righteous
will shine
like the
sun in
the kingdom
of their
father
so you
have this
it's a
conclusion in
some ways
but it's just
a beginning
in another
where you
will shine
like the
sun in
the kingdom
of their
father
with a
Christian
will shine
for all
eternity
that's the
wonder
that we
have
we're brought
from being
darkness
in this
world
to being
light
letting our
light shine
before us
the light
of Christ
to being
eternally
shining
in the
kingdom
of the
father
so that
we have
the wonder
of the
salvation
that is
ours
in
Christ
the
light
that we
have
in
Christ
in
us
and the
light
that we
have
for
eternity
with
him
so let
us
seek
to be
those
who
discern
this
light
we
were
darkness
but now
your
light
walk
as
children
of
light
let us
pray
our
father
in
heaven
we do
thank you
for the
light
of the
gospel
we thank
you that
it shines
in the
hearts
of
unbelievers
not just
to bring
us from
darkness
to light
but to
bring us
from being
darkness
to being
light
and we
pray that
each one
of us
will seek
to walk
ever
closely
with you
being in
your
presence
that we
might
shine
the
glory
of
God
even
in
our
faces
as we
think
of
Moses
how he
did
Lord
draw us
ever
closer
to
yourself
and keep
us
as the
apple
of your
eye
we ask
all these
things
for the
forgiveness
of our
sins
in
Jesus
name
Amen
we're
going to
conclude