Once Darkness, Now Light

Ephesians 5:1–14 (pt8) — Andrew Fountain: Feb 3, 2013

(link to my own translation from the Greek text)

Ephesians

God’s Laws

Eph 4:22–24

  1. to put off according to your previous way of life, the old man
          which is being corrupted according to deceitful desires
  2. to be renewed in the spirit of your minds
  3. and to put on the new man
          created according to God in righteousness and true holiness.

Our DNA


Ephesians 4:17–5:2

You can chose


Ephesians 5:1–6

  1. Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.
  2. And walk in love, just as Christ loved us
    and gave himself up for us, an offering and sacrifice to God for a fragrant aroma.
    1. But sexual immorality and all impurity or greed
      must not even be named among you, as is fitting for holy ones.
      1. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor sarcastic ridicule-giving, which are out of place,
        but instead let there be thanksgiving.
    2. For you may be sure of this, that
      everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is greedy (that is, an idolater),
      has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
  3. Let no one deceive you with empty words,
    for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

1 Corinthians 6:9–11

  1. Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived! The sexually immoral, idolaters, adulterers, practicing homosexuals, 10thieves, the greedy, drunkards, the verbally abusive, and swindlers will not inherit the kingdom of God.
  2. Some of you once lived this way. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ9 and by the Spirit of our God.

Galatians 5:19–21

  1. Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, depravity,
  2. idolatry, sorcery, hostilities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish rivalries, dissensions, factions,
  3. envying, murder, drunkenness, carousing, and similar things. I am warning you, as I had warned you before: Those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God!

Colossians 3:5–6

  1. So put to death whatever in your nature belongs to the earth: sexual immorality, impurity, shameful passion, evil desire, and greed which is idolatry.
  2. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience.

The point

  1. This is not about falling into sin, but chosing to stay in it
  2. He does not say “avoid these things and you will be saved”
    • Instead it is “These things are signs of the old, not the new”
    • It is ultimately about Who you are not what you do
    • But what you do does reveal who you are!
  3. So the command is to let who you are now override who you were

Ephesians 5:7–14

  1. Therefore do not become fellow sharers with them;
    1. for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.
      Walk as children of light
    2. for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true,
    3. and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.
  2. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.
    1. For the things done in secret by them are shameful even to mention.
    2. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible,
    3.       for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,
      “Awake, O sleeper,
            and arise from the dead,
      and Christ will shine on you.”

Updated on 2015-07-07 by Andrew Fountain