Reflections on Sunday’s Sermon

Below is a reference to the section of the New City Catechism that we went over on Sunday:

The New City Catechism

Lord’s Day 10

What Does God Require in the Fourth and Fifth Commandments?
Fourth, that on the Sabbath day we spend time in public and private worship of God, rest from routine employment, serve the Lord and others, and so anticipate the eternal Sabbath. Fifth, that we love and honor our father and our mother, submitting to their godly discipline and direction.

Prayer

Praise the Holy Spirit who gave us new life in Christ, causing us to be light in the Lord. Praise Jesus who isn’t merely our Example, He is our Head; He is leading us to live as He lives. Praise God who uses us as His instruments to dispel the darkness of men’s hearts with the light of the gospel. As you pray, consider making this prayer your own (this prayer was taken from Prone to Wander by Barbara Duguid and Wayne Houk).

Lord, help us to walk as children of light. You have rescued us from darkness, and we thank you that we do not have to win your love through our obedience. Help us to become people who want to obey you because we are already loved by you in the fullest way. Draw us to meditate on the perfection of your Son, who never lifted his heart to an idol or gave himself over to sexual impurity in thought or action. Strengthen us to remember that his death and obedience have qualified us to share in his glorious inheritance, and may this truth dissolve our hard hearts with gratitude and melt our eyes to tears. Together, may we learn to walk in humble dependence on you day by day, trusting that your grace is sufficient for us to come boldly into your presence as cherished children. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Scripture

Ephesians 5:7-14 - (English Standard Version)

7 Therefore do not become partners with them; 8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), 10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. 13 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,

“Awake, O sleeper,
and arise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”

Handling the Word

Let’s break down the passage:

1. Why are believers not to ‘become partners with them’ (vv.7-8)?

2. We are light in the Lord and what is the fruit of light (vv. 9-10)?

3. As children of light what is our relation to works of darkness (v. 11)?

4. What happens when works of darkness are exposed (vv. 13-14)?

5. What happened when Christ shone upon us (v. 14)?

Darkness ignorance, error, and evil. (John Stott)

Light: truth and righteousness. (John Stott)

Expose: correct or convince. (Tony Merida)

Understanding and Applying

Given who we are in Christ (Ephesians 4:22-24), the implications of our standing in Christ (5:1-4), the position of the idolater (5:5), and the implications for the idolater (5:6), Paul urges the saints to ‘not become partners with’ the idolater (v. 7). If we were to partner with idolaters, “to do so shows either that we have never been converted or that we have a very weak grasp of what conversion really involves” (Ferguson). Based on what we are learning, why is Ferguson’s statement a wise assessment?
Notice that Paul doesn’t attribute our old life to our circumstances nor attribute our righteousness to outward performance, rather he says, “at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord” (v.8). Darkness stemmed from within us, and our righteousness is from the Lord. At times, have you attributed your sin to circumstances or the actions of others (James 1:14)? Please share. Have you ever attributed your godliness to your efforts or disciplines rather than what God has done in your heart (Ephesians 2:8-10)?
Since we ‘are light’ in Christ, Paul calls us to ‘walk as children of light’ and ‘discern what is pleasing to the Lord.’ Learning about our light in Christ leads us to live in ‘all that is good and right and true’ and enables us to discern truth from lies (vv. 8-10). As you continue to learn about your new life, according to Scripture, do you see it leading you to right living towards man and enabling you to discern what pleases God (Romans 12:2; 2 Timothy 3:16-17)? Give examples.

Rather than ‘take part in the unfruitful works of darkness’ such as, but not limited to, sexual immorality, impurity, or covetousness, as children of light we ‘expose them’ (v. 11). In your own words, why are these works of darkness ‘unfruitful’ towards God and hurtful towards man (Luke 17:1; Ephesians 5:5-6)? How have other believers, who are light, helped to bring your sin to light? In your relations with unbelievers, why might your life or words lead to the exposure of sin?
Walking in the light, we inevitably expose works of darkness because ‘it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret’ (v. 12). Our new life in Christ leads us to see the sinfulness of sin and despise it, so that we don’t even desire to casually speak of it. Do you find yourself uncomfortable with the way co-workers, culture, or media present sexuality or the pursuit of personal happiness? Please explain. Have you ever found yourself joining in with the language or pursuits of our culture regarding sexuality or happiness, and why?
Becoming instruments in the plan of salvation, children of light expose darkness in hope that it will be made ‘visible’ and become ‘light’ (vv. 13-14). In our relations with unbelievers, God uses our light to lead people to see their sin for what it is and ultimately look to Christ for light and life. How does this idea shape the purpose and priorities of evangelism or missions? As a child of light, do you think that your life, words, or prayers have been used to point an unbeliever (child, co-worker, friend, acquaintance) to see their darkness for what it truly is (1 Corinthians 3:5-9)?

In summarizing the work of light towards darkness—exposure, visibility, and then becoming light—Paul points to Christ, who gives life to those who are dead in sin (v. 14). What darkness were you in prior to your conversion and how did the light of the gospel expose it and bring you into the light of Christ (2 Corinthians 4:4; Galatians 5:19; Ephesians 2:1-3)? Take time to praise God for your redemption in Christ.
Praise God who makes us light in Christ, working in us goodness, righteousness, and truth. To close, what about this passage brings encouragement or hope and what about this passage are you asking the Holy Spirit to help you understand or live out?

“To be in the Lord is to belong to a new world, to inhabit a new kingdom in which we become new men and women. In this new kingdom, new powers are at work in us – the powers of the Spirit of the crucified, risen, ascended, reigning, and returning Christ. Once we were in darkness. Worse, the darkness was in us – we were darkness. Now we have been drawn into the light, illuminated by Christ the Light of the world. More, we have been invaded and transformed by Christ the Light. In the Lord we are light!” —Sinclair Ferguson