The Movement of Love - Ephesians 5:8-21
Pastor Dennis Bone
5/9/10
THE MOVEMENT OF LOVE 5-9-10
Mother’s Day illustrates for us the difference between having a certain status or position – like status of mother – and the responsibility that goes with this status. A mother is honored, and the day celebrated, simply by virtue of the fact that she had a child or children. She is a mother. God calls us to honor our mothers, not on the basis of their actions, but on the basis of their position. But we all know that a woman who has motherhood status also has inherited huge responsibilities. Thus how they respond to this new status, and how they seek to live up to the responsibilities of this new position, will vary in proportion to their commitment and understanding of motherhood. Mothers should be mothers, in both their position and in their practice.
God has given us the status of “Christian” by virtue of our faith in Jesus Christ. Christ has made us children of God, not on the basis of our actions, but solely on the basis of God’s grace. Paul has made this clear in the first two chapters of Ephesians, but in receiving this status we have inherited huge responsibilities as well. You and I are Christians. We are now called to live up to the responsibilities and calling of our new position or status as children of God, and similar to motherhood, how we respond will be in proportion to our commitment and understanding of the Christian life. In these last three chapters of Ephesians, Paul is explaining what it means to be a Christian, so we can understand it, and as we better understand it we are then also being exhorted to do it. Christians should be Christians, in both their position and their practice.
Last week we looked at the model of Christ’s love from Ephesians 5:1, 2 – Christ shows us how to love in His person and in His work. We also looked at the misrepresentation of love by the unbelieving world around us in verses 3 – 7. As Christians we are called to put off false love and put on true love. This morning I want to look at the movement of love – that is the way we are to manifest the love of Christ in our lives as Christians. So let’s begin this morning with verses 8 – 14 of Ephesians 5:
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said, “Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
The theme of this section is “Living in the light of Christ’s salvation” and again we reminded of the difference between believers and unbelievers. Paul tells us that it’s like the difference between light and darkness. The contrast is vivid; and the contrast is specifically between where we once were – darkness; and where we are now in Christ – light. Christ’s love has shined upon us; He has woken us up from our spiritual slumber, and raised us from the dead – that is our spiritual deadness due to sin – and made us alive. Thus the first point we see is that Christ has transferred our loyalty. As Peter said, “God has called us out of darkness and into His wonderful light.” As I mentioned in my introduction, God has changed our status or position, as well as our allegiance. Paul reminds us in verse 8 of Ephesians 5 that “light” is now our status; and we have this status according to Colossians 1:13 because – “God has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of His Son.”
It’s appropriate that Paul uses the word “light” in exhorting us to life a life of love, because throughout the Scripture light symbolizes truth and holiness. God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all. The light of His Word reveals to us His truth and His holiness. In contrast to this, “darkness” often symbolizes ignorance and evil, thus through our faith in Christ – our conversion – God has moved us into a new position, and given us a new loyalty; and a new awareness of sin, and a new call to live in truth and in holiness. For light also exposes the darkness of deceit and disobedience. We see and experience the work of the kingdom of darkness in the unbelieving world around us. We talked about this last week in the context of love – the misrepresentation of love; the false expressions of love – and how as Christians we are to reject such things, and even as light in a dark room, we should expose it. Paul says the best way to expose it is to live in the light – the last phrase of verse 8 – “Live as children of the light.”
Secondly, not only has Christ transferred our loyalty, but He is transforming our lifestyle – “Live as children of the light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord.” Our goal should not longer to first please ourselves, but it should be to please the Lord. And we do this by putting on the new characteristics of Christ-likeness in our lives. Paul calls this the “fruit of the light” and the three words or qualities Paul mentions here summarize or encapsulate our relationships as Christians. First, goodness – a spiritual or moral excellence towards others. Second, righteousness – a steadfastness towards God and His truth. Third, truth – the integrity and honesty you have towards your self. Christ transforms us in these three relationships. Paul expands on this fruit in Galatians 5 when he speaks about the fruit of the Spirit, and how these Christ-like attitudes and actions are set in contrast to the attitudes and actions of the sinful nature.
In Romans 13 Paul says, “Let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.” Paul uses the metaphor of armor because living the Christian life is at times a battle. Spiritual transformation is a process of putting off the old and putting on the new. Clothe yourselves with Christ. Jesus told us in John 8, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” As Christians we have been rescued and delivered from the realm of darkness, and have been given the light of new life by following Jesus Christ. We are now called to walk in this light; to live in the light of Christ’s salvation. In verse 11 Paul points out to us that our lives testify to a change of status and a new way of life. Verse 11 – “Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness.” We are to be fruitful as Christians, and it’s the fruit of our Christian lifestyle that exposes the darkness.
Christ not only transferred our loyalty and is now transforming our lifestyle, but thirdly He makes transparent our love – verse 13 – “But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is light the makes everything visible.” Transparency means that you can “see-through” and see the real thing. Paul is saying that the fruit of light demonstrates our love. When we live out these characteristics in our lives it becomes evident and clear to the people around us that Christ has changed our lives; and this change explicitly exposes the darkness of sin and unbelief. Jesus said, “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden . . . Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”
Our lifestyle should speak against sin and the deeds of darkness, because we speak for our Savior Jesus Christ and the fruit of light. And so in both our words and deeds we are to be shining the light of Christ’s love on dark and dead people. This is why it is said, “Wake up O sleeper, rise from the dead and Christ will shine on you.” It’s God’s love through Christ that woke us up from spiritual deadness and brought us into the light of salvation. As God’s redeemed people we are to shine the light of the gospel into people eyes and into people’s lives.
In the next section of Ephesians 5 Paul teaches us that in order to live in the light effectively as Christians we must be living in the power of the Holy Spirit. The one who provides the fruit of the light – the Spirit of God – is the same one who gives us the ability and the power to apply this fruit to our lives. So let’s hear what Paul says about this in verses 15 – 21 of Ephesians chapter 5:
Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
God has turned the light on in our hearts, and has given us spiritual fruit to live in the light, and has called us to shine forth His light; and so now Paul gives us some very specific ways in which we are to do this as Christians. Last week in Sunday school we were reminded by CS Lewis of the “cardinal virtues” and the first one was prudence. His definition of prudence was, “practical, common sense, taking the trouble to think out what you are doing and what is likely to come of it.” Well, this is exactly what Paul calls us to do in verses 15 – 17: We are called to make prudent selections. Verse 15 – “Be very careful, then how you live – not as unwise but as wise.” A prudent person is a wise person. The Christian is to make wise selections or choices in how they live, not unwise or foolish decisions. Paul is calling us to think through each decision that we make and the consequences or possible results of these decisions. We should start every decision-making process by turning on the light of God’s Word. “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.”
The wise person is alert and careful. In other words we are to pay attention to the circumstances and people around us; and pressures or temptations of the darkness that seek to influence our decision making. We need to realize that the days are evil – meaning that sin and Satan do not take days off, thus as Christians we need to be on top of our game all of the time – we are to make the most of every opportunity God gives us to shine the light of Christ, through the choices and decisions that we make. The wise person is the one who “redeems” the time, and knows God’s will. We “buy back” or exchange the time God gives us by understanding and doing His will. As Paul said back in verse 10 – we find out what pleases the Lord, and we choose to do it.
In I Thessalonians chapter 5 Paul tells us that the person who lives in the light of Christ is the one who makes prudent decisions. He says, “You are sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. (We have been delivered and transferred out of this kingdom) So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.” Again, practice your position. Live is a way that is consistent with you status as a Christians. The key to doing this is found in verse 18 of Ephesians 5 – we are called to be filled with the Spirit – “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.”
You will notice that Paul purposefully associates drunkenness with the darkness in the I Thessalonians passage I just referred to and in this passage, not because it’s the worst sin, but because it makes a powerful and vivid point about what as Christians should control our lives and our decision-making process. To be filled with the Spirit means to be continually led and controlled by the Holy Spirit, who we possess by faith. This leads to fruit – fruitful characteristics and activities in our lives – in contrast to debauchery, which means wickedness or corruption or self-indulgence characterizing your life. As Christians we possess the Holy Spirit; He is the gift of Christ who indwells us by faith, so we don’t need more of the Spirit, we need to access the power of the Spirit. We grieve the Holy Spirit when we make foolish choices; when we are not alert or careful; when we don’t seek God’s will or choose not to follow it.
Paul’s exhortation to be Spirit-filled does not mean that you should speak in languages no one understands; it does not mean that you get some spiritual “high” based on some bizarre experience, but it means that our lives are moving in the direction of obedience to God, based upon His Word, through our worship and our witness and our service. In order to be filled with the Spirit you don’t sit in a corner and pray for an “experience” instead you read God’s Word, you pray and you obey it and live it out in your life. In this passage Paul specifically tells us that the Spirit-filled life leads to fellowship, worship and thanksgiving. Speak to one another in positive and beneficial ways; sing to the Lord; and give thanks for everything.
This Spirit-filled life is in contrast to the pagan religions and rituals within the first century culture. Pagan religions used alcohol and drunkenness as a way to communicate with the gods. Paul addresses this in I Corinthians 10 and 11, when people were coming to the Lord’s Supper drunk. They were mixing the Lord’s cup with the demon cup of drunkenness. In contrast to false or idol worship – which misuses wine – we are to worship in truth by being filled with the Spirit. The Spirit not only affects our worship but He affects every relationship, as Paul will begin to address in verse 22, but before he does he reminds us in verse 21 that we are called to mutual submission – “Submit to one another our of reverence for Christ.” As Christians we are to be clothed in humility and respect for each other. This forms the foundation for the fruit of the Spirit and is a fundamental principle of being filled with the Spirit.
The word “submission” often has negative connotations today because it’s wrongly defined and misused by many in our culture, but when we understand it and see it in the context of love, and in the context of the church, and in the context of the Spirit-filled life, it becomes a positive and practical truth. As we will see in these next sections, mutual submission is essential in all our relationships; and how we practice this will determine how good or bad those relationships may be.
Someone once said that as Christians we are often like the Amish farmer who won a car and then hooked his horse to the bumper to pull him around. Let us put off the old way of life, and put on the new way of life by being filled with the Spirit and live effectively in the light of our salvation.
©You’re welcome to recycle these resources for your church free of charge. However, if you find them useful, please consider making a donation to the ministry of GCC
Pastor Dennis Bone
5/9/10
THE MOVEMENT OF LOVE 5-9-10
Mother’s Day illustrates for us the difference between having a certain status or position – like status of mother – and the responsibility that goes with this status. A mother is honored, and the day celebrated, simply by virtue of the fact that she had a child or children. She is a mother. God calls us to honor our mothers, not on the basis of their actions, but on the basis of their position. But we all know that a woman who has motherhood status also has inherited huge responsibilities. Thus how they respond to this new status, and how they seek to live up to the responsibilities of this new position, will vary in proportion to their commitment and understanding of motherhood. Mothers should be mothers, in both their position and in their practice.
God has given us the status of “Christian” by virtue of our faith in Jesus Christ. Christ has made us children of God, not on the basis of our actions, but solely on the basis of God’s grace. Paul has made this clear in the first two chapters of Ephesians, but in receiving this status we have inherited huge responsibilities as well. You and I are Christians. We are now called to live up to the responsibilities and calling of our new position or status as children of God, and similar to motherhood, how we respond will be in proportion to our commitment and understanding of the Christian life. In these last three chapters of Ephesians, Paul is explaining what it means to be a Christian, so we can understand it, and as we better understand it we are then also being exhorted to do it. Christians should be Christians, in both their position and their practice.
Last week we looked at the model of Christ’s love from Ephesians 5:1, 2 – Christ shows us how to love in His person and in His work. We also looked at the misrepresentation of love by the unbelieving world around us in verses 3 – 7. As Christians we are called to put off false love and put on true love. This morning I want to look at the movement of love – that is the way we are to manifest the love of Christ in our lives as Christians. So let’s begin this morning with verses 8 – 14 of Ephesians 5:
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said, “Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
The theme of this section is “Living in the light of Christ’s salvation” and again we reminded of the difference between believers and unbelievers. Paul tells us that it’s like the difference between light and darkness. The contrast is vivid; and the contrast is specifically between where we once were – darkness; and where we are now in Christ – light. Christ’s love has shined upon us; He has woken us up from our spiritual slumber, and raised us from the dead – that is our spiritual deadness due to sin – and made us alive. Thus the first point we see is that Christ has transferred our loyalty. As Peter said, “God has called us out of darkness and into His wonderful light.” As I mentioned in my introduction, God has changed our status or position, as well as our allegiance. Paul reminds us in verse 8 of Ephesians 5 that “light” is now our status; and we have this status according to Colossians 1:13 because – “God has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of His Son.”
It’s appropriate that Paul uses the word “light” in exhorting us to life a life of love, because throughout the Scripture light symbolizes truth and holiness. God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all. The light of His Word reveals to us His truth and His holiness. In contrast to this, “darkness” often symbolizes ignorance and evil, thus through our faith in Christ – our conversion – God has moved us into a new position, and given us a new loyalty; and a new awareness of sin, and a new call to live in truth and in holiness. For light also exposes the darkness of deceit and disobedience. We see and experience the work of the kingdom of darkness in the unbelieving world around us. We talked about this last week in the context of love – the misrepresentation of love; the false expressions of love – and how as Christians we are to reject such things, and even as light in a dark room, we should expose it. Paul says the best way to expose it is to live in the light – the last phrase of verse 8 – “Live as children of the light.”
Secondly, not only has Christ transferred our loyalty, but He is transforming our lifestyle – “Live as children of the light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord.” Our goal should not longer to first please ourselves, but it should be to please the Lord. And we do this by putting on the new characteristics of Christ-likeness in our lives. Paul calls this the “fruit of the light” and the three words or qualities Paul mentions here summarize or encapsulate our relationships as Christians. First, goodness – a spiritual or moral excellence towards others. Second, righteousness – a steadfastness towards God and His truth. Third, truth – the integrity and honesty you have towards your self. Christ transforms us in these three relationships. Paul expands on this fruit in Galatians 5 when he speaks about the fruit of the Spirit, and how these Christ-like attitudes and actions are set in contrast to the attitudes and actions of the sinful nature.
In Romans 13 Paul says, “Let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.” Paul uses the metaphor of armor because living the Christian life is at times a battle. Spiritual transformation is a process of putting off the old and putting on the new. Clothe yourselves with Christ. Jesus told us in John 8, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” As Christians we have been rescued and delivered from the realm of darkness, and have been given the light of new life by following Jesus Christ. We are now called to walk in this light; to live in the light of Christ’s salvation. In verse 11 Paul points out to us that our lives testify to a change of status and a new way of life. Verse 11 – “Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness.” We are to be fruitful as Christians, and it’s the fruit of our Christian lifestyle that exposes the darkness.
Christ not only transferred our loyalty and is now transforming our lifestyle, but thirdly He makes transparent our love – verse 13 – “But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is light the makes everything visible.” Transparency means that you can “see-through” and see the real thing. Paul is saying that the fruit of light demonstrates our love. When we live out these characteristics in our lives it becomes evident and clear to the people around us that Christ has changed our lives; and this change explicitly exposes the darkness of sin and unbelief. Jesus said, “You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden . . . Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”
Our lifestyle should speak against sin and the deeds of darkness, because we speak for our Savior Jesus Christ and the fruit of light. And so in both our words and deeds we are to be shining the light of Christ’s love on dark and dead people. This is why it is said, “Wake up O sleeper, rise from the dead and Christ will shine on you.” It’s God’s love through Christ that woke us up from spiritual deadness and brought us into the light of salvation. As God’s redeemed people we are to shine the light of the gospel into people eyes and into people’s lives.
In the next section of Ephesians 5 Paul teaches us that in order to live in the light effectively as Christians we must be living in the power of the Holy Spirit. The one who provides the fruit of the light – the Spirit of God – is the same one who gives us the ability and the power to apply this fruit to our lives. So let’s hear what Paul says about this in verses 15 – 21 of Ephesians chapter 5:
Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.
God has turned the light on in our hearts, and has given us spiritual fruit to live in the light, and has called us to shine forth His light; and so now Paul gives us some very specific ways in which we are to do this as Christians. Last week in Sunday school we were reminded by CS Lewis of the “cardinal virtues” and the first one was prudence. His definition of prudence was, “practical, common sense, taking the trouble to think out what you are doing and what is likely to come of it.” Well, this is exactly what Paul calls us to do in verses 15 – 17: We are called to make prudent selections. Verse 15 – “Be very careful, then how you live – not as unwise but as wise.” A prudent person is a wise person. The Christian is to make wise selections or choices in how they live, not unwise or foolish decisions. Paul is calling us to think through each decision that we make and the consequences or possible results of these decisions. We should start every decision-making process by turning on the light of God’s Word. “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.”
The wise person is alert and careful. In other words we are to pay attention to the circumstances and people around us; and pressures or temptations of the darkness that seek to influence our decision making. We need to realize that the days are evil – meaning that sin and Satan do not take days off, thus as Christians we need to be on top of our game all of the time – we are to make the most of every opportunity God gives us to shine the light of Christ, through the choices and decisions that we make. The wise person is the one who “redeems” the time, and knows God’s will. We “buy back” or exchange the time God gives us by understanding and doing His will. As Paul said back in verse 10 – we find out what pleases the Lord, and we choose to do it.
In I Thessalonians chapter 5 Paul tells us that the person who lives in the light of Christ is the one who makes prudent decisions. He says, “You are sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. (We have been delivered and transferred out of this kingdom) So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.” Again, practice your position. Live is a way that is consistent with you status as a Christians. The key to doing this is found in verse 18 of Ephesians 5 – we are called to be filled with the Spirit – “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.”
You will notice that Paul purposefully associates drunkenness with the darkness in the I Thessalonians passage I just referred to and in this passage, not because it’s the worst sin, but because it makes a powerful and vivid point about what as Christians should control our lives and our decision-making process. To be filled with the Spirit means to be continually led and controlled by the Holy Spirit, who we possess by faith. This leads to fruit – fruitful characteristics and activities in our lives – in contrast to debauchery, which means wickedness or corruption or self-indulgence characterizing your life. As Christians we possess the Holy Spirit; He is the gift of Christ who indwells us by faith, so we don’t need more of the Spirit, we need to access the power of the Spirit. We grieve the Holy Spirit when we make foolish choices; when we are not alert or careful; when we don’t seek God’s will or choose not to follow it.
Paul’s exhortation to be Spirit-filled does not mean that you should speak in languages no one understands; it does not mean that you get some spiritual “high” based on some bizarre experience, but it means that our lives are moving in the direction of obedience to God, based upon His Word, through our worship and our witness and our service. In order to be filled with the Spirit you don’t sit in a corner and pray for an “experience” instead you read God’s Word, you pray and you obey it and live it out in your life. In this passage Paul specifically tells us that the Spirit-filled life leads to fellowship, worship and thanksgiving. Speak to one another in positive and beneficial ways; sing to the Lord; and give thanks for everything.
This Spirit-filled life is in contrast to the pagan religions and rituals within the first century culture. Pagan religions used alcohol and drunkenness as a way to communicate with the gods. Paul addresses this in I Corinthians 10 and 11, when people were coming to the Lord’s Supper drunk. They were mixing the Lord’s cup with the demon cup of drunkenness. In contrast to false or idol worship – which misuses wine – we are to worship in truth by being filled with the Spirit. The Spirit not only affects our worship but He affects every relationship, as Paul will begin to address in verse 22, but before he does he reminds us in verse 21 that we are called to mutual submission – “Submit to one another our of reverence for Christ.” As Christians we are to be clothed in humility and respect for each other. This forms the foundation for the fruit of the Spirit and is a fundamental principle of being filled with the Spirit.
The word “submission” often has negative connotations today because it’s wrongly defined and misused by many in our culture, but when we understand it and see it in the context of love, and in the context of the church, and in the context of the Spirit-filled life, it becomes a positive and practical truth. As we will see in these next sections, mutual submission is essential in all our relationships; and how we practice this will determine how good or bad those relationships may be.
Someone once said that as Christians we are often like the Amish farmer who won a car and then hooked his horse to the bumper to pull him around. Let us put off the old way of life, and put on the new way of life by being filled with the Spirit and live effectively in the light of our salvation.
©You’re welcome to recycle these resources for your church free of charge. However, if you find them useful, please consider making a donation to the ministry of GCC
