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Ephesians 5816

Ephesians 5816 Ephesians 5: 8-16 is about how we are the light and the hope of the world. This passage tells of how we need to live with righteousness and truth. It explains of how we must not have anything to do with fruitless deeds, but instead we should expose them to the light. For this, in turn, will make the darkness visible and the light will wake up the disobedient. It also instructs us to live a wise life and to make the most out of every opportunity we have. This passage has great meaning and speaks to us all. 1. We were at one time darkness but now we are light in the Lord and we must live like it. (Ephesians 5: 8-9) 2. Discover what satisfies the Lord. (Ephesians 5: 10) 3. We not participate in any wrong doings, but we should bring them into the light to expose them. (Ephesians 5: 11) 4. Mentioning what the defiant do in concealment is shameful, however we must make the mutiny visible through the light. (Ephesians 5: 12-13) 5. The light will wake up the disobedient and Christ will shine on them. (Ephesians 5: 14) 6. We must be wise in how we live, taking advantage of every opportunity we are given, for the days are evil. (Ephesians 5: 15-16) In the beginning of the letter of Ephesians it states that Paul was the author. Even though the letter states this, it has been questioned if Paul was really the author. It is expected that Paul wrote the letter near the time he wrote the letter to the Colossians, and probably was still in jail. “The canonicity of Ephesians has never been in dispute. Its title appears among the titles in every known list since Marion’s Insrumentum of A.D. 140”(Wood, 19). At this time the people were not exactly sure of their purpose and Paul helped them realize what it is that God expects of them. The people were in a world of confusion, they did not know what to believe. This letter is Different than a lot of the writings from Paul. Many of Paul’s writings were critical of the churches when they strayed from what God wanted. However, the purpose of this letter was to create a stronger base of understanding, an understanding of God’s purpose and what he wants from us. Paul wrote the letter of Ephesians to assist the people in the understanding of the dimensions of God’s eternal purpose and grace. He also wrote this letter so that the people would recognize the high goals he had for the church. Leading up to Ephesians 5: 8-16, Paul says to be imitators of God. He teaches how to live a life of love by being moral, pure, and unselfish. Ephesians 5: 8-16 continues to tell how to be an imitator of God and live in the light of the Lord. This passage is greatly important because it is about how we are the children of light and how we need to carry out our lives. 1. We were at one time darkness but now we are light in the Lord and we must live like it. (Ephesians 5: 8-9) 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) (Ephesians 5: 8-9). “Here Paul enlarges on the contrast between darkness and light” (Wood, 69). They were not in the dark and then in the light. They were the dark and then they were the light. Darkness refers to when they were lost and did not know the Lord. They were the light when they were saved and became one in Christ. “The whole paragraph plays on the rich symbolism of darkness and light, ‘darkness’ representing ignorance, error and evil, ‘light’ representing truth and righteousness” (Stott, 199). The word, you, refers to the Christians back then and also the present-day Christians. To live as a child of the light you must have goodness, righteousness, and truth. “Goodness is the achievement of moral excellence combined with a generous spirit. Righteousness was understood by the Greeks as giving all their due. Truth was to put all your trust in God” (Wood, 70). 2. Discover what satisfies the Lord. (Ephesians 5: 10) And find out what pleases the Lord (Ephesians 5:10). This verse is saying that once a person is saved they still have to search to uncover what God wants. “Although part of the process of becoming a Christian is the acceptance of the truth as it is found in the gospel, the other part is learning by careful thought and experience what it means to be a Christian” (Patzia, 260). This is vital because Christians have to pray and then listen to what God expects from them. 3. We must not participate in any wrong doings, but we should bring them into the light to expose them. (Ephesians 5: 11) Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them (Ephesians 5: 11). This verse says to take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness but to make them indisputable and apparent to the people. “Besides, evil deeds deserve to be exposed, that is, to be unmasked and rebuked” (Stott, 200). This is not saying that Christians should judge other people or other Christians, however it is saying that wrongful deeds should be evident so they will diminish. “The Christian life is not only the avoidance of evil; it is active participation in things that expose evil” (Patzia, 261). 4. Mentioning what the defiant do in concealment is shameful, however we must make the mutiny visible through the light. (Ephesians 5: 12-13) For it is shameful to even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, (Ephesians 5: 12-13). By exposing mistakes and unfruitful deeds, people learn from them and are less likely to proceed in their wrongdoings. “Darkness hides the ugly realities of evil; the light makes them visible. Then evil is seen for what it is without any possibility of concealment or subterfuge” (Stott, 200). Light is known to illuminate things and that is exactly what it does to disobedient acts. “Whatever hidden wickedness is revealed by the light of Christ can no longer be obscured by darkness but is shown up in its real nature” (Wood, 70). 5. The light will wake up the disobedient and Christ will shine on them. (Ephesians 5: 14) 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” (Ephesians 5:14). This verse could have very possibly been a well-known saying in the Christian community at the time this letter was written. It is saying that the light of Christ awakens pagans through the light of other Christians. “This may mean that Christians who lead a righteous life thereby restrain and reform evildoers, yes, and even convert them” (Stott, 211). “Baptism could be seen as the act by which a person awakens from sleep, rises from the dead, and responds to the light of Christ” (Patzia, 261). 6. We must be wise in how we live, taking advantage of every opportunity we are given, for the days are evil. (Ephesians 5: 15-16) Be very careful, then, how you live-not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil (Ephesians 5: 15-16). This is saying that Christians need to take advantage of every chance they are given. To do this a Christian must live wise. “Wisdom, here, as practical dimension, that is, the ability to discern between right and wrong” (Patzia, 263). I believe when it says that the days are evil it means that they are diminishing. “None of us can stretch time. But wise people use it to the fullest possible advantage. They know that time is passing, and also that the days are evil” (Stott, 202). “What is meant is simply to make the best possible use of all circumstances like prudent merchants” (Wood, 71). This passage tells Christians of today that they are the light of the world. If Christians would live Godly lives then other people will recognize this and may also become part of the light. By searching for what God wants from them, they are striving to be an imitator of Christ. Christians are not to participate in disobedience, however they should expose it for the people to see. Exposing disobedience can very well wake up a lost person because now they are visible. Christians today must lead wise lives, which means they must take advantage of every opportunity they have. Christians must do this because the days are fleeting Quickly and they are of the devil. Bibliography:

Word Count: 1486