Free Bible Commentary
“Ephesians 5:11-14”
Categories: Ephesians“Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. For this reason it says, ‘Awake, sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.’”
--- End of Scripture verses---
Light and darkness cannot coexist. If we are truly light in Christ then we can have no part with the “unfruitful deeds of darkness” (verse 12). The Apostle Paul asked some rhetorical questions in 2 Corinthians 6:14-16: “Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols?” There is no partnership, fellowship, harmony, commonality, agreement between those who are walking in the light and those who are walking in the darkness of sin; and there certainly can be no participation.
That is not to say that we should not help the people who are fumbling in the darkness to see the light of truth and be saved. We should shine our light in their lives in such a way that “exposes” people’s sinful deeds as evil and unacceptable. This should be done with our words and our actions (or inactions). The goal is not only to “reprove them” (KJV), but to make their misdeeds “visible” (verse 13) so that they can actually observe their “unfruitful deeds” for what they are, and actually see how God sees them in His perfect light.
When Jesus blinded Saul, before he became the Apostle Paul, on the road to Damascus, He said to him: “But get up and stand on your feet; for this purpose I have appeared to you, to appoint you a minister and a witness not only to the things which you have seen, but also to the things in which I will appear to you; rescuing you from the Jewish people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you, to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.” (Acts 26:16-18)
When we live in the death-grip of sin and error we are aimlessly sleepwalking through life, and that walk only leads to eternal darkness and death! It is time to wake up “and arise from the dead” (verse 14)! Christ died and arose from the dead to defeat sin and to shine His light on us! In Him is life and His life is the light of men (John 1:4)! He is “the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man” (John 1:9)! Jesus said, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life” (John 8:12). Please do not choose the darkness of death over the Light of life!
Please read Ephesians 5:15-17 for tomorrow.
Have a great day!
Share
