Walking As Children of God Ephesians 5:1-6:9 Part II
In the Pauline epistles, the word “walking” was used as a metaphor denoting one’s personal conduct. In the first three chapters of this grand book of Ephesians, Paul expounded on the new life of the believers and the new unity they embraced together in the body of Christ. Beginning with chapter 4, the apostle began to apply those truths in a practical way. The word “walk” appears five times in chapters 4 and 5 (4:1, 17; 5:2, 8, 15).
Ephesians 5:1-6:9 may be outlined as follows: I. The Command to Walk in Love – Ephesians 5:1-7; II. The Command to Walk in the Light – Ephesians 5:8-14; III. The Command to Walk in Wisdom – Ephesians 5:15-21; IV. Following Biblical Guidelines for the Family and in Relation to Servants and Masters – Ephesians 5:22-6:9.
- The Command to Walk in the Light – Ephesians 5:8-14
In our former depraved condition, we were in spiritual darkness; however, after receiving Christ, we became “light in the Lord” (v. 8). Now, Paul commands us to “walk as children of light.” Since we belong to the light and possess the light of Christ, we are to conduct our lives in a way that allows light to be clearly seen. The “fruit” or end product of God’s light in us is “goodness and righteousness and truth” (v. 9). These qualities should be present and transparent in the lives of those who claim to be walking in the light (I John 2:9).
In verse 10, believers are to walk as children of light, discerning what pleases the Lord. The word “proving” means to examine, to put to the test, or to verify. We are to be careful in our discernment to seek what God desires and confirming His approval by faithfully obeying His word in all matters. As children of light, we are to “have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness” (v. 11). These works of darkness are immoral and wicked, some of those deeds discussed by Paul in verses 3-5.
Sin in the life of a believer bears no fruit. As believers, we are to reprove the spiritual deeds of darkness. The word “reprove” means to expose something, to show it for what is really is. Exposing sin does not necessarily mean talking about it, “for it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret” (v. 12). As believers, we are to avoid becoming fascinated with what goes on in people’s lives in secret. Such fascination can only bring harm or hurt. Rather than dwelling on the varieties of sin taking place, believers should concentrate on using the light of Christ to make sin’s evil evident to those who practice it.
The things that are to be exposed “are made manifest by the light” (v. 13). Things done in darkness cannot escape the penetration of light when it is turned on. In verse 14, Paul issues an urgent plea for unbelievers to trust Christ and be raised from the deadly grasp of sin. Paul could also be urging believers to emerge completely from his sleep and arise and withdraw from the wicked ways of the company of the spiritually dead.
May God Bless!
