Ephesians 5:8-14
Realize Your Identity (vv. 8-10)
What you were
What you are
What you should do now
Reject the Darkness (vv. 11-12)
Expose the sham of darkness
Escape the shame of darkness
Revive Your Life (vv. 13-14)
Be alert
Be awake
More to Consider
The light of Christ shining anywhere burns with cleansing, purifying transforming power. That light need not be diffused as it shines through “children of the light.” The effect of a Christian life in any community is first to reveal, and in that revealing to “rebuke by exposing.” Then there is this hopeful fact: whatever the light shines on—if it shines clearly enough, consistently enough, and long enough—it must, in the end, transform.
Dunnam, M. D., & Ogilvie, L. J. (1982). Galatians / Ephesians / Philippians / Colossians / Philemon (Vol. 31, p. 219). Thomas Nelson Inc.
In addition to knowing one’s status and knowing and doing what pleases the Lord, enlightened living includes a strict refusal to have any share in what does not please him. The other side of avoiding participation in evil is exposing it, both by refusing to have a part in it and, positively, by doing the deeds which Christ would do; that is, by being a light in dark places (vv. 11–12). To do so has the effect of transforming darkness into light. Hidden dark deeds are exposed for what they are by the light of Christ shining out from his followers (vv. 13–14a). Erickson, R. J. (1995). Ephesians. In Evangelical Commentary on the Bible (Vol. 3, p. 1030). Baker Book House.
Christians are partakers of: (1) the divine nature, 2 Peter 1:4; (2) God’s promises, Eph. 3:6; (3) Christ’s sufferings, 1 Peter 4:13; (4) holiness, Heb. 12:10; (5) the heavenly calling, Heb. 3:1 and (6) God’s glory, 1 Peter 5:1. Since we have this wonderful partnership with God, how could we ever become partners with that which belongs to sin and darkness? “What communion has light with darkness?” asks 2 Cor. 6:14 (NKJV). We are children of light and ought to walk in the light. Darkness produces sin and lies; the fruit of the light (a better translation of v. 9) is goodness, righteousness, and truth. The light cannot compromise with the darkness; it can only expose it. Note John 3:19–21 and 1 John 1:5–10. Wiersbe, W. W. (1992). Wiersbe’s expository outlines on the New Testament (p. 551). Victor Books.
