Live as Children of Light – Ephesians 5.8-14

Once you were darkness, but now in the Lord you are light. You were dead through the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the ruler of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work among those who are disobedient. The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light, to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in Christ. Jesus spoke, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life. The light is in you for a little longer. Walk while you have the light, so that the darkness may not overtake you. If you walk in the darkness, you do not know where you are going. While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become children of light.” Therefore, walk as children of light, giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

The fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true. I feel confident about you, my brothers and sisters, that you are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able to instruct one another. For you have died to the law through the body of Christ that you may belong to another, to Him who was raised from the dead in order that we may bear fruit for God. You can recognize believers by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Thus, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit. A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore, you will recognize them by their fruits. Now the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Try to learn what is pleasing to the Lord just as God has approved us to be entrusted with the message of the gospel, even so we speak, not to please mortals but to please God, who tests our hearts. Therefore, test everything; hold fast to what is good. Do not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of the mind, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness but instead expose them. Moses spoke the word of God, saying, “You shall not hate in your heart anyone of your kin; you shall reprove your neighbor, or you will incur guilt yourself.” What fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? But give thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. Sexual immorality and impurity of any kind or greed must not even be mentioned among you, as is proper among saints. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest their works should be exposed. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their works have been carried out in God. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible.

For everything that becomes visible is light. Therefore, it says, “Sleeper, awake! Rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. Your dead shall live; their bodies shall rise. You who dwell in the dust, awake and sing for joy! For your dew is a dew of light, and the earth will give birth to the dead. You who revere the name of the Lord, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall. “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.” The hour has come for you to wake up from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed.