Sermon Central
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Walking As Children Of Light
Contributed by Bishop Prof. Julius Soyinka on Aug 6, 2021 (message contributor)
Summary: In this world of sin and darkness, the believers have been called out of darkness to live a life reflecting the work of grace, and to shine forth as light in the midst of the dark world.
WALKING AS CHILDREN OF LIGHT
Study Text: Ephesians 5: 8 - 14
Introduction:
- The theme of light and darkness is prominent throughout the Bible. Darkness symbolizes Satan’s evil domain and the sinful deeds of those who do not obey God.
- It also represents the spiritual ignorance of those whose sin has blinded their eyes from the light of God’s truth (Ephesians 4:18; 2 Corinthians 4:4).
- Light pictures the knowledge of the truth that comes when God shines into our lives. (2 Corinthians 4:6). Light also pictures the holiness of God, who dwells in unapproachable light (1 Tim. 6:16).
- We live in a hard, dark world, a world that is dominated and driven by sin. In the midst of that darkness and depravity, God has redeemed a people. He has redeemed a people that He expects to be different. He has redeemed a people He has empowered to be different.
- So as believers, we are called to walk in the light, just as He Himself is in the light (1 John 1:7), living with every area of our lives exposed to God.
- We shall be discussing the topic under three subheadings:
1. Our Glorious Change: From Darkness To Light
2. Our Golden Conduct: The Fruit Of The Spirit
3. Our Gracious Command: Walk As Children Of Light
1. Our Glorious Change: From Darkness To Light
a. Our Initial Situation: Darkness
- We “were sometimes darkness.” This means that we were lost and in the darkness of sin and depravity.
- We were blinded by the god of this world, 2 Corinthians 4:4.
- We lived like every other lost person, and we enjoyed it, Ephesians 2:1-3.
- We were enslaved to sin. We knew nothing else. We wanted nothing else. We were lost in the dark and headed to Hell. We lived like the lost people we were.
b. Our New Situation: Light
- We “are light in the Lord.” When the Lord saved us, He delivered us from darkness. Colossians 1:13
- When the Lord delivered us from darkness, He set us free from the power of sin. He has changed and made us children of the light.
- Since we have been changed, we are to walk in the light and no longer in the darkness that once characterized us. Romans 13:12-14
- Our lives once manifested the works of the world, the flesh and the devil. Sin was a way of life for us. Darkness was where we lived, and what we loved.
- By the power of grace, the Lord has touched us, saved us, delivered us and changed us. He has brought us out of darkness into His marvelous light. 1 Peter 2:9.
- Since that is true, we are to “walk as children of light.” How do we do that? We do that by avoiding sinful thinking and sinful living. We do it by surrendering our all to the Spirit of God, Who will produce within us the “peaceable fruit of righteousness.”
- We have been changed, and we should live different lives. If we are truly saved, and if we have been truly changed, then holiness should be a way of life for us. 2 Corinthians 5:17
2. Our Golden Conduct: The Fruit Of The Spirit
- If we are truly saved, and walking in the light, it will be clear from the life we live. Paul says the “fruit of the Spirit” is seen in three ways:
a. It is seen in Goodness
- It speaks of godliness in the motives, thoughts and actions. This has to do with our treatment of others.
- When we practice “goodness,” we are walking in love to those around us. We are being God-like toward them, as we treat them like God treats us.
b. It is seen in Righteousness
- This word refers to our standing before the Lord. When He saved us, God declared us righteous. He took away all our guilt, imputed the righteousness of Christ to us, and made us holy in His sight.
- Righteousness is seen in our lives when we live out the reality of who we are, and what we have been made in Christ Jesus.
- It speaks of a godliness that makes a life as being different and as belonging to the Lord, when compared with the life that is not connected with God.
c. It is seen in Truth
- This word has to do with honesty, reliability, and trustworthiness. When this quality is seen in the life of a believer, it distinguishes him from the hypocritical, deceptive and false ways of the world.
- “Goodness” deals with our relationship with others.
- “Righteousness” deals with our relationship with God.
- “Truth” deals with the personal integrity of our own lives.
