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Living as Lights
Eph. 5:8-14
Introduction
The Word of God says a lot to say about light and darkness. The Lord Jesus Christ mentioned many
things about light and darkness. The apostles in their Epistles as well, made comparisons about light
and darkness. The Old testament also had made contrasts between light and darkness. Our text
today tells how Paul likens our former nature and conduct as “darkness,” contrasting our nature and
conduct as Christians by likening it to “light.” Unsaved people are in “darkness” while saved people
are in the “light”. Let’s see what Paul through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit wants us to do.
I. Live as light in the world (Eph. 5:8, Mat. 5:14)
A. Before coming to Christ, we were once “darkness” (Eph. 2:1-3); but now we are
“light in the Lord” and should walk as “children of light”. Eph. 5:8).
B. The “fruit” expected of those “children of light” is “goodness, righteousness and
truth” (Eph. 5:9)
C. By bearing such fruit, we fulfil our role as “light” by “proving” (showing) what is wellpleasing
to the Lord (Eph. 5:10)
D. We as children of light have a responsibility to show to the world what is to be the
real follower of Christ. It is a big responsibility.
1. It must be shown in our character. Visible change that can be noticed and
observed by people who knows you when you were not yet saved in contrast
now that you are saved.
a. That includes living a holy life.
b. Serving the Lord faithfully
c. Being a good example to others that when they look at you, they are
attracted and wants to be like you on how you live.
d. Being a blessing to others that Christ will always be glorified.
e. Truthfulness in our speech and in what we teach
Illustration: God’s Sword
I know you will apply hard to German, but do not forget the culture of the inner man—I mean of the
heart. How diligently the cavalry officer keeps his sabre clean and sharp; every stain he rubs off with
the greatest care. Remember you are God’s sword, His instrument—I trust, a chosen vessel unto Him
to bear His name. In great measure, according to the purity and perfection of the instrument, will be
the success. It is not great talents God blesses so much as likeness to Jesus. A holy minister is an
awful weapon in the hand of God.
Robert Murray McCheyne, to a young ministerial student
II. Live a Separated life (Eph. 5:11-14)
A. We must separate ourselves from all forms of evil
B. There were three basic areas of separation:
1. Moral Separation-separation from sin and worldliness;
a. Moral separation involves rebuke of sin (Eph. 5:11).
b. Moral separation means being different-not avoiding sinners, but avoiding
sin (Eph. 5:11). The Christian is not told to avoid the sinner, but the sinner’s
works.
c. Moral separation means doing the perfect will of God (Eph. 5:10,17).
d. Moral separation can only be done in the power of the Holy Spirit (Eph.
5:18).
2. Doctrinal Separation-separation from those whose teaching and practice is
contrary to that of the apostles.
a. We are to separate from those who teach false doctrines. (Rom. 16:17).
b. Important doctrines that are to be the basis of separation:
i. Doctrine regarding Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit, and Salvation is to
be a basis for separation (2 Cor. 11:3-4).
ii. Doctrine regarding prophecy and future things, such as the
resurrection and death is to be a basis for separation (2Tim. 2:16-
18).
iii. Doctrine regarding the church is to be a basis for separation (1Tim.
3:15; 6:13-14,20-21).
iv. Doctrine regarding holy living is to be a basis for separation (1Tim.
6:3-5).
c. I would include the identity of professing Christians yet teaches doctrines
contrary to the Word of God. This includes the Roman Catholic Church,
Jehovah’s Witnesses, Seventh Day Adventists, Iglesia ni Cristo, Church of
Christ, Worldwide Church of God, Family of God, Mormons, Anglicans,
Lutherans, etc., even Pentecostals.
3. Practical Separation-separation from brethren who are committed to
disobedient paths.
a. The Bible commands Christians to separate even from those who give
evidence of having been born again, yet who refuse to follow the teachings
of the Apostles in matters of practice and Christian living. Yes, there is a time
when we are to separate even from our own brethren (1Cor. 5:11; 1Tim.
6:5; Mt. 18:15-18).
C. We have a duty to expose false teachers in order to protect the flock of God.
Illustration 1: Not Isolated but Insulated
“We are not to be isolated but insulated,” said Vance Havner, “moving in the midst of evil but
untouched by it.” Separation is contact without contamination. Jesus was “holy, harmless, undefiled,
separate from sinners” (Heb. 7:26), yet He was “a friend of tax collectors and sinners” (Luke 7:34).
The Integrity Crisis by Warren W. Wiersbe, Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1991, p. 81
Illustration 2: Separation from the Unclean Thing
The doctrine of separation from “the unclean thing” is neglected today by professing Christians, but
it is still here in God’s Word. The context indicates that Paul is warning against Christians being
“unequally yoked together with unbelievers” and urging us to “cleanse ourselves from all filthiness
of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (II Cor. 6:14, 7:1).Such separation does
not mean having no contact at all with unbelievers, “for then must ye needs go out of the world” (I
Cor. 5:10), whereas Jesus commanded: “Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every
creature” (Mark 16:15). He also prayed to the Father “not that Thou shouldest take them out of the
world, but that Thou shouldest keep them from the evil” (John 17:15).
He does demand, however, that we not compromise with unbelief or with the unclean thing. We are
“born again” into the family of God through simple faith in the person and saving work of Christ, but
the full manifestation and fellowship of our relation with the heavenly Father as His spiritual sons
and daughters is evidently, in this passage, conditioned on the vital principle of separation from all
unbelief and filthiness of the flesh, with Jesus as our example (Heb. 7:16).
We are specially warned to “turn away” from those who, “having a form of godliness,” yet attempt
to accommodate the naturalistic viewpoint of modern scientism within the Scriptures, thus “denying
the power thereof” (II Tim. 3.5). “Be ye separate, saith the Lord.”
Source unknown
III. Conclusion:
As children of God, we must live as children of lights. We must separate from all works
of darkness even to professing Christians who teaches doctrines contrary to the Word of
God. Will you obey God’s word in living as children of lights? We you live a separated life
also for the sake of the Lord?

Page separation