An exposition of Eph 5:8-14, especially v. 11, "have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, BUT RATHER REPROVE THEM."
Intro It is never easy to live as Christians in the world to the glory of God. But “I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one” (John 17:15). “As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world” (Jn 17:18).
We are called to walk in the world as children of light to the glory of God. How can we do so?
1. Consecration (v. 7-11a) The three principles at work again: (1) You ARE light, BE children of light (2) Pleasing vs. grieving (v. 10): find out what pleases Him (3) Exchange (v. 11): Have nothing to do … but rather …
2. Confrontation (v. 11b-14) • elegcho means, “to disgrace or put to shame, or to reprove or convict or expose.” • Lev 19:17, where the very same word is used in the Greek translation, “You shall surely rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him.” • Lk 3:19, “But Herod the tetrarch, being REBUKED by him … put John up in prison.”
Warnings 1. Don't forget the context We just read that we're to speak the truth in love (4:15, see whole chapter esp 4:29-32)
2. Don't forget the gospel (v. 14) See Acts 20:21
Application: The Fear of Man a Snare True courage is not the absence of fear—but the willingness to proceed in spite of it.
C. S. Lewis says it's, “the form of every virtue at the testing point."
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