Ep 585 – Ephesians 5:1-17

Light and dark. Sin and righteousness. These are key themes in Paul's letter as he addresses the believers in Ephesus. He is calling them to live according to their calling as sons and daughters of God. They are to be holy as God is holy. They are to live righteously, according to the power of the Holy Spirit who dwells within them. In fact, Paul tells them that they are to imitate God. That's a lofty ideal. But even more than that, they are to love in the same way that Christ did: Sacrificially and selflessly. Their lives are to be dramatically different than those of the lost who live all around them. Darkness and unrighteousness characterized their pagan neighbors who knew nothing about Jesus Christ and were still separated from God because of their sins. But they had been brought near by the grace of God and been made children of God. So, in Ephesians 5:1-14, Paul calls on them to as lights in the midst of a dark world. They were to expose sin by living in the light of God's Word and in the power of God's Spirit. Their righteous behavior would act as a bright light, illuminating the darkness and decadence that permeated their city, resulting in conviction of sin and attracting others to the forgiveness available in Christ.