Series: Ephesians
Title: Reprove with Light
Text: Ephesians 4: 11-20
Date: November 2, 2014
Place: SGBC, New Jersey
Ephesians 5: 11: And have no fellowship with
the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. 12: For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are
done of them in secret. 13: But all things that are reproved are
made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light. 14: Wherefore
he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give
thee light. 15: See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
16: Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
This
word is to the true Disciples of Christ Jesus the Lord, to those whose
salvation is entirely of the LORD.
In
chapter 1, he described us as being chosen of God the Father in Christ and
blessed with all spiritual blessings in him, predestinated unto the adoption of
children and redeemed by the precious blood of Christ. Children of Light are those
in whom God has revealed the mystery of his will which he purposed in himself.
In
chapter 2, he described us as those who were once children of darkness, among
whom we all had our conduct, even as others. Only one made us to differ, “But
God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us.” God quickened us together with Christ his
Son. He gave us the gift of faith, not
of works, but by his grace. By Christ’s work he made us fellowcitizens and of
the household of God. Children of Light are those in whom God dwells in Spirit.
In
chapter 3, he declares that he did so through the light of the gospel: Paul
preached “the unsearchable riches of Christ.” He said that he was sent that
through the gospel all God’s elect might see.
We need Light to see.
In
chapter 4, he encouraged us by speaking of the awesome responsibility and
privilege we have of sending forth the gospel in Light.
In
chapter 5, for the sake of bearing witness of Christ the Light, he gives us particulars
of things to avoid and things to do. Speaking of “the children of disobedience”,
he said, “Be not ye therefore partakers with them. For ye were sometimes
darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light.” (Eph 5:
8) There he spoke of the children of darkness themselves, telling us not to be
partakers with them.
Our text
begins in verse 11. Here he speaks of believers not being in fellowship with
their works. The Holy Spirit says through the apostle Paul, “And have no
fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.” (Eph 5: 11) That is, shine Light
on the unfruitful works of darkness.
Unfruitful
works of darkness include moral, self-righteous, religious, sinful works, as
well as obvious, immoral, sinful works. Here is the chief point. We cannot
bring sinners to the Light of Christ by fellowshipping with the unfruitful
works of darkness but rather we reprove sinners by the Light of the gospel of
Christ.
NO FELLOWSHIP
First,
we are instructed to have no fellowship with them, “And have no fellowship with
the unfruitful works of darkness.” (Eph 5: 11)
At
least, four things are included in having “no fellowship with unfruitful works
of darkness”. The first is obvious, do
not do them.
Two, do
not be an accessory to them. Do not be
accessory to them by provoking or consenting to unfruitful works of
darkness. Also, do not be accessory to
unfruitful works of darkness by failing to prevent or repress them. For
example, Eli’s son’s self-serving, religious sins became Eli’s sin because he
did nothing to stop them. Also, by
applauding works of darkness we become accessory to their sins—“Woe to those
that call evil good, that strengthen the arms of the wicked.” Furthermore, we
become accessory to unfruitful works of darkness by not speaking out against
them. A failure to speak against unfruitful works of darkness gives others the
impression that we approve of them.
Three,
have no fellowship with unfruitful works of darkness by “avoiding the
appearance of evil.”
Four,
have no fellowship with unfruitful works of darkness by detesting them in our
heart and affections. The Ephesians not only avoided the works of Nicolaitans, Christ
Jesus said, “But this thou hast, thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans,
which I also hate.” (Rev 2: 6) The deeds
of the Nicolaitans were religious sins.
All free-will, self-righteous religious works are included in these
unfruitful works of darkness.
When we
see how much is involved in “having no fellowship with works of darkness” it makes
a believer pray, with David, “Lord, cleanse thou me from secret faults.” (Ps 19: 12) We do not hate sin
nearly as God does or as we ought. Another thing it brings to mind is how holy
our Savior was when he walked this earth.
He always pleased his Father. He never had fellowship with the works of
darkness. Also, it makes us realize the multitude of sins he bore when he bore all
the sins of all God’s elect people. When Christ purged us of our sins, perfecting
us forever by his one offering, he bore away a multitude of secret sins which
we are not even able to see.
UNFRUITFUL WORKS
Also,
notice he calls these works, “unfruitful.” Sin of every kind produces nothing
good or beneficial; sin only produces shame and death. The Holy Spirit said through Paul to
believers, “What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed?
for the end of those things is death.” (Rom 6: 21)
Think
of a thorn bush. A spiritually dead sinner is a thorn bush, whether he is the
most moral religious man or a base, immoral sinner. Christ said, “Do men gather
grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?” Spiritually dead sinners, no matter how
moral, no matter how religious, are the same as the most evil of sinners. All
we could produce were “unfruitful works of darkness.”
It is because
all the works of the unregenerate—even moral works—puff up and exalt the sinner
and dishonor God. Also, by teaching others that they can be saved by their
works, they do harm to their neighbor, as well. Furthermore, underneath the
disguise of religion, they are still coming from a heart full of evil and
enmity against God.
When we
were dead in sins in our flesh, all our attempts of finding acceptance with God
by the works of the law were unfruitful works of darkness the same as the sins
of breaking the law. It is because we were guilty in Adam. Also, it was because
our nature was sinful, selfish, self-exalting, seeking God’s glory for ourselves,
while making light of sin and of God’s law and holiness. It was all iniquity
because it was inequitable, not coming up to God’s holiness and righteousness.
The only
thing that could be done for us is for us to be saved in Light and Truth. Our old man had to die under the justice of
the law by Christ taking our place on the cross. A new man had to be created
within us by Christ being formed in us. That which Christ accomplished for God’s
elect on the cross and that which Christ accomplishes in God’s elect is all
done in Light, in Truth, through the Light of the Gospel, reproving us and
bringing us to Christ the Light.
Romans 7: 4: Wherefore, my brethren, ye also are become dead
to the law by the body of Christ; that ye should be married to another, even to
him who is raised from the dead, that we should bring forth fruit unto God. 5: For
when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work
in our members to bring forth fruit unto death.
So we
see the unfruitful works of darkness always hurt the sinner, producing shame,
sickness, poverty, death and misery in the life to come. In every way sinful
works are “unfruitful.”
REPROVE WITH LIGHT
Next,
believers are exhorted to reprove the unfruitful works of darkness with Light
instead of fellowshipping with them, “But rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are
done of them in secret. But all things that are reproved are made manifest by
the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.” (Eph 5: 11-13)
Instead
of having fellowship by joining in with the unfruitful works of darkness, with
the vain hope that we might gain the sinners friendship then eventually be able
to bring them to the Light, God says we are to have no fellowship with the
unfruitful works of darkness but rather reprove them with Light.
The
first reason is, “because it is a shame even to speak of those things which are
done of them in secret.” There is a sense in which speaking of sins, even in an
attempt to discredit and expose them, is shameful. Certainly, joining men in their shameful works
of darkness in an attempt to befriend them, so that you can bear witness of
Christ to them, will not work.
This
will offend a great many but it needs to be said. Group bible studies in which everyone
in the room takes turns voicing their opinions on scripture is a fairly new invention
of works religion. It is altogether an unfruitful work of darkness. A well-meaning
believer may think that he can use such a platform to bear witness of Christ
the Light, to his friends. But it takes
the Holy Spirit of God to give spiritual understanding in the heart. The means
that pleases God is the means God blesses, which is gospel-preaching. It is humbling to have to submit to God’s
means; it is humbling to have to be silent and hear God speak through his word.
But trying to bear witness in a bible study discussion-group where everyone is
voicing their opinion, where instead of listening they are thinking of what
they will say next, is as useless as joining men on a barstool in hopes you
might bear witness to them. So-called churches today are using many other of
these same tactics by teaching professing believers to dress like the world,
play worldly “religious” music, even by building neon-lit night clubs where
young professing believers can attend with their friends. Listen to Christ,
John 3: 19: And this is the condemnation, that light is
come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their
deeds were evil. 20: For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither
cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
Unregenerate
sinners, especially those hiding behind the fig leaves of self-made religion, are
trying to hide in the dark in secret.
They are trying to hide from God, from their own conscience, from the presence
of men, especially from those filled with the Light of Christ. They will not
come to the Light of Christ because their deeds are evil and Christ the Light
will reprove them for the fig leaves they are. That is so for the very best
self-righteous religionists, with all his unfruitful works of darkness, the
same as it is for the poor sinner lying in an alley.
Unless
the conscience is seared past feeling, all sin has shame and fear as a companion—even
the sin that we hide with the appearance of good. Though the self-righteous man
does the opposite of what Christ commanded by trying to do all his religious
works to be seen of men, if he would admit it, he is trying to keep his own
wicked heart covered from the Light of reproof. One test of whether or not
something is acceptable to God is to ask: “Would I want others to know about
this: God, my brethren, my spouse, my parents, my children? Would it make me
ashamed if this was found out?” If yes, it is sin.
But
bless God, by God’s grace, some sinners, whom God chose in Christ according to
his own will, shall be reproved by God and God will use his children to do it.
Yet, God will have his people reprove with the Light God has ordained. Look
carefully at verse 13.
First, is
the reason we must reprove with Light, “For all things that are reproved are
made manifest by the light.” (Eph 5: 13) Sinners must be reproved. There is no
way around it. But darkness is only made
known by the Light. Without reproof in the Light of Christ, their sins will not
be reproved and revealed in true Light. The second part of verse 13 declares why
this is so. It is because Light is the only thing that reveals sin, “for
whatsoever doth make manifest is light.” Darkness will never make another see
their sins of darkness. Only the Light of
Christ makes a sinner see his sin.
So the
only way to awake someone is by reproving them and the only way to reprove is with
the Light of the gospel of Christ. So we must be walking as children of Light. Our
walk is what Paul is focusing on. Our walk includes the means we use to declare
the Light. The Light of Christ divinely revealed through God’s ordained means
of gospel preaching is the way sinners will be made to see their sins and flee
to Christ when God makes the word effectual in their heart.
We
assemble together and exhort one another through the preaching and hearing of
the gospel. It is Christ, the Head of the church, who receives the glory for
gathering his redeemed together in the assembly where he has sent his gospel
preacher; it is Christ who gives the ability to hear through the Holy Spirit. By
this means no flesh is allowed to glory in Christ’s presence but those in whom
the word is made effectual glory only in the Lord. We use this means so that the sinner’s faith
stands in the power of God rather in the wisdom of men.
1
Corinthians 1: 17: For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel:
not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none
effect. 18: For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness;
but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 19: For it is written, I
will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding
of the prudent. 20: Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where
is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of
this world? 21: For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew
not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that
believe. 22: For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: 23:
But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the
Greeks foolishness; 24: But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks,
Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. 25: Because the foolishness of
God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 26: For ye
see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not
many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27: But God hath chosen the
foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak
things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28: And base
things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea,
and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29 That no flesh should glory in his presence. 30:
But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and
righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 31: That, according as it is
written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
1
Corinthians 2: 1: And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency
of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. 2: For I
determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him
crucified. 3: And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much
trembling. 4: And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words
of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: 5: That your
faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.
AN EXAMPLE OF GOD’S
METHOD OF GRACE
Next, in verse 14 of our text, Paul is not quoting a
particular scripture. The “wherefore”
refers back to verse 13. Paul said, “But
all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever
doth make manifest is light.” “Wherefore [God] saith…” He is giving us an
example, reminding believers that this is what God does when he gives Life and
Light through the gospel. The word preached reproves and with it Christ gives Light.
First, comes the reproof, “Wherefore he saith, Awake thou
that sleepest, and arise from the dead…” That is the reproof. While the reproof
is going forth, with it “And Christ shall give thee light.” (Eph 5: 14) It is like
the valley of dry bones, where God said to the preacher, “Again he said unto
me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word
of the LORD.” That is the reproof that comes through the preaching of the gospel.
But how can dry bones come alive and hear? As the word went forth, “Thus saith the Lord
GOD unto these bones; Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye
shall live:” (Eze 37:4-5)
Paul
says, “Reprove the works of darkness in Light and for only the Light will
manifest darkness.” He said, “Here is proof. God himself reproves in Light and as
he does Christ shall give thee Light.” That is what happened to us when we were
born-again and it is what Christ continues to do through the gospel, especially
when we need reproof for our sin. The Lord
calls on us in the gospel, saying, “Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from
the dead.” And Christ enters in, in Spirit, giving us Life and Light to obey
God’s reproof.
Paul declares
the power of reproof, accompanied with the Light of Christ, in another passage.
This is where he taught the Corinthians it is better if all the preachers
preach the gospel of Christ rather than speak in the gift of foreign languages.
This will be the effectual result when Christ enters in the heart with his
Light through the preaching of the gospel,
1 Corinthians 14: 24: But if all prophesy, and there come
in one that believeth not, or one unlearned, he is convinced of all, he is
judged of all: 25: And thus are the secrets of his heart made manifest; and so
falling down on his face he will worship God, and report that God is in you of
a truth.
We may
think that by fellowshipping with works of darkness we can gain the friendship of
sinners then bear witness to them. That
is exactly what false religion does with all their sports and programs, with
their watered-down sermons on current events and so on. It is not love to a
sinner and not glorifying to our Savior. If we make sinners feel we are in fellowship
with them while they walk in darkness it only makes them feel comfortable to go
on in sin and they will never see their need of Christ. Sinners must hear of
the depravity of the heart. They must hear that God chose whom he would, that
salvation is by God’s choice not our will. Christ makes his people willing in the day of
his power. (Ps 110: 3) Sinners must hear
that Christ accomplished the redemption of his people himself. Sinners must be
reproved by the Light of Christ.
Brethren,
God our Father chose us, sent his own Son who redeemed each of his people, he has
birthed us into his family, we have been called by Christ the Light, given the
privilege of holding forth the word of Life. His command is walk as children of
Light. Speak the gospel of Christ the Light. Light is how we bear witness of
Christ but fellowshipping with the works of darkness will make us lose our
witness.
The way
that unregenerate sinners—in works religion and out—naturally vex us with “unfruitful
works of darkness”—in their walk, words and works—is how we ought to naturally
reprove them by walking as children of Christ the Light. If sinners feel as
comfortable sinning around us as their normal sinful companions, then that
ought to reprove us that we are not walking and speaking as children of Christ.
Our text implies that if that is the case, then we are in fellowship with the
unfruitful works of darkness, rather than reproving them.
So let’s
heed this important exhortation, “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as
fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Wherefore be
ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be
not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking
to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making
melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God
and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;” (Eph 5:15-20)
Amen!