Our Redemption “in Christ” Detailed to the Ephesians Volume 47

Paul Urges the Ephesian Believers to Prove their Union with Christ by Walking in Light Part 1

Ephesians 5:8-10 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. KJV

Paul continuing his exhortation to these Ephesian believers and to us today puts before them another contrast between who they were before Christ and who they are now “in Christ” by saying to them that “ye were sometimes darkness” (Ephesians 5:8). The English word sometimes Paul uses here is translated by the Greek word pote an indefinite adverb meaning in the old time or in time past. In other words, the Apostle Paul wants them to see that the uncleanness, fornication, covetousness, coarse jesting, filthiness, and foolish talking that many of them practiced before he showed up in Ephesus preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ was who they were and not who they are now, because our Lord Jesus Christ through the indwelling Holy Spirit has washed them spiritually clean making them new creatures as Paul declared in this manner the same concept to the Corinthian believers who were reverting back to their old way of life when Paul said, “Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.” (1 Corinthians 6:9-11).

It is always the Apostle Paul’s method in all of his letters to bring to the remembrance of every believer in our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ what His will is for those He purchases with His Blood by contrasting the lifestyles and practices of those who are not purchased by Christ Blood. Immediately Paul reminds them that now they and we are “light in the Lord” (Ephesians 5:8) and by this Paul is reaffirming the very words of our Lord Jesus Christ Himself when He said, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works (new nature) and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16). The Apostle John also spoke of our Lord Jesus as being the Life and Light when he said, “In Him was Life, and the Life was the Light of men. And the Light shines on in the darkness, for the darkness has never overpowered it [put it out or absorbed it or appropriated it, and is unreceptive to it].” (John 1:4-5).

Therefore, Paul comes to the only sensible, solid, and sound conclusion for these Ephesian believers and for all of us true believers today and that is to “walk as children of light” (Ephesians 5:8). Paul is saying here to them and to us that the course of our pilgrimage here on the earth should reflect the light of Christ in our lives making us distinctive, distinguishable, and different from those who chart the course of their lives by the dictates of the world, the flesh, and the devil being still in darkness. This is Paul still further expanding on what he has already wrote to them in Ephesians 4:17-24. Let’s take a very crude but obvious example that will illuminate for us what Paul is determined to get across here: If a baby boy is born in Beijing, China to a Chinese Father and Chinese Mother, that baby will not grow up as an adult and look like Michael Jordon the former NBA Basketball great. Likewise, here Paul is declaring these Ephesian believers and we true believers in Christ today to be light in Him, therefore, our lifestyle and practices should not reflect our old life before our redemption by Christ Blood. We are united with Jesus Christ and have been so mercifully forgiven by Him of all our sin, washed clean, and given a new nature, then we should yield to the Holy Spirit who wants to energize our new nature at all times to guide us into all truth “For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, and righteousness, and truth” (Ephesians 5:9).

This verse is parenthetical, qualifying and explaining the things he has previously written in this very same epistle. The English word goodness is translated by the Greek word agathosune which means virtue or beneficence; The quality of doing what is right and avoiding what is wrong; The quality of being kind, helpful or generous. This is the virtue they/we are to walk or live in and by in contrast to what he warned them against just earlier when he said, “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.” (Ephesians 4:31). The English word righteousness is translated by the Greek word dikaiosune meaning to be equitable (in character and in actions). This virtue Paul includes as an opposition to covetousness that is not to be named among the saints as he said in Ephesians 5:3. The English word truth is translated by the Greek word aletheia meaning true as not concealing and conforming to reality and actuality. This virtue is in stark contrast to the obvious opposite negative of the darkness of lying as Paul warned against when he said, “Therefore, putting away lying, ‘Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,’ for we are members of one another.” (Ephesians 4:25). When this “fruit of light” is manifested by the illuminating work of the Holy Spirit, then it will go on to the “Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.” (Ephesians 5:10). When we yield to the leading of the Holy Spirit and walk or live as children of light then we will prove (to ourselves) what is agreeable to our Father in Heaven and well pleasing to Him and what will cause Him displeasure bringing Him to discipline or chasten His children as Paul wrote with these words to the Hebrew believers, “Furthermore, we have had human fathers who corrected us, and we paid them respect. Shall we not much more readily be in subjection to the Father of spirits and live? For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” (Hebrews 12:9-11).

“At the bottom, therefore, righteousness and goodness are one. Each is the counterface and complement of the other. Righteousness is to goodness as the strong backbone of principle, the firm hand and the vigorous grasp of duty, the steadfast foot that plants itself on the eternal ground of the right and true and stands against a world’s assault. Goodness without righteousness is a weak and fitful sentiment: righteousness without goodness is a dead formality. He cannot love God or his neighbour truly, who does not love God’s law; and he knows nothing aright of that law, who does not know that it is the law of love.” Expositor’s Bible Commentary

“We shall never walk as the children of the light, unless we have the habit of referring everything, trifles and great things, to His arbitrament, and seeking in them all to do what is pleasing in His sight. The smallest deed may be brought under the operation of the largest principles. Gravitation influences the microscopic grain of sand as well as planets and sun. There is nothing so small but you can bring it into this category-it either pleases or displeases Jesus Christ. And the faults into which Christian men fall and in which they continue are very largely owing to their carelessness in applying this standard to the small things of their daily lives. The sleepy Custom House officers let the contraband article in because it seems to be of small bulk. There are old stories about how strong castles were taken by armed men hidden in an innocent-looking cart of forage. Do you keep up a rigid inspection at the frontier, and see to it that everything vindicates its right to enter because it is pleasing to Jesus Christ.” Alexander MacLaren

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…