INTRODUCTION: Having shown the vast accumulation of spiritual wealth that has been so graciously bestowed on the saints, Paul calls them to UNITY, in the body of Christ, and to a walk of holiness before Him. Now, enlarging the metaphoric representation of Christian life as a "walk", he calls the saints to walk in LOVE and LIGHT. As dearly loved children of God, we should keep on following God's example. This involves the practice of LIVING IN LOVE - just as Christ has loved us and given Himself for us, as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Such a walk must be "in light"; for "God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all" (I John 1:5).

I. THE PATHWAY OF DARKNESS IS FORBIDDEN TO CHILDREN OF LIGHT, (vs. 1-7).

    Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; 2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour. 3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; 4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. 5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. 6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. 7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.

1. SOME OF THE FRUITS OF DARKNESS ARE IMPROPER TOPICS OF CONVERSATION FOR A HOLY PEOPLE, (vs. 3, 5; Rom. 1:29; 6:19; 2 Cor. 12:20-21; Gal. 5:19; Col. 3:5).


1. FORNICATION - sexual vice.


2. ALL UNCLEANNESS - involving any form of immorality.


3. COVETOUSNESS - involving sensual greed, which is associated with idolatry.
1. A greediness to satisfy sensual lust is paganistic, (4:19).
2. Jesus emphasized that such sin must be destroyed at its very root; thought and desire are important, (Matt. 5:21, 27).


2. IT IS APPROPRIATE THAT WE SET A GUARD BEFORE OUR LIPS: some things are absolutely incompatible with the Christian profession, (vs. 4).


1. FILTHINESS - indecent and shameful speech, including filthy and obscene stories, (Col. 3:8; Eph. 4:29; Matt. 12:33-37).


2. FOOLISH TALK - the dull, stupid and sinful conversation of fools, including coarse vulgarity and gossip.


3. JESTING - the use of indecent humor which Aristotle called "cultured insolence"; flippant talk, buffoonery and ribaldry.

Rather than ANY OF THIS, our tongues were made for praising the Lord. True Christian cheerfulness and joyfulness of spirit should manifest itself in the giving of thanks to the Lord. We cannot readily lend ourselves to such language as will bring reproach on His holy name, (vs. 20; Col. 3:17; Rom. 1:8; I Cor. 1:4; Eph. 1:15-16; Phil. 1:3; 2 Thes. 1:3; 2:13).


3. WE MUST ALSO GUARD OUR MINDS FROM DECEPTION, (vs. 6a; Col. 2:8, 23; I Tim. 6:20-21).


1. Many deceivers have gone out into the world.


2. There is a constant danger of deception by groundless arguments; philosophic speculations have no proper place in determining the walk of God's people.


4. A SOBERING WARNING IS GIVEN AGAINST WALKING IN SUCH UNSPEAKABLE DARKNESS.


1. For the guilty, there is NO INHERITANCE in the Kingdom of Christ and of God, (vs. 5; I Cor. 6:9-10; Col. 3:5-11; comp. Hos. 2:5; Ezek. 23:37-49).


2. The severity of God's wrath will surely fall on all the "sons of disobedience", (vs. 6b; Rom. 1:18; Col. 3:5-6).


3. Therefore, we must have no part or lot with them; such actions in brethren must be repudiated and judged, (vs. 7). God has authorized proper instruments for the maintenance of His order.
1. Parental authority, in the home, (6:1; Col. 3:20; Prov. 6:20-24; 23:22).
2. The sword, in the state, (Rom. 13:1-4; I Pet. 2:13-14).
3. The power of discipline, in the church, (Matt. 18:15-18; I Cor. 5:9-11).

II. TO BE ACCEPTABLE WITH GOD, OUR LIVES MUST BE CHARACTERIZED BY LIGHT, (vs. 8-14).

    8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: 9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) 10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. 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.

        There was a time when ALL of us belonged to darkness; "in the Lord" we NOW belong to the realm of light, (Acts 26:15-18; Col. 1:12-13; I Thes. 5:4-10; I Pet. 2:9-10).

1. OUR WALK, THEREFORE, SHOULD BE SUCH AS IS APPROPRIATE FOR THE CHILDREN OF LIGHT, (Jn. 12:35-36; 3:19-21; Rom. 13: 11-14). The "fruit of light" is characterized by:


1. GOODNESS - a moral quality involving kindness in dealing with others, (Rom. 15:14; Gal. 5:22; 2 Thes. 1:11).


2. RIGHTEOUSNESS - uprightness.


3. TRUTH - involving honesty and sincerity, (Jn. 8:32, 36; 2 John 1-2, 4; 3 John 3-4).


4. We must learn to "approve" this good, acceptable and perfect will of God for our lives, (vs. 10; Rom. 12:2).
1. Far more is involved in this "approving" than mere testing.
2. We must learn to say "Amen" to God's will; apart from it there can be no spiritual victory in our lives.


5. We must have NO FELLOWSHIP with the unfruitful works of darkness - reproving them, (Prov. 7:8-9; Lk. 17:3; I Cor. 5:9; 2 Cor. 6:14; I Tim. 5:20; 2 Tim. 4:2; Tit. 2:15).


2. A LIFE OF LIGHT CANNOT BE HIDDEN, (vs. 13-14).


1. It will glorify God, (Matt. 5:14-16; Jn. 15:8; 2 Cor. 9:12-13; Gal. 1:22-24).


2. It will expose the sterile deeds of darkness.
1. Some, therefore, will abandon the darkness, (Rom. 13:11-14).
2. Under the influence of light, they will become children of the light, (vs. 8; comp. Jn. 3:20).
3. Awakening from the sleep of death, the light of Christ will, henceforth, be reflected by them.
1) Bruce translates verse 14:

"Wake up, 0 thou that sleepest, (Rom. 13:11; comp. Mk. 13:37).
And from the dead arouse thee. (2:1; Col. 2:13; Rom. 8:11-15).
And Christ shall shine upon thee", (Lk. 1:78-79; Isa. 9:2; Matt. 4:12-17).

2) Some think this was taken from an ancient baptismal hymn.
3) Whatever else may be involved, it is a definite call to "walk in the light of the Lord"; in the newness of life.

III. BY A SERIES OF CONTRASTS, PAUL SHOWS HOW CAREFUL ATTENTION MUST BE GIVEN TO OUR CONDUCT, (vs. 15-21).

    15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. 18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; 19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; 20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; 21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.

1. WE MUST LIVE AS WISE MEN; NOT AS FOOLS. This involves a circumspect walk before God and men, (vs. 2; Rom. 6:4; 2 Cor. 5:7; Gal. 5:16; Eph. 4:11; I Jn. 1:7; 2:6; Col. 4:5; Rom. 16:19; Matt. 10:16).


2. WE MUST GRASP EVERY OPPORTUNITY FOR GOOD; the days are evil and our opportunities fleeting, (vs. 16; comp. Gen. 6:12; Psa. 12:1; Isa. 59:14; 2 Tim. 3:1-2).


1. "Redeeming the time" involves the proper use of our opportunities, (Psa. 39:5; 90:12; Eccl. 12:1; I Cor. 7:29, 31; Col. 4:5; Jas. 4:14).


2. The time of special opportunity and privilege is rapidly passing; it can NEVER be recalled!


3. INSTEAD OF ACTING FOOLISHLY, WE MUST UNDERSTAND WHAT THE LORD'S WILL IS, (vs. 17;).


1. Do not be foolish! (Prov. 14:8; 15:14; 18:13; 26:11; Eccl. 10:1).


2. But, get to know God's will! (Deut. 4:5-6; I Chron. 22:12; Psa. 119:104; Prov. 2:6; 8:14; 11:12; 13:15; 14:29; 17:27; Rom. 12:2; Col. 1:9; Eph. 1:17-18; I Thes. 4:3).


4. RATHER THAN RIOTOUS BEHAVIOUR, THROUGH DRUNKENNESS, WE MUST BE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT, (vs. 18). Such fulness of the Spirit involves one's being brought under the control of the spirit; this will manifest itself in:


1. JOYFULNESS - involving hearts and voices that unite to encourage each other in songs, hymns and psalms of praise to God, (vs. 19; Col. 3:16; Jas. 5:13; Acts 16:25; Rev. 5:9; I Cor. 14:15).


2. THANKFULNESS to our Father-God, in the name of Jesus, for all He has done - according to the riches of His grace, (vs. 20; Col. 3:17; Psa. 92:1; 95:2).


3. SUBMISSIVENESS, one to another, out of reverence for Christ, (vs. 21; Gal. 5:13; I Pet. 5:5; Phil. 2:1-3).

        CONCLUSION: To walk in love and light is to walk in undisturbed fellowship with each other in the body of Christ. In such a walk our corporate life will reflect the image and glory of Christ to others. No longer will the image be blurred so as to confuse, hinder or repulse those who are strangers to the blessings of covenant fellowship. But such a walk will identify us as belonging to Christ; it will bring glory to our gracious Father in heaven.


QUESTIONS FOR REVIEW

1. What divine example does Paul call his brethren to follow in this lesson?
2. What sort of evils lurk along the pathway that is forbidden to the "children of light"?
3. Against what sort of things is a guard to be set before the lips of a Christian?
4. From what are our minds to be guarded?
5. Why is it so important that we heed these warnings?
6. What sort of instruments has God ordained for maintaining the order He has appointed in the earth?
7. According to the lesson, what must characterize our lives if they would be acceptable to God?
8. Can a life of light truly be hidden?
9. What are the contrasts that Paul draws to show what careful attention should be given to Christian conduct?
10. How important is it that every member of a New Testament church learn to walk in love and light so that the fellowship of the body will remain undisturbed? Why?
11. Does YOUR LIFE contribute to the unity and peace of the body where you are a member? and to the glory of Christ?