Children of Light

0:10Thank you for listening to the Sermon Audio Podcast for Crossroads Reformed Baptist Church in Rockdale, Texas. Crossroads Reformed Baptist Church is a reformed confessional Baptist church that meets every Lord's Day at 10 a.m. for Bible study and 11 a.m. for corporate worship. For more information about our church or for directions, you can visit us online at www.crbcrockdale.org. Grace and peace to you from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

0:41Well, good morning again to you all. Turn with me, if you would, to the book of Ephesians, chapter 5. We're going to be covering a number of verses this morning, verses 6 through verse 14. We've talked before about the sections that the Word of God is divided into and the headings that are put on and in our Bibles above those sections. And that sometimes we mentioned that those headings of the sections of our Bible can throw us off a little bit because those were clearly not in the original text of Scripture. There are many times, though, that these headings that the Bible is divided up into these sections are quite helpful, given that there has been a great deal of thought put into how these sections were divided up and how best to summarize. And for us this morning, as we begin, let me draw your attention to the heading of this section once again. And the ESV titles these verses, Walk in Love. And such a heading would indicate that what follows is content related to how it is that we are to walk in love. What is or what isn't love, what is or what isn't loving, that we may not just walk in a type of love or a love of our own mind, but rather that we walk in real love, true love, biblical, love. I think this goes without saying, but we all in this room desire to walk in love, don't we?

2:56I think we all want to be loving people. Right?

3:07That's good then. That makes us no better than the atheists, for they too desire to walk in love. The real question is the question that I think we began a few weeks ago. The question that we keep returning to, what is love? What is loving that we may walk in it? Not everyone will run to a definition of love that includes being friendly, that includes being nice, that includes respecting people's opinions, that includes compromising with others, being tolerant. While all that is true in many respects, the common theme is to reduce love to a sort of mushy love that we can all equally love and enjoy walking in because that love requires very little from us. The love of this section of the text, though, titled Walk in Love, what has it told us thus far? It has told us to imitate God through obedience. It has told us to turn from the wickedness of our sins, those that are improper, those that are out of place, those that are completely opposed to everything that is good. This is love. It will tell us to expose sin when we find it. Further, to reflect not on our own light, but to shine forth the light of Christ, and being wise, and walking in wisdom, faithfully worshiping our God. Does that sound like the kind of love that the world wants to walk in? That's a rhetorical question because we know that today real love is often called evil. It's often called hatred. It's often criticized as judgmental. I pray that you see, though, that those loudest voices who lecture us on love and life do so with nothing more than empty words. We will return again this morning to the true source of light, the true source of love, as we attempt by the power of the Spirit to walk in true love as children of light. That's where we're going. Let's stand once more as we read God's word together. This is Ephesians chapter 5, starting in verse 6. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partake partners with them. For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of the light. The fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true, and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible. For anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you. This is the word of the Lord. Lord, we thank you again for your word. We thank you for the light of Christ. We pray and ask now, Lord, would your spirit shine this light of the word upon us, Lord, that we may be the light of the world. Lord, help us. Speak to us. We ask all these things in the name of Jesus. Amen. We begin then, as our text begins, with the exhortation to not be deceived by empty words. As verse 6 began, let no one deceive you with empty words. Perhaps the first question is what does he mean by empty words? And then following, how is it that we cannot be deceived by them? And we'll answer them in that order. Empty here can also be translated as vain. Vain words. That's how the KJV translates it. And words can be translated as arguments or persuasions. This is what the CSB and others translate it as. So let no one deceive you with vain arguments. Let no one deceive you with vain persuasions, Paul says. I said last week that I probably need some new illustrations, and I do, but this is like the politician who says a lot, but doesn't actually say anything of substance, truth. If you just take the words at face value, there is perhaps some bit of truth there, some persuasive eloquence. But when you use your brain, when you think about what they are saying, there is nothing there. If you consider the substance of what they are communicating, there is nothing but vanity, generally speaking. Even deeper then, and perhaps more nefarious, there is more than just, this is more than just not saying anything, or more than just saying nothing. There is an intent to deceive and to divert with words. This is empty. Persuasive arguments that lack truth, they lack substance. They in fact deny truth. They disobey God not only from ignorance, but often from deception. Remember our first parents, Adam and Eve. In the garden, God said to them, You can eat from any tree in the garden, except for this one tree. For on the day that you eat of it, you will surely die. What does the deceiver do with that command? You're not gonna die. You won't surely die. It's not that serious. Look how beautiful and wonderful that fruit is to look at. How could that be bad? How could that kill you? That's a paraphrase. You get the point. So that's the deception. And the these things that Paul mentions in the text, and I will read that again, let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things, the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. The these things that Paul is talking about in the text are those things which we covered last week, those things that Paul said, that God said, will lead to judgment and must be turned from. Sexual immorality, impurity, idolatry, more generally, all of those things which are opposed to the character and nature of God, these things lead to wrath. The wrath of God comes upon the unrepentant one who practices such things, and the deceiver that Paul is warning about shows up with vain arguments, vain empty persuasions. And he says, God doesn't really judge us anymore. God is love, he's all grace. You don't have to worry about any of that anymore. Don't beat yourself up. You're really a good person, actually. You're living a good life. So what if you have a little fun? Who are these narrow groups of Christians to tell you what love is, what life is? Don't you think God will reward those who just do the best they can? Do you see how on the surface those can be very persuasive arguments? But as we begin to look into the meaning of those empty words, we get to the truth of the matter, we find that there is nothing but deception there. If you don't believe me, I'll give you a few passages to support that. Judgment is coming upon Israel for their disobedience, for their wickedness. And instead of turning in repentance to God, instead of trusting in Him in obedience through faith, what does the Lord say of them through the prophet Jeremiah? Jeremiah chapter 6, verse 13. For from the least to the greatest of them, everyone is greedy for unjust gain. From the prophet to the priest, everyone deals falsely. They have healed the wound of my people lightly by saying, peace, peace when there is no peace. Everything is fine. Nothing to see here, all is good. Everyone is good. Don't worry, just keep doing what you're doing. Peace, all is well. Peace, peace, but there is no peace for them. And again, in Jeremiah verse 23, chapter 23, verse 16, thus says the Lord of hosts, do not listen to the words of the prophets who prophesy to you, filling you with vain hopes. They speak visions of their own minds, not from the mouth of the Lord. They say continually to those who despise the Lord, It shall be well with you. And to everyone who stubbornly follows his own heart, they say, No disaster shall come upon you. It shall be well with you. God doesn't judge. All roads ultimately lead to God. Everyone is going to heaven. Could you really imagine a loving God sending people to eternal conscious torment? No, you have nothing to worry about. Peace, all is well. Just be a good person. That may sound good to us. But the testimony of Scripture is that this is always what we say when faced with the reality of impending judgment. Peace, peace. When there is no peace. Because whether we like it or not, everyone is not going to heaven. There will be judgment against those who reject the gospel. There will be eternal torment for those who do not trust in Christ and the Lord, who do not repent and turn to Him. Why are you so mean and judgmental? Why are you so narrow-minded and bigoted? The reality, though, is they are the ones who are mean and cruel. With hatred of God in their hearts that drives them to give people a false hope. Like a man who stands in the road knowing the bridge is out a mile ahead and tells drivers it's clear, go ahead, don't worry about it. Keep driving, all will be well.

16:47Why do they do this? Because they are evil.

16:55They hate God. Or at the very least, they're in utter denial about the impending danger that lies ahead. Church, love is not saying peace, peace when there is no peace. Love is saying stop. Turn around. You're gonna die if you keep going. This is so difficult for us, though, isn't it? I fully admit that it is, but church, let us be encouraged and encouraging to not become partakers in those who deceive with empty words. And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They were full of envy and murder and strife and deceit and maliciousness, their gossips. Slanders, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless. Though they know God's righteous decree, that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them, but they give approval to those who do. The heart of man, suppressed way down deep, covered by layers of lay and layers of sin, knows that God judges and will judge sin. But unwilling and uncable of dealing with that sin, they do the very things that they know God hates, and they give approval with empty words those who also practice those things. This is true. Not only because Scripture says it's true, we have all observed this in our own lives. Don't fall for this, church. Don't be partakers with those who do such things. Don't join in with those empty words.

19:22Why, though? Because we don't walk in darkness anymore.

19:30We walk in light, as children of light. Remember, back in Ephesians, he gave us the put-on, put off language, thinking about changing of the garments. We take off the old man and all of its habits and trappings, and we put on the new man, that is Christ and his likeness. Here we have the contrast of dark and light. And we know that darkness itself is not a thing. Darkness has no qualities except the absence of good qualities or the absence of light. Darkness is empty, it's vain, it has no positive qualities, only the absence of them. This is where the world walks apart from Christ in darkness. This is where you once walked apart from Christ in darkness. This is why their words are empty. This is why they are deceiving. They are speaking about that which they cannot see. They are walking about as though they have a clear vision and perspective on things, but in reality they have no light. So they have no idea of good, no idea of right, no idea of true because they cannot see it. Verses 7 and 10 from our text, therefore do not become partners with them. For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light, for the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true, and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Again, such was you, Christian. You too were fumbling around in the dark, unable to see, unable to perceive all that is good and right and true. And as a result of those fruits, light then in the old man was only present by accident or common grace, you could say. But now, Christian, now that you have been given the light of Christ, given the eyes to see his glory, given a heart to see his truth, given his grace, would you now go back to living in darkness again?

22:20Surely not.

22:25I have to walk out to our chicken coop every night and lock them up when I don't forget. And twice now this summer, and as recently as a couple weeks ago, I find a snake in the path on my way back there. Thanks be to God that I have a light to take with me. To illuminate the path such that I am able to see the dangers ahead and to address them. Knowing full well the possibility of a snake being in my path, would I ever make that walk without a light? How foolish would that be? Having been given access to light, knowing the dangers, to continue to walk in darkness. If that example is so obvious to us, and it is, why is it the same is not true of the whole of our lives? I contend that it is either because we doubt that there are real dangers lurking, or we're too prideful, we're too careless, we're too lazy, we're too stubborn to shine the light everywhere we go. Connect this to the gospel for us this morning. John chapter 1. You all know the verses 1 to 5. In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him not anything was made that has been made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. Christ alone, then, the one through whom the world was made, the eternal Son of God, the divine and holy word who was with God and who is God. It is him who made everything. It is through him alone that there is light. It is through him alone that there is life. And just as his light overcame the darkness, just as his light overcame the nothingness, the void, so to his life alone is the light that will illuminate our darkness. It is his word that exposes every shadow and illumines every danger. It is his word and his truth that will bring good and right and true into every area of our life. Nothing else will work because his life, the incarnate logos, the incarnate word became flesh. This is the light of man.

26:02Church, by his grace, he has given us his light and his life.

26:10He has indwelled us with the light. He's blessed us with the ability to shine his light, that we too may shine in darkness, that we too may expose the dangers and bring the truth and salvation to mankind who is still wandering without the light. Church, do you believe these words? You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden, nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and then it gives light to all that is in the house. And in the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works, and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. This is what it means to walk as children of light. This is why we make every effort to discern what is pleasing to the Lord through his word. And then we try to do that which is pleasing to the Lord. Because his life is light. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Returning again to how we began, what would it look like to truly walk in love? What would it look like to truly walk in love? And so often in our day, which in many ways has always been the case, but perhaps even more so now, as I think I've said now a few times, we consider love to be accepting of people as they are. Covering their sins in our acceptance and in perhaps even secrecy. After all, Jesus was a friend of sinners, wasn't he? He hung out with the heathen. He befriended the tax collector, he pardoned the prostitute. So love is full acceptance then, yeah? A call to receive people just as they are. That's what we're told. Here are the words of Jesus, of one of those common proof texts. And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples and saying, Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners? And Jesus answered them, Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have come not to call the righteous, but sinners. That is often how that verse is quoted. Perhaps you heard nothing missing there. Perhaps because the distortion and misinterpretation of the text has been fully ingrained in our minds, but let me read again the full words of our Lord. And Jesus answered them, those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. He went to expose their sin and call them to repentance. He never minced words. He never feared offending someone with the truth. He never watered down his language. He never sugarcoated his words. Use whatever idiom you want. You won't find them in the pages of Scripture. Nor will you find such a teaching in any of Scripture. Proverbs 27:6, faithful are the wounds of a friend. Purge the evil from among you, Paul says to those in Corinthians, quoting Deuteronomy 17. That is to say that to walk in love, to love people well, to walk in accordance with the Word of God is to expose the darkness with light, to shine a light on the darkness, to call a sinner to repentance, to make visible that which would otherwise be hidden. But again I ask why? So that we can all have a good laugh, the fault and sins of others? So that we can feel better about ourselves or having outed the wretch in his wretchedness? To puff ourselves up because we're so much more righteous than everyone. Certainly we're more righteous than those fools who stumble around in the dark. Church, may it never be. May it never be. No, we shine the light because we love people. We love them enough to tell them the truth. We love people enough to say that the bridge is out.

32:22If you don't turn around, you will die. How many empty words will love people to hell? Think about it this way.

32:39How many people have turned their lives around because someone says that God loves them just the way they are? How many people have found repentance after being told that who they are is perfectly enough? What need is there for light if in the darkness you're just fine? What need is there for light if there is no danger? If there is no threat, if there is no judgment, if there is no reason to not continue in the darkness? What need is there for light?

33:23Is that an easy teaching? Is that an easy way to live?

33:33Is exposing darkness something that we should take joy in? I don't think so. Christ wept at times over such things. But that's why so few do it.

33:54But that is love.

33:58And this is what we must do. Because darkness is death and light is life. So our text ends then this way. Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you. It's almost certainly a quotation from Isaiah 60, verse 1, though Paul has perhaps taken some liberty in his paraphrasing of Isaiah 61 and following with that quotation. But we understand the point that he is making, and I will read for you Isaiah 60 verses 1 to 3. Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness to peoples. But the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you, and nations shall come to your light, and kingdoms to the brightness of your rising. Christ, the light of the world, has risen. He has risen from the dead to overcome the darkness, to illuminate the shadows, to defeat sin. He has risen to kill death. He alone then has made a way for our salvation. He alone has made a way for our return to glory, the glory that Adam and Eve had, our first parents, had in paradise before they fell. We must receive then by faith the only source of light and life, Jesus Christ. Our call then, after having received his light by faith, is to reflect that same light of Christ to those who are in darkness. But even more to shine the life to those who are dead, to shine light in life to those who are dead and say, Awake, O sleeper, wake up. Wake up, O one who is walking in darkness. The glory of the Lord is shining. The thick darkness that has covered us, that which we try to hide, this has been expelled by the light of Christ. This has been vanquished by the love of Christ. Come out of the shadows. Turn from the darkness because the light is shining. The brightness of his rising will shine. Won't we shine his light? Won't we shine his life into the darkness that the nations may know that Christ alone is Lord? We must, church. And this is our high and our worthy calling, to shine life and light, to speak the truth and love that all men may turn and find eternal life. Acts 17. The God who made the world and everything in it. Being Lord of heaven and earth does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything. Since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything, and he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling that they should seek God and perhaps steal their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us. May that be our message as we walk as children of light. Amen. Father, we thank you that you are indeed not far from each of us. We thank you that we too, Lord, were stumbling around in the darkness, unaware of all of the dangers, Lord. But it was you and you alone who shined the light of Christ into our hearts, who called us from that darkness and into your light, who transferred us from that kingdom of darkness and into your kingdom of light and eternal life. So we give you thanks for your light. We give you thanks for the light of Christ. Help each one of us. Give us boldness and courage to shine your light in love and in truth. Lord, we know that this world is a dark place. And we know that the only answer to all the world's problems are the light and life of Christ. Help us to shine that light. And help us to do it lovingly and graciously and boldly and truthfully. Lord, that you may receive all the glory and honor when your children return to you in faith. We ask all these things in the name of Jesus. Amen.