How to Walk in the Light instead of Darkness
1 John 1:1–7
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life;
2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)
3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
4 And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.
5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
How do we walk in the light?
We can answer this by observing three exhortations in Ephesians 5
1. Exalt God and not idols,
2. Display the fruit of light,
3. Expose the darkness.
Exalt God, Not Idols
Ephesians 5:3–6
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.
Paul describes a dark life:
• These sins grow out of a heart that has replaced God with functional saviors.
• Paul says that these sins should “not be once named among you” (vs3)
• In other words – to not even be heard of among you”
• and that they are “not convenient or suitable” for a believer (v. 4).
Display the Fruit of Light
Ephesians 5:7–10
7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
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.
Display light by not joining those in darkness.
Don’t be partakers with them (v. 7).
2 Corinthians 6:14 KJV
14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
Display light by living out your identity.
Ephesians 5:8 KJV
8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
Paul makes an important distinction here:
• Christians are not light in themselves;
• they are light in the Lord.
• Because He is light and we are in Him, we are light.
• And because the Christian is light
• we are now called to “walk as children of light”
Display light by doing all that is good, right, and true.
Ephesians 5:9 KJV
9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
God is good and right and true.
As Christians, we are to do that which is good and right and true.
Display light by pleasing the Lord.
Ephesians 5:10 KJV
10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
As a believer, you may not please everyone.
• You may be mocked for following Jesus.
• Some may think you are living in the Stone Age because you believe the Bible.
But we must keep coming back to this fundamental question:
• What will please the Lord?
Expose the Darkness
Paul goes on to say that believers must not only avoid participation in darkness but they must also actively expose the darkness.
Ephesians 5:11–14 KJV
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.
Believers are to let their light shine
Matthew 5:16 KJV
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Light exposes the sin of unbelievers.
The word manifest is akin to the word expose
• Expose carries the idea of correcting or convincing someone.
Walking in the light does not mean avoiding contact with people.
• It means living a holy life, and it means confronting darkness.
To summarize Ephesians 5:7–14
Christians, who were once darkness
• but are now light,
• Shine the light of truth and righteousness in a dark world
• with their words and actions,
• they make visible the shameful and secretive deeds of darkness;
• they may then be used to help those in darkness come to the light themselves.
Which is what John said:
1 John 1:3 KJV
3 That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.
Walk in the Light so that you can invite others into that Light
Our hope at Irvington Bible Baptist Church is that this podcast provided some encouragement and has helped you to develop a closer relationship with the LORD Jesus Christ.
