“Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.” Ephesians 5:11 (Read Eph. 5:1-16)
Walking as children of the light includes calling sin what it is, sin, and exposing and reproving error for what it is, a lie and deception of the devil.
God, in His grace and mercy, has shined upon us with the light of His Word and has opened our eyes through the Holy Scriptures that we might see our utter sinfulness and see that, in Christ Jesus and for the sake of His holy life and innocent sufferings and death on the cross in our stead, God reaches out to us in mercy and with forgiveness and offers to us a place in His everlasting kingdom.
As children of light, acknowledging our sins and errors and trusting in Christ Jesus and His cross for mercy and forgiveness (cf. 1 John 1:5-10), should we then walk in darkness and continue on in the sinful ways of this world?
St. Paul admonishes us: “But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. 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. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience” (Eph. 5:3-6).
The Scriptures admonish us, as children of the light who have come to a knowledge of the truth, to walk in the light of God’s Word and continue trusting in our crucified and risen Savior. We agree with God about our sinfulness and the punishment we justly deserve, but we trust in Christ and His atoning sacrifice on the cross for pardon, forgiveness, and fellowship with the LORD God. And, rather than joining together in the unfruitful works of darkness, we are called upon to expose and reprove these works for what they are – lies of the old evil foe, the devil, and disobedience to God’s commandments leading to eternal death and damnation!
This has application in every aspect of our lives, and in our congregation and church, as well. Rather than joining together in any of the ways of the world, and rather than joining together and fellowshipping with churches that espouse and hold to false doctrine and sin – anything that is not of the truth revealed in God’s unerring Word – we are admonished to expose and reprove sin and error that those who are deceived might come to see the truth and repent, looking in faith to Christ Jesus for mercy.
We too, as believers, examine ourselves in the light of God’s Word, acknowledge and confess all that is of the darkness and turn to Jesus, the Light of the World, and receive forgiveness and cleansing through His blood, shed upon the cross for the sins of all (1 John 1:5 – 2:2).
Dearest Lord Jesus, we thank You for granting us Your Spirit and opening our eyes that we might see our sin and guilt before God but also see and know His mercy and forgiveness toward us for the sake of Your atoning sacrifice for us on the cross. Amen.
[Scripture is quoted from the King James Version of the Bible.]