Together in Christ #20

Paul has just told us how the old lifestyle of immorality, uncleanness, and covetousness are inconsistent with our calling as Christ-followers, as heirs of this great inheritance He has provided for us when He rose from the dead, defeating sin and death, and has now ascended back to heaven as our Intercessor and Head. He picking back up in Ephesians 5:

7 Therefore do not become partners with them; 8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), 10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. 13 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

The difference in our lives should be day and night, like dark and light. Paul gives us distinct steps we can take in this pursuit: try to discern/put to the test every action; take no part in what is clearly sinful; talk about what is pure and good and not those things that are questionable; take responsibility to say when some activity is sinful - bring it to light.  When light exposes darkness, it is readily apparent to believers just how bad it is.  Paul then concludes with a verse from the prophets that was used at baptism services for new believers, sung as a challenge for how that person now should live. As he/she arose from the water, fellow believers would sin: “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” May Christ shine in, on and through us today.