In Ephesians 5:1-21, Paul exhorts us to lay aside the former self which practiced sin and put on the new self which is to practice righteousness. Throughout these verses, notice the subjection to Christ through righteous practices. Sin is self-indulgence, while subjection seeks to imitate Christ. Righteousness is primarily about living in a manner pleasing to God in a demonstration of our belonging to Christ.
Sin, on the other hand, rebels against any belonging and only seeks to benefit the self. Nothing else matters.
We should not miss in these verses Paul’s emphasis on the practice of righteousness. In three verses, he uses the word “walk” which is a reference to our conduct or character. Conduct yourselves in the love of God, conduct yourselves after the light of God, and order your character around the wisdom of God.
In three verses, Paul refers to “light”, and he defines this in verse 9, “For the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth.” In using the word “light”, Paul is again exhorting us to conduct, character, and practice which is consistent with the knowledge and wisdom of God.
In eight verses, Paul uses the word “be”, which again signifies action and conduct. The Greek Lexicon defines “be” as the quality, condition, or conduct. Also, it is to show or prove oneself, again, referring to the quality, condition, or conduct. Strong’s Concordance defines “be” to include causing or generating and continuing. “Be” necessarily involves continuing. When once we have been regenerated and transformed through Christ, we are to continue in our regeneration and transformation.
“Be” involves becoming a righteous person and continuing to live as a righteous person (growing in righteousness), all the while putting our righteousness into practice.
The key verses here are 11 through 13. Paul exhorts us not to participate in unrighteous practices but instead to expose them. However, Paul then says it is disgraceful to speak of the unrighteous practices of others. How do we expose something but not speak of it?
The key to understanding Paul’s exhortation is the word “light” in verse 13. Light is not produced through words. In Matthew 5:14-16, Jesus instructs us, “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”
The emphasis in Christ’s words is on action and deeds. “Let your light shine” that the world “may see your good works”.
Alexander Maclaren wrote, “A quaint old writer says that the presence of a saint ‘hinders the devil of elbow room to do his tricks.’ We can all rebuke sin by our righteousness, and by our shining reveal the darkness to itself. We do not walk as children of the light unless we keep ourselves from all connivance with works of darkness, and by all means at our disposal reprove and convict them. ‘Come out from among them, and be ye separate, and touch no unclean thing, saith the Lord.’”
In verse 12, Paul seems to be implicitly referring to gossip, which we must not do. However, there is no shame in the consistent practices of a righteous person. As righteousness increases in a community of people, the deeds of unrighteousness will become more visible. When righteousness is normal in a community, unrighteousness as abnormal is much more visible.
As our communities today experience cultural rot, it is painfully evident that Ephesians 5 is no longer being followed. The primary lack we have is to embody the righteousness of Christ through our daily conduct.
Unfortunately, when a large portion of so-called Christians does not even believe in the deity and authority of Christ, it is no wonder that the Bible’s calls to actions are disregarded.
Let us commit to being a light in the community by continually seeking to understand and practice the righteousness of Christ. Of course, we cannot do any of this on our own. The most important differentiation of Christianity from every other set of beliefs is the aid of the Holy Spirit. We cannot imitate Christ on our own. We must have the help of the Holy Spirit. Let us strive for more of the Holy Spirit and for the Holy Spirit to have more of us. None of what Paul writes in Ephesians 5 is possible on our own effort without the aid of the Holy Spirit.
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