Light in the Darkness

3 But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. 4 Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. 5 For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 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.” – Ephesians 5:3-14 ESV

Darkness is the absence of light; it is what happens when light is removed or unavailable. The term “darkness” is used by many of the New Testament authors to describe the moral and spiritual state of mankind apart from God. Without God, humanity is left in a state of darkness. The apostle John described God as light-producing and darkness-dispelling.

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. – 1 John 1:5 ESV

God brings light into the world, illuminating and eliminating darkness wherever His presence dwells. So the spiritual darkness in which mankind finds itself is the result of an absence of God. Since God is omnipresent, there is no place where He does not exist, but when men fail to acknowledge His presence, power, and authority over their lives, they find themselves plunged into spiritual darkness.

David wrote, “Only fools say in their hearts, “There is no God.’ They are corrupt, and their actions are evil; not one of them does good!” (Psalm 14:1 NLT). Failure to believe in God does not make Him go away; it simply plunges the disbeliever into further darkness and despair. John described Jesus as the Word of God that “existed in the beginning with God” (John 1:2 NLT). He further noted that God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him” (John 1:3 NLT). As the light of God, Jesus “gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it” (John 1:4 NLT).

Yet, while the spiritual darkness of the world cannot extinguish “the light of life,” it does not prevent humanity from preferring darkness to light.

God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed.– John 3:19-20 NLT

Jesus describes Himself as the light of the world.

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” – John 8:12 NLT

In his first letter, John points out that a relationship with Jesus, the light of the world, precludes living in darkness. It is impossible to walk in the light and darkness at the same time. 

If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. – 1 John 1:6 ESV

Our relationship with Christ should impact our conduct. That is why Paul tells us: “Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them” (Ephesians 5:11 ESV). As children of God, we have been exposed to Jesus Christ, the light of life. As John wrote in his gospel, “The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it” (John 1:5 NASB). Darkness and light cannot coexist. So when Jesus, the light, came into the world, He illuminated and exposed the darkness all around Him. He did not eliminate the darkness of sin because it was sinful men who orchestrated His death on the cross. However, everywhere Jesus went, His life shone like a beacon of hope in a sin-darkened world. He was God in human flesh, dispensing love, grace, mercy, and hope to a lost and dying world. Yet, the apostle John reveals that this life-giving light of God was met with ridicule and rejection by those dwelling in the darkness of sin. 

There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.– John 1:9-11 ESV

But the Light was not wasted. Jesus’ efforts did not prove futile or fruitless.

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. – John 1:12

There were many who preferred the darkness of sin over the Light, but some turned to the Light and gratefully received His offer of forgiveness and redemption. He exposed their sins and their need for a Savior. It is interesting to note that John says, “the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man.” The Greek word John used is φωτίζω (phōtizō), and it can mean “to give light” or “to enlighten, spiritually, imbue with saving knowledge” (“G5461 - phōtizō - Strong's Greek Lexicon (KJV).” Blue Letter Bible). Obviously, John was not indicating that every man was saved as a result of Jesus’ incarnation. But with Jesus’ death and resurrection, the message of salvation came into the world, exposing every man and woman to the truth; some received it, while others rejected it.

Paul’s letter to the Ephesians is addressed to those who have received the Light. He is calling them to live lives that reflect their new standing as “children of light” (Ephesians 5:8 ESV). He reminds them of the transformation that had taken place in their lives because of their faith in Jesus.

…for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. – Ephesians 5:8 ESV

Paul does not say, “you are in the light,” but “you are light.” They had been transformed. Not only had they been living in darkness, but they were darkness; their lives were characterized by the deeds of darkness. But the Light of the world had penetrated their lives, transforming them into children of light. Now, Paul was calling them to live as who they were.

This meant a change in behavior. Children of light were not meant to live like children of darkness. And Paul was very explicit in describing what life in the light looks like.

Let there be no sexual immorality, impurity, or greed among you. Such sins have no place among God’s people. – Ephesians 5:3 NLT

And just in case his audience got a bit prideful and puffed up, thinking they had no problem with those particular sins, Paul dropped a bombshell on them.

Obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes — these are not for you. – Ephesians 5:4 NLT

These are those “little” sins that so many Christians excuse as somehow acceptable to God. But Paul says, “These are not for you.” As Christians, it is so easy to rationalize our behavior. We can find it tempting to justify certain behavior as acceptable to God, but Paul lumps obscene stories, foolish talk, and coarse jokes in with immorality, impurity, greed, and idolatry. They are all deeds of darkness.

Don’t be fooled by those who try to excuse these sins, for the anger of God will fall on all who disobey him. – Ephesians 5:6 NLT

Those are not the characteristics of those who have become light; they mark the nature of those who are still children of darkness. That is why Paul goes on to adamantly demand a radical change in behavior.

Don’t participate in the things these people do. For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true. – Ephesians 5:7-9 NLT

As Christ followers, we are to determine what pleases God and do those things. We are to live differently from all those around us. The light within us is to produce what is good, right, and true. Rather than participate in the deeds of darkness, we are to expose them (Ephesians 5:11). This does not mean that we are to walk around pointing our fingers in judgment at those who sin, but that our very presence as light should provide a dramatic contrast. Paul says, “Their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, for the light makes everything visible” (Ephesians 5:13-14 NLT).

Our presence among those living in darkness and death will provide a convicting influence on their lives. When Christ followers live as lights in the darkness, their lives become beacons of hope, calling those living in the darkness of sin to experience the light of life. Our light-infused lives become a wake-up call to a lost and dying world.

Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light. – Ephesians 5:14 NLT

Father, we are light. It is not just that we have been exposed to the light of life, but that we have become bearers of the light to the world around us. Your Son made it clear when He said, “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father (Matthew 5:14-16 NLT). My sinfulness was exposed by the Light and I received the righteousness of Christ. As a result, I have the Light of the world living in me and I need to let it shine through me. As Paul said, “We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves” (2 Corinthians 4:7 NLT). I am still imperfect and struggle with my sin nature. As Paul put it, I am a fragile clay jar, but I have the light of God within me; all I need to do is let it shine through me. That is how I want to live my life. I may be broken and flawed, but I have Your power residing in me and when it shows up, You get the glory. Shine through me, Father. Let me be a bright light of hope to a sin-darkened world. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Eyes Wide Open

11 Besides this you know the time, that the hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed. 12 The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires. – Romans 13:11-14 ESV

Earlier in his letter, Paul quoted Deuteronomy 29:4, which speaks of the nation of Israel’s spiritual stupor or slumber. Now, he issues a wake-up call to the believers in Rome, urging them to rub the sleep from their own eyes and recognize the urgency of the moment.

This is not the first time Paul has used this kind of language when writing to believers. He told the Corinthians, “Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame” (1 Corinthians 15:34 ESV). In essence, Paul was telling them that they should know better. Their relationship with God through Jesus Christ had provided them with a knowledge of God that should have dramatically altered their behavior.

Paul wrote something similar to the believers in Ephesus.

Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said,

“Awake, O sleeper,
    rise up from the dead,
    and Christ will give you light.” – Ephesians 5:11-14 NLT

There is a sense in which all believers can be lulled into a state of spiritual stupor or slumber, wandering around half-asleep and unaware of what is taking place around us. As believers, we have been called to live in alertness and awareness, with a keen eye on the times in which we live. The apostle Peter wrote, “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:89 NLT). Paul challenged the Colossian believers, “Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart” (Colossians 4:2 NLT). Even Jesus Himself said, “So you, too, must keep watch! For you don't know what day your Lord is coming” (Matthew 24:42 NLT).

When Paul wrote the church in Thessalonica, he used very similar terminology.

For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don’t belong to darkness and night. So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded. Night is the time when people sleep and drinkers get drunk. But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation. – 1 Thessalonians 5:5-8 NLT

There is to be a radical difference in the way in which we conduct our lives on this planet. We are no longer to live as if we were half-asleep and incapable of recognizing the dangers around us. We have had our eyes opened by the gospel, and the truth has been exposed to us. We have no excuse for living as if we are still in the dark about the seriousness of sin or the expectations of God. He has called us to live holy lives, and He has provided His Holy Spirit to make it possible.

Paul says we are to “walk properly as in the daylight” (Romans 13:13 ESV). Those who live in the dark do so to hide their sins. Thieves operate in darkness, not daylight, using the cover of darkness to conceal their actions. But we have been exposed to the Light. Paul would have us remember that the light of Christ shines in us and through us.

For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ. We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves. – 2 Corinthians 4:6-7 NLT

That is why he told the Roman believers to “cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light” (Romans 13:12 ESV). There is something protective about living in the light; it illuminates our path, guides our way, and exposes dangers along the way. When light exists, darkness cannot coexist. Paul put it this way:

How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? – 2 Corinthians 6:14 NLT

But the danger we face is allowing the light in our lives to diminish. When we take our eyes off of Jesus and forget the promise of His return, we can become overwhelmed by the darkness of this world. We can also end up compromising our convictions and becoming a “friend of the world,” as James warned.

Don’t you realize that friendship with the world makes you an enemy of God? I say it again: If you want to be a friend of the world, you make yourself an enemy of God. – James 4:4 NLT

Paul repeatedly used the metaphor of darkness and light to illustrate the believer’s need for living a distinctive, set-apart life. 

Don’t participate in the things these people do. For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true. – Ephesians 5:7-9 NLT

For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don’t belong to darkness and night. So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded. – 1 Thessalonians 5:5-6 NLT

Salvation should result in sanctification, the ongoing transformation of the believer’s life into the likeness of Jesus, “the Light of the world” (John 8:12). And, as believers, we should constantly consider the promise that our sanctification will one day result in our glorification. We are to live with that end in mind. That is why Paul said, “For salvation is nearer to us now than when we first believed” (Romans 13:11 ESV). This is a reference to the culminating act of God’s redemptive plan for His children, their glorification. This is what John meant when he wrote, “Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. And all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure” (1 John 3:2-3 NLT).

Our hope should be in the promise of our glorification when Christ returns, and we should live in anticipation of that day. Those who don’t know Christ live their lives as if this world is all there is. They remain unenlightened about the reality of eternity. They are asleep, unaware of the danger lurking ahead, and when they finally wake up, they will realize it is too late to respond to the gospel.

But as believers, we know better, and so we should live differently. We have already been issued our wake-up call. Now we are to live fully awake and alert to the dangers around us and the hope that lies ahead of us.

Father, we who once lived in darkness have been exposed to the light of life and have had our lives radically and irrevocably changed. We are Your sons and daughters, children of the light who no longer have to live in the darkness of sin and under the threat of death. We know the truth and it has set us free from condemnation and future judgment. Yet, we can still find ourselves wandering back into the darkness of this world, embracing its ability to cover up what Your Son came to expose. We sometimes find the darkness comforting because it keeps our sins hidden. But Your Son came so that our sins might be exposed and expunged. He said, “God’s light came into the world, but people loved the darkness more than the light, for their actions were evil. All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed. But those who do what is right come to the light so others can see that they are doing what God wants” (John 3:19-21 NLT). Give us the strength and determination to seek the light rather than the darkness. Never let us grow complacent with sin and comfortable with the darkness in which it breeds and flourishes. Help us live as people of the light in this sin-darkened world so that others might  discover the Light of Life. Amen

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT) Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.22

In the Beginning…

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. – John 1:1-50 ESV

As suggested by the book’s title, the author of the fourth Gospel is believed to be the apostle John. This belief is based on the writings of the early church fathers and evidence from within the text itself. One of the key internal proofs for John’s authorship is found in chapter 21. The scene depicted in this passage is that of the resurrected Christ appearing to His disciples. Believing their Messiah and friend to be dead, seven of them have returned to their fishing boats. Jesus appears on the shore and calls out to them, but they fail to recognize him. This stranger suggests that they cast their nets on the other side of the boat and, when they do, they find their nets full of fish. And, in verse 7, the author states that the first to recognize the stranger as Jesus was “That disciple whom Jesus loved” (John 21:7 ESV). 

This is a direct reference to an earlier event in the life of Jesus when He had gathered His disciples in the upper room to take the Passover meal. At one point in the evening, Jesus announced that one of them would betray Him. And the author describes an exchange between Simon Peter and the “disciple whom Jesus loved.”

One of his disciples, whom Jesus loved, was reclining at table at Jesus' side, so Simon Peter motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. So that disciple, leaning back against Jesus, said to him, “Lord, who is it?” – John 13:23-25 ESV

John was part of the inner circle, the group of three disciples whom Jesus invited to join Him on the mountaintop to witness His transfiguration. The other two members of this group were Peter and James. Throughout this Gospel account, the author refers to John six times, not by name, but by the third-party designation, “the disciple whom Jesus loved.” Even when describing the crucifixion, the author records that Jesus personally addressed the “disciple whom he loved,” assigning him the task of caring for His mother, Mary.

When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son!” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother!” And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home. – John 19:26-27 ESV

And the author later identifies himself as the one whom Jesus loved.

This is the disciple who is bearing witness about these things, and who has written these things, and we know that his testimony is true. – John 21:24 ESV

This should not be construed as a prideful statement on John’s part, but an expression of his amazement at being the recipient of Jesus’ underserved love. Nowhere in the book does he use his own name. It is almost as if he is deliberately trying to minimize his own importance in order to make much of Christ. After all, his entire purpose for writing this book was to showcase the life and ministry of Jesus, his friend, teacher, and Messiah. But what sets John’s account apart from the other gospels is its emphasis on the deity of Christ. Unlike Matthew, Mark, and Luke, John does not open up with a description of Jesus’ birth. Instead, he begins with a description of “the Word” – his unique reference to Jesus that is designed to accentuate His deity.

In the Aramaic translations of the Old Testament, the word used to describe God was memra. In the Greek, that word becomes logos. John specifically chose this word in order to stress the divinity of Jesus. Rather than beginning His gospel with the birth of Christ, John promotes the eternality of the one who came in the form of a baby. John stresses that “the Word” was “in the beginning” and “the Word was with God” (John 1:1 ESV). He stresses the preexistence of Christ and describes Him as being “fully God” (John 1:1 NET). For John, the most important thing about Jesus was His divinity. He had been more than just a man. He was the God-man. To John, the deity and humanity of Jesus were inseparable and vital to understanding His entire ministry, message, and mission. 

Jesus had been a co-creator of the universe and all it contains. He was the second person of the Trinity, who had preexisted His own incarnation. According to Paul, Jesus had existed in the form of God but had left His place in heaven in order to take on human flesh.

Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. – Philippians 2:5-7 ESV

John will refer to the concept of “life” 36 times in his gospel. And he describes Jesus as the author and source of all life. 

In him was life, and the life was the light of men. – John 1:4 ESV

Long before Jesus was born in Bethlehem, He had existed in eternity past, and He had played a vital role in the creation of the universe, giving life and vitality to every living thing. What God declared to be, Jesus brought into existence. Out of the darkness that enveloped the pre-creation scene, Jesus brought life and light into existence.

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.

And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. – Genesis 1:1-3 ESV

Jesus was the source of that light. And John is emphasizing that the light had penetrated the darkness once again. This time, in the form of the incarnate Christ, who entered into the world as light in the darkness, bringing life to those who were spiritually dead because of their sinful state.

John’s view of Jesus is that of God entering the world. He is the same light that penetrated the darkness of the pre-creation void and filled it with life, meaning, beauty, and fruitfulness. And this same light had appeared a second time, entering the sin-darkened world in which John lived, shining the light of God’s life-giving glory into the hidden recesses of men’s hearts. John himself had been dramatically transformed by his own encounter with the Light of the world.

You can see the parallels between these opening verses of John’s gospel and those found in the first of the three letters he penned.

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life—the life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. And we are writing these things so that our joy may be complete.

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. – 1 John 1:1-5 ESV

Jesus was “from the beginning.” He was “the life…made manifest” or visible. He was “the light of men” who “shines in the darkness.” And because of His divinity, “in him is no darkness at all.”

John has set the stage for the rest of his account. He is now prepared to introduce Jesus, the God-man, and to describe how divinity took on humanity, or as he puts it, how “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14 ESV).

English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Permanent Text Edition® (2016). Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

New Living Translation (NLT)
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

The Message (MSG)Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson