Exposed by the Light
A Sermon on Ephesians 5:7-14
Scripture
7Be not ye therefore partakers with them. 8For 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;) 10Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. …
Sermon Description
How should a Christian act toward the darkness that is not pleasing to the Lord? How are Christians to interact with those who do not follow Christ? In this sermon on Ephesians 5:7–14 titled “Exposed by the Light,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones provides some helpful insights to aid believers in working through these complex issues. Throughout the centuries, some Christians have argued for a sort of lifestyle that withdraws them completely from interaction with the world. Yet, as Dr. Lloyd-Jones points out, this robs the gospel of one of its main victories— that Christians are able to live a different life in the same world as a witness to those who don’t yet know Christ. How can one do this? First, they are to break completely with sin— they once were partakers of these activities, but now are to walk as children of the light. This exhortation reminds that sanctification is a process, not a one-time “product.” Second, Christians must not even be interested in the unfruitful works of darkness. Yet, this point often raises an interesting question: how should Christians balance having company with unbelievers without becoming like them? Since Christians are called to live among them and to be a witness, how can they maintain these values without compromising their faith? Dr. Lloyd-Jones provides helpful commentary on this that aids in thinking through how to best live out the faith.
Sermon Breakdown
- Christians are not to participate in sinful acts and deeds (verse 7)
- Christians are not even to show interest in sinful acts and deeds (verse 11)
- Christians are not to cut off contact with sinners but are to remain in the world (1 Corinthians 5:9-10)
- Christians are not to judge those outside the church but those inside (1 Corinthians 5:12)
- Christians are to reprove sinful acts by throwing light on them through the Gospel (verse 11)
- Reproving does not mean condemning or reprimanding but convincing through evidence (verse 11)
- Reproving means showing how sinful acts affect one's relationship with God (verse 11)
- Christians are to show sinners the joy of salvation and a better life in Christ (verse 11)
- Christians are not to focus on sinful acts themselves but point to Christ (verse 13)
- When light is shone on sin, it exposes it for what it is (verse 13)
- Holiness should attract sinners to Christ (verse 13)
- Christians are to resist condemning sinners and show them the Gospel (verse 13)
- Christians are to remember they are the light of the world (verse 13)
The Book of Ephesians
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.