Children of Light
A Sermon on Ephesians 5:7-8
Originally preached Nov. 16, 1958
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:
Sermon Description
What does it mean to walk as children of the light and what are the implications for the Christian life? What is sanctification and what is the Christian’s role in it? In this sermon on Ephesians 5:6–7 titled “Children of Light,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones tackles these questions. Sanctification in the New Testament, as seen in these verses, follows this principle: it is not something received or taken but rather results from a correct understanding of the truth that leads to application. In this passage, Paul says that believers have become children of the light, and that this understanding should cause them to walk as such— a perfect case of sanctification resulting from a correct understanding of God’s word. It is active, not passive. The difference between a Christian and a nonbeliever, Dr. Lloyd-Jones says, is the difference between being in the light and being in darkness. Several other passages in Scripture use this same analogy. The change that takes place when one follows Christ is massive— from darkness to light, from death to life. It is not a mere topical change, but is rather a radical change from the inside out.
Sermon Breakdown
- The difference between the Christian and the nonchristian is perfectly clear.
- The nature of the difference: Christians were once darkness but now are light in the Lord. They were not just in darkness but were darkness itself. Now they are not just enlightened but are light itself.
- What produces this change: It is all in the Lord. God commanded the light to shine out of darkness and has shined into our hearts. We see the light of God's glory in the face of Jesus Christ. We are in Christ and Christ is in us.
Sermon Q&A
Questions and Answers from Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' Sermon on Ephesians 5:7-8
What is the key difference between Christians and non-Christians according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones?
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, the difference between Christians and non-Christians is absolute and clear. He emphasizes that "you were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord." It's not merely that Christians were once in darkness and now are in light, but that Christians actually were darkness and now are light. This is a fundamental transformation, not just an improvement or adaptation, but a complete new creation.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones describe the New Testament method of sanctification?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones teaches that the New Testament presents sanctification not as a one-time experience or gift to be received, but as something that "results from an outworking of the truth." He points out how Paul uses "argument after argument" to promote holiness, suggesting that sanctification comes through understanding and applying truth, not through a simple act or by just "looking to the Lord." Christ himself prayed, "Sanctify them through thy truth, thy word is truth."
Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones criticize certain views of sanctification?
He criticizes views that present sanctification as "a gift to be received" or as something that happens effortlessly by "just looking to the Lord." He argues that if sanctification were that simple, there would be no need for the apostles to write epistles with practical sections and detailed arguments. The biblical approach involves realizing the truth and then applying it, not just having a passive experience.
What is the nature of the difference between Christians and non-Christians as explained in the sermon?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that non-Christians are not merely in darkness but are darkness itself—"the darkness was in them." Similarly, Christians are not merely enlightened or in the light, but are "light in the Lord." The transformation affects "the vitals of his being...the seat of his personality, the heart, the understanding, the affections, everything." It's a change at the very center of one's being.
Why does Dr. Lloyd-Jones say evangelism must go beyond just presenting truth?
He argues that simply presenting truth to people is insufficient because unbelievers are darkness—"their natures are wrong." He cites John 3:19, noting that "men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil." The natural mind "receiveth not the things of the spirit of God" because they are spiritually discerned. Therefore, evangelism must involve not only presenting truth but also praying for the Holy Spirit to enlighten minds and hearts.
What produces the transformation from darkness to light according to the sermon?
The transformation is entirely "in the Lord." Dr. Lloyd-Jones states, "It is all in the Lord. There is nothing without him." He references 2 Corinthians 4:6, explaining that God "hath shined into our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." This transformation is solely the work of God, just as He commanded light to shine out of darkness at creation.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones contrast true Christianity with merely accepting Christian ethics?
He clarifies that a Christian is not merely someone who "believes the teaching" or "accepts the Christian ethic or morality." Rather, a Christian has been "made light" and is "in the Lord"—with Christ in them. Christians derive "life and energy and power" from Christ as their "living head." Many moral people borrow Christian ethics without being transformed, but true Christians have been fundamentally changed from within.
What role does the Holy Spirit play in conversion according to the sermon?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones emphasizes that the Holy Spirit's operation is essential for conversion. He states that people need to be "changed at the center of their being" and "made light" through "the operation of the Holy Spirit." He warns against separating the word and the Spirit, using the example of Lydia, "whose heart the Lord opened, that she hearkened unto and received the things which were spoken of Paul."
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.