The Thirty Fifth Sermon, the Third on the Fifth Chapter - Ephesians 5:8-11
"For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;) Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them." - Ephesians 5:8-11
We know how difficult it is to reform people from their evil customs once they have become hardened to them. The mischief easily takes root in us because we are naturally inclined and almost wholly given to it. However, we are not so easily changed when we have indulged in wrongdoing for a long time. It clings to us like a disease that has gathered strength and cannot be purged away. Many people are deeply entrenched in their wickedness and indulge in numerous vices before they are called by God and touched with repentance. Therefore, we need to heed the doctrine that St. Paul imparts here, which is to understand that when we have strayed from God and deviated from the path of salvation, we must not deceive ourselves or make excuses, just because it has become commonplace for us. We should not excuse ourselves any more for that, but rather consider that God has had compassion on us. His drawing us away from the evil we were in was intended to change us and to better showcase His power and grace through our lives, bearing witness that we are no longer the people we once were.
That's why St. Paul says in this text, "You were once darkness, but now God has enlightened you," as if to say that we must not rely on what others do or what has happened in our lives to hope for justification and exoneration of our faults. When God has reached out His hand and shown us such mercy as to adopt us as His children and make us heirs of heavenly life, instead of being condemned and damned, that grace should greatly motivate us to become new beings. As for those among whom we live, if God gives them the reins and lets them go as abandoned people, let us understand that it was His will to rescue us from such a miserable state. Let them serve as mirrors for us to see how wretched it is for people to follow their own desires. Their multitude of sins should not excuse or cover our faults; rather, we should take their example as a warning to withdraw ourselves and submit to the fear and obedience of our Lord.
To better grasp the whole, let's first note that St. Paul is showing us the state of all humanity in general until God draws them to Himself. He tells us that there is no reason at all to boast in our virtues. This one statement, where he says that we were in darkness, means that there was neither light of reason nor any self-governance in us. Instead, we were like beasts, and this should humble us. Indeed, many may appear wise and receive commendation from the world as prudent individuals capable not only of guiding their own lives but also counseling and directing others.
Yet, despite this, when it comes to God's wisdom and reason, we are mere brute beasts compared to Him. This saying should remind us to humbly turn to God and seek the necessary remedy for governing our lives, which is to let His wisdom be our master and teacher through His Word. I will elaborate on this further. It should also lead us to pray that His Holy Spirit may work in us, preventing us from being filled with pride to the point where we consider ourselves wise in our own conceit.
So, in essence, we need to remember the following from this passage where Paul refers to people with a derogatory term, saying they are darkness, and that there is nothing but utter brutishness in them. I have already discussed in the previous chapter that people deserve nothing and are prone to destruction until they are reformed. Now, on the contrary, Paul mentions that there is light in the Lord, to emphasize that all the wisdom we possess comes from supernatural grace. In other words, we don't inherit it, nor can we claim it as our own. It is entirely the result of God's work, and we must be connected to our Lord Jesus Christ to partake in this benefit. Scripture states that God's Spirit was given to rest upon Him in full perfection. Therefore, let us learn to distrust ourselves and recognize that whatever we can bring on our own is of no help; it only diverts us from the path of salvation. We have no wisdom unless it is freely given by God for the purpose of drawing us to Him and making us members of His Son, our true light.
As I mentioned earlier, it's as if St. Paul is saying that by nature, we are nothing but darkness in Adam, and we are enlightened again in our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, we should not seek excuses by claiming that we cannot shed our old nature or completely forsake our ingrained tendencies. Such excuses are trivial and hold no weight before God. Instead, we should examine ourselves, considering our true state before God's grace has worked in us. We should acknowledge that on our own, we bring nothing but corruption from our mother's womb. This realization should enhance the effectiveness of the grace God has bestowed upon us. St. Paul implies that this grace would have been choked and nullified by our ingratitude and malice if we had not recognized why God extended His hand and showed such mercy to us. His purpose was to rescue us from darkness and bring us into the light. We are called "light in the Lord" not only because we have the guidance of His gospel, which is like a burning lamp, but also because He Himself, as the spiritual source and origin, inwardly enlightens us through His Spirit. We can see from experience that people do not necessarily improve when they are exposed to the truth through doctrine. One can make the effort to teach them, but it may often be in vain. Therefore, our Lord must also provide the spiritual insight to perceive the teachings of His Word. Just as the sun, no matter how bright in the sky, is of no benefit unless we have eyes to receive its light, God must grant us spiritual eyesight to understand the things taught to us by His Word.
You can see that the way we become "light in the Lord" is twofold. On one side, God shows us the way of salvation through the preaching of His Word and imparts a new spirit or mind to us, so that we do not remain in the ignorance that is natural to us. St. Paul clarifies this even further by adding that we should "walk as children of the light." In this, he not only praises and commends God's grace to encourage us to glorify Him, as we should, but also reveals its purpose. It's as if he's saying, make sure you do not disregard God's grace or render it ineffective. The calling to the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ was intended to bring about a holy transformation into this light. If we were to have the sun but merely gaze at it idly, like people out of their minds, we might as well have perpetual night. The sun serves us to engage in the tasks we are responsible for, to work for our livelihood, each according to their duties and roles.
Hence, it would be an abuse of the sun, which brings us such great benefits, if any of us were not to apply ourselves to our known duties. St. Paul then applies this analogy to the spiritual realm, comparing it to the doctrine of the gospel. He asserts that this light shines not for us to engage in idle speculations but, rather, to put our hands to work, to plow, and for each of us to identify our areas of service. In doing so, we make the light that is offered to us useful.
Furthermore, Paul, in one place, calls us "light," and then immediately adds "children of light." Both phrases serve the same purpose. However, it's worth noting that this title properly belongs to none but our Lord Jesus Christ, as He Himself said, "I am the light of the world. He that walketh in me shall never stray." This demonstrates that our Lord Jesus Christ alone is sufficient to provide us with light. If we distance ourselves from Him, we will find nothing but darkness, not in heaven, not on earth, nor in any other creature. Even when we speak of God's majesty, it is above all the heavens, and even the angels derive their light from our Lord Jesus Christ.
That is the reason why even John the Baptist is excluded from that honour when he states that he was not the light, but that this distinction belonged peculiarly to the Son of God, who enlightens everyone that comes into the world. Similarly, the apostles and all those who preach God's truth are also termed "light" in their own capacity. It is not because they inherently possess this light, but because God uses them as instruments to deliver His Word and guide others in the path of salvation.
However, if someone who carries a candle to light others stumbles and goes astray, it is a significant matter. Therefore, as those entrusted with preaching God's Word, we must lead our lives in such a way that others may be edified by our conduct. Nonetheless, this does not diminish the honour of our Lord Jesus Christ. Those enlightened by Him must not claim equality with Him. He alone remains the true light, while we are illuminated by Him.
As St. Paul said, all believers are like lamps burning in this world, bearing the Word of God. The light referred to in Scripture, both for teachers and those who are taught, is the Word of God. It should function as a lamp to guide our lives. We must live in a manner that draws unbelievers to faith and reform or confound them when they see that God's calling to us as His messengers is not in vain.
This is the sense in which St. Paul states that we are "light in the Lord" because God's Word should act as a burning lamp, guiding not only ourselves but also showing the way to those who might otherwise go astray. He adds that we are "children of light" to emphasize that our light does not originate within ourselves; we borrow it from the true light of the world, our Lord Jesus Christ. He is the source of this light, and through Him, we are illuminated by His gospel and the Holy Spirit.
As God works in us through faith and grants us spiritual rebirth, let us value His grace as it deserves. We should not squander it through negligence but walk according to God's calling, employing ourselves for His purposes. St. Paul warns that the fruit of this light is goodness, righteousness, and truth. In other words, this is not just a matter of following common human customs but a call to draw nearer to God and to understand the true purpose of being Christians. It reflects how the power of the Holy Spirit should manifest in our lives, leading us to live righteously, faithfully, and compassionately, showing kindness and patience towards one another.
Truth be told, there are other things required in a Christian's life, but Paul hasn't encompassed them all under a single category. It's as if he's saying, "My friends, God's grace towards us is remarkable in gathering us to Him when we were headed for destruction. He has freed us from the tyranny of the ruler of this world, the devil, and made us members of His only Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. This is an invaluable benefit, and now we must demonstrate how we respond to God's immense mercy."
This response must be evident in our lives as we interact with one another in goodness. This means we should not be cruel like dogs and cats, nor engage in guile, craftiness, and malice to deceive or manipulate one another. Instead, we should conduct ourselves with honesty and integrity, ensuring that each of us strives to give others their due, so that no one pursues their own gain at the expense of others.
When our lives are ordered in this manner, people will see that we bear fruit in the light. In other words, the light God has given us is not dormant but active. Just as God has illuminated us, we should apply ourselves to doing what He has commanded and appointed. This is why Paul speaks of the fruit of righteousness, as I mentioned before. The gospel is not ineffectual; its impact should be evident in our lives, characterized by righteousness, kindness, and faithfulness.
In these words, St. Paul encompasses all aspects of the two tables of the law. Charity does not diminish the importance of God's service; rather, the scriptures direct us back to our neighbours because of our service to God. When we love our neighbours as we should and live with them according to God's law, God will always have His rightful place. Otherwise, we tend to love ourselves excessively, seek our own glory, and indulge in pride, vainglory, covetousness, cruelty, and deceit. Only when we willingly submit ourselves to God's authority, honour Him, serve Him, and bless His holy name will this change occur. Such submission and obedience to God will be evident when we give everyone their due, indicating our fear of God.
Now, to illustrate how we should live in the world, Paul outlines three important virtues: goodness, righteousness, and truth. Goodness signifies kindness and compassion towards those in distress, helping them in their time of need and patiently bearing their weaknesses. Righteousness denotes honest and upright conduct, refraining from taking what belongs to others, avoiding actions that harm our neighbours, and being content with what God has given us, without seeking to accumulate others' possessions. Lastly, truth opposes all forms of deception, cunning schemes, and dishonest practices aimed at gaining others' possessions. When we possess these three virtues, it is certain that charity is fully and perfectly present in us.
These are the principles we should keep in mind in our daily lives. To demonstrate that our Christian upbringing in the Gospel has not been in vain and that we have not neglected the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, we must live virtuously and justly among people. We should show kindness by bearing with one another's weaknesses and helping those in need. We must also be faithful, avoiding craftiness and deceit in our dealings. Let us be steadfast and honest in all our interactions with others. Our Christian lives should reflect God's light and grace, leading us to be compassionate, just, and truthful.
The main point to remember is that God has enlightened us not to remain in darkness but to shine a light on those who still walk in darkness. We have a responsibility to guide unbelievers who stumble and wander aimlessly, like lost beasts. Their ignorance cannot excuse them because it is rooted in their wilful rejection of God. However, what excuse can we offer if we stray from the path when God has enlightened us with His Word and Holy Spirit and united us with our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the true source of righteousness?
Here, Paul tells us to examine what pleases God, which goes beyond what he previously mentioned. It reminds us of the true rule: aligning ourselves with God's will. The fear of God is rightly called true wisdom because it prevents us from straying into evil. Those who fear God remember His name and majesty, keeping their desires in check. Even when tempted, they resist because they recognize that their lives are devoted to God's service. When our minds are focused on God, we gain strength against temptation. Paul advises us to examine what pleases God to counteract our natural recklessness.
In the disregard of God, there are two aspects. First, people become complacent, thinking they won't be held accountable, and they rest as if they can determine good and evil. Later, they recklessly rebel against God.
Therefore, it is not enough for us to avoid wilfully opposing God or behaving like wild animals or stubborn bulls, pushing in every direction with our horns. That is insufficient. We must be vigilant in thoroughly inquiring what is permissible for us. We should distinguish between what God permits and what He does not allow.
The first point that Paul emphasizes here is that our lives will never be wellordered unless they are fully aligned with God's will. Mark this as the first point. Secondly, as I mentioned earlier, we should not assume that God forgives our negligence when we deliberately close our eyes and are content to go astray without taking heed. Instead, we should be on guard and diligently seek what God allows. These are the two key points we should keep in mind.
Regarding the first point, we can observe that throughout history, people have always taken liberties to follow their own inventions as they please. There has been a common saying that "the intention judges with men," which holds true to some extent. However, people have misinterpreted it. Under this pretext, individuals have imagined that God should consider them righteous if they had no intention to offend. Hypocrites often engage in this behaviour, creating superstitions and believing that God should accept their actions as good. However, God does not operate according to our imagination. The confusion in the practice of religion, particularly in Catholicism, arises from forsaking God's Word and disregarding His commands. Instead, they do as they please, inventing various rituals and traditions, all the while believing that their intentions make them righteous.
As I mentioned earlier, while it is true that intentions matter to some extent, simply performing commendable deeds is not enough. We may engage in praiseworthy actions but still be condemned by God if they are not done for the right purpose. Even if our actions outwardly appear virtuous and honest, they are worthless and repulsive in God's eyes if our intentions are wicked and distorted. Therefore, we must not heedlessly follow every idea that comes to our minds. Our greatest wisdom lies in seeking to understand God's will. In accordance with this, Paul states that our reasonable service is to present ourselves as living sacrifices to God, in obedience to His commandments, which will be well-pleasing to Him.
But if we rely solely on ourselves, God will reject it all. That is unreasonable; it is merely Satan's trash and nonsense. Therefore, let us pay close attention to what is being conveyed here: we must not discern good from evil by our own judgment but by weighing them on God's scale, not our own. We should not say, "It seems good to me; I think I will try it." Let us avoid such recklessness and be like weaned children, ready to learn from God and submit entirely to His guidance.
So, humility is the foundation of serving God well. We should not be puffed up with pride or act rashly by saying, "I think this is the right course of action." Instead, we should think, "Has God spoken of this in His Word? Even if it seems excellent, I would reject it if God forbids it." This is why it is explicitly stated, "You shall not do what seems good in your own eyes." Likewise, we are forbidden to be wise in our own conceit. We must recognize that being taught by God is the infallible wisdom. As soon as we deviate from what He has taught us, we are left wandering, thinking ourselves wise in the world's eyes, but in reality, we are foolish.
In essence, everything we can come up with by ourselves only condemns us. The only guiding principle is God's will, the sole measure by which we can judge what is worthwhile and good. Since the devil seeks to deprive us of this benefit, we must be even more vigilant to seek out God's will diligently. We are careful enough about our temporal profit, always calculating and considering the potential dangers and advantages. However, when it comes to serving God, we are often hasty and reckless, pretending to have great zeal for the heavenly life but not valuing it. This shows that we merely go through the motions and treat it as a task.
Therefore, we should be aware that people are not as blameworthy when they rebel against God unintentionally as when they persist in their obstinacy. While it is true that people may do some things without much thought, they must still consider whether God approves of their actions. In all our doings, we should seek spiritual discernment to understand what God allows and follow His will.
Furthermore, Paul adds that we must not engage in the fruitless works of darkness but rather rebuke them. This addition is not without reason. Even if we are inclined to live according to God's Word, we must learn to resist temptations. Even if we do not see vices around us that would hinder our obedience to God, we already have enough vices within us that need correction before we can genuinely submit to God's will and say, "Lord, let Your will reign over us."
In any case, consider that even if we have subdued all our affections and are ready to submit entirely to God, the devil does not cease to attack us through various means: temptation, deceit, and open assaults. Therefore, we must be well-fortified and rely on the invincible power God has given us to resist all the strategies of the devil. That's why Paul says that we should not engage in the unfruitful works of darkness. It's as if he's saying, "I know that the allurements of this world can deter you from fulfilling your duty to God."
Even though you know that God should have dominion over you and that you should be subject to Him, when you associate with those who despise God and engage in unholy activities, it becomes very difficult for you to lead a righteous life. The more vices abound, the more likely you are to be infected by them. Just as it is impossible to walk among thorns without getting pricked, it is nearly impossible to move through a world filled with corruption without stumbling upon some form of evil.
Therefore, we must be strong and resolute in our commitment to serving God. There is no excuse to say, "Alas, what can I do? I am a frail creature. If God had sent me alone, I could serve Him better. But I am surrounded by so many vices: some lie, some commit adultery, some are drunkards, some swear. I witness so much wickedness that it terrifies me. Given the circumstances, what can I do?" We may make such excuses, but they are in vain. Instead, we must prepare ourselves for the service of God so that we can stand obediently in battle formation to resist all temptations.
Indeed, it will be challenging, but with God's help, we will be strong. We should pray for His guidance through the Holy Spirit. This guidance will not only subdue us under His dominion but also grant us victory against all the strategies Satan employs to defeat us. When we call upon God and place our trust in the working of His Holy Spirit, we can continue on our path even though the world is full of wicked obstacles trying to lead us astray.
The key point to remember is that in addition to a good disposition to submit to God and the willingness to accept and obey whatever He commands, we must also be equipped to battle against Satan's assaults. Even though we see the whole world steeped in wickedness, we should not think this diminishes our fault before God. Instead, we must understand that it is God's way of testing and trying us. Nevertheless, if we call upon Him and rely on the Holy Spirit, we will undoubtedly overcome all of Satan's attempts to hinder our service to God.
In conclusion, Paul uses this analogy to remind us that we should not engage in the works of darkness. It is as if he is telling us that we should separate ourselves from unbelievers and not live as if God has not worked in us or His word has had no effect on us. To do otherwise is to trample upon Jesus Christ, negate the fruit of His death and passion, and defile His precious blood, which is the source of all holiness. Therefore, let us avoid darkness and have nothing to do with it, for associating with unbelievers and the godless world is of no benefit. Those who choose such a path will ultimately reap the reward of eternal death, following one another into damnation.
Let us examine ourselves closely, for when people readily excuse themselves and seek nothing more than to remain firmly bound under Satan's dominion, they are essentially throwing themselves into the depths of despair. Is this not a pitiable form of liberty? St. Paul, therefore, explicitly tells us that we should not involve ourselves with the world's corruptions. Instead, we should strive to reform those who take such liberties to do evil, ultimately leading to their own downfall. Both we and they should be obedient to our God in such a way that His Word and Holy Spirit provide us with an invincible power to resist all assaults. We should be equipped with spiritual armour, such as a helmet, breastplate, and sword, as we will discuss later.
We must be careful as we walk in this world, maintaining true constancy and not turning away from God due to any troubles, impediments, obstacles, or temptations that may come our way.
Now, let us humbly kneel before the majesty of our good God, acknowledging our faults and praying for genuine repentance. May we be truly sorry for our sins and continually strive to overcome them, growing stronger in our fear of God and our commitment to keeping His holy commandments. In the meantime, may God bear with our weaknesses until we are purified and free from them, helping us progress day by day in His teachings. We trust in His forgiveness of our sins until we reach the perfection of His righteousness and glory. And with this, I conclude, Almighty God, Heavenly Father...