Text: Eph 5:6-21
Facebook live: Walk in the light of Christ!
8b Walk as children of light
11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.
15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.
[Children's message]
6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.
Empty words, we’ve all heard them … are words meant to deceive, to put off, or to fill one’s own agenda. The sons of disobedience hear and follow. Those opposed to Christ and his gospel continue to go the way of destruction, and we too who have been brought to faith by God’s gifts, at times also give way to the call of darkness and fall in sin.
7 Therefore do not become partners with them;
Don’t get sucked in, Paul tells the Ephesians.
But what were the Ephesians getting sucked into … and does it apply to you and me?
Paul says in verse three and four that preceded our text:
3 [That] sexual immorality and all impurity or [coveting] must not even be named among you, and he concludes: 4 Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking … but instead let there be thanksgiving. 5 For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who [covets], [which is to desire that which is not yours] … has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
Harsh words indeed and the Ephesians were falling short then, falling back into the sins of the flesh - and Christians today fall short too. When desires, feelings and societal norms go against God’s word and truth … the result is that darkness [the realm of Satan] reigns.
The internet and social media had been ablaze the past few weeks after the opening ceremony of the Olympics. I don’t watch the Olympics and have little interest, but at the beginning of the games in the opening ceremony, the debauchery of sin was prevalent on all things Olympic.
Some claim a depiction of the Last Supper by drag queens – intending to offend, [which later was confirmed and revealed to be their intent], others said, that it was just as one poster writes, and I paraphrase:
… just a Bacchanalia which is a pagan festival marked by drunkenness, debauchery, and ecstasy; in other words, an orgy of excess, sexual extremes, that even included the presence of children.
Paul writes:
15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.
Paul is so contemporary!
There is nothing new under the Sun! Ecc. 1:9
Friends, you and I feel it too. Sin is a powerful force that we both, in thought, word, and deed can all fall victim to … and its desires, which are usually evil, can lead us away from the truth that God intends.
When Paul speaks of sexual immorality and all impurity, he is not just speaking of same sex attraction, but of all sexual sins outside of God’s design of marriage, or in the context of marriage that defiles that union.
The sin of adultery in the 6th commandment, or coveting in the 9th and 10th commandment where we covet our neighbor’s wife, or manservant of maid servant as Luther makes clear in the Small Catechism, are warnings not to fall victim to the sinful lusts of the flesh or works of the devil.
It affects you, me, our children and grandchildren and it has done this since the fall into sin. Whether you are a perpetrator or victim there are no winners when sexual sin rears its ugly head.
There has been so much in the news over the last number of years of powerful men who took advantage of their positions in the Hollywood entertainment machine to prey on young women, including TV celebrities; people of prominence, and we know, that the church is not immune either.
We must then as Christians be wise in what we say and do.
How do we imitate Christ in a public or private setting?
As the old saying goes:
“If you were accused of being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you?”
Paul cautions the Ephesians and us all:
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.
And here’s the key …
13 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible,
The light that exposes darkness is Jesus Christ and his word of truth.
And it is not to use God as a means – claiming “I believe” - while denying him and living in sin using Christ as a cover.
But through repentance, it is God’s desire that you and all who sin be restored freely by faith in Christ, through his saving Gospel and the working of the Holy Spirit.
And also, by the light of the gospel that your light shines in the midst of those in darkness so that they too might see, hear, and come to faith and believe.
There was even an uproar in France by Christians after the opening ceremony, drawn together in public unity, to denounce the spectacle of sin and to focus, once again, on the sinless one who has stood in our place, paid for our sin, and should reign in our lives!
Darkness and light … or lies and truth.
Friends, you can’t ride the fence.
As Luther himself writes of this problem in a sermon in his own time:
13. Then be careful to avail yourself of the present opportunity. Embrace it while he is near, and faithfully consider what he requires of you. To ascertain this, go to the Creed and the Ten Commandments. They will tell you. Regulate your life by them. Be helped by the Lord’s prayer. Begin with yourself; then pray for the church. Let it be your desire that God’s name be everywhere sanctified and that your life conform to his will. If you are faithful in these things, assuredly you will walk wisely; you will avoid sin and do good. For the study and practice of these precepts will leave you no opportunity to do evil. God’s word will soon teach you to sanctify his name, to extend his kingdom, to do your neighbor no injury in mind body or estate.
Luther sermons Baker
Everything you do untimely says something about who you are. So:
15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise,
Paul says, don’t let the world, your sinful flesh or the devil be your guide. And all too often we can fall silent in the face of evil.
“Awake, O sleeper,
and arise from the dead,
and Christ will shine on you.”
Joel Fritsche a career missionary suggests that this might be a stanza from an early Christian hymn.
It certainly could be with this image of dying and rising and awaking from death that you and I who have been brought to faith understand.
Death is the great equalizer for us all. Whether you are famous in life or just one of us who seems faceless to the world, we all need to have Christ and be brought to faith to have an eternity with him.
That should change who we are and how we live.
19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
… and as Paul says:
21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ.
Here in the Divine Service, God calls us to come. To be fed on his word and sacrament. To receive God’s favor on account of Christ, and to go fourth, in a world of darkness, with the light of the gospel of peace – the very word of God – and it is this word that brings those who are dead in sin and darkness to God’s marvelous light of forgiveness.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit!
Amen.
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