'Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness'

"And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them." Ephesians 5:11

Since God, in His grace and mercy has shined upon us with the light of the Gospel and has opened our eyes through His Word that we might see our utter sinfulness and see that, in Christ Jesus and for the sake of His holy life and innocent sufferings and death in our stead, God reaches out to us in mercy and forgiveness and offers to us a place in His everlasting kingdom through faith in His Son, should we walk in darkness and continue in the sinful ways of this world?

The Scriptures admonish us, as children of the light who have come to a knowledge of the truth, to walk in the light of God's Word and continue trusting in our crucified and risen Savior. Rather than joining together in the unfruitful works of darkness, we are to expose and reprove them for what they are -- lies of our old evil foe, the devil, and disobedience to God's commandments.

This has application in every aspect of our lives and in our congregation and church as well. Rather than joining together in any of the ways of the world, and rather than joining together and fellowshipping with churches which espouse and hold to false doctrine and sin -- anything that is not of the truth revealed in God's unerring Word -- we are admonished to expose and reprove sin and error that those who are deceived might come to see the truth and repent, trusting in Christ Jesus for mercy.

This is what God commands us to do when he says: "Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple" (Rom. 16:17-18); and, "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty" (2 Cor. 6:14-18; cf. 1 Tim. 6:3-5; 2 John 9-11; Tit. 3:10-11; Isa. 8:20; Matt. 7:15-23).

We too, as believers, are to examine ourselves in the light of God's Word, acknowledge and confess all that is of darkness and turn to the Light of the world and receive in faith forgiveness and cleansing through His blood shed upon the cross for the sins of the all (1 John 1:5 -- 2:2).

Dearest Lord Jesus, we thank You for granting us Your Spirit and opening our eyes that we might see our sin and guilt before God but also see and know His mercy and forgiveness toward us for the sake of Your atoning sacrifice for us upon the cross. Amen.

[Devotion by Randy Moll. Scripture from the King James Version of the Bible.]

Editorial on 08/03/2016