'Walk as children of light' | Westside Eagle Observer

"For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord. And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them." Ephesians 5:8-11 (cf. v. 1-21)

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? Cf. Titus 3:3-7.

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 (cf. Eph. 5:1ff.; Rom. 6:1ff.; Gal. 5:16ff.; 2 Pet. 2:1ff.; Jude 3ff.).

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 (or individuals) 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 (Eph. 5:11).

This is what God commands us to do when He commands us to mark and avoid false doctrine and sin and not to become a partaker in evil deeds (cf. Rom. 16:17-18; 2 Cor. 6:14-18; 1 Tim. 6:3-5; 2 John 9-11; Tit. 3:10-11; Isa. 8:20; Matt. 7:15-23; Rev. 2-3).

And 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 Jesus Christ, 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 (2 Cor. 13:5; Psalm 139:23-24; 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. Grant that we walk in the light and not turn back into darkness. Amen.

Editorial on 03/29/2017