Out of Darkness and Into the Light Ephesians 5:8

Paul the apostle told the Ephesian church members not to be “partakers” with those who would “deceive” them “with vain words”. In chapter five and verse eight of his letter, Paul reminded the Ephesians how they “were sometimes darkness, but now are light in the Lord” where we read:

For you were sometimes darkness, but now are you light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

The verse begins, “For you were sometimes darkness, but now are you light in the Lord:” Paul began with the words, “For you were sometimes” which means “even, indeed, no doubt, seeing then and verily the Ephesians formerly, aforetime and at some time” “darkness” or “darkness of night, darkened eyesight or blindness and ignorance respecting divine things and human duties, and the accompanying ungodliness and immorality together with their consequent misery in hell”, “but” which is a disassociation conjunction that means what is about to be written takes precedence over what was previously stated, “moreover, notwithstanding and nonetheless” “now are you light” which means “at this time and in the present you are emitting light like a star, fire, lamp or torch” “in the Lord” which refers to “he to whom a person or thing belongs, about which he has power of deciding; master and the title given to God the Messiah”. The Ephesian church members used to live with darkened eyesight” and were “blind and ignorant” of the things of God, but they were now the illuminated “children of light”.

The verse goes on to say, “walk as children of light:” Paul added, “walk” or “make one's progress or make due use of opportunities” “as children” which means “offspring who are especially dear to God” “of light” or “those who are emitting light like a star, fire, lamp or torch”. Since the Ephesians were the “offspring” of God, they were to “walk in the light as He is in the light”.

When we consider these words of Paul, we understand how the former lives of the Ephesian believers was in “darkness”, and because they believed in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord, they were now “walking in the light”. “Darkness” was left behind, and now they were living “in the light”. We should follow their example and leave the activities, actions, words and attitudes of our former ungodly and dark lives behind, and we should live “in the light” of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Next time Paul talks about “the fruit of the Spirit”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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