Introduction: Grace be to you and peace, from God our Father, and from our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Our text is the Epistle Lesson just read, from Eph. 5. We begin with prayer.
Dear fellow disciples of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ:
- Blindness is a very difficult condition, one which I suspect no one would willingly choose. It prompts, however, a very apt comparison to that condition of mind which is ignorant of God, ignorant of His ways – the ways of love, ignorant of His Word and ignorant of His great gift of gracious mercy, forgiveness, love and salvation.
- It is difficult for us to grasp and understand what this spiritual and intellectual blindness of unbelief is like. We struggle to understand the inner logic of the unbelieving Pharisees in the Gospel Lesson, who could not see the power of God in Jesus’ healing of the blind man – and who in insane unbelief cast the formerly blind man out and continued on in rejection of Jesus. We struggle also to grasp why it is that people around us today would reject and refuse God’s gracious love, mercy, and salvation.
- Paul writes to people who later in life converted to faith in Jesus: “at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.” They perhaps understood the true nature of this “darkness,” but most of us have been Christians all our lives, and hence “light in the Lord.” In our text Paul encourages us to remain in the Light, and to walk “as children of light,” in a way that is in keeping with “all that is good and right and true.” For in reality:
I. The Difference Between True Believers Who Are Devoted To God And Blind Idolaters And Unbelievers Is Stark And Dramatic
A. Believers Receive Blessing And Healing So That They Know Where They Are Going
OT Lesson: “I will lead the blind in a way that they do not know, in paths that they have not known I will guide them. I will turn the darkness before them into light, the rough places into level ground. These are the things I do, and I do not forsake them.”
B. The Unbelieving, Those Who Insist Upon Remaining Blind Idolaters, Receive Shame And Destruction
OT Lesson: “They are turned back and utterly put to shame, who trust in carved idols, who say to metal images, ‘You are our gods.’”
Statement: We do not really have many “crass” idolaters today, unless you include those who are superstitious about “things.” But we must understand the real nature of idolatry – and then we can see that modern people today are just as vulnerable to idolatry and as enmeshed in it as ancient peoples were.
At the heart of idolatry is the notion that we can “invent” gods, and that they are really within our power and control. At the root of this is the assumption that God, the only True and Living God, simply does not exist – and that therefore, any god will do. The real nub of having a “god” is that we have something to put our faith, trust, hope, and confidence in – to whatever level we deem appropriate, or helpful to us.
So, do we still have idolaters with us today? Of course – there are many people who reject the thought that there is only One God, the God of the whole universe, greater, wiser, more powerful and majestic that any of us can imagine. Likewise, there are many false “notions” and “ideas” of gods, which have been invented by men and foisted upon humanity by false prophets.
Even more prevalent are the many things that people attach their faith, trust, hope, and confidence to – like money, modern conveniences, their own intelligence, formal education, physical strength, military power, government, society – the list goes on and on.
Worst of all, many people like the Pharisees, put faith and trust in themselves, in their own “righteousness” and “goodness,” so that they avoid repentance and reject God’s gracious mercy and compare themselves favorably to others – thinking that they are great lights that expose other people’s darkness, when in reality, as Jesus describes them, they are “blind guides leading the blind!” [Matt. 15:14]
And it is part of our sinful nature that we also put this kind of faith and trust in ourselves and that we also put our trust in things and “serve” them, thus participating in this grotesque idolatry.
Application: But if we have seen the “light” and are now “light in the Lord,” we understand all of this – our own sin and idolatry has been exposed and brought into the light, so that we repent and confess these sins to our heavenly Father, and receive His gracious mercy and forgiveness in His Son, Christ Jesus, our Savior. This is the principle nature of “walking as children of light” – it is a life of constant humbleness and repentance – so that the light of God’s gracious love, mercy, and forgiveness – Jesus Christ, shines upon us. This is the beginning of what is “good and right and true,” and without it no one can “discern what is pleasing to the Lord.” In fact, without such repentance and utter humility no one can even “try” to learn what is truly pleasing to God! So let us beware – so that we may indeed avoid such shameful and unfruitful “works of darkness.”
Transition: And for believers, this is a joyful thing that we are eager to do, for:
II. The Light Of God’s Gracious Love And Salvation Has Already Come
John 1:4,5 “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
John 1:29 “Behold, the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world.”
John 3:36 “He that believes the Son has everlasting life.”
A. So Let Us Not Be Unobservant And Foolish – Walking In Works Of Darkness
Eph. 4:25-31; 5:3-7 “Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. . . . But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them.”
Statement: If you cannot find any of these “works of darkness” within yourself, you truly are among the “blind.” Sadly, we find many of these things in our hearts and in our behaviors – for which we are called to constant repentance and humility.
Application: So again we turn to God for forgiveness, to the Lamb of God Who has taken away our sin, and rejoice in His gracious love. And as we do we surely “discern” that this is pleasing to Him, and we also discern that these are things we are called to avoid, that we cannot have any commitment to them or orientation to them. Rather, we are committed to avoiding all of these things!
Transition: And as we rejoice in God’s gracious mercy and forgiveness, His love compels us to:
B. Rather, Walk As Children Of Light – Discerning What Is Truly Pleasing To Him By Means Of His Word, And Remaining Committed To Doing That
Eph. 4:30-32; 5:1,2 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”
Statement: Those who are constantly humbling themselves in repentance and taking solace and joy in God’s gracious forgiveness and mercy are compelled to “be imitators of God,” being loving, tenderhearted, and always forgiving toward others.” They truly walk in love – in what serves the greatest good of others.
Application: This is utterly impossible for the unbelieving, for idolaters, and for those still enmeshed in the darkness of self-righteousness and trust in themselves. And in that these dynamics of our sinful nature also corrupt us, let us confess our sins and remain in God’s gracious love. But let us take care not to grieve God’s Holy Spirit by uncharitable and malicious idolatry – but rather get rid of bitterness and wrath, and love one another as Christ has loved us. This is “walking in the light as children of light,” and in all that is “good and right and true.” It is truly “discerning what is pleasing to the Lord.”
Conclusion: God grant each of us such grace through the light of His love, to wake up and rise from the dead, that Christ always shine on us! Amen.
Votum: And the peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds in the true faith, which is in Christ Jesus, even unto life everlasting, Amen.