Ephesians 5:8-14 Outline

Ephesians 5:8-14 The New Walk (3): More Reasons Why
Children of Light

Introduction (review):
Motivations are important. Businesses work hard to give their employees motivation for productivity. God loves us very much and so he gives us many reasons and motivations for the living of the Christian life.

In Ephesians 5:5-21, Paul sets forth four motivations to godliness. Today we’ll look at his second one.

The last time we were together in the book of Ephesians, we looked at Ephesians 5:5-7, where Paul stated the first motivation to godliness – the anticipation of judgment. Paul wants us to live realizing that their will be a divine accounting of our living. There is a coming judgment.

His point is stark and clear: No unrepentant sexually immoral person has the rewards/blessings of the kingdom (5) [Whatever they claim, those who live an immoral life, show that they are not in the kingdom of grace] 5 For this you know with certainty, that no immoral or impure person or covetous man, who is an idolater, has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. * Every Christian knows what? – that no one who lives a life of unrepentant sexual immorality is a citizen of God’s kingdom, is a part of the true church, is a recipient of the gift of salvation.

Paul’s second motivation doesn’t look to the future (like the first one), but to the past and present. It has to do with our new identity as "light in the Lord" or "children of light."

Ephesians 5:8-14 8 for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light 9 (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), 10 trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; 12 for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. 13 But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. 14 For this reason it says, "Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you."

Motivation #2 – Your new identity – Remember what you were and are. Live like who you are.

I. Remember what you were, and what you are now, by God’s grace (8a)
8 for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord . . .

II. Live out what you now are, by God’s grace – Be who you are/do what you are (8b) 8 . . . walk as children of Light . . .

III. What is the fruit of light? (9)
9 (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), . . .

IV. The children of light love to live for the Father’s pleasure (10)
10 trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.

V. What does living for the Father’s pleasure look like? (11-14)
11 Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; 12 for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. 13 But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. 14 For this reason it says, "Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you."