But Now You are Light in the Lord

Ephesians 5:7-14
June 2, 2019
Abraham Hong

Sermon Script

It is really special and heartwarming when God tells us who we are. We might want to call ourselves sinners. But God calls us saints. We might feel like we don’t belong. But our Father assures us that we are his children. And we might lack the motivation to obey Jesus and live for him. But our Lord tells us that while at one time we were darkness, now we are light. Now we are light in the Lord.

This is so important for us. As we wait for the return of Christ, and as we strive to put off sin in our lives and love Jesus, we are not merely told what to do. We are told who we are. And who we are shapes what we do.

Jesus declares to you that you are children of light. You are light in the Lord. This means that you are people of eternal life. You have repentance and faith and salvation in Christ. This means that you are people of righteousness and holiness. You have the status of perfection and you are set apart for royal service. This means that you are people of godliness. You reflect God’s character and you shine in conformity to the image of Christ. This means that you are people of integrity and truth. Your walk is straight and your path is clear. You are children of light. You are light in the Lord. This is who you are.

And you are a child of light because our God is a god of light. In the beginning, God said, “Let there be light.” And there was light. Today, God, who made light shine out of darkness, has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 4:1-6). Jesus is the light of the world (John 8:12). In Jesus was life, and the life was the light of men (John 1:4). He said (John 8:12), “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” Jesus is the bright morning star (Revelation 22:16). We look to him who is radiant, and our faces shall never be ashamed (Psalm 34:5). And in the eternal kingdom of the new heavens and new earth, the heavenly city of the New Jerusalem will have no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever (Revelation 21-22). The Lord is our light and our salvation (Psalm 27:1).

Praise be to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

Therefore, dear brother, dear sister, may you walk as a child of light. You have a new life and a new identity. You have a new story and a new work. You are not a child of darkness anymore. You are now a child of light. Zacchaeus was once a tax collector. But not anymore. He became a child of light. And so he spent all of his money to fix what he broke. The woman at the well was once an adulterer. But not anymore. She became a child of light. And so she gave testimony about Jesus to many people in her town. Paul was once a persecutor of the church. But not anymore. He became a child of light. And so he endured suffering for the Lord and was used for God’s glory.

This is so encouraging. You may not feel like you are a child of light. But you are. And you can live in a manner worthy of your identity in Christ. Listen carefully. Just as you are not a sinner who sins but rather a saint who struggles with sin and fights it… you are not a person of darkness, you are not a person of sexual immorality, you are not a person of impurity, you are not a person of covetousness… you are a person of light. You are a person of all that is good and right and true. This is who you are in Christ. So be encouraged.

And change how you live. Change the way that you think. Change the way that you talk. Change the way that you act. Change it all. May your life bear the fruit of light in all that is good and right and true. And may what you do line up with who you are. Be who God says you are. You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of God who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9). You are a child of light.

And may you try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. This is the essence of the Christian life. We want to please the Lord. We want to do what he wants us to do. We want to love him and bring honor to his name. We want to, so to speak, put a smile on his face. I hope that this is what you want. I hope that this is what you want more than anything else in your life.

This is so important in sanctification. When you face temptation, when you strive to put off sin in your life, may you remember that it’s all for Jesus. Remember that it’s all personal. Don’t be motivated to put away sexual immorality because you’re afraid of getting caught. Be motivated to put away sexual immorality because you want to love Jesus and bring honor to his name, because you want to please your Lord. Don’t be motivated to put away covetousness because you realize that it hurts your bank account. Be motivated to put away covetousness because you want to put a smile on Jesus’ face, because you want to please your Lord. It’s personal. This is the real way to grow as a Christian. You are not merely obeying a law. You are not just doing what is right. You are obeying and serving and loving and worshipping a Savior and King who you will see one day, face to face.

Dear Highland, may your heart and mind be more warmed and illuminated today by the bright morning star. You are now light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.

Soli Deo Gloria