As part of our spiritual riches in Christ, God gives people a new identity. Our new self is as different from the old as light is from darkness. Because we aren’t who we once were, we should live like people whose lives reflect the light of Jesus.
In Christ, your life has been transformed from darkness to light
Ephesians 5:8For you were once full of darkness, but now you have light in the Lord…
Before anyone trusts in Jesus, their former life without God is depicted in terms of darkness. Darkness is a powerful symbol often used to describe unsavory secrets, ignorance, and evil. But now, in relationship with Jesus, people are supernaturally transformed. Christians now live in light. John 8:12 says that Jesus is the light of the world. He is the epitome of truth, knowledge, goodness, and love. When we are “in Christ” – united with him – his life rubs off on us. As a Christ-follower, you are simply not who you once were. This should affect how you live in at least four ways.
Keep the light on
Ephesians 5:8 For you were once full of darkness, but now you have light in the Lord. So live as people of light!
Identity affects actions. Simply put, people who have the light of Jesus should live accordingly. The word “live” suggests a continuous process. It’s a day by day course of behavior. It’s not something that we just turn off and back on again on a whim. That’s why it’s not enough to leave the light on for just a couple of hours on Sunday. People of light express the light of Jesus as a way of life.
Live in a way that produces good
Ephesians 5:9-10 For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true. Carefully determine what pleases the Lord.
The light that comes from Jesus is productive. Just as natural light acts on a plant to produce growth, Jesus’ light in his people produces certain results consistent with its nature – things that are good, right, and true. This occurs as we consciously seek to determine what pleases God and to put that into practice in our lives. The byproduct of light producing change is that we become an enlightening force in a dark world.
Be wise about relating to darkness
Ephesians 5:11-14 Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, for the light makes everything visible.
As people of light, we still live in the midst of the dark world. Many of our friends, family, and colleagues are still living in darkness. We are called to abstain from the kind of activities that come naturally to them. In spite of this warning, some Christians accommodate themselves to the world by adopting the culture’s standard of right and wrong. They lose the ability to light the way for others. By contrast, some Christians want to separate themselves so completely from the world that they live in a Christian cocoon. By doing so they remove themselves from all redemptive influence. Some Christians become judgmental and unloving toward people living in the dark. Yet they fail to express the mercy of God toward the spiritually lost. If, however, we live out the light of Jesus within the darkness of our world, we can trust his light to make the truth visible to others.
Don’t go back to darkness
Ephesians 5:13-14 …for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said, “Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light.”
Light wakes people up from sleep. Any of us can fall asleep in our faith. We can slip backwards into old ways. We all probably will at times. When you do, don’t stay asleep. Don’t stay in the darkness. Wake up and get back in step with your new identity again.
- Watch the video together or invite someone to summarize the topic.
- What is your initial reaction to this video? Do you disagree with any of it? What jumped out at you?
- In literature or media, what does “darkness” symbolize? What does “light” symbolize? Give examples.
- Read Ephesians 5:3-5. How does this explain Paul’s understanding of “darkness”?
- Read John 8:12. In what ways does Jesus exemplify what “light” symbolizes? What do you think it means that his followers will not “walk in darkness”?
- “Identity affects actions.” Do you agree or disagree? Explain.
- Read Ephesians 5:8. If you took a video of people living as people of light, what would be on it?
- Read Ephesians 5:11-13. What does it mean to expose the deeds of darkness? What are some wrong ways to go about doing so?
- Read Matthew 5:14-16. How do we show light to others? What effect does our light have in the world around us?
- Write a personal action step based on this conversation.
