Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret.

Paul is taking us through the characteristics of the Christian walk — the way Christians should conduct themselves and the attitudes they should have. He is doing this having told us to put off the old and to put on the new. These verses we have been studying in chapter 5 are showing us how to do that.

The first thing we note in verse 11 is that we are to have no part in the unfruitful works of darkness. Having no part means not to have fellowship with. In 2 Corinthians 5:14, after having told the Corinthians not to be unequally yoked together with unbelievers, he asks some questions. All of these questions expect the answer, “None.”

He asks, “What partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? What fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial?” and What portion does a believer share with an unbeliever?” The answer should be none. There is nothing in common.

He’s making that same point here in Ephesians. We should not have anything in common with the unfruitful works of darkness — period!

Unfruitful means that the works associated with the kingdom of darkness produce no lasting , edifying fruit. Everything that comes from that source is rotten, and Christians should not share in it.

Rather than having fellowship in it, these deeds should be reproved and exposed. The kind of things the lost of the world are involved in should be exposed for what they are. We should make sure young people and young Christians are aware of the dangers and damage that the deeds of darkness can do. The explanations should be clear enough so that people will know what we are talking about, yet vague enough not to incite destructive trails of thought in the minds of those we are trying to teach.

Verse 12 goes on to tell us that these deeds are so bad and so evil, that it is shameful even to speak of them. That is why we have to be careful how we describe the evil we are talking about.

I think there are a lot of applications of this. But, for one thing, there are many activities and behaviors displayed on TV and in movies that portray the unfruitful works of darkness. Most of the time these works are not presented for the purpose of exposing their source in the kingdom that is opposed to God. What is troubling is that many Christians are content to hear and see these things portrayed as entertainment. How does that fit with the fact that evil and immoral deeds are to be exposed and not even spoken about because it is shameful to do so?

Exported from Logos Bible Software, 2:48 PM May 26, 2021.

And try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.

Try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. The word for discern here means test or examine. The Greek word is a word we get the verb document from. When you document something, you ascertain its authenticity. So I think what is being said here is that we should evaluate what we do and other potential behaviors or activities we might be involved in, and determine if those things would be pleasing to the Lord.

It’s true that we are not under law, but under grace. But even in human relationships, isn’t it true that we try to please those we love just because of that love, and not merely to be obedient to some law?

Hebrews 11:6 says that without faith it is impossible to please God. Isn’t that a strong implication that our goal in life is to please him?

Galatians 1:10 says, “For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.”

From this passage we can clearly see that pleasing God is the aim, no matter what the rest of the culture may think about it.

Pleasing God is the result of having a relationship with God — being born again. Paul tells us in Romans 8:8 that those who are in the flesh, i.e. those who have not been born again, cannot please God. That means that no matter how many times they attend worship services, or pray, or give to the poor, they are not pleasing God.

So as we live our lives, let’s take time to consider our plans and our activities and document the fact that they are pleasing to God.

As Paul says in 1 Thess 5:21, “Test everything; hold fast what is good.” By the way, the word test there is the same word we had in Ephesians 5:10. Document it! Is it pleasing to God?

Exported from Logos Bible Software, 10:27 AM May 13, 2021.

Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true),

I briefly alluded to verse 7 last time. The wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience because of the kinds of things that Paul listed earlier in the chapter. Then in verse 7, Paul says that for this reason we should not participate with them in the things that they do.

In verse 8, he gives an additional reason. At one time, or in other words, before you were born again, you were darkness. But now you are light in the Lord.

There is a difference in a person’s life when he or she is regenerated by the Spirit of God. Before the new birth, we are in darkness. Afterwards, we are light. In 2 Corinthians 5:17, God tells us that if we are in Christ, we are new creatures. The old has passed away and the new has come.

Since we are children of the light, we should live what we are. We should walk as children of light. There should not be a discord between who we are and how we act. The two should match. Since we are children of light, we should live like it. That’s the goal. Be who you are in Christ.

Verse 9 begins with another “For.” All of what has just been said is because the fruit of light … In other words the results of the light being present in a person’s life, is found in all that is good, right, and true.

Light leads us to the truth because light is truth. And we are not speaking of light as a feeling that we might feel drawn to. Our feelings have nothing to do with it. The word of God is light. It is the only light. That’s why Jesus said, “If you abide in my Word, you will know the truth and the truth will set you free.”

Exported from Logos Bible Software, 8:06 AM May 12, 2021.

Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

We’ve come now to verse 6. Paul begins with the command, “Don’t let anyone deceive you with their empty words.” In the first part of the warning, he tells us not to allow deception. In other words, we are supposed to be able to detect deception when we hear it, and then we are to prevent ourselves from believing the deceptive rhetoric.

This is not always easy because deception often comes in the form of smooth and sophisticated language. We are to be so steeped in the Word of God that deception is easy to pick out. This means taking the time to be in the Word and to be meditating on it frequently.

In the remainder of the sentence we learn why we should not be deceived. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the disobedient. What things is he talking about? I think he is referring back to verses 3-5. Sexual immorality, impurity, covetousness, and the like are not proper for Christians. We already discussed that. But here in verse 6, Paul is telling us that there will be people speaking smooth words who will try to tell us that these things are so common and characteristic of us human beings, that they are not all that bad. But the truth is, these sinful deeds are the reason the wrath of God will be coming.

In verse 7 he says “Therefore, do not be partners with them.” Do you really want to involve yourself in the same activities the godless are practicing, when you know that those very activities are what triggers the wrath of God to come upon them? What would that do to your testimony? And what would be the irony on judgment day when your friends see you released from judgment because of the blood of Christ, and they themselves are being condemned; and they know that you participated with them in the same sinful activities?

This is cruel at many levels. You knew all along that what you all were doing was going to bring judgment, and yet you, knowing the remedy and means of salvation, still participated with them in the activities that would condemn them. That is cruel on its face!

God says that the kind of activity described in this passage should not be named among us, it is not proper for saints, and these very activities are what is bringing judgment on the world. Steer clear!

Exported from Logos Bible Software, 3:56 PM May 4, 2021.