FOR YOU WERE FORMERLY DARKNESS:
ete (2PIAI) gar pote skotos:
(Eph
2:11,12;
4:18;
6:12;
Psalms 74:20;
Isaiah 9:2;
42:16;
60:2;
Jeremiah 13:16;
Matthew 4:16;
Luke 1:79;
Acts 17:30;
26:18;
Romans 1:21;
2:19;
2 Corinthians
6:14;
Colossians 1:13;
Titus 3:3;
1 Peter 2:9;
1 John 2:8)
You were -
is emphatic (placed first in the Greek sentence for emphasis) to throw
stress on the fact that all the horrible behaviors he had just described
were now behind them. In darkness we chased sin, but beloved, be sober
minded, because now sin chases us! It tries to draw us back into the
darkness. The idea
is that "You Gentiles who are now believers were. So do
not again become darkness!". We need to be constantly mindful
from whence we came, that the glorious contrast of truth of where we are
seated (in the heavenlies in Christ) and the power we possess (every
spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus) does not become a
fading, dim memory.
Remembering keeps us humble and thankful and re-kindles in our hearts an
appropriately high view of our "so great a salvation".
Formerly (4218)
(pote) is a generalization concerning time and means at some time
and when referring to past time as in this verse means once or at one
time in the past. Paul does not want them to dwell on their past, but he
does want them to remember what the darkness was like and how great has
been the deliverance from darkness to His marvelous light. Meditate on
this truth beloved, the next time you are being tempted to drift back into the
darkness to become partakers with those whose only world is darkness. And then make the choice to not
put on those filthy, rotten garments you once wore when you were
darkness in the old
man in Adam. Now, you can say no to the flesh and the siren
seductions of darkness
because you are light in the Lord! Hallelujah! Walk out now in the light
of the victory and surpassing power which Christ Jesus the Lord secured for you at Calvary, the victory over the
darkness of the world, the flesh and the devil, the prince of darkness.
Darkness
(4655)
(skotos) not the related word skotia which refers more to the
consequences of darkness) refers literally to physical darkness, the
essence of darkness. In this passage Paul uses skotos
figuratively to describe the abysmal spiritual darkness of every
unregenerate person. Note Paul does not say that
we were in the darkness but that we were the
very essence of darkness!
As Expositor's
says...
They were darkness itself,
persons...so utterly sunk in ignorance of Divine things, so wholly lost
in the evils accompanying such ignorance. (Nicoll, W Robertson, Editor:
Expositors Greek Testament: 5 Volumes. Out of print. Search Google)
Darkness
describes the character of the life of the unconverted as void of truth
and virtue in intellectual and moral matters. It's all the things Paul
has already described about the Gentiles in their unconverted state.
It's all the things he has described which characterized the old self or
old man. Formerly all of those things was the only life they knew.
For example, John
writes...
And this is the message we have heard
from Him and announce to you, that God is light (He is not like light
but He is the Light, the very eternal essence), and in Him there is no
darkness (skotia) at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship
(something in common with God -- Who is light) with Him and yet walk (present
tense
- continually, as our lifestyle)
in (in the sphere of) the darkness (skotos), we lie and do not practice the truth;
7 but (note the definite contrast) if we walk in
the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one
another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. (1Jn
1:5-7). (Comment: Although you will read a few evangelical
commentaries -eg, Constable's Expository Notes - that say that the one
habitually walking in darkness is a believer who is simply out of
fellowship with God, such an interpretation does not do justice to the
verse. In short, if a person is habitually conducting their life in the
sphere of darkness, then they are not born again. God is light and in
Him there is absolutely no darkness. Therefore, what possible fellowship
could light have with darkness?)
The realm of
darkness is presided over by the “power of darkness,”
"While I was with you daily in the
temple, you did not lay hands on Me; but this hour and the power of
darkness are yours." (Lu 22:53, see
Colossians 1:13
below) (Comment:
Power is
exousia, the right and the might that
God allowed Satan to have for that time. Darkness is the domain of
Satan.)
Satan rules those
headed for “eternal darkness”
but the sons of the kingdom shall be
cast out into the outer darkness; in that place there shall be weeping
and gnashing of teeth." (Mt 8:12).
These are springs without water, and
mists driven by a storm, for whom the black darkness has been reserved.
(see note
2 Peter 2:17)
Unregenerate
mankind loves spiritual darkness John explaining that...
"And this is the judgment, that the
light is come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the
light; for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the
light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.
But he who practices the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be
manifested as having been wrought in God." (John 3:19-21). (Comment:
Quite clearly John explains that
people
don’t want the light because they like the deeds of the darkness and
they do not want to be exposed.)
In
Romans 1
explains how men suppressed the truth about God's natural revelation and
the subsequent spiritually downward decline...
For even though they knew God, they
did not honor Him as God, or give thanks; but they became futile in
their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. (See
notes
Romans 1:21)
Isaiah
prophesied
of the deliverance of the Gentiles from darkness
writing...
But there will be no more gloom for
her who was in anguish; in earlier times He treated the land of Zebulun
and the land of Naphtali with contempt, but later on He shall make it
glorious, by the way of the sea, on the other side of Jordan, Galilee of
the Gentiles. 2 The people who walk in darkness Will see a great light
(Messiah, the Light of the world); Those who live in a dark land, The
light will shine on them. (Isaiah 9:1-2
quoted in
Matthew 4:16)
Luke wrote of the coming of Messiah,
the Light of the world...
Because of the tender mercy
(strongest word in Gk for feeling of compassion) of our God, With which
the Sunrise (Messiah's coming would be like the coming of dawn, light
driving away darkness) from on high shall visit us, 79 TO SHINE UPON
THOSE WHO SIT IN DARKNESS AND THE SHADOW OF DEATH, to guide (the pix of
opening up the way by the removal of obstacles so that the desired goal
may be reached) our feet into the way of peace." (Luke 1:78-79)
It is that very
darkness from which salvation in Christ delivers sinners.
Again therefore Jesus spoke to them,
saying, "I am the light of the world; he who follows Me shall not walk
in the darkness, but shall have the light of life. (John 8:12)
(Jesus again said) "I have come as
light into the world, that everyone who believes in Me may not remain in
darkness. (John
12:46)
For He delivered us from the domain
of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, (See
note
Colossians 1:13)
But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal
PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR God's OWN POSSESSION, that you
may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness
into His marvelous light; (see note
1 Peter 2:9)
(Luke records Jesus' charge to Paul
as he sent him to the Gentiles to...) Open their eyes so that they may
turn from darkness to light and from the dominion (exousia)
of Satan to God, in order that (purpose clause) they may receive
forgiveness (aphesis - means sending away) of sins and an inheritance
(contrast with
Ephesians 5:5 - notes)
among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me." (Acts
26:18)
So how are believers to respond? What
is true about us now in regard to the darkness? Paul summarizes how we
should relate to the darkness writing...
The night is almost gone, and
the day (of our Lord's return) is at hand. Let us therefore lay aside
the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and
drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and
jealousy.
14 But put on
(like a new garment) (aorist
imperative) the
Lord Jesus Christ, and make
no provision (present
imperative
= with negative means stop making
provision) for the
flesh
in regard to its
lusts.
(See notes
Romans 13:12;
13:13;
13:14 )
BUT NOW YOU ARE LIGHT IN THE
LORD: nun de phos en kurio:
(Isaiah
42:6,7;
49:6,9;
60:1,3,19,20;
John 1:4,5,9;
8:12;
12:46;
1 Corinthians
1:30;
2 Corinthians 3:18;
4:6;
1 Thessalonians 5:4-8;
1 John 2:9-11)
But now -
who "you were" showing a dramatic contrast with who "you are".
Light
(5457)
(phos) can refer to literal light but here is used figuratively
as those enlightened with the truth. Don't miss it - Paul says
these Gentile believers are light itself, not a lamp!
Expositors
Greek Testament comments that...
The completeness of the change is
indicated again by the use of the abstract term—so possessed and
penetrated were they by that truth that they could be described not
simply as enlightened but as themselves now light. And this ‘in the
Lord,’ for it was in virtue of their fellowship with Christ that this
new apprehension of things came to them, transforming their lives.
(Nicoll, W Robertson, Editor: Expositors Greek Testament: 5 Volumes. Out
of print. Search Google)
Lord
(2962)
(kurios) signifies
sovereign power and absolute authority. It is the one who has absolute
ownership and uncontested power.
Barber
explains now you are light in the Lord this way...
It is all because of Him. Outside of
Him there is no light. In Him is where the light is. Remember, I am not
the light. He is the light. I am light because the Light is within me.
He has come in and turned it on, and now I can understand and
comprehend. I can walk the way He wants me to walk. His Spirit can teach
me the things I need to know, and I can live a life that reflects the
essence of light. We were once darkness. Now we have been made light.
Not just put in the light, we are now made light because He is in us.
The Light is in us...We are accountable for sin now...Now that you are
in Christ, you are responsible to call them by name because you have
light within you and you know what you are doing is by your own choice.
You choose not to put that garment on (the garment of the "old man").
You have light in you. That is why confession of sin is such an
important word in the vocabulary of the believer.
WALK AS CHILDREN OF LIGHT:
os tekna photos peripateite (2PPAM):
(2;
Isaiah 2:5;
Luke 16:8;
John 12:36;
Galatians 5:25;
1 Peter
2:9-11;
1 John 1:7)
Walk
(4043)
(peripateo
from peri = about,
around + pateo = walk, tread) (Click
word study on
peripateo)
means literally to walk about here and there or to tread all around.
Peripateo then came to mean, to make one’s way, to make progress, to
make due use of one’s opportunities and finally (as used by Paul in
Ephesians), to live, to regulate one’s life, to conduct one’s self.
Most of the NT uses refer to the daily conduct of one's life or how one
orders their behavior or passes their life.
In contrast to
those who walk in spiritual darkness, Paul uses the
present imperative
to command believers to
continually walk in the light into which they have been transferred.
Keep walking in the light, step by step, ever making progress.
Walk as children
of light for as Paul says
"what fellowship has light with darkness?" (2Cor 6:14)
The point is that
there is none. Thus it makes "good sense" that those who walk in the
darkness (as manifest by their deeds just described) would not enjoy
fellowship in the Kingdom of Light in the presence of the One Who Alone
is the Light of the World and in Whom there is no darkness at all.
Children
(5043)
(teknon from tikto = bring forth, bear children, be born)
means literally "a born one" and refers to a child as viewed in relation
to the one who bore him (in this case of course the Spirit of the Living
God). It follows that teknon takes on special theological
significance when the Bible calls believers the children of God.
God's spiritual children possess His divine nature (not little gods),
the nature of light. In
Ephesians 5:1, Paul
used teknon in his reference to the Gentile saints as beloved
children (teknon).
Children of
light - Describes the nature of the
Father that is in us now which equates with His light that is within us.
We are born of Him who is light and we are the children of light. It was
because of His light that we saw our sinfulness and became His children.
Light
(5457)
(phos) is used figuratively of believers who shine forth Christ
in them the hope (absolute certainty of future good) of glory. Paul is
giving his warning to those who are children of God, thus light in the
Lord, thus, children of light.
Expositors
adds that...
If these Ephesians were now ‘light
in the Lord,’ it was not for themselves only but for others. They
were called to live a life beseeming those to whom Christian
enlightenment and purity had become their proper nature.” (Ibid)
Jesus
called His disciples to be lights declaring...
"You are the light of the world. A
city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do men light a lamp, and put it
under the peck-measure, but on the lampstand; and it gives light to all
who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that
they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
(see notes
Matthew 5:14;
5:15;
5:16)
><> ><> ><>
F B Meyer has the following
devotional comments...
God is light; and when we live in
daily, hourly communion with Him, in such a frame of mind as that His
name is frequently in our hearts, or murmured softly by our lips, or
spoken as a talisman when temptation is near, we may be said to be
walking in the light. And it is just in proportion as our steps
tread the crystal pathway of light, that our understanding becomes
enlightened. In God's light we see light. When the heart is pure, the
eye is single.
The contrary to this is also true. When we are alienated from the life
of God, our understanding is darkened to the truth of God. The seat of
infidelity is in the heart. Once let a soul become shut out from the
life of God through the hardening of the heart; once let it give itself
up to lasciviousness, and to make a trade of uncleanness with
greediness: then the light of the knowledge of the glory of God beats
against a shuttered window, asking for admittance in vain.
If you would know God, you must resemble God. If you would learn God's
secrets, you must walk with God. If you would know the doctrine, you
must be willing to do his will.
But there is something even better than walking in the light; it is to
become children of the light. What an exquisite conception! Dewdrops
sparkling in the light of dawn; star-dust glittering on the vault of
night; humming-birds flashing in the tropic sun; children dancing in
light-hearted glee, none of these are so truly sons of light as they who
have been begotten by the Father of Lights; who carry within them the
Light that lights up hearts, and who, in goodness, righteousness, and
truth, prove what is well-pleasing unto the Lord. Let us live as such. (Our
Daily Walk)
><> ><> ><>
WALKING IN THE
LIGHT
F B Meyer
Our Daily Walk
"God said, Let there be Light; and
there was Light."--- Gen1:3.
"Ye were sometimes darkness, but
now are ye light in the Lord: Walk as children of Light."-- Eph5:8.
ST. PAUL makes use
of this passage in Genesis, when He says, that "God who commanded the
fight to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the
light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."
He seems to go back in his experience to that remarkable vision on the
road to Damascus, when the light shone, and he saw the face of the Lord
Jesus. It was as though he had passed through the experience of chaos,
while kicking against the goad of conviction, and at that moment, which
he could never forget, God said: "Let there be light." Looking up, he
saw the light of the glory of God reflected in that dear Face that
looked down on him with ineffable love. It was life out of death; light
replaced darkness, and peace chased away the last vestige of storm.
This is ever the
result and climax of the work in our hearts wrought by the Holy Spirit.
He leads us out of darkness; He takes of the things of Christ and shows
them unto us. His one aim is to glorify our Saviour, and to make Him the
Alpha and Omega of our faith, as we walk in the light.
When I was in
Tasmania, I was shown a great mountain range on which was a vast lake,
fifty-two miles in circumference. The overflow yielded a perennial
waterfall of a thousand feet, the force of which was translated into
electricity which made light and power cheap for great factories and for
domestic needs. It seemed to me, as I thought about it, that the great
sheet of water resembled the Love of God, in its longing to help
mankind; that the descending waterfall might be taken to illustrate the
Incarnation of our Saviour, who was the Sent-One of the Eternal Trinity;
and that the electric current, invisible but mighty, was typical of the
Holy Spirit, who brings to our hearts the Light and Power of the Divine
Nature. The lesson is obvious, that as the manufacturer or the scientist
invents machinery to meet the conditions on which alone the electric
current can do its work, so must we learn to adapt ourselves to receive
and transmit the power and light of God, which comes to us through our
union with Jesus.
PRAYER -
May the Holy Spirit keep us ever walking in the light of Thy
countenance. May He fill our hearts with the sense of Thy nearness and
loving fellowship. Order our steps in Thy way, and then walk with us,
for in Thee is no darkness at all. AMEN.
