How does Ephesians 5:11 connect with 1 John 1:5-7 about light? “Have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.” 1 John 1:5-7 “This is the message we have heard from Him and proclaim to you: God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.” The shared theme: Light and darkness are mutually exclusive. Walking in God’s light means rejecting participation in darkness and, positively, revealing truth and righteousness. Foundations of Light and Darkness • God’s character: “God is light” (1 John 1:5). • Darkness describes anything contrary to God—sin, deceit, ignorance (John 3:19-20). • Light exposes, purifies, and produces fruit (Ephesians 5:9). Parallel Commands • Ephesians 5:11—“Have no fellowship with…darkness.” • 1 John 1:6—“If we say we have fellowship…yet walk in darkness, we lie.” – Both insist true fellowship with God excludes ongoing partnership with sin. Positive Side of Walking in Light Ephesians 5 highlights what walking in light looks like (vv. 8-10, 13-14): • “Live as children of light” (v. 8). • Display “goodness, righteousness, and truth” (v. 9). • “Expose” works of darkness (v. 11). • “Anything exposed by the light becomes visible” (v. 13). 1 John 1:7 echoes these ideas: • “Walk in the light as He is in the light.” • Enjoy fellowship with believers. • Experience ongoing cleansing by Jesus’ blood. Why Expose, Not Overlook • Light naturally reveals what darkness hides (John 1:5). • Exposing sin offers opportunity for repentance (Ephesians 5:14). • Hidden sin breeds more darkness; confessed sin is forgiven (1 John 1:9). Practical Connections for Believers Reject fellowship with darkness: – Separate from practices, media, partnerships that glorify sin (2 Corinthians 6:14-18). – Guard speech and behavior: “Obscenity, foolish talk, coarse joking are…out of place” (Ephesians 5:4). Walk in the light: – Daily confession and cleansing (1 John 1:9). – Pursue what is “true, honorable, just, pure” (Philippians 4:8). – Seek accountability; fellowship deepens in shared light (Hebrews 10:24-25). Expose deeds of darkness: – Lovingly confront sin within the body (Galatians 6:1). – Test cultural messages against Scripture (1 Thessalonians 5:21-22). – Shine by doing good works that glorify the Father (Matthew 5:14-16). Complementary Texts • John 3:19-21—Those who practice truth come to the light. • Romans 13:12—“Let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.” • Colossians 1:13—He “rescued us from the dominion of darkness.” These reinforce that believers, already transferred into God’s kingdom of light, must now live consistently with that reality. Summary Ephesians 5:11 commands a break with darkness and an active exposure of it. 1 John 1:5-7 explains why: God Himself is pure light, so genuine fellowship with Him requires walking in that light. Together they call believers to reject sin, live transparently, and illuminate the world with Christ’s truth. |
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