Children of Light
A Sermon on Ephesians 5:7-8
Originally preached Nov. 16, 1958
Scripture
7Be not ye therefore partakers with them. 8For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
Sermon Description
What does it mean to walk as children of the light and what are the implications for the Christian life? What is sanctification and what is the Christian’s role in it? In this sermon on Ephesians 5:6–7 titled “Children of Light,” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones tackles these questions. Sanctification in the New Testament, as seen in these verses, follows this principle: it is not something received or taken but rather results from a correct understanding of the truth that leads to application. In this passage, Paul says that believers have become children of the light, and that this understanding should cause them to walk as such— a perfect case of sanctification resulting from a correct understanding of God’s word. It is active, not passive. The difference between a Christian and a nonbeliever, Dr. Lloyd-Jones says, is the difference between being in the light and being in darkness. Several other passages in Scripture use this same analogy. The change that takes place when one follows Christ is massive— from darkness to light, from death to life. It is not a mere topical change, but is rather a radical change from the inside out.
Sermon Breakdown
- The difference between the Christian and the nonchristian is perfectly clear.
- The nature of the difference: Christians were once darkness but now are light in the Lord. They were not just in darkness but were darkness itself. Now they are not just enlightened but are light itself.
- What produces this change: It is all in the Lord. God commanded the light to shine out of darkness and has shined into our hearts. We see the light of God's glory in the face of Jesus Christ. We are in Christ and Christ is in us.
The Book of Ephesians
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.