A non-Christian faces life's trials and tribulations with feelings of despair, anger, and resentment. The Christian faces his trials and troubles trusting that God is teaching him and conforming him more and more into the image of Christ. The Christian seeks benefit and gain from them. Paul say: that tribulation in the life of a Christian produces perseverance and character and hope.

V. It Is a Life of Love (vv. 5-8)

In times of hurt, sorrow, disappointment and loss, human nature tends to doubt the love of God. In similar circumstances the Christian finds solace and strength in the unchanging, unshakable love of God.

One of the greatest sources of security in the life of a child is an assurance that he is unconditionally loved by his parent. The same is true of a Christian's relationship to his heavenly Father.

VI. It Is a Life of Complete Salvation (vv. 9-10)

Salvation includes more than deliverance from hell and assurance of heaven. We are in the process of being saved day by day and moment by moment by His Life.

VII. It Is a Reconciled Life (v. 11)

Here we have the picture of the Father receiving the prodigal son (Lk. 15:21-24). On the ground of the atoning work of the shed blood of Jesus Christ (Rom. 5:9) we who were once enemies of God have now been made friends with God! (Roger D. Wilmore)

1A.S. Hobart, Transplanted Truths From Romans (Philadelphia: Judson Press, 1919) p. 45.

2John Phillips, Exploring Romans (Chicago: Moody Press, 1969) p. 89.

Fourth Sunday in Lent (A)

March 10, 2002

Walking in Light

Ephesians 5:8-14

One of the most dramatic statements made by our Lord is found in John 8:12, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."

The fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden brought about a moral and spiritual darkness that characterizes our world to this day. Jesus said, "This is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil." (Jh. 3:19).

Two things stand out to me in the passage.

I. Remember the Former Life (v. 8)

"You were once in darkness ...." Paul was reminding his reader that they once lived in sin and separation from God. They, too, had walked in moral and spiritual darkness.

Our reflection upon our lives before we came to Christ should not be a morbid experience, nor should it be one that entices desire to return to the former life. It should be a healthy recollection of the emptiness, loneliness, and fear produced by darkness.

Paul may have also wanted the Ephesian Christians to maintain some recollection of what it was like to live in darkness in order to create a greater compassion for those among them who were still in darkness.

One of the dangers which occurs in the lives of those of us who have been Christian for a long time is that we are surrounded by people just like us, and we lose touch with those who really need the gospel and the Lord Jesus Christ.