For you were once darkness, but not you are light in the Lord.  Walk as children of light (9)  (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), (10) finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.  (11) And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.  (12) For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret.  (13) But all things that are exposed are made manifest by the light, for whatever makes manifest is light.  (14) Therefore He says:  Awake you who sleep, Arise from the dead, And Christ will give you light.

The letter to the Ephesians was written by the Apostle Paul who was speaking to believing Gentiles – those who had been in total spiritual darkness and now, in faith, were in light.  Paul wrote the Gentiles that all those sinful behaviors were behind them – in darkness they chased sin but now sin chases them.  The faithful are regenerated – born again believers in Christ Jesus.  Their lives have changed but not their circumstances.  Men in darkness were evil and they were spiritually dead but they have put on Christ and become children of light.  God is light and in Him there is no darkness at all.  Darkness is Satan’s domain.

Paul tells the Ephesians – and us – that the result or fruit of the light is moral goodness and that this goodness in the way believers live and interact gives proof of the possession of the Spirit. Believers walk in light because they are the people of truth with nothing to hide.  This truth is reality which is hidden under appearances.

Paul further asserts that without faith it is impossible to please God.  Believers must put every thought, word, and  action to the test to find out what does please God.  We do not determine this by our own feelings, or by the world or even by what other Christians say or think –   but by growing to understand His Word and not act out of selfish motives.  Believers have a new personal relationship with Christ. So, first we are to become children of light and then to walk as children of light to please The Lord.

Paul commands believers not to participate in unfruitful deeds of darkness.  This principle of separation of God’s people is all through the New and the Old Testaments. Paul further is saying that it is not good enough to separate from evil but to expose men of darkness.  Believers can get used to darkness – to become desensitized to evil. This gradual process begins with broadminded tolerance which becomes a peaceful coexistence with evil when we stretch our conscience.

All things are visible when exposed to the light in contrast with things done in secret. Our lives should be a light contrasting good and evil. I cannot do better than to quote Paul’s letter to the Romans,  Chapter 13, verse 12:

“The night is far spent, the day is at hand.  Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, amd let us put on the armor of light.”