As our lifestyle conforms with who Christ wants us to be, walking as children of the light, walking as He walked, letting our life bear the fruit of goodness, righteousness and truth, then by our actions, we both learn more and more what is pleasing to the Lord, and approve that the Lord knows what He is talking about when He says that this is the only way to life. The word here is dokimazo, “approving”, as in “to put to the test” as testing witnesses for a trial. “to approve, or sanction after scrutiny as fit,”. By living the way that Christ wants us to live, we are witnesses by examining our own lives as Christians, giving evidence that our lives are better than they used to be. When Paul tells us in Romans 12:1-2 Therefore I urge you, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. By following Jesus from the inside out, allowing Him to renew our mind from our old ways of thinking and doing things, and living out our lives in communion and service to Him, we worship Him best. And in living our lives this way, we will then be able to test, approve, and bear witness that this life being a living sacrifice is the best life. Being planted in this life, we will then be able to discern God’s pleasing, acceptable, and perfect Will. And not only that, since we are in submission to God, we will allow God to direct our lives according to His Will. Removing the old ways of thinking and doing, we are truly able to test and approve this Christian life, walking in more and more tested faith, faith “firmed up” by our walking in it and standing on it. Not only being able to discern God’s Will, but “approve it” as the best course of action in our lives and walk in it! God gives us the ability to see His will when we have the submission to Him to walk in it! Walking in the Light, as Jesus walked is the first Will of God for all believers.
5:11 and do not participate in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead even expose them.
Light exposes what is not pleasing to the Lord. The Word of God is the primary tool that God uses to reveal the Truth, so that we can discern what is pleasing to the Lord, what is His Will in a given situation. Sometimes a specific situation may not be covered in the Word of God. In these areas, we have to listen to the Holy Spirit, and follow His direction. God’s plan for us is to be the light of the World, just as Christ was. We are continuing His ministry, shining forth His light, becoming more like Christ every day. “You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness” (1 Thess 5:5). Light exposes that which is hidden in darkness; it shows things as they really are. To walk in the light means to know God, understand the truth, and live in righteousness. Light and darkness cannot coexist. We have the choice, but one way leads to eternal life, and one way leads to destruction John 3:19-21 19 And this is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the Light; for their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light, so that his deeds will not be exposed. In taking the light of the gospel to the world, we will reveal things about people that they would rather leave hidden. Light is uncomfortable to those accustomed to the darkBut God is in the business of uncovering darkness and bringing it to light. God made us for this purpose. Matthew 5:14-16 14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; 15 nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Your light must shine before people in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. As lighthouses pointing the way to the Father and beacons of His truth, we must be careful to live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people (Phil 2:15).
Christians cannot sit idly by and watch others continue in the darkness of sin, knowing that those in darkness are destined for eternal separation from God. As adopted sons of God, we are to reflect His light into a world darkened by sin. Our goal in witnessing to the unsaved is “to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God” (Acts 26:18). Since Paul has warned that the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience (v. 6), Paul is urging us not to become fellow participants with sinners (v. 7) because although we were formerly darkness but now we are light in the Lord (v. 8a).
We’re not to be fellow participants with sinners (v. 7) and are not to participate in the unfruitful works of darkness (v. 11). This word means “to have a joint share in, a connection with.” He says “Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness. This includes sexual immorality, greed, and foul language (Eph 5:3–4). When we“find out what pleases the Lord” (Eph 5:10) and do it, we are going to shine light around us, and we’ll automatically begin exposing the works of darkness by contrast. As we follow God’s definitions of what’s right and wrong, and not our own, and not our societies’ we’re going to stand out more and more as a witness for God, and against the evil societal norms. In a culture familiar with Christianity, but not practicing Christian life, Christians live like Israelites in Babylon—like the 3 Hebrew boys who had to stand up to their culture, even when it cost them. Much of what is celebrated in our world is abhorrent by biblical standards. That is why we must be aligned with Scripture; to lose sight of Scripture is to risk operating out of a faulty view of morality influenced by our society, the media and the world system. To expose the works of darkness, we must avoid falling in love with those works or the system that produces them. As the apostle John wrote, “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever” (1 John 2:15–17). Exposing the works of darkness means radiating the light of Christ through our words and actions. Merely labelling an act as wrong is insufficient; a diagnosis is incomplete without solution. The act of exposing darkness must always be coupled with a call to repentance—a change of mind about Christ, sin, and salvation—and faith in Christ’s offer of perfect forgiveness. Only the light can dispel the darkness. It’s important that we begin by allowing God to examine us first, and see if there is any wicked way in us, and make those changes that the Holy Spirit is telling us to, so that we are walking as Children of the Light, and can successfully point the way to Jesus by our example and our words. It begins with us, not with correcting others. Matthew 7:3-5 Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ and look, the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye! We don’t participate in “unfruitful, useless ,” works which are unproductive or useless. We should hold ourselves accountable. Jesus says that our attitude toward other’s sin should first be one of mercy and forgiveness. Luke 17:3 3 Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. 4 And if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ you shall forgive him.” ; Galatians 6:1-2 Brothers and sisters, even if a person is caught in any wrongdoing, you who are spiritual are to restore such a person in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you are not tempted as well. 2 Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.; 1 Thessalonians 5:14 4 We urge you, brothers and sisters, admonish theunruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone. So, while we may compassionately confront believers who may be straying, it’s always in love, and always with the motivation of restoring them in their relationship with God. James encourages us to strive for the restoration of those who have wandered from the truth, saying that “whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins” (James 5:19–20).We need to watch ourselves, so that we do not fall into arrogant judgement, or into the same trap that we’re trying to help someone else out of.