Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them…

      Ephesians 5:11

This is the second time, in this passage, that we see Paul warning us against joining in on behaviors, activities, and lifestyles that are contrary to the Word of God. In fact, our previous verse is describing a life “trying to learn what is pleasing to God.” These two verses sum up the two types of hearts residing in the lives of people. One, a heart filled with love and admiration for God and for Jesus Christ, the other, a heart filled with unbelief, discontentment, and rebellion. One, desiring to please God in all respects (Colossians 1:10) while the other prefers the darkness and the life of destruction that it brings (John 3:19). But for the Christian, there is only one logical choice. A personal relationship with God, a powerful prayer life, and walking with Christ daily are just the norm for a born again believer in Jesus. Nothing that the world has to offer even comes close. Temptation is always there, calling Christians to abandon this abundant life but even when a believer fails, the obvious trickery of the enemy’s schemes quickly becomes obvious. And even in failure, Christ calls us back to Himself in which we find forgiveness, restoration, and new strength to face the day (Acts 3:19). 

So Paul tells us to “not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness.” Notice that these deeds are described as “unfruitful” and of the “darkness.” Consider the following:

For He (God) rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. He (Jesus) is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.

        Colossians 1:13-15

“Unfruitful” means that the activity or behavior has no value. “Darkness” means that the activity or behavior is rooted in evil. But God has rescued us from this spiritual situation. God has transferred us from spiritual darkness to the kingdom of Christ. This is no trivial thing. It literally is the difference between life and death. If we have been redeemed through faith in Christ, having been transferred into the kingdom of God, and filled with the Holy Spirit, we are saved. If this spiritual transformation has yet to take place, then that person would still be spiritually dead, without hope, and void of the Holy Spirit. And don’t miss the fact that Jesus “is the image of the invisible God.” Paul goes on:

And although you were formerly alienated and hostile in mind, engaged in evil deeds, yet He has now reconciled you in His fleshly body through death, in order to present you before Him holy and blameless and beyond reproach—if indeed you continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the gospel that you have heard, which was proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, was made a minister. 

      Colossians 1:21-23

It is an accurate description of an unbeliever…”formerly alienated” from God, “hostile in mind,” and “engaged in evil deeds.” An unrepentant heart cannot please God or even understand the things of the Spirit of God (1 Corinthians 2:14-15). And all of us, as Christians, were in that position at one time. But now we have been transformed, saved, restored, and redeemed! That is why we are no longer to pursue the same course of living as those outside of Christ and our choices should be noticeable to people outside of Christ…that they do not match their choices and decisions. Because we are in Christ, we can now be presented to God as “holy and blameless and beyond reproach.” But, Paul reminds us that we should “continue in the faith firmly established and steadfast and not moving away from the hope of the gospel that we have received.” This doesn’t put our salvation back into our hands as if we have to earn it or somehow hold on to it (John 3:18, Romans 6:23. Romans 10:9-10). But it does mean that we, as Christians, should take our walk with Christ seriously and not grow weary, fall asleep spiritually, or get careless in our behavior. Spiritual and moral failure is just around the corner for those who don’t stay sober and alert (1 Peter 5:8-9). But God knows how to keep us in His redemptive power, even through failure (Ephesians 2:8-9). But that doesn’t lessen the reality that we, as Christians, need to live in a manner worthy of the Lord, seeking to please Him in all respects (Colossians 1:10). 

But along with avoiding such behavior, the Bible instructs to “expose” the deeds of darkness. The original word, used in this passage, means to “confute” or to “admonish.” That brings us to an important principle in admonishing others or exposing the deeds of darkness. Fellow believers are given biblical permission to encourage, confute, or even admonish one another in the Lord (Romans 15:14, 1 Thessalonians 5:14). Everything must be done in love, kindness, and respect, always examining ourselves before approaching someone else (Matthew 7:1-5). But we should not take it upon ourselves to go out into the world and attempt to admonish the deeds of the unbelieving world. First, this is not scriptural. Secondly, it’s not practical. If you want to push a person away from the gospel as fast as you can, point a finger at them and yell “sinner” at the top of your lungs. Instead, we are to be telling others about the gospel (Mark 16:15-16)and the salvation that comes to all who run to the cross and ask God to save them on the basis of what Christ has already done for us on the cross. So admonishing another should be done in the Christian context. All other contact with unbelievers should be focused on listening and then sharing the truth of God’s Word. Making sure our lives are free from participation in the deeds of darkness and even exposing them…that is our calling in Jesus Christ!

Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them; for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them…

  Ephesians 5:6-11