Fruitless Works of Darkness

“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” (Ephesians 5:1-2 ESV)

“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 become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.” (Ephesians 5:6-11 ESV)

There are many “shepherds” of the people here in America, and perhaps in other nations in the world, too, who are convincing many people that faith in Jesus Christ is nothing more than a profession of faith which requires no works at all, no dying to sin, no walking in holiness and in righteousness, no obedience to Christ and to his commands, and no servanthood to Christ as Lord (Owner-Master) of our lives. For they call that “works salvation.”

As a result, we have many (perhaps the majority of) people professing faith in Jesus Christ who are convinced that all their sins are forgiven (past, present, and future), that they are now guaranteed heaven when they die, and that it can’t be taken away from them, but regardless of how they live. And even if they are being taught repentance and obedience to Christ, which many are not, it is often taught as something recommended, not required.

And so we also have many (perhaps the majority of) people professing faith in Jesus Christ who are still living in sin and for the will of the flesh and who are not walking in obedience to the Lord in holy living, as a matter of habit. So even though they profess to believe in Jesus, they are still living in sexual immorality and impurity. They are still using filthy language, still telling crude jokes, and still filling their minds with the sinful pleasures of the flesh.

But the Scriptures teach us that no one who makes sin their practice and who lives in sexual immorality and idolatry, lying, cheating, stealing, etc., has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. So we should not let ourselves be deceived by those who are telling us that we can have heaven secured us but while we continue in deliberate and habitual sin against the Lord Jesus. For the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.

[Matt 7:21-23; Lu 9:23-26; Rom 2:6-8; Rom 6:1-23; Rom 8:1-14; Rom 12:1-2; 1 Co 6:9-10,19-20; 1 Co 10:1-22; 2 Co 5:10,15,21; Gal 5:16-24; Gal 6:7-8; Eph 2:8-10; Eph 4:17-32; Eph 5:3-6; Col 1:21-23; Col 3:1-17; Titus 2:11-14; 1 Jn 1:5-10; 1 Jn 2:3-6,24-25; 1 Jn 3:4-10; 1 Pet 2:24; Heb 3:1-19; Heb 4:1-13; Heb 10:23-31; Rev 21:8,27; Rev 22:14-15] 

Therefore, we are not to be partners with them. We are not to be those who are regularly and consistently partaking in the sinful pleasures of the flesh, either by just being entertained by such as this on the TV or on the internet, and/or by physically partaking in those sinful pleasures ourselves. For sin isn’t just what is acted out in physical ways, but we can sin in our minds by what we entertain in our minds, such as via lustful thoughts and desires.

And the reason we should no longer be doing these things is that Jesus died on that cross to deliver us out of our bondage to sin so that we will now walk in obedience to his commands in holy living. He died to change us, to transform us, to make us new creations in Christ Jesus, not like we were when we were still living for the pleasures of the flesh. For now we are to be imitators (followers) of God who walk in his love, in living holy lives for him.

Thus, we are no longer to take part in the unfruitful works of darkness (sin, wickedness), but rather we are to be those who exposing these fruitless deeds of darkness for what they are so that others do not get entrapped by them thinking that God is okay with that and that heaven is still their destiny. And we are not to fear what others will think about us or do to us, either, when we expose these deeds of darkness for what they are.

His Tender Mercies 

An Original Work / January 26, 2014

Fear not! I’m with you.

Be not dismayed!

God watches o’er you.

Trust Him today.

He’ll lead and guide you;

Give you His aid.

He’ll love and keep you

With Him always.

Walk in His footsteps.

He’ll lead the way.

Trust in His love;

Believe that He cares.

He will not leave you.

Faithful He’ll be.

His tender mercies

Now you will see.

Fellowship with Him

Throughout the day.

Tell Him your heartaches.

He’ll heal always.

Rest in His comfort.

He is your friend.

Your faith He’ll strengthen,

True to the end.

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