Ephesians 5:11-13 “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.
But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.”
What would you do if you saw someone doing something wrong or illegal? If you went to the grocery store and you saw someone pointing a gun at a cashier demanding money, what would your response be? Would you go up along side of that person and begin demanding money as well, or would you stay away from them?
What if that person happened to be your best friend, and was doing this; how would you react? Would you be strong enough to tell them that what they were doing was wrong, and that they shouldn’t be doing it?
When it comes to the holy scriptures, a person’s actions come down to two outcomes: either it is right according to God’s word, or it isn’t. It is either good or it is evil, it is right or it is wrong. Put simply, “unfruitful works of darkness” is sin. If it does not agree with what we read in the Bible, it is sin, and Paul wrote to have no fellowship with it.
Fellowship as used in this passage means “to make feel welcome by showing friendship or building a cordial relationship; to associate with.”
When we gather together to sing, praise the Lord, and learn from His word, we often refer to it as “fellowship” because we are all gathered together in harmony and love as children of the Lord. We “associate” with each other in a friendly relationship because we are united under the Holy Spirit.
“Fulfill ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.” Philippians 2:2
We are commanded to love one another, our neighbor as ourself. But this command does not mean that we should join others who sin and do evil. Instead, Paul teaches us that we are to reprove them.
Reprove means “to express disapproval; to criticise, rebuke or reprimand.”
Sin is a disease, which if it starts in a group and is left untreated and unchecked by the teachings of the word of God can spread throughout a congregation. It needs to be condemned and rebuked so that it stops and so that others realize the error of those actions.
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17
This is why Paul wrote to some churches to warn them of any issues that they needed to correct. He loved them, and wanted them to be walking in the truth of the gospel. He was like a dad to them, begetting them through the word of God, feeding them the scriptures and helping them to grow stronger. Occasionally, just like an actual child, they would have something that needed to be addressed, and changed in their lives so that they would be continuing to be doing God’s word.
Paul didn’t want the church to be displeasing to God, which is why he warned them to not be a part of the works of darkness, but to keep separate from them and criticize it.
“Them that sin rebuke before all, that others also may fear.” 1 Timothy 5:20
Keep yourselves free from sin.
In Christ,
Andrew
Teufer Lake King James Bible Church 