Walking in Love: Living as Children of Light

Paul’s letter to the Ephesians calls us to a life that is radically different because of the foundation we have in Christ. The first half of the letter lays out the gospel—what God has done for us in Christ, the love that surpasses knowledge, and the glory that fills us. But as the letter shifts in chapter 4 and 5, the focus turns to our responsibility: how we walk in this world as those who have been transformed. The call is simple but profound—be imitators of God, as beloved children. Just as a child looks up to and imitates their parent, so we are to look to our heavenly Father and reflect His character in our daily lives.

This imitation is not vague or abstract. We are to walk in love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us. The love of Christ is sacrificial, self-giving, and practical. It is not about grand gestures, but about the next step, the next conversation, the next choice. Every day, in every context—at home, at work, at school—we are called to let the aroma of Christ be evident in us. Our lives become a fragrance, sometimes drawing others to Christ, sometimes causing discomfort in those who resist Him, but always bearing witness to the reality of the gospel.

Yet, this walk is not without its dangers. Paul warns us about the appetites of the flesh—sexual immorality, impurity, covetousness—and about the way we speak. Our words reveal our hearts, and crude joking, sarcasm, and filthiness have no place among those who belong to Christ. Instead, our speech should be marked by thanksgiving and encouragement. The warning is sobering: if our identity is found in these patterns of sin, rather than in Christ, we have no inheritance in the kingdom of God. True transformation is evidenced by fruit—by a life that is good, right, and true.

The call is to walk as children of light, discerning what is pleasing to the Lord, exposing darkness by living in the truth. Conviction over sin is a sign of life; indifference is a sign of spiritual death. For those who do not know Christ, the invitation is to awake, to rise from spiritual death, and let Christ shine on you. For believers, the challenge is to examine your walk—does your life reflect the transformation of the gospel? If not, turn, repent, and let the light of Christ renew you again.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Walk as beloved children, imitating God To imitate God is to live as dearly loved children, reflecting His kindness, forgiveness, and sacrificial love. This is not about striving for perfection, but about living out of the security of being cherished by the Father. When our identity is rooted in His love, our actions and attitudes begin to mirror His character in everyday life. [34:55]
• 2. The aroma of Christ: a life that draws or repels Our lives are a fragrance—either drawing others to Christ or making them uncomfortable with the difference He makes. This aroma is not about outward religiosity, but about the deep transformation that comes from knowing Jesus. Some will be drawn to the life and hope they see; others may be repelled, but the call is to remain faithful and let Christ’s presence be evident. [38:56]
• 3. Guard your appetites and your speech The desires we nurture and the words we speak reveal the true state of our hearts. Sexual immorality, impurity, covetousness, and crude or sarcastic speech are not just minor issues—they are indicators of what we treasure. True contentment and purity flow from Christ-sufficiency, and our speech should build up, not tear down. [43:34]
• 4. True transformation produces visible fruit The evidence of salvation is not a past profession, but a present transformation. The fruit of light—goodness, righteousness, and truth—should be increasingly evident in our lives. If there is no conviction over sin, no desire to discern what pleases the Lord, something is deeply wrong. [52:35]
• 5. Expose darkness by living in the light We are called not only to avoid the works of darkness, but to expose them by the way we live and speak. This is not about self-righteousness, but about letting the truth and grace of Christ shine through us. Conviction and repentance are signs of spiritual life; indifference is a warning sign. [54:02]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [29:36] - Review of Ephesians and Gospel Foundation
• [30:28] - The Four Walks: Unity, Love, Light, Wisdom
• [31:14] - Reading Ephesians 5:1-14
• [32:11] - Walk as Children of Light
• [32:43] - Prayer for God’s Word and Hearts
• [33:54] - The Call to Imitate God
• [34:55] - Beloved Children and Unconditional Love
• [36:53] - Walk in Love as Christ Loved Us
• [38:22] - The Aroma of Christ
• [40:14] - Warnings: Appetite, Communication, Identity
• [43:34] - Guarding Speech and Heart
• [48:39] - Warning of Identity and True Character
• [52:07] - Walk as Children of Light: Fruit and Discernment
• [54:02] - Exposing Darkness and Living in the Light
• [55:35] - Awake, O Sleeper: The Call to Respond
• [57:21] - Examining Your Walk and Invitation to Repentance
• [58:02] - Closing Prayer and Worship

Bible Reading

Ephesians 5:1-14 (ESV) —
> 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.
>
> But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. 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. For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,
>
> “Awake, O sleeper,
> and arise from the dead,
> and Christ will shine on you.”

Observation Questions

1. According to Ephesians 5:1-2, what does it mean to be an imitator of God, and how are we supposed to walk?
2. What are the specific behaviors and attitudes Paul warns against in verses 3-5?
3. In verses 8-10, what does Paul say is the evidence of walking as children of light?
4. The sermon described our lives as having an “aroma” to others. What does this mean, and how does it relate to the way we live? [[38:56]]

Interpretation Questions

1. The passage calls us to imitate God “as beloved children.” What does it look like to live out of the security of being cherished by the Father, rather than striving for perfection? [[34:55]]
2. Why do you think Paul connects our speech (filthiness, foolish talk, crude joking) with our identity in Christ? How does our speech reveal what’s in our hearts? [[43:34]]
3. The sermon said, “The evidence of your salvation is not in the profession... it’s about in the fruits you produce.” How does this challenge the way we think about what it means to be a Christian? [[52:35]]
4. What does it mean to “expose” the works of darkness by living in the light? How is this different from being self-righteous or judgmental? [[54:02]]

Application Questions

1. The sermon compared imitating God to a child looking up to their parent. In what area of your life do you most struggle to reflect God’s character? What is one step you could take this week to imitate Him more closely? [[34:55]]
2. Think about your daily routines—at home, at work, at school. What would it look like for the “aroma of Christ” to be evident in those places? Is there a relationship or situation where you sense God calling you to be a different kind of fragrance? [[38:56]]
3. Paul warns us to guard our appetites and our speech. Is there a specific desire or habit (what you watch, what you say, what you think about) that you sense is pulling you away from Christ? What would it look like to surrender that area to Him? [[43:34]]
4. The sermon said, “If there is no conviction over sin, no desire to discern what pleases the Lord, something is deeply wrong.” When was the last time you felt convicted about something in your life? How did you respond? [[52:35]]
5. Are there places in your life where you are tempted to “partner” with darkness—by going along with the crowd, staying silent, or not standing up for what’s right? What would it look like to “walk as a child of light” in those situations? [[51:04]]
6. The passage says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Is there an area of your spiritual life where you feel asleep or numb? What would it look like to “wake up” and let Christ’s light shine on you? [[55:35]]
7. The sermon challenged us to examine our walk: “If I followed you for a week, would I see Jesus in you?” If someone observed your life this week, what would they see? Is there anything you would want to change? [[57:00]]