What does it mean to expose the works of darkness (Ephesians 5:11)?

The believer's life therefore may be summed up as bringing forth the fruits of the light, since he is a child of the light, while maintaining complete separation from the unfruitful works of darkness, for he is no longer of the darkness. Indeed he is to go even further and reprove them. This word, reprove, occurs again you will notice in verse 13. The meaning of it is not exactly, admonish or rebuke, but rather, expose. It is to expose, as by light, the true character of the works in question. If a believer shines out in his true character, his whole life will have that effect, just as in supreme measure his Master's did. Nevertheless of course there may be many occasions when words of rebuke are needful.

The passage we are considering puts a very solemn responsibility upon us. It is just here that friction and trouble with the world begin. People do not usually object to the kindly side of Christianity: gracious words and gracious actions meet with their approval. The trouble begins when holiness is maintained. And holiness, as these verses show, demands no fellowship with evil — neither the evil-doers (v. 7), nor their works (v. 11). When a believer walks the separated path which is here enjoined, and manifests himself as a child of light, then he must expect storms. It was thus in superlative degree with our Lord and Master. "God is Love" has always been a far more popular text than "God is light."

Where light is, darkness disappears. The light of God shining into the heart dispels the evil; not indeed changing the old nature, but enabling us to judge it and its deeds; to take the place of Job, when he saw himself in God's presence: "Now mine eye seeth thee; wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes." (Job 42:5-6.) Hence, where the rays of God's light are allowed to search the heart there is real and deep judgment of evil, as well as practical separation from it. So the apostle goes on: "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. Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light." (vv. 11‑14.) The believer not only walks in the light, but by so doing becomes himself a source of light. He does more than refuse to have fellowship with "the unfruitful works of darkness;" as "light in the Lord" he reproves them. Noah "condemned the world." His own faith and walk were the lights which disclosed the thickness of the moral darkness around. So our Lord says, "If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin." (John 15:22.) Thus it must ever be in God's moral government. Darkness does not discover itself, but is discovered by the light. Mere philosophy, however deep, cannot show things according to God's thoughts. Life and light must go together. There must be divine life in the soul before God's light can be received. Only the quickened soul can discern in Christ the light of the world, and see all things in the form and colour in which this light reveals them. "Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light."

Where light is, darkness disappears. The light of God shining into the heart dispels the evil; not indeed changing the old nature, but enabling us to judge it and its deeds; to take the place of Job, when he saw himself in God's presence: "Now mine eye seeth thee; wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes." (Job 42:5-6.) Hence, where the rays of God's light are allowed to search the heart there is real and deep judgment of evil, as well as practical separation from it. So the apostle goes on: "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. Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light." (vv. 11-14.) The believer not only walks in the light, but by so doing becomes himself a source of light. He does more than refuse to have fellowship with "the unfruitful works of darkness;" as "light in the Lord" he reproves them. Noah "condemned the world." His own faith and walk were the lights which disclosed the thickness of the moral darkness around. So our Lord says, "If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin." (John 15:22.) Thus it must ever be in God's moral government. Darkness does not discover itself, but is discovered by the light. Mere philosophy, however deep, cannot show things according to God's thoughts. Life and light must go together. There must be divine life in the soul before God's light can be received. Only the quickened soul can discern in Christ the light of the world, and see all things in the form and colour in which this light reveals them. "Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light."

Where light is, darkness disappears. The light of God shining into the heart dispels the evil; not indeed changing the old nature, but enabling us to judge it and its deeds; to take the place of Job, when he saw himself in God's presence: "Now mine eye seeth thee; wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes." (Job 42:5-6.) Hence, where the rays of God's light are allowed to search the heart there is real and deep judgment of evil, as well as practical separation from it. So the apostle goes on: "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. Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light." (vv. 11-14.) The believer not only walks in the light, but by so doing becomes himself a source of light. He does more than refuse to have fellowship with "the unfruitful works of darkness;" as "light in the Lord" he reproves them. Noah "condemned the world." His own faith and walk were the lights which disclosed the thickness of the moral darkness around. So our Lord says, "If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin." (John 15:22.) Thus it must ever be in God's moral government. Darkness does not discover itself, but is discovered by the light. Mere philosophy, however deep, cannot show things according to God's thoughts. Life and light must go together. There must be divine life in the soul before God's light can be received. Only the quickened soul can discern in Christ the light of the world, and see all things in the form and colour in which this light reveals them. "Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light."

The evils that the flesh delights to revel in are not to have any mention among the saints. Those who practise such things have no inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and God; for because of them the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. We must, therefore, be careful not to be partakers with them; for we were once darkness, but now are we light in the Lord, and we are to walk as children of light.

The world is in darkness—that is, it is without the knowledge of God—and in that darkness the devil rules, and he rules by means of the darkness. In his kingdom there is not one ray of light. Believers are here as luminaries in the world; that is, they set forth God in His true character by means of their walk and ways. Jesus said: “As long as I am in the world, I am the Light of the World.” He faithfully represented God before the eyes of men who knew Him not. It could not be otherwise, for He was God manifest in flesh. He says “He that sees Me sees Him that sent Me.” Once were we darkness, but now are we light in the Lord, and if we walk as children of light we prove what is agreeable to the Lord. We are to have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but we are rather to reprove them, not necessarily by our words, but by manifesting the nature and character of God. If we walk according to His will we make manifest the deeds of those who walk in darkness, and thus are they exposed, for that which makes everything manifest is light. “Wherefore He says, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall shine upon thee.” To Israel it will be said one day, “Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee (Isa. 60:1). We anticipate that day; the glory of the exalted Saviour has risen upon us, and in the light of that glory His people shine throughout this world’s dark night.

Verses 11, 12. Spiritual energy produces negative as well as positive effects. The renunciation of an evil way is not less important as a result of personal obedience, than the active pursuit of what is good. The subtlety of the deceiver would persuade us that we can be doing much in the way of active usefulness, while habitually clinging to something which our hearts may secretly condemn. But if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things (John 3:20). And God is not mocked. We shall reap in sorrow what we sow in folly (Gal. 6:8). This snare is accordingly anticipated and frustrated. for the watchful. Christian by the present exhortation. Instead of having fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, we are rather to reprove them. What darkness is will be understood most sensitively by those whose habitual dwelling place is in the light. As men, we have had trial of the way of man; and, through grace, have tasted the sweet contrast of the way of peace. The censure of evil, which the Spirit here enjoins on the believer, is widely different in its character from that which belongs to the self-righteous moralist. Thoroughly alive both to the fearful power of the corruption which is in the world, and to the infinite preciousness of the worthy Name which he now bears, he is to show out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. Patient continuance in well-doing should mark him both to God and man But while by habitual godliness the believer's life should bea standing condemnation of the way of sinners, he is not to spare direct, and, if necessary, strong rebuke of evil, whenever it is tolerated or excused within the Church of God. Mercy sustains our weakness, but holiness must be the order of His house. To call evil good, is hardly a smaller provocation than to practise it. We may well do what we hesitate to blame.

The Christian should thus, (not only abstain from ungodly ways, but) abjure all fellowship with those who practise them. Rather should he expose them; not necessarily directly attacking the world's practices, but by consistent godliness reproving iniquity. Men's secret sins, which have as large a place now as in Paul's days, are too shameful even to name; but they are exposed, and their true character declared by the light, for light manifests all things. Such exposing will not bring love, but rather hatred, to the witness, as our Lord Jesus said, "Me it (the world) hates, because I testify of it that the works thereof are evil" (John 7:7). In His case the darkness hated the light: it was too much for them.

In walking as children of light we prove in experience what is acceptable to the Lord. Since He has no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, neither should we. He reproves them and so should we. We are not to argue about or against them, but simply and clearly repudiate them. Even to talk about the vices practiced in secret by the ungodly is a shame. The believer has far more profitable things to engage his thoughts and conversation.

Verse 13 reads in JND's translation, "But all things having their true character exposed by the light are made manifest, for that which makes everything manifest is light." Bright sunlight shows up all the details of natural things. Likewise, the true light of God makes manifest the actual character of everything in the spiritual and moral realm. Are we willing to apply that light to our own conduct and to the conduct of popular religious schemes that are increasingly compromising the truth of Scripture?

Again, it is not enough for our souls to refuse to be partakers with the children of disobedience, as in verses 6, 7. We must have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather even expose them. (Ver. 11.) It is all a part of our marvellous place and responsibility as being children of light. It is not law, simply condemning as by an applied outward standard, but an inward and most searching divine capacity, which, whatever the love that is the source and end, spares evil even less, but brings in good by the Holy Ghost in Christ. "For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret [i.e., the doers of the fruitless works of darkness]; but all things when reproved [or exposed] are made manifest by the light; for whatsoever doth make [or is made] manifest is light." (Ver. 12, 13.) It is the property of light to manifest itself and all things else; and this is quite as true spiritually as in nature.

Verse 13. "But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light," etc. Faithful conviction or reproof is the dissipation of moral darkness by the holy light of truth. It is the property of light to reveal everything; and that which it discloses it shows plainly in its genuine character. A terrific proof of this will be afforded when God, who is Light, shall at His appearing make manifest the hidden things of darkness. The latter clause of this verse will vary in its meaning, as the word translated "manifest" is taken in an active or a passive sense. Either way an obvious truth is stated. On the whole, the subduing and vivifying effect of the light, in addition to its merely detective power, appears to be intended. This is a principle of constant illustration in the Christian's personal experience. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.