Lesson 9: Purity 105
Living in the Light: The Pathway to Habitual Purity
(Ephesians 5:8–16)
5:8 –16. These verses call for Christians to live in the light with purity.
One key in this regard is to expose areas of sin in our life to the light.
This is the Christian discipline of confession. Confession requires an
inward movement of self-acknowledgement, an upward movement of
agreeing with God about our sin and receiving his forgiveness, and an
outward movement of walking wisely with our Lord. All three move-
ments are required to live in the light.
Practicing purity is part of wise living (5:15) and helps disciples
maximize their witness for Christ in the midst of an evil world.
Focusing on the Meaning
Highly effective disciples pursue a life of purity in their thoughts, atti-
tudes, words, and actions. The challenge is that each disciple must
continuously explore the question, “How can I pursue purity in an
impure world?” The focal texts challenge us to ground purity in the pur-
suit of the worthiness and supremacy of God. Worship is the fuel for
pu r it y.
Purity, however, cannot remain solely an upward expression of spiri-
tuality to God. As Paul challenges us in Ephesians, purity is to be lived
out in the practical areas of life, those that can be so quickly corrupted
by sin: sexuality, money, and our speech. The effective disciple regularly
asks, “Am I engaging these areas out of Christ’s sacrificial love or out of
a place of self-indulgence?”
Purity is learning to live in the light of Christ and allowing his light
to penetrate and transform our lives. It is a moment by moment choice.
Each participant should be encouraged to examine his or her life in two
key areas. First, purity can degenerate into legalism and empty external
application unless the foundation for the disciple is being and resting
in Jesus through regular worship and affirmation of his sovereignty.
Second, in a world of impurity, purity also involves doing, that is apply-
ing in our thoughts, attitudes, words, and actions the transformative
love of Jesus Christ.