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Ephesians 5:6-8 (JDV)

Ephesians 5:6 Let no one deceive you with empty arguments, because God’s wrath is coming on the disobedient because of these things.

Ephesians 5:7 Do not become their partners, then.

Ephesians 5:8 You see, you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light –

don’t partner with darkness

There is no third option here. You are either living as a child of light, or you are counted among the disobedient on whom God’s wrath is coming. Paul warns the Ephesian Christians that their eternal destiny is at stake should they choose to partner with unbelievers.

The reason Paul is so strict about associations is the same reason God insisted that Canaan be cleared of its inhabitants when he sent the Israelites to live there. They would encourage the Israelites to be unfaithful. But the Christians were not supposed to drive out the unbelievers in Ephesus. Instead, they had to seek to win the lost, without being corrupted by their unbelief.

Lord, show us how to win others to you, without losing our commitment to you.