Brief Exposition of Galatians and Ephesians, Exposition 2 · Chapter 5 · Verse and explication 8
Vers. 8. For ye were sometimes darknesse, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light,
IN this verse, there is, first, an argument to enforce the former dehortation, taken from that blessed change which was wrought in them from darknesse to light, they were once darknesse: whereby is meaned their estate before conversion: And it comprehendeth under it, ignorance of God, and of the way to heaven, 1 Joh. 2. -8. a godlesse and profane life, flowing from a wicked and unrenewed heart, 1 Joh. 1. -6. together with subjection unto all miseries and calamities following upon the former, and especially to the wrath and curse of God: for, a sad disconsolate case goeth under the name of darknesse, Amos 5. 18, 20. This is the state, under the which they once were, and all unregenerate men yet are: they are in all those respects, not only dark, but darknesse in the abstract, as having nothing of the contrary light in them. But they were now light: whereby is meaned that estate wherein they now were, being converted, which is opposed to their former estate of darknesse, and comprehendeth under it the saving knowledge of God in Christ, Isa. 9. 1, 2. a life conform to Gods Law, which shineth forth in the rayes and beams of good works, as a light unto others, Matth. 5. 16. together with deliverance from Gods wrath, and restitution to His favour, with joy, peace, and filiall confidence flowing from the sense of those: for, a lightsome and comfortable case goeth usually under the name of light, Psal. 18. 28. This is the state, wherein the truely regenerate are; They are in all those respects not only lightsome, splendid and shining, but light in the abstract, not as if there were no darknesse in them at all, 1 Joh. 1. 8. Act. 14. 22. for, in that respect only God Himself is light, 1 Joh. 1. 5. but because they are so in the Lord, to wit, Christ, (chap. 4, 5.) as he here declareth, who not only is the purchaser and worker of that measure of the light of knowledge, holinesse, and of joy and peace following thereupon, which the regenerate do already enjoy, Joh. 1. 9. but also His most perfect light of righteousnesse, knowledge, wisdom and redemption, is imputed to them, 2 Cor. 5. 21. so that the dregs and remainders of ignorance and corruption in themselves, are not laid to their charge, Numb. 23. 21. The Apostle, next, from this argument, doth infer the affirmative of the former negative precept, ver. 7. to wit, that therefore they should walk as children of the light, that is, answerably unto that blessed state of light, to which they were called, as being now children of light, that is, not only born of God, 1 Joh. 2. 29. (who is that light unaccessible, 1 Tim. 6. 16.) by the preaching of the word, Iam. 1. 18. which is called light, Psal. 119. 105. but also were endued with the light of knowledge and holinesse: In which respect, those, who are endued with wisdom, are called children of wisdom, Matth. 11. -19. Hence, Learn, 1. It concerneth those, in whom God hath wrought any saving change, as to be reflecting frequently upon that miserable estate wherein they once were; So to look upon it under that variety of notions and similitudes, whereby it is expressed in Scripture; there being not any one expression so comprehensive, or similitude so far extended, as to point out all the dool, wo and misery which is in it, and that hereby the heart may be the more sensibly affected with it: for, the Apostle hath now severall times in this Epistle represented it to their view, and at every time almost under a different notion and similitude; the latter alwayes expressing somewhat, which was not reached by the former. See chap. 2. ver. 1, 2, 3, 12, 13, 19. and chap. 4. ver. 17, 18, 19. And here again, he mindeth them of it under the name of darknesse; for, ye were sometimes darknesse. 2. The childe of God ought so to remember what he once by nature was, as not to question, far lesse deny, but confidently avow what he now by grace is: and that because not only the joynt consideration of both, maketh them shine forth more clearly in their own colours; but also our fixing our eye upon the former, without avowing the latter, doth breed discouragement, unthankfulnesse, and in progresse of time heartlesse dispare of an outgate from the wofull state wherein we apprehend our selves yet to be: for, the Apostle representeth to their view both those joyntly; Ye were sometimes darknesse, but now ye are light. 3. Believers can never attain to read the happinesse of their present state through grace, so long as they fix their eye only upon what they are in themselves: nor yet untill they consider what they are in Christ, and by vertue of that fulnesse of perfections in Him, which not only floweth forth to them in the streams according to their measure, Joh. 1. 16. but also is imputed to them in the fountain, 1 Cor. 5. 21. and therefore may be looked upon by them as their own; for, although he calleth them darknesse absolutely, and in themselves; yet they are light, not in themselves, but in the Lord Christ. 4. Our former darknesse of ignorance and profanity, wherein we have for a long time lived, is so far from being an argument to make us continue in our former wofull course; that on the contrary, we ought from the consideration thereof be incited to take up our selves and live more tenderly for the time to come; seing the time past of our life may suffice usto have walked in a godlesse course, 1 Pet. 4. 3. for, Paul maketh this an argument, why they should not any longer partake with obstinate sinners in their godlesse course: for, saith he, ye were sometimes darknesse. 5. Neither long continuance in sin already, even to wearinesse, nor yet any conviction of the shame and dammage which do attend it, are sufficient to make a man abandon and quit it throughly, except there be a gracious change wrought in him, chiefly as to his inward state, from that which he sometimes was: for, he mentioneth this gracious change of their inward state, as that, wherein the strength of the present argument doth ly, whereby he would disswade them from being partakers with them; for ye were sometimes darknesse, but now are ye light in the Lord. 6. As all spirituall priviledges in generall, are bestowed upon us, that we may improve them, both for our comfort, and also for enabling and inciting to duty; So the more we enjoy of light, whether external light in preaching of the Word, or the internal light of knowledge in the mind, we ought to improve it the more by walking according to that light; else our condemnation shall be greater, Joh. 3. 18. for, from their priviledge of being light in the Lord, he inferreth walk as children of light.