What are the unfruitful deeds of darkness (Ephesians 5:11)?

Explain what it is that the Bible means when it refers to the “fruitless deeds of darkness” (Ephesians 5:11)

Ephesians 4:17–5:21 is a section of Paul’s letter to the church at Ephesus in which he offers tough but doable advice for a holy life. The way to holiness entails copying God (like children mimicking a parent) through living in love (verses 5:1–2) and walking as “children of light” (verses 5:8–9). (verses 5:8–9). Paul warns, “Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them” (Ephesians 5:11). The opposite of holy living is described as “walking in darkness” in the Bible (Isaiah 9:2; see also Proverbs 2:13). (Ephesians 5:11, ESV).

Sin and its repercussions are represented in the Bible by the color black (Proverbs 2:12–15; Matthew 6:23; Isaiah 5:20; Isaiah 29:15). In Ephesians 5:11, the term for fruitless is a translation of the Greek word anistein, which means “having no good use, unproductive.” But the fruit of righteousness “leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life,” whereas the fruit of evil “leads to perdition” (i.e., death) (Romans 6:20–22).

But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality or of any kind of impurity or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people.” Paul goes on to list the unfruitful works of darkness that the Ephesians should avoid. Furthermore, this is not the time or place for profanity, nonsense, or rough humor; instead, let’s focus on expressing gratitude. You can rest assured that no one who is immoral, impure, or greedy — in other words, an idolater — will ever inherit the kingdom of Christ and God (Ephesians 5:3–5).

When Paul told the Romans to “put on the armor of light,” he meant they should stop doing evil things. Then he went on to name a number of other nefarious activities, including “orgies and drunkenness,… sexual immorality and sensuality,… quarreling and jealousy” (Romans 13:12–13, ESV).

Paul told the Corinthians, “How can light live with darkness?” when asked if the two could coexist. How can Christ and Satan possibly get along? A believer cannot work with an atheist because they cannot share the same worldview. And how can the House of the Lord coexist with pagan shrines? We are the house of the living God, after all. Let us rid our minds, bodies, and souls of everything impure. Also, let us strive for perfect purity out of reverence for God (2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1, NLT).

“Dead because of your disobedience and your numerous sins,” Paul said of individuals before they were saved. You formerly followed the devil, leader of the spiritual forces, and lived a sinful lifestyle with the rest of humanity. He is the devil, the spirit who works in the lives of individuals who will not submit to God (Ephesians 2:1–2, NLT). Since they have closed their thoughts and hardened their hearts against God, they are now in a condition of spiritual death where “their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God offers” (Ephesians 4:17–18, NLT). According to Jesus, “Whoever walks in the dark does not know where he is going” (John 12:35). Until their eyes are awakened “so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God,” unbelievers will continue to fumble about in the shadows. Then they will be accepted into God’s family and have their sins pardoned (Acts 26:18, NLT).

The elect of God are resurrected into a new identity as children of light (1 Thessalonians 5:4–5). Because they have been saved “from the domain of darkness and brought” into the kingdom of Christ’s light, they shun the evil deeds of the world (Colossians 1:13).

“I am the light of the world,” Jesus said. If you follow me, you will never have to worry about the night again; instead, you will always have the light of life (John 8:12). Jesus said, “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden, but you put on the armor of light and work toward complete holiness.” The unsaved walk in darkness, performing fruitless works of darkness, while the child of God puts on the armor of light and works toward complete holiness. When a lamp is lit, it is never hidden behind a basket. A lamp, on the other hand, may be set up on a stand and used to illuminate the whole home. Just as light reveals the face of the sun, so should your good acts, so everyone may see them and give glory to your Father in heaven (Matthew 5:14–16, NLT).

Paul admonished the believers at Ephesus to expose the evil deeds of the forces of darkness. Perhaps he was alluding to the faults of other Christians as a whole. Jesus commanded his followers to hold one another responsible for their actions and to help those who fall into sin regain their footing (Matthew 18:15–20; Luke 17:3; see also Galatians 6:1; Psalm 141:5; Hebrews 12:13; James 5:19–20; 1 Thessalonians 5:14).

Perhaps Paul also had the sins of disobedient non-believers in mind. All evildoers avoid the light for fear of having their evil deeds revealed, as Jesus put it. The truth-seekers, however, will emerge into the open, where others may see that they are following God’s will (John 3:20–21, NLT). With the truth of God, we reveal the futile activities of the enemy. God is light; there is no darkness at all in him,” John wrote. “This is the message we have received from him and deliver to you. When we say we have fellowship with him but then go about our days doing things that bring us no light, we are not being honest with ourselves. The blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin, but only if we walk in the light, as he is in the light (1 John 1:5–7).

When God’s truth is revealed, darkness flees. Our purpose on earth is to change darkness into light by drawing people from the shadows into the light, and that’s what we’re doing whether we shed light on evil deeds inside the church or on the lost and dying world outside (Isaiah 42:6–7; John 12:46; 2 Corinthians 4:6; 1 Peter 2:9; 2 Peter 1:19).