Ephesians 5:13

“But all things when they are reproved are made manifest by the light: for everything that is made manifest is light”

“Are made manifest by the light”: Exposed for what they really are. “All such actions, when exposed, have their true character made manifest by the Light” (TCNT). “For light is capable of showing up everything for what it really is” (Phi). “Darkness hides the ugly realities of evil; the light makes them visible. Then evil is seen for what it is without any possibility of concealment or subterfuge” (Stott p. 200). Therefore the only way we really know the true moral worth or worthlessness of anything is to expose it to the light of God's word. Which means that the Bible is the final standard for determining "good" and "evil" (Hebrews 5:14). Thus, human wisdom, education, opinion, counseling, psychology, and science must all bow to the Bible when it comes to determining if an activity or attitude is good or evil. All sciences are simply trying to play catch up with God.

“For everything that is made manifest is light”: 'It is possible (after all, it happened with you!) for light to turn the thing it shines upon into light also.' (Phi). “ Exposure sounds negative, showing people up for what they are, judgmental, condemning. And it is that. But the light which exposes has positive evangelistic power also. For it may bring people, as they see the ugliness of evil, to conviction of their sin” (Stott pp. 200-201). Thus to bring people to the light, first of all they must be convicted of their own sins and see their need for coming to Christ. For. man to be saved, he first must be convinced that he is lost. Exposure of sin is designed to bring. person to salvation. Paul also may be saying that sin cannot be exposed any further than when the light of God's word is focused upon it.