<p>5:8 <i>For you were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord. Walk as children of light</i>- This is another example of appealing for us to live in practice who we are by status. This is why Romans progresses from talking about imputed righteousness and our status in Christ, to the language of the Spirit actually transforming us in practice into who we are by status. Although the readership were not walking as children of light, yet Paul says that there were &quot;now light in the Lord&quot;, and no longer in darkness. He surely refers to their status rather than actuality, and appeals for them to live according to the status they have been granted by grace. Likewise he says that every believer at Thessalonica was one of &quot;the children of light&quot; (1 Thess. 5:5) when clearly there would have been some finally who were not. But they were counted that way by status.</p><p>At times it seems Paul&nbsp; 'unconsciously' uses a phrase from the parables, out of context, but as an indication that they were running through his mind (e.g. &quot;children of light&quot; in Eph. 5:8; 1 Thess. 5:5 is quarried from Lk. 16:8).<b>&nbsp;</b></p>