living as children of light

i am currently reading through the book of Ephesians.
Ephesians 4:17-32 and 5:1-21 present a valid issue, something that i was discussing the other day with Nathaniel, focusing specifically on the topic of profanity.
Paul writes that once one has accepted Christ, it is important to "put off your old self" and "put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness" (4:22-24). he then goes on to list a number of things that one should work on changing or avoiding in their new life in Christ in order to 1: display the change that has been made in your life to others, and 2: to live the holy life you have been called to live in gratitude for the grace that has been bestowed upon you. Paul lists these things:
"put off falsehood and speak truthfully" (4:25)
"'In your anger do not sin'" (4:26)
"he who has been stealing must steal no longer" (4:28)
"do not let unwholesome talk come out of your mouths" (4:29)
"get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other" (4:31-32)
"be imitators of God" (5:1)

now these suggestions are not intended to imply that that because you have been saved by grace, you are now expected to attain perfection and complete holiness in your life in order to sustain that grace. Rather, Paul suggests that we should aspire to do these things, to live the holiest and purest life that we can, turning away from our old lives in order to let the change Christ has made in us more evident as well as to be pleasing in the eyes of the Lord in seeking after Him wholeheartedly.
some might suggest that attempting these feats might separate us from the very people we are trying to reach, those who are still lost and who are still willingly living in a sinful nature. this could be true, if in doing these things, we avoid all contact with those who are not leading holy lives in order to ensure our own paths are straight. but that is not what Christ commands. it is called of us to be in the world, but not of the world. it is called of us to find common ground with unbelievers and to share in life with them while still living a life that is pleasing to God.

Paul goes on to write in Ephesians 5:8-10: "for you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists of all goodness, righteousness, and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord."
we are called to willingly turn away from our sinful nature and to act in ways that are pleasing to the Lord because of the gift that He has given us, because of the light that He has brought in to our lives. we are to avoid lives of sin and to avoid behaviors that are displeasing to God out of gratitude for His grace, and out of a desire to serve Him and show yourself to the world as someone who was once in darkness, but has accepted the free gift of light that has been made available to us through Christ.

we strive to be imitators of God because of how grateful we are for His son and because of a desire to please Him. we are made children of light through His grace, and we are called to let that light shine before all men.