John 8:12 & 12 Matthew 5:14-16
1. The general state of the world:
John 3:19-21 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God."
a.1) Evil deeds:
2 Timothy 3:1-5 - 1 "But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be
lovers of themselves, lovers of money (greek - philarguros (arguros = silver), boastful (an empty pretender), proud (showing one's self above others), abusive (greek - blasphemos= speaking evil, slanderous, reproachful, railing, abusive), disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love (greek - astorgos = without natural affection, unsociable, inhuman), unforgiving, slanderous (greek -diabolos = prone to slander, slanderous, accusing falsely), without self-control, brutal (greek - anemeros = not tame, savage, fierce), not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous (greek - prodotes = a betrayer, traitor), rash, conceited ( greek - uphoo = to make proud, puff up with pride, render insolent; to be puffed up with haughtiness or pride), lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power.
Have nothing to do with them."
People live in darkness because:
1. They are sinners
2. They love to hide their sins
3. They love the philosophical relativism in this world.
As the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy[1] says: “Relativism is not a single doctrine but a family of views whose common theme is that some central aspect of experience, thought, evaluation, or even reality is somehow relative to something else. For example standards of justification, moral principles or truth are sometimes said to be relative to language, culture, or biological makeup.”
But the truth, in the Bible it is not a doctrine, but a person: John 14:6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
The real problem today is that many are not accepting anymore the Bible as the Absolute Word of God. They understand, like the philosophical Relativism preaches, that the truth depends on the culture or time.
a.2) But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God." John 3:21
John 1:17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
A lot of people are seeking the TRUTH but they are not willing to hear from Jesus and to find the truth through Jesus, like Pilate for instance:
John 18:37-38 37 "You are a king, then!" said Pilate. Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me." 38 "What is truth?" Pilate asked. With this he went out again to the Jews and said, "I find no basis for a charge against him.
Interesting. He didn’t hear from Jesus the answer. What is the truth is the most normal question in this world.
2. Jesus is the Light of the World
Jesus is the light that brings truth to our heart
Jesus is the light that illuminates our path to an abundant life
Jesus is the light that shines over darkness.
John 8:12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
1 John 1:5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.
3. We are called to be light of the world
Matthew 5:14-16 4 "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
a) Light appears in darkness
Disciples are called to shine in this world. There are no hidden disciples. Someone said: "'There can be no such a thing as secret discipleship - for either the secrecy destroys the discipleship, or the discipleship destroys the secrecy'."
We cannot be like Joseph of Arimathea: John 19:38 8 Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jews.
b) Light reveals sins
Our life and our testimony proclaim the truth from the Word of God. People around us will feel uncomfortable because the holiness reveals sin.
Ephesians 5:6-11 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient. 7 Therefore do not be partners with them. 8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.
c) Light presents good deeds: the right way to live
Without light we think that some path is correct, but it is not. It seems like it is right, but it is not right. There are no more grays in life when the light comes. There are no more evil deeds in us when JESUS is in our lives. People will see our light:
1 Timothy 5:24 - 6:1 24 The sins of some men are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them. 25 In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not cannot be hidden.
Matthew 5:16 16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
Our answer today:
1. Do you accept the Bible as the Word of God? If so, you must obey it. We must obey it.
2. Are the people around you aware of your commitment to Jesus? Are you a public disciple?
3. Are you willing to do good deeds to praise the Lord, not to please you?
[1] http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/relativism/
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment