26-0111a Transcript

(2:15) It’s good to see (2:17) everyone this morning. Appreciate very much that you’re coming. I know the (2:21) weather has not been conducive to good travel and some people have, because of (2:27) the weather, have not been able to get out.

And I can appreciate that very much. (2:33) And so I know that the Lord’s Word will be presented regardless and hopefully (2:42) as we go on. The lesson is you are the light.

We are the light. And the passage (2:51) that was just read in your hearing is where I got that particular title. I’d like (2:57) for us to turn to John’s Gospel.

Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. John’s Gospel, the first (3:04) chapter. I really want to use this particular point about Jesus being the (3:13) light and how he was brought into the world to be a light not only for those (3:20) who lived at the same time that he did, but also to become a light to us in the (3:27) way.

So as we reflect upon that, let’s read from the Gospel. I’m going to be (3:32) reading from the New International Version and starting with verse 1. And (3:40) notice what it says here about Jesus' purpose for coming into the world. (3:47) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

(3:54) He was with God in the beginning, and through him all things were made. Without (4:00) him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the (4:08) light of all mankind.

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not (4:18) overcome it. There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a (4:25) witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe.

He (4:33) himself was not the light. We’re talking about John, John not being the light. He (4:39) came only as a witness to the light.

The true light that gives light to everyone (4:47) was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made (4:53) through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own.

(5:01) His own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who (5:07) believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. Children born (5:14) not of natural descent, nor of human decision, nor a husband’s will, but (5:22) born of God.

The word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen (5:32) his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of (5:38) grace and truth. John testified concerning him, and he cried out, saying, (5:45) This is the one I spoke about, when I said, He who comes after me has surpassed (5:52) me, because he was before me.

Out of his fullness we have all received grace, in (6:00) place of grace already given. For the law was given through Moses, grace and truth (6:07) came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, (6:13) who is himself God, and is in closest relationship with the Father, and has (6:21) made him known.

As we reflect upon that particular passage, what was the purpose (6:29) of Jesus' coming into the world? The purpose of his coming into the world was (6:37) basically to make us aware of the fact that we were not worshiping God in the (6:44) manner in which we were living, in the way in which we were living. He came into (6:50) the world to make us aware of the fact that God is the Father and Creator of (6:56) the world, and in whom we are to glorify by our behavior, by our conduct, and he (7:05) is to receive our grace and our praise and glory. It is made aware of the fact (7:16) that the man and the Jews, at the time that Jesus came into the world, were very (7:25) loyal as far as being religious is concerned.

They were very religious in the (7:30) fact that they would offer their sacrifices and observe the Passovers and (7:36) the various other rituals that they were supposed to receive, but there was one (7:42) thing lacking. And God says in the Psalmist that he recognized the fact (7:50) that they were offering his sacrifices to him, and many of the sacrifices, and he (7:57) praises them, and says, yes, I acknowledge the fact that you are praising me, but (8:04) what I want is your thankfulness. Thankfulness for my (8:19) supporting you and meeting your needs in every way.

I was looking for a word (8:24) which I thought I would be able to come up with, but I didn’t. So Jesus came in (8:30) with one purpose in mind, and that was to make a man aware of the fact that (8:36) they were not behaving and conducting themselves in the manner in which God (8:43) would want them to live. And so in that respect, he was going to be the light to (8:51) make that aware.

God sent him, Jesus, into the world to make man aware of the fact (9:00) that they were not conducting themselves in the way in which God wanted them to (9:06) conduct themselves. The Ephesian letter that was just read in your presence, (9:12) let’s turn to that one more time and take a look at that. Ephesians, the fifth (9:17) chapter, verses 6 through 14.

Well, let’s pick up at verse 3, because that’s (9:24) the beginning of my paragraph anyway. But among you there must not be even a hint (9:30) of sexual immorality or any kind of impurity or of greed, because these are (9:37) improper for God’s holy people. And so Paul’s writing there in the Ephesian (9:44) letter, making them aware of the fact that there is a behavior that is (9:48) acceptable to God and is unacceptable to God.

And the behavior that is (9:55) unacceptable to God is sexual immorality or any kind of impurity or of greed, (10:01) because these are improper to God’s holy people. Nor should there, and he (10:07) goes on and talks about what is unacceptable behavior before God, nor (10:12) should there be obscenity, foolish talk, or coarse joking, which are out of place, (10:19) but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure no immoral, impure, or greedy (10:27) person, such a person, is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ (10:36) and of God.

Let no one deceive you with empty words, or because of such things (10:43) God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be (10:49) partakers or partners with them. For you were once, and he’s talking now to them, (10:56) to the Christian, and he’s talking to you and me, he says, we once were of the (11:01) darkness.

In other words, we behaved just exactly like the world does, like the (11:07) Gentiles do. There was a time when we behaved like that, but we were made a (11:13) ware of the fact that we were out of step with God, and we needed to be (11:18) reconciled to him, and that God was not happy with us. Therefore you were once (11:24) darkness, but now you are light in the world.

And how is it that we are light in (11:30) the world at this point? It’s because we have become aware of the behavior that (11:35) God really wants us to conduct ourselves. We’ve become aware of what is (11:43) unacceptable to God, and so we are trying to bring our lives around to that which (11:51) God would have us. And so in so doing, what happens then? We are becoming the (11:58) light of God to the people as to what behavior is acceptable to God.

And so as (12:04) we walk among our neighbors, among our classmates, among the people of the (12:10) world, those who are out of step with God are made aware of the fact that we are (12:17) not walking after the same ways in which they are, and we are in such a way, we are (12:24) condemning them. So he says, you once were darkness, but now you are light in the (12:30) world. Live as children of light, for the fruit of light consists in all goodness, (12:37) righteousness, and truth.

And notice what he says happens when you and I start (12:43) walking in the light. As we turn our conduct to that which is God, and what (12:51) God wants us to have, the product of that, that walk of life, brings about goodness. (13:02) Righteousness and truth.

Those are things that are missing in the world. (13:08) Those are the things that the world wishes that the other person was doing, (13:14) and so they see us walking in the light, conducting ourselves in a Christlike (13:20) manner, doing the things that God, and putting off the things of the world, and (13:25) putting on the things that God would have us to do, we are bringing about this (13:31) kind of fruit, and this is the produce that we are going to be bringing, and (13:37) that is goodness, righteousness, and truth. And to find out what pleases the Lord.

(13:45) Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of the darkness, but rather expose (13:51) them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret, but (13:57) everything exposed by the light becomes visible, and everything that is (14:03) illuminated becomes a light. That is why it says, wake up sleeper, rise from the (14:10) dead, and Christ will shine upon you.

So we’re being asked to do what Jesus came (14:20) into the world to do. So let’s take a look at, once again, the Gospel of John, (14:28) and what Jesus has brought into the world. Notice now what he’s talking about (14:38) when Jesus comes.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and (14:42) the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were (14:47) made, and without Him nothing was made that has been made.

In Him was life, and (14:53) that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, but the (15:01) darkness has not overcome Him. In other words, when Jesus came into the world, He (15:07) came in demonstrating a life that God embraces and endorses.

He came into the (15:13) world to expose to the world that they are not walking in step with God, and (15:21) that they are out of step with God. And He reflects upon that as being in the (15:26) darkness. They are men of evil deeds.

They are walking in the darkness. Those of us (15:35) who want to be what God wants us to be, we’re the light, and we are going to be (15:42) exposing them. And so what He’s trying to point out to us is that what Jesus came (15:49) to accomplish, darkness was not able to defeat it.

It was not able to overcome it. (15:58) It was not able to defeat Him. And so He goes on to talk about John the Baptist, (16:06) and there was a man sent from God whose name was John.

He came as a witness to (16:11) testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. Now John is (16:19) saying he himself was not the light. He came only as a witness to the light.

Now (16:25) notice what. The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the (16:31) world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, the world did (16:37) not recognize Him.

He came to that which was His own, but His own did not receive (16:45) Him. Yet all who did receive Him, to those who believe in His name, He gave the (16:54) right to become children of God. Children born not of natural descent, nor of human (17:00) decision, or of husband’s will, but born of God.

So Jesus is walking in this light, (17:10) and exposing them, and notice what the Ephesian letter points out to us about (17:16) what the light does. And so He’s pointing out here to us that light exposes. Let’s (17:25) pick up with verse 8. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the (17:30) world.

Live as children of light, for the fruit of the light consists of all (17:35) goodness, righteousness, and truth. And of course that’s exactly what happened (17:39) when Jesus was walking in the face of this earth. He was demonstrating it, and (17:45) from His life came goodness, righteousness, and truth.

And to find out (17:52) what pleases the Lord, have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of the darkness, (17:57) but rather expose them. And so what was Jesus doing when He came into the world? (18:03) His life was exposing the fact that those who were religious, and those who (18:10) were practicing and being religious, their life, even though they were being (18:17) religious and doing that which was expected by them from the law and the (18:23) worship, tabernacle worship, their heart was not with it. And the things that they (18:29) were doing were for their own good.

And so Jesus is coming along and exposing (18:34) those. And of course we know that when we look in the Gospels themselves, how that (18:40) they reacted to Him. The Pharisees and the Sadducees and the various other ones, (18:48) the priests, when they realized what Jesus was doing, they realized that Jesus' (18:53) life was far better and more righteous than their own.

And yet they were doing (19:02) things that they were supposed to be doing, but their life was not where it was (19:07) supposed to be. And so Jesus is exposing them. You and I, in our life, will expose (19:15) people, and our life then is to shine in such a way that it is going to be (19:24) making people aware that their lives are out of step, and that their lives are (19:29) not what they ought to be.

And Jesus then gave them the opportunity to become (19:37) children of God. And He gives us the opportunity to become children of God, (19:42) and He gives those who become aware of the fact that they are out of step with (19:47) God, that they can make amends, and they can become children of God themselves. So (19:56) it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret, but everything (20:03) exposed by the light becomes visible, and everything that is illuminated becomes (20:11) a light.

And that is why it is said, wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ (20:18) will shine upon you. Romans, the first chapter, points out how that God expects (20:27) us to be able to reflect on Him and to glorify Him. Let’s turn to Romans, the (20:38) chapter starting with verse 18.

The wrath of God is being revealed from (20:45) heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people who suppress the (20:54) truth by their wickedness. So He’s reflecting upon mankind in general. He’s (21:03) talking about the people of the world, those who are around about us even today.

(21:10) We step out of our church building here into the world. God’s wrath is being (21:16) revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people who (21:20) suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is (21:27) plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of (21:33) the world, God’s invisible qualities, His eternal power and divine nature, have (21:40) been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are (21:48) without excuse.

And I like verse 21, and this is where I was wanting to go. For (21:54) although they knew God, they neither glorified Him as God, nor gave thanks to (22:02) Him, but their thinking became futile, and their foolish hearts were darkened. (22:08) Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of (22:15) the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being, and birds, and (22:22) animals, and reptiles.

What did Jesus come into the world to do? He came into the (22:29) world to make us aware of God. He came into the world to help us to (22:35) appreciate who God is, and He came into the world to help us to appreciate our (22:41) relationship with God. It is through Jesus that the world became first to (22:48) become aware of the fact that God wanted to be their Father, and that God was their (22:56) Father.

He is the first one to acknowledge to them that and accept Jesus (23:03) or God as being our Father. Up until then, they only knew Him as God, and they only (23:09) knew Him as in the way that He exposed Himself to them. And they’re looking now (23:19) at God.

So, we are to be light of the world. We are the light of the world. And (23:29) being Christians, then, we are expected to be light of the world.

Let’s take a look (23:35) at Matthew, the 5th chapter, verse 14 through 16. Let’s pick up with the 13th (23:43) verse because you’re familiar with that. You are the salt of the earth, and if the (23:49) salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good (23:55) for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under the foot.

Then He tells us, (24:02) we are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden, and (24:09) neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on (24:16) its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.

In the same way, let your (24:23) light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your (24:30) Father in heaven. So, He’s pointing out to us what your and my responsibilities are (24:37) to recognize the fact that our lives, exposed to our fellow mankind, our (24:44) friends, our relatives, no matter who we come in contact, who are not Christians, (24:50) who are not God-fearing people, our lives expose them. And they become very much (24:57) aware of the fact that they are not like us, and that they are not walking and (25:04) recognizing God as their Father.

What happens when this becomes evident to (25:11) them? They become mean, rebellious. And that’s exactly what happened to Jesus, (25:19) wasn’t it? What put Jesus on the cross? It was sin. It was the sin that Jesus was (25:27) exposing them of.

The scribes, the Pharisees, the priests, and those who (25:34) thought they were being religious in every way. Jesus was exposing them for (25:41) what they were. And so what happens when sin is exposed? Sin has to fight.

Sin has (25:50) to defend itself. Sin has to justify itself. And the only way that they can (25:56) defend themselves and justify themselves is to eliminate that which is exposing (26:03) them and condemning them.

It’s the only way, unless they are of the right mind (26:12) and of the right temperament to want to repent. And if they are of the right mind (26:19) and want to repent, then they are willing to hear the message of reconciliation, (26:28) aren’t they? Because they want to be right in the sight of God. They want to be (26:34) righteous again.

They want to receive the blessings of God. And not only do they (26:41) want to do that, but they want to glorify God, and they want to acknowledge the (26:46) fact that God has always been in their lives, and continues to be in life, and (26:51) will meet their needs, regardless. God, again, I’m searching for that word I couldn’t (26:57) find the first time, sustains us.

There we go. God sustains the world. It doesn’t (27:08) matter whether you’re walking in the light or not.

It doesn’t matter whether (27:13) you are in the darkness or in the light. God is sustaining you. And Paul points out (27:20) in the Romans, the letter, he says, do you not recognize the fact that God is doing (27:25) this to help give you time to repent and to come to acknowledge the fact that you (27:32) are not meeting your own needs? You’re not able to meet your own needs.

That God (27:38) is meeting your needs. He knows what you need before you even ask of it. And (27:43) that’s coming from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount in Romans, the sixth chapter.

Do (27:48) not worry about what you’re going to wear, what you’re going to eat, where you’re (27:52) going to sleep. God knows what you need before you even ask of it. He sustains (27:59) the world.

He’s sustaining the world even now, regardless of what’s going on in (28:05) the world, whether it’s in Venezuela, whether it’s in Russia, whether it’s in (28:10) Africa, whether it’s in Minnesota. It doesn’t matter. God is sustaining the (28:18) world, period.

And every one of those people, no matter where they are, what (28:23) they’re doing, they’re going to be going home to a house that keeps them out of (28:29) the elements. They’re going to be warm. They’re going to be wearing clothes.

(28:34) They’re going to be eating. Where did that come from? It came from God. God sustains (28:43) the world.

It doesn’t just happen. And these things are of God, and he wants us (28:52) to recognize the fact that that is the truth. And so as we come to a conclusion (29:01) in this particular case, we know that 1 John, the first chapter, points out to us (29:09) about walking in the light.

Those of us who are Christians are to walk in the (29:16) light. Those of us who are Christians are to live a life that exposes them. I’m (29:24) reminded, and I like to use this illustration quite often, that in a (29:30) classroom, and of course I was in classroom, many of them over the years, (29:36) a teacher would come in, and one of my teachers had this particular attitude (29:42) and approach to the education.

She’d come in and write on a chalkboard what (29:48) the assignment is for tomorrow. It doesn’t matter what the assignment is going to be for (29:56) tomorrow. So then she comes in, after writing that on the chalkboard, on the (30:03) blackboard, she sits down and has a class.

The next day she comes in, and as she (30:11) gets prepared, she says, okay everybody, turn in your homework. What do you suppose the (30:18) reaction of the class was? Homework? Who said there was any homework? I didn’t say (30:24) there was any homework. Almost every student in the class (30:32) reacted that way, except for one student.

That student came up with the homework, (30:39) placed it on the desk, and what do you suppose happened? She condemned the (30:50) whole class, didn’t she? Because she knew what the homework was, and she knew (30:57) exactly what she was supposed to hand in because the teacher had written it on (31:02) the blackboard the day before. She took it serious, and so she sat there and asked, (31:12) turn in your homework. God is doing the same thing for all mankind.

There is not (31:19) a person who does not have access to what God wants them to do in order to be (31:26) able to be reconciled to him and to anticipate being with them eternally in (31:31) heaven. There’s not a one person, and if there is, don’t you think God knows it (31:38) and can give an excuse. But there isn’t.

What are we expected to do? Believe that (31:51) Jesus is the Christ, and that God sent him to be that example for us. That God (32:00) sent Jesus to offer himself as a sacrifice for our sins, and then to (32:09) present his blood before God as that sacrifice for the forgiveness of our (32:16) sins. Jesus sent his disciples out into the world and giving them the great (32:24) commission, didn’t he? Going to all the world, making disciples of me, baptizing them in (32:34) the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

He that believeth and is (32:41) baptized shall be saved. That’s the message. That’s the gospel that God is (32:51) sending out to the world.

I want you to be with me eternally in heaven, and I’m (32:59) providing you with the way of being reconciled to me. Please believe it. Have (33:07) faith in that, and accept it, and react to it.

Is there anyone here this morning that (33:14) needs to react to that? We’d like to extend to you the opportunity to do so. (33:19) How together we stand and sing the song of encouragement.