Walk as Children of Light
New Life in Christ • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Open: In the very beginning we see God creating light and this stands challenging overcoming the darkness. All through the OT darkness keeps threatening to overtake the world and the light of the Gospel shines brightly that God is still at work and bringing life from death. Then we get to the NT and see that God’s plan is seen as more marvelous that we could ever have imagined for He comes as the Light of the World.
In the Gospel of John we see Jesus speaking speaking during the Feast of Tabernacles where three huge candelabras were lit holding 65 liters of oil each these were as tall as the walls of the temple and would have lit up not just the temple mount but witnesses said that all of Jerusalem was lit up. This represented the pillar of fire by night of God’s Presence with His people in the Wilderness.
It the morning after this lighting ceremony, Jesus comes into the Temple and makes His statement “I am the Light of the World, follow me if you don’t want to walk in darkness”. Jesus was saying He is the presence of God with His people in the wilderness, warming protecting guiding renewing recreating. He is this and so much more! He changes us from being darkness to being light in Him. This is amazing!
When Christ was in the world He was like the shining sun. When the sun sets the moon comes out. The moon is much like us as believers, the church, when we shine Christ. Whether much as in the days of Luther & Calvin or little in some other ages the church shines like the different stages of the moon. We exist to show the Gospel and make much of Christ to a dark world. -Barnehouse
But here is the astonishing thing our text today shows not just reflecting light, Christ makes us light. Our union with Christ causes us to shine! We “participate in the divine nature ” says Peter (2 Pt 1:4). Jesus says that so real is our participation and so sure our hope in Christ we will shine in eternity. “Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father.” (Mt 13:43)
In fact CS Lewis point out that the Heavens reflect the Glory of God. But we share the Glory of the Father in Christ- We will be more glorious than the heavens…Nature is mortal; we shall outlive her. When all the suns and nebulae have passed away, each one of you will still be alive. Nature is only the image, the symbol; but it is the symbol Scripture invites me to use. We are summoned to pass in through Nature, beyond her, into that splendour which she fitfully reflects. – C.S. Lewis
We await a shining future but we are called to shine in this passage the light of Christ as children of light. This is our privilege and responsibility in our dark world. How are we who have been transferred from darkness to light to live?
FCF: The world lives in darkness and hates the light, like cockroaches running from it. How can we bring light to others?
Main Idea: We are going to discuss 3 characteristics of being Children of Light in our Union with Christ!
1. Walk as Children of Light by producing good fruit!
1. Walk as Children of Light by producing good fruit!
2. Walk as Children of Light by pleasing the Lord!
2. Walk as Children of Light by pleasing the Lord!
3. Walk as Children of Light by reflecting Christ!
3. Walk as Children of Light by reflecting Christ!