July 7, 2002 - Imitating the Son - Walking in the Light

Glen's email of the week:

Sermon notes

1. Don't stumble in the dark, walk in the light! v. 7-10

7 Therefore do not be partakers with them;

partakers = The word "partners" (symmetochoi) is the same one Paul used in 3:6 to describe the way in which the Gentiles now share in the messianic promise.

2 Cor 6:14 Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness?

TRANS - In discipline, give the "why" behind the "what".

1. Reason #1 - The nature of our new identity

8 for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light

"In Scripture, the figurative use of light has two aspects, the intellectual and the moral. Intellectually it represents truth, whereas morally it represents holiness. To live in light therefore means to live in truth and holiness. The figure of darkness has the same two aspects. Intellectually it represents ignorance and falsehood, whereas morally it connotes evil." MacArthur p. 206

1. You were darkness
• Not only did they live in darkness: they were darkness
• "WERE" indicates past tense- a condition that no longer exists...
• Read 2:1-3
• not simply victims of Satan's system. But contributors TO it! Not just IN the Dark, but DARKNESS
2. Now you are light
• The issue of identity - Who are you really?
• Col 1:12-13 "...giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 For He delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son,
• 1 Peter 2:9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light
3. walk as Children of light

Three reasons sin is inconsistent with the life of the believer

• Sin is inconsistent with God's plan for you.
• Sin is inconsistent with the New Birth and the work of the Holy Spirit in you.
• Sin is inconsistent with the cross

1 John 1:5-7 And this is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; 7 but if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

• Crawdads in a pot of boiling water...¦ Our culture has become increasingly "dark" around us and we don't see it.  We don't' have right and wrong any more, 
• Don't stumble around in the dark - you are children of light. 
2. Reason #2 - The progressive nature of growth

9 (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), 10 trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.

Fruit grows in the light, it doesn't grow in the dark. Later contrast to the unfruitful deeds of darkness"

Eph 4:24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

The verb has to do with the testing of metals and so can mean to discover by examination, verify, or approve.

Response - Shine on! ACTION/RESPONSE - Acknowledge that you truly are forgiven. What was in the dark has been fully paid for by Christ's love.

So we are to live out our lives in goodness, and righteousness, and truth...¦ where do you do that? Create some kind of alternate reality? Move to the mountains and leave it all behind?  Build a gate and moat around your house?

2. Don't be smothered by the dark, shine through it! V. 11-14

11 Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them;

Notice that it is the "deeds" (ergoi) that have to be shunned, not the doers.

John 3:19-20 "And this is the judgment, that the light is come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their deeds were evil. 20"For everyone who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.

John 1:5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

EX: person lost inside a mine who grows accustomed to darkness - comes out into the light and it is too painful...¦ goes back inside. MacArthur p. 208

How did Jesus expose the deeds of darkenss?

• With forgiveness - John 8:11 (woman caught in adultery) neither do I condemn you, go and sin no more 
• With sensitivity - John 4 - Go call your husband!
• With Scripture - Matt 21:13 - And He said to them, "It is written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer'; but you are making it a robbers' den"
• His most scathing rebukes were for the religious hypocrites of the day.

*** Dealing with the darkness of our own hearts.
*** Exposing darkness in ourselves first.
*** Part of letting your light shine

1. Reason #1 - The Shameful nature of sin

12 for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret.

Our culture loves to flaunt it's evil nature.

"Na hia ako" Filipino curse = "You have no shame"

EX: Movie that came out several years ago...¦ Christians rallied against it, spoke out, boycotted it...¦ all ending up giving it far more press than it ever would have had they ignored it.

So how do you expose something without even speaking about it? 

2. Reason #2 - The Penetrating nature of light

13 But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light.

Light is known by its effects. We already know what the fruit of light is - goodness, righteousness, and truth...¦ When these things are shining, they are going to make the darkness visible.

Luke 8:16-17 "Now no one after lighting a lamp covers it over with a container, or puts it under a bed; but he puts it on a lampstand, in order that those who come in may see the light. 17 For nothing is hidden that shall not become evident, nor anything secret that shall not be known and come to light."

Matt 5:14-16 "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 "Nor do men light a lamp, and put it under the peck-measure, but on the lampstand; and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16"Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven."

"It is better to light one candle than to rage against the darkness." Confucius

Lucado Story - God came near p. 113

Bring what is in the dark out into the light...¦ In your own life...¦. When it is in the dark it has power over you. When it comes into the light it becomes light...¦

Response - Wake up!

14 For this reason it says,
"Awake, sleeper,
And arise from the dead,
And Christ will shine on you."

Rom 13:11-14 And this do, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed. 12 The night is almost gone, and the day is at hand. Let us therefore lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts.

"All that it takes for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing." Edmund Burke

Dietrich Bonhoffer was born Breslau, Germany, on 4th February, 1906. He studied theology in Tubingen and in New York. Bonhoffer returned to Germany and began lecturing on theology in Berlin and wrote several books. As he was a strong opponent of fascism he decided to leave Germany when Adolf Hitler gained power in 1933 and found work as a pastor in London.

When he heard that Martin Niemöller and Karl Barth had formed the anti-Nazi Confessional Church Bonhoffer decided to return and join the struggle.

On the outbreak of the Second World War the Gestapo closed down Bonhoffer's seminary and banned him from preaching. Over the next few years he worked closely with other opponents of Adolf Hitler.

In April 1943 Bonhoffer was arrested with his brother, Klaus Bonhoffer, and brother-in-law, accused of plotting against Adolf Hitler. He was held in Buchenwald Concentration Camp until being executed in April, 1945.

Response (How deep and How wide is God's love)

1. Acknowledge that you truly are forgiven. What was in the dark has been fully paid for by Christ's love.
2. Bring what is in the dark out into the light...¦ In your own life...¦. When it is in the dark it has power over you. When it comes into the light it becomes light

Final exhortation - go out in victory