John 3:19-21 NIV This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people 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 their deeds will be exposed. 21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.
Light is understood in Scripture as
B1 Pure
C1 Purity is defined as something being 100% with 0% impurities.
C2 God’s words are pure: Psalm 12:6 WEB The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.
C3 God’s wisdom: James 3:17 NLT But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere.
B2 Truth: Psalm 43:3 NASB O send out Your light and Your truth, let them lead me; Let them bring me to Your holy hill And to Your dwelling places.
B3 Holiness
C1 Here we see the contrast between darkness and light. It is the Lord who brings into the light. We see His righteousness and our unrighteousness. Micah 7:8-9 NLT Do not gloat over me, my enemies! For though I fall, I will rise again. Though I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light. 9 I will be patient as the LORD punishes me, for I have sinned against him. But after that, he will take up my case and give me justice for all I have suffered from my enemies. The LORD will bring me into the light, and I will see his righteousness.
B4 Clarity
C1 Uncovers what is hidden
C2 Opening the heart and mind to truth
C3 Psalm 119:130 NIV The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.
C4 Psalm 18:28 NLT You light a lamp for me. The LORD, my God, lights up my darkness.
B5 God’s glory and character
C1 1 John 1:5 NIV This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.
C2 Ezekiel 43:2 BSB and I saw the glory of the God of Israel coming from the east. His voice was like the roar of many waters, and the earth shone with His glory.
B6 God’s kingdom (Kingdom of Light)
C1 Colossians 1:13 NLT For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son,
C2 Acts 26:18 BSB to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those sanctified by faith in Me.’
B7 Guidance: Proverbs 6:23 ASV For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; And reproofs of instruction are the way of life:
C1 God’s commandments instruct us in what is right/lawful and wrong/unlawful.
C2 Principles are taught helping us make wise decisions.
C3 Instructions given as reproofs are positive criticisms instead of shaming.
B8 Victory:
C1 Psalm 27:1 BSB The LORD is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life—whom shall I dread?
D1 War is not very successful if all the soldiers are blind.
D2 The spiritual life is a battle.
C3 Micah 7:8 BSB Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will arise; though I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light.
B9 Bringing light into the unsaved soul, freeing the will and understanding.
C1 John 1:9 NASB There was the true Light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man.
C2 Acts 16:14 BSB Among those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message.
C3 Psalms 107:13-14 BSB Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble; He saved them from their distress. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death and broke away their chains.
B10 Blessing
C1 John 1:5 NRSV The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.
Darkness is understood in Scripture as
B1 Impurity: Ephesians 5:11 NET Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.
B2 Lies
C1 Some people have a different persona in public than they do in private. This life, this person, is a lie in darkness: Mark 4:22 NLT For everything that is hidden will eventually be brought into the open, and every secret will be brought to light.
B3 Sin
C1 Rebellion and Despising God’s counsel: Psalms 107:10-11 BSB Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, prisoners in misery and chains, because they rebelled against the words of God and despised the counsel of the Most High.
C2 John 3:19 NRSV And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil.
C3 Proverbs 4:19 NLT But the way of the wicked is like total darkness. They have no idea what they are stumbling over.
B4 Obscurity
C1 Blinds to the truth of the Gospel: 2 Corinthians 4:4 BSB The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers so they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
C2 Living by the lifestyle and worldview of darkness: 1 John 2:11 NRSV But whoever hates another believer is in the darkness, walks in the darkness, and does not know the way to go, because the darkness has brought on blindness.
B5 Devil’s shame and character: If God is light and no darkness in Him, then it is reasonable to accept that the devil is darkness and there is no light in him.
B6 Devil’s kingdom (Kingdom of Darkness)
C1 Colossians 1:13 NLT For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son,
C2 Ephesians 6:12 WEB For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the principalities, against the powers, against the world’s rulers of the darkness of this age, and against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.
B7 Confusion: Isaiah 5:20 NIV Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter.
B8 Defeat: Psalms 143:3-4 BSB For the enemy has pursued my soul, crushing my life to the ground, making me dwell in darkness like those long since dead. My spirit grows faint within me; my heart is dismayed inside me.
B9 Brings darkness into the soul
C1 Matthew 6:23 NRSV but if your eye is unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!
C2 Ephesians 4:18 NRSV They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of their ignorance and hardness of heart.
B10 Judgment
C1 Amos 5:20 NRSV Is not the day of the LORD darkness, not light, and gloom with no brightness in it?
C2 Matthew 8:12 BSB But the sons of the kingdom will be cast into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
C3 Acts 13:11 NRSV And now listen—the hand of the Lord is against you, and you will be blind for a while, unable to see the sun." Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he went about groping for someone to lead him by the hand.
Some things we learn:
B1 No mixing of the two is allowed: 2 Corinthians 6:14 NRSV Do not be mismatched with unbelievers. For what partnership is there between righteousness and lawlessness? Or what fellowship is there between light and darkness?
B2 Darkness does not win, overpower, or overcome light: John 1:5 WEL The light keeps on shining in the darkness, and the darkness can’t overcome it
B3 God has no darkness: 1 John 1:5 NLT This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all.
B4 Our worldview and lifestyle is totally different than the kingdom of darkness: 1 Thessalonians 5:5 NLT For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don't belong to darkness and night.
An explanation: God is said to be living in thick darkness: 1 Kings 8:12 CSB Then Solomon said: The LORD said that he would dwell in total darkness.
B2 It means a thick, heavy cloud.
B3 Our example would be our sun is very bright. A thick cloud hides the sun from direct sight. The sun is not in darkness. God is not in darkness, but there is a cloud between our sight and God.
B4 God lives in light: 1 John 1:7 NLT But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.
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