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Sermons PREACHED BY JOHN GAINES |
What Happens When You Turn Out the Light?
Introduction
1. 1 John 1:5 (NKJV) This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.
2. The answer to the question asked in the title of this lesson is that without light, we are in darkness. Darkness was the original condition of the earth before God created light [Genesis 1:2-3 (NKJV) The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. 3 Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light.]
a. Darkness is unpleasant. It can be scary. Most people prefer light over darkness. Criminals and evil people, however, like to work under the cover of darkness. [1 Thessalonians 5:7 (NKJV) For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night.]
b. The word "darkness" is used in the Bible in a moral sense.
(1) Matthew 4:16 (NKJV) The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned."
(2) John 3:19 (NKJV) "And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
3. In contrast to the spiritual darkness of the world, God is light! There is no darkness at all in Him. We are presented a clear choice between light and darkness. We will either choose to walk as children of light [Ephesians 5:8] or we will walk in darkness [1 John 1:6 (NKJV) If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.]
I. THE RESULTS OF DARKNESS
A. The Greek word used for darkness in 1 John 1:5 is skotia, the feminine form of the noun. This is the word commonly used in John's writings while other Bible writers normally used the masculine form skotos. Some Greek authorities suggest that skotia carries the added significance of emphasizing the consequences which come from walking in darkness. (Spiros Zodhiates, "Saved Out of Darkness, We Still Face Its Consequences," Pulpit Helps, October 2001)
B. We can observe many consequences which result from the spiritual darkness of the sinful world.
1. Acts of Evil
a. Terrorism is the prime example on our minds today of evil being demonstrated by the awful acts of sinful men.
(1) Terrorism may be motivated by political considerations -- as in the Oklahoma City bombing several years ago.
(2) Terrorism may be motivated by misguided and terribly corrupted religious zeal. Killing thousands of innocent people in the name of "God" shows how far away from God "religious" people can get.
b. More mundane criminal acts also illustrate the sinful consequences of spiritual darkness.
(1) Many crimes are motivated by greed . . . the desire to make money illegally. Whether we are talking about "white collar thieves" stealing from business or drug lords trafficking in human misery for the big bucks, the common thread is people willing to do whatever is necessary to make money. [1 Timothy 6:10 (NKJV) For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.]
(2) Other crimes are motivated by a desire for revenge. "Don't get mad, get even." Most murderers are people known to their victims. The result of living in darkness is that people have few moral inhibitions. They will do anything they think they might be able to get away with.
2. Violence -- Some have described in level of violence in our world as an "epidemic." The effects of moral depravity show themselves in a variety of ways.
a. Muggers -- Manchester, Tennessee is a nice little Middle Tennessee town. Not much happens there. But it made the news recently because a Greyhound bus driver had his throat cut by a passenger. Something like that makes the news, but there are thousands of "random acts of violence" across the country and around the world every day. None of us can feel totally safe in our streets or even in our homes. Putting up bright lights on the streets and in parking lots chases away the physical darkness and gives some sense of security. But as long as spiritual darkness reigns, we can never be wholly safe from the consequences of that sinfulness.
b. Marauders -- Organized "gangs" practice terrorism on a small scale. In the first century, Paul wrote of being "in peril of robbers" [2 Corinthians 11:26]. The Old West had its share of outlaw gangs. Inner city neighborhoods have their gangs . . . and those dangers are spreading to the "safe" suburbs. No place is truly safe.
c. Maniacs --
(1) In Birmingham, Alabama a few years ago, one driver became so enraged at another driver that she ran her off the road, took a gun out of her purse, and shot the other driver to death.
(2) It's hardly newsworthy any more when someone "loses it" and commits a violent act. Such violence has taken place in post offices so often that the term "going postal" has been coined to describe one losing control and turning violent.
(3) Sadly this tragic lack of self-control causes much violence within families. Family abuse (husband upon wife, parent upon child, wife upon husband, grown children upon elderly parents) is a growing problem in all areas of the country. The Department of Health and Human Services estimates that there are four million cases of domestic violence against women committed every year. The same agency says that about 826,000 children are abused by their parents each year. [http://www.acf.dhhs.gov/programs/opa/facts/domsvio.htm]
3. "Everyday" sins
a. We've been talking about the "headline" acts . . . deeds so terrible that they make the news even in a society largely inured to the reality of sin.
b. However, living in darkness manifests itself in many other behaviors which don't get much attention.
(1) Vulgarity and profanity -- pervasive in the world around us. The third of the ten commandments was "You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain [Exodus 20:7 (NKJV)]. Paul wrote to Christians in Ephesians 4:29 (NKJV) Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.]
(2) Dishonesty -- [Romans 12:17 (KJV) Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.] The NIV says, "Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody." Honesty is doing what is right in our relationships with other people. We will act with integrity in all our financial dealings. We will be truthful -- people bound by our words no matter what it costs us.
c. So far I might have excluded you from anything I've talked about. You're not a gang member. You might not be a tax cheat or a liar. But you're a sinner. So am I. All of us fit into that category. All have sinned and come short of the glory of God [Romans 3:23]. There is none righteous, no, not one [Romans 3:10]. The Scripture has concluded all under sin [Galatians 3:22]. Without Jesus Christ, there is no light in the world. We would all be living in darkness. But when we are in the Lord, we can walk as children of light [Ephesians 5:8]. We need to talk about our response to the light.
II. REACTIONS TO LIGHT
A. Choose light or darkness.
1. Christ suffered, died, and was resurrected to show light to the people [Acts 26:23 (KJV) That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should show light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.]
2. Jesus abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel [2 Timothy 1:10].
3. However, people must choose whether they will walk in the light or abide in the darkness [John 3:19-21 (NKJV) "And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 "For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 "But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God."]
B. Walking in the light [1 John 1:7 (KJV) But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.] Walking in the light means living according to the teaching of the gospel of Christ.
C. Proclaiming the message of light. John received the message and he kept on declaring it. God is light. His people must be children of light. We must heed his call to come out of darkness and into his marvelous light [1 Peter 2:9].
CONCLUSION
1. Look into your life. Are you living in light or darkness?
2. Do you need to come into the light today?
Copyright ©2001 by John Gaines. May be reproduced for non-commercial purposes provided this notice accompanies any use.
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LEONARD STREET CHURCH OF CHRIST |
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