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A Light-filled

Life in Christ

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So much imagery…
• Discussion question: What comes to
your mind when you hear “light” in
reference to the life of a Christian?
• Discussion question: What comes to
your mind when you hear “darkness”
in reference to the life of a Christian?

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So much imagery…
• God is light
– “…God is light; in Him there is no
darkness at all.” (1 John 1:5)
– “Every good gift and every perfect
gift is from above, coming down
from the Father of lights, with
Whom can be no variation, neither
shadow that is cast by turning.”
(James 1:17)
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So much imagery…
• God is light (1 John 1:5; James 1:17)
• Jesus is light
– “When Jesus spoke again to the
people, He said, ‘I am the light of
the world. Whoever follows Me will
never walk in darkness, but will
have the light of life…While I am in
the world, I am the light of the
world.’ ” (John 8:12, 9:5)
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So much imagery…
• God is light (1 John 1:5; James 1:17)
• Jesus is light (John 8:12, 9:5)
• We are light
– “14 You are the light of the world. A city
on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither
do people light a lamp and put it under a
bowl. Instead they put it on its stand,
and it gives light to everyone in the
house. 16 In the same way, let your
light shine before men, that they may
see your good deeds and praise your
Father in Heaven.” (Matthew 5:14-16) 5
So much imagery…
• God is light (1 John 1:5; James 1:17)
• Jesus is light (John 8:12, 9:5)
• We are light (Matthew 5:14-16)
• Goodness
– “33 No one lights a lamp and puts it in a
place where it will be hidden, or under a
bowl. Instead he puts it on its stand, so
that those who come in may see the
light. 34 Your eye is the lamp of your
body. When your eyes are good, your
whole body also is full of light. But when
they are bad, your body also is full of 6

darkness.
So much imagery…
• God is light (1 John 1:5; James 1:17)
• Jesus is light (John 8:12, 9:5)
• We are light (Matthew 5:14-16)
• Goodness
– “35 See to it, then, that the light within
you is not darkness. 36 Therefore, if
your whole body is full of light, and no
part of it dark, it will be completely
lighted, as when the light of a lamp
shines on you.” (Luke 11:33-36)

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So much imagery…
• God is light (1 John 1:5; James 1:17)
• Jesus is light (John 8:12, 9:5)
• We are light (Matthew 5:14-16)
• Goodness (Luke 11:33-36)
• Protection against evil
– “…let us put aside the deeds of darkness
and put on the armor of light.” (Romans
13:12)

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So much imagery…
• God is light (1 John 1:5; James 1:17)
• Jesus is light (John 8:12, 9:5)
• We are light (Matthew 5:14-16)
• Goodness (Luke 11:33-36)
• Protection against evil (Romans 13:12)
• Fellowship with God
– “But you are a chosen people, a royal
priesthood, a holy nation, a people
belonging to God, that you may declare
the praises of Him Who called you out of
darkness into His wonderful light.” (1
Peter 2:9) 9
So much imagery…
• God is light (1 John 1:5; James 1:17)
• Jesus is light (John 8:12, 9:5)
• We are light (Matthew 5:14-16)
• Goodness (Luke 11:33-36)
• Protection against evil (Romans 13:12)
• Fellowship with God (1 Peter 2:9)
• Life in Christ
– “Whoever follows Me will never walk in
darkness, but will have the light of life.”
(John 8:12)

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Jesus is “the light of the world”

Jesus said, “I am the light.” Light


means life. Light signifies life-giving
power. Think, for a moment, of the
everyday miracle we know as
photosynthesis. In photosynthesis
light means life. In the presence of
light, green plants convert water,
carbon dioxide, and minerals into
carbohydrates and oxygen. If there
would be no light, there would be no 11
Jesus is “the light of the world”

If there would be no photosynthesis,


there would be no more life. Light
means life.
Jesus said, "I am the light." Light
means life. This means Jesus is the
source of life and the well-spring of
being. All life comes from Jesus and
stems from Jesus. If you want to live,
to really live, you must turn to Christ.
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Jesus is “the light of the world”
“When Jesus spoke again to the
people, He said, ‘I am the light of the
world. Whoever follows Me will never
walk in darkness, but will have the
light of life.’ ” John 8:12
“...Who is the image of the invisible
God, the firstborn of all creation….”
Colossians 1:15

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Jesus is “the light of the world”
“When Jesus spoke again to the people,
He said, ‘I am the light of the world.
Whoever follows Me will never walk in
darkness, but will have the light of life.’
” John 8:12
• Paul calls Jesus “the image of the
invisible God.” (Colossians 1:15)
– What does he mean by that?
– How does that relate to our discussion
of light?
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Jesus is “the light of the world”
“When Jesus spoke again to the people,
He said, ‘I am the light of the world.
Whoever follows Me will never walk in
darkness, but will have the light of life.’
” John 8:12
• Paul calls Jesus “the image of the
invisible God.” (Colossians 1:15)
• What was Jesus’ function as “light of the
world”?
– John 12:46; John 14:6
– Isaiah 9:2
– Ephesians 5:11-14 15
Jesus is “the light of the world”

He functions as an illuminator of
truth:
“I am come a light into the world,
that whosoever believes on Me may
not abide in the darkness.” John
12:46
“I am the way, and the truth, and the
life: no one comes unto the Father,
but by Me.” John 14:6
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Jesus is “the light of the world”

He functions as a guide:
“The people that walked in darkness
have seen a great light: they that
dwelt in the land of the shadow of
death, upon them has the light
shined.” Isaiah 9:2

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Jesus is “the light of the world”
He functions as a Revealer and Savior:
“... and have no fellowship with the
unfruitful works of darkness, but rather
even reprove them; 12 for the things
which are done by them in secret it is a
shame even to speak of. 13 But all
things when they are reproved are
made manifest by the light: for
everything that is made manifest is
light. 14 Wherefore He says, ‘Awake,
thou that sleep, and arise from the 18
Jesus is “the light of the world”
He functions as a Revealer and
Savior:
“The Son is the shining brightness of
God's glory and the exact picture of
God's real being. The Son holds up
the universe with His powerful word.
After He had provided a cleansing
from sin, He sat down at God's right
side in Heaven.” Hebrews 1:3
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Contradiction?
• How can we be light if Jesus is light,
and how can He be light if God is
light?
– God is light – 1 John 1:5; James 1:17
– I am the light of the world – John 8:12
– You are the light of the world – Matt 5:14

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“You are the light of the world.”
“14 You are the light of the world. A city
on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do
people light a lamp and put it under a
bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and
it gives light to everyone in the house. 16
In the same way, let your light shine before
men, that they may see your good deeds
and praise your Father in Heaven.”
• (Matthew 5:14-16)
In what way(s) are we the light of the
world?
• What is the source of our light?
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“You are the light of the world.”
We don’t make our own light, but we
reflect the light of Christ, in the same
way that the moon reflects the light
of the sun. To call ourselves
“Christians” or “followers of Christ” is
to reflect Jesus’ light. The only
question is: What kind of reflection
are we? We are a reflection: good or
bad. What kind of reflection are you?
What is the main purpose of light?
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“You are the light of the world.”
The main purpose of light is to give
light, unless you have an Easy Bake
Oven, then the purpose of the light
bulb is to cook. In Jesus day, most
houses were only one room with no
windows (or maybe one small
window). One lamp could illuminate
the one-room houses if it was put on
a lamp stand in the house.

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“You are the light of the world.”
In that time a lamp was a shallow
bowl-shaped piece of property. The
wick floated in oil. It was difficult to
light the wick, especially since they
didn’t have lighters or matches. The
lamp would be placed on a stand in
the middle of house or on a ledge in
the wall. From that vantage point the
whole house would receive light.
Everyone could see to do what they
needed to do. 24
“You are the light of the world.”
That’s why we have light in the
ceiling and not the floor. Even lamps
are place on tables or poles. Lights
can only bring illumination only if
they are uncovered. What happens
when you cover a light? What
happens when you cover a lamp that
relies on a flame? The light becomes
useless. When a thick blanket of
clouds covers the moon, it does us no
good. 25
“You are the light of the world.”
As followers of Jesus, what sense does it
make to cover up our reflection of him?
A follower of Christ without light is as
useless as a covered lamp. Is your light
covered?
We reflect Jesus’ light to be illumination
so we can bring praise to God. We do
good works, which is the reflection of
light, is not so we look good; it is so God
looks good. The word good also means
beautiful and attractive. A secret 26

follower of Christ is no follower at all.


Life in Christ
“Whoever follows Me will never walk
in darkness, but will have the light of
life.” John 8:12

• This looks like a promise of eternal


security, or protection against falling
away. Many who believe in “once
saved, always saved” will quote this
verse as “proof”.
– Is that, however, what Jesus is
saying?
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Life in Christ
“Whoever follows Me will never walk
in darkness, but will have the light of
life.” John 8:12
• What other scriptures talk about
being “in the light”?
• Let’s take a look at these:
– 1 John 1:7
– 1 John 2:9-10
– Ephesians 5:8 28
Life in Christ

“Whoever follows Me will never walk


in darkness, but will have the light of
life.” John 8:12

“... but if we walk in the light, as He is


in the light, we have fellowship one
with another, and the blood of Jesus
His Son cleanses us from all sin.” 1
John 1:7
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Life in Christ
“Whoever follows Me will never walk
in darkness, but will have the light of
life.” John 8:12
“9 He that says he is in the light and
hates his brother, is in the darkness
even until now. 10 He that loves his
brother abides in the light, and there
is no occasion of stumbling in him.”
1 John 2:9-10
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Life in Christ
“Whoever follows Me will never walk
in darkness, but will have the light of
life.” John 8:12

“For you were once darkness, but are


now light in the Lord: walk as children
of light….” Ephesians 5:8

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Life in Christ
Living in the light means being
prepared:
“4 But you, brethren, are not in
darkness, that that day should
overtake you as a thief:
“5 for you are all sons of light, and
sons of the day: we are not of the
night, nor of darkness;

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Life in Christ
“6 so then let us not sleep, as do the
rest, but let us watch and be sober.
“7 For they that sleep sleep in the
night: and they that are drunken are
drunken in the night.
“8 But let us, since we are of the
day, be sober, putting on the
breastplate of faith and love; and for
a helmet, the hope of salvation.” 1
Thessalonians 5:4-8 33
“armor of light”

“…let us put aside the deeds of


darkness and put on the armor of
light.” Romans 13:12
• Why do we need “armor of light” –
and what is it anyway?
– What are some of the “chinks in our
armor”?

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“armor of light”

“11 Put on the whole armor of God,


that you may be able to stand
against the wiles of the devil.
“12 For our wrestling is not against
flesh and blood, but against the
principalities, against the powers,
against the world-rulers of this
darkness, against the spiritual hosts
of wickedness in the heavenly places.
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“armor of light”

“13 Wherefore take up the whole


armor of God, that you may be able
to withstand in the evil day, and,
having done all, to stand.
“14 Stand therefore, having girded
your loins with truth, and having put
on the breastplate of righteousness,
“15 and having shod your feet with
the preparation of the gospel of
peace; 36
“armor of light”

“16 withal taking up the shield of


faith, wherewith you shall be able to
quench all the fiery darts of the evil
one.
“17 And take the helmet of
salvation, and the sword of the Spirit,
which is the word of God….”

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Summary
• God is light, Jesus is light, we are light
– no contradiction.
• Jesus is the source of our light.
• Our light must shine if the light of
Jesus is to be seen in the world at all.
• We need the “armor of light” as
protection against darkness.

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