The Light Shineth in Darkness
A. WHO IS JOHN WRITING ABOUT( vs. 1-3, 14 ).
B. WHAT IS MEANT BY DARKNESS.
1. Darkness equated with evil( 1 John 1:5-6; 1 Pet. 2:9; Col 1:13 Eph 5:11 ).
2. Concealment( John 3:19-21 ).
3. Ignorance( John 8:12; 12:35; Rom. 2:19; Rom. 1:21; Eph 4:18).
A. AS PHYSICALLY( Gen. 1:2-3 ).
B. THOSE OF US IN THE LIGHT ONCE IN THE DARK( 1 Pet. 2:9; Col. 1:13 ).
C. THE WORLD IS THE DOMAIN OF SATAN.
1. He is the god of this world( 2 Cor. 4:4 ).
2. The prince of this world( John 12:31; 16:11 ).
3. John writes of his influence( 1 John 5:19 ).
D. ONLY LIGHT CAN DISPEL DARKNESS.
1. The mission of Jesus and the apostles( John 1:4-5; Acts 26:18 ).
2. The light of Truth dispels the dark( John 8:31-32 ).
3. Satan will always oppose the truth( 2 Cor. 4:3-4 ).
A. WHY DID MAN REJECT HIM?( John 3:19 ).
B. IN JESUS WE HAVE ENLIGHTENMENT( John 8:12 ).
C. AND FORGIVENESS( 1 John 1:6-7 ).
A. GOD'S WORD IS HIS LIGHT( 2 Pet. 1:19; Psa. 119:105 ).
B. JESUS IS THE LIGHT, THE WORD( John 1:1 ).
C. IN HIS GOSPEL IS ENLIGHTENMENT( 2 Tim. 3:16-17 ).
D. THE EFFECT OF THIS LIGHT( 2 Cor. 4:3-6 ).
E. WHEN THE GOSPEL IS PREACHED, GOD'S LIGHT SHINES
THROUGH CHRIST( John 12:46-48 ).
When anyone rejects the gospel of Christ,
he rejects the light of God to remain in darkness.
A. JESUS TALKS ABOUT OUR INFLUENCE( Matt. 5:14-16; Phil. 2:15 ).
B. BUT IT IS NOT OUR LIGHT.
1. The light originates with God( 1 Pet. 2:9 ).
2. To reflect His light we must walk in it( 1 John 1:6-7; Eph. 5:8 ).
3. Man's light can be eclipsed( 1 John 2:15 ).
C. SO THIS IS OUR MISSION( Acts 26:18; Rom. 2:19 ).
1. By the example we set( Matt. 5:16 ).
2. By the Gospel we teach( Phil. 2:15-16 ).
A. THERE IS NOTHING LIKE BEING LOST IN THE DARK.
B. NO ONE NEEDS TO BE.
C. ARE YOU WALKING IN THE LIGHT OF JESUS?