The Gospel Enables Our Walk In The Light
Walking in the light as a metaphor in some Christian circles has come to mean acting correctly or living transparently before others. But its much more than that. It is the concept of relinquishing sin as we walk closer and closer with the Lord. Life and light are in Jesus, and His life is the light of men that allows us to stand in Gods holy presence .
Satan blinds unbelievers minds so they will not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ. Paul said he was sent to the Gentiles to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God. The Gospel message calls sinners to turn to Christ out of darkness into His marvelous light .
The urgency of Jesus message reminds us we dont know how long we have to receive the light of the Gospel. John 12:35-36 shows Jesus in a Gospel encounter. After He raised Lazarus from the dead, many people had questions, and Jesus used the opportunity to share what He came to offer: light for their darkness.
There is a strong connection between light and truth in scripture. Jesus calls us to be light as we share Gospel truth. People can be in the presence of light, but until they receive the One who is the Light and Truth and walk in truth, they are still in darkness . The Incarnate Word is the true light that makes light possible for all of us.
Walk In The Light As Your Spiritual Birthright
Come, descendants of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the Lord
The light of Jesus Christ is a birthright to those who are the children of Abraham through the covenant. We are the stars in the sky and the sand by the seashore that represented Abrahams seed through Isaac. Our spiritual heritage leads every believer down the path of victory over sin and death. We are no longer slaves and captiveswe are free to accomplish everything that God has called us to complete.
The Light Shows Me The Truth
For example, maybe I hear that someone has been speaking badly about me. My immediate reaction is to be hurt, angry, and offended. But then the light may come and show me that its actually my own pride and ego that are causing this reaction, regardless of whether what they are saying about me is true or not. The truth is that my reaction comes from the sin in my own flesh. The words come to me: Bless those who curse you. And: God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.
Now the light has shown me what is still darkness in me my pride, self-righteousness, honor-seeking. If I were completely free from this, then nothing anyone said about me could affect me at all. I have the choice in this situation to love the light and choose Gods Word, or to continue in darkness. To choose Gods Word and to use it as a weapon against the sin I see is to have the blood of Jesus Christ cleanse me from sin. That means I acknowledge the truth, I hate the sin in my own flesh, and I deny it.
This is a simple example, but when I love the light, it shows me what still needs cleaning up in my life, big or small. Without the light I am in darkness and cant see what a big mess there is in my flesh, and how I need to be transformed. Light is judgment and when we, step by step, enter into the light and are willing to be judged, we are transformed into Jesus’ image.
You May Like: Bible Verse Pray Without Ceasing
Walk In The Light Of Jesus
I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life .
In this generation, many call themselves the light, but they are counterfeits and cause many people to fall away from God. The light of Jesus Christ doesnt excuse our sins, but instead His sacrifice brings us to a place of repentance with a desire to change the course. Jesus will always lead us in the right direction for Gods purpose.
To Live In The Light Believers Must Preach To The Sleeping
This is why it is said: Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.
InterpretationQuestion: Where is Paul quoting from in Ephesians 5:14?
Commentators are not sure where this quote comes from. Some believe he is drawing from Isaiah 60:1: Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you. Others believe he is drawing from an Easter hymn sung by the early church. It was probably used as an invitation to unbelievers visiting congregations.12
Either way, Paul clearly calls for Christians to preach to those who are asleep. The actions and words of Christians should speak to unbelieversencouraging them to repent and follow Christ. But, they also speak to believers, as is probably the focus in this context. There are many believers living a lifestyle of darkness who need to repent.
In Romans 13:11-13, Paul uses the same terminology with reference to believers. He says,
And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy.
Recommended Reading: Teaching Bible To Preschoolers
Bible Verses About Living In The Light
in unison when the trumpeters and the singers were to make themselves heard with one voice to praise and to glorify the Lord, and when they lifted up their voice accompanied by trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and when they praised the Lord saying, He indeed is good for His lovingkindness is everlasting, then the house, the house of the Lord, was filled with a cloud,so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of God.
In Order To Live In The Light Believers Must Convert Darkness Into Light
But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is light that makes everything visible.
InterpretationQuestion: What does Paul mean by for it is light that makes everything visible?
Next, in order to live in the light, believers must convert darkness into light. For it is light that makes everything visible can also be translated for everything that becomes visible is light . When light touches something, it becomes light. It is lit up and, to some degree, the object gives off light itself. It is converted and changed.11
In the same way, the light of a believers life often changes a work environment as sin is exposed and righteousness replaces it. It changes peoples lives as they repent and give their lives to Christ. Light is by nature more powerful than darkness. It changes environments and lives.
First Peter 2:12 says, Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us. Though believers are persecuted and mocked by the world, their conduct often leads to change in those around them, even if only slowly. When Christ comes, many will glorify God for the chaste life of a Christian co-worker, friend or family member who led them to Christ.
Peter also says this to believing wives of unbelieving husbands :
The pure and holy life of a godly wife often changes an unbelieving husband, even without words.
You May Like: What Does The Bible Say About Mary Magdalene
Drawing Close To The Light
Have you ever wondered why many great men of God such as Peter, Paul, etc. had a great revelation of their sinfulness?
It is because when you start seeking the face of God you get closer to the light. When you start getting closer to the light you start to see more sin than ever before. Some Christians are not that close to the light.
They stay at a distance so the light doesnt shine on their great sinfulness. When I first became a Christian I didnt truly understand how sinful I was. As I started to grow and sought to know God and be alone with Him, the light shined brighter and brighter and it showed me different areas in my life where I fell short in.
If Jesus Christ did not die for my sins, then I have no hope. The light makes the cross of Jesus Christ even more glorious. Jesus is my only claim. This is why as believers as we walk in the light we continually confess our sins. You must get closer to the light.
1. 1 John 1:7-9 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
3. Luke 5:8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus knees and said, Go away from me, Lord I am a sinful man!
To Live In The Light Believers Must Not Partake In Darkness But Expose It
Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret.
The next thing believers must do to live in the light is to not partake in darkness, but to expose it instead. The verb translated here as expose can also carry the idea of reproof, correction, punishment, or discipline.8
InterpretationQuestion: How should believers expose the deeds of darkness?
Recommended Reading: How Many Times Does Bible Say Fear Not
How Is God’s Word A Lamp Unto My Feet
The phrase Gods word is a lamp unto my feet is a metaphorical statement meant to emphasize the wisdom that comes from following Gods instruction. This particular chapter in the Book of Psalms is authored by an unknown person. Over the course of this passage, the author writes in an acrostic pattern, including twenty-two stanzas with eight lines each. Each stanza begins with a letter of the Hebrew alphabet.
This chapter lacks a cohesive narrative as each stanza is written with varying topics and tones. One underlying theme that is present throughout is the idea of understanding Gods Word. The writer assures that people who follow God are blameless . The speaker wants to do better in following God, and that only occurs when living by the Lords precepts. The phrase Gods word is a lamp unto my feet appears far into the writing, as the 105 verse.
Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path.
This verse furthers the idea that reliance on Gods Word is the only way to successfully live as a Christian. Lamps are used in society to create light for movement and activity. The Hebrew word for lamp is niyr. This description of a lamp is more equivalent to the subtle light of a candle. The implication then is that there is limited visibility of the surrounding area, but just enough light to navigate.
The Valley Of The Shadow Of Death
Psalm 23 is perhaps the most known Psalm in the Bible, and the most known verse in that chapter is probably verse four which says, Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me. Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. This verse brings tremendous comfort to Christians who are dying, family members who have lost a Christian brother or sister, and those believers who are walking through hard times on this earth.
If you studied Psalm 23, you would learn that everything in the six verses of this Psalm stems from verse one, which says, The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want. As you might know, sheep are really helpless animals. They are totally dependent on the shepherd to lead, care for, and protect them. This why the Bible compares Christians to sheep. Left to ourselves, we can do nothing. The good news is, if we belong to the One who is self-sufficient, inexhaustible and utterly unchanged by time, we will lack nothing. God, the all-sufficient One, is sufficient for us. This is the main point of the Psalm, that with God, we have all we need.
As I looked at Psalm 23:4, there were four things that stood out to me. I pray they encourage you as they have me.
Don’t Miss: What Order Should You Read The Bible
Biblical Context Of I Am The Light Of The World
This word, translated from the Greek Phos, means to shine or make manifest, the light, brightness.
We know from John 8:20 that Jesus said these words in the Treasury of the Temple. This was near the Court of Women, which was the most public part of the temple, according to .
The Feast of Tabernacles was going on for the past several days. During this celebration, four gold candelabra were lighted, illuminating the whole court. But the night Jesus claimed to be the light of the world , :
On this night the light is not to shine but the true Light, which was ever in the world, is now in His own Temple, speaking the words of light and life to His own people. There is a Light there whose rays are to illumine, not only the Temple, or Jerusalem, or Judea, or the Dispersion, but the world.
Verses : The Clarification
It could be that the wonderful promise of verse 7 would play right into the hands of people who have a perfectionistic view of the Christian life. John had said, The blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin. Someone might say, See even the apostle teaches that all sin is totally left behind when you become a Christian. So John clarifies.
The claim of sinlessness is not only self-deception, it is also blasphemy.
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. In other words, the claim of sinlessness is simply self-deception. Instead of denying our sinfulness, we should confess that it is real and ugly. Verse 9: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Then to drive home the clarification John repeats the point of verse 8, only with stronger words. Verse 10: If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. In other words, the claim of sinlessness is not only self-deception it is also blasphemy. The sentence, I am without sin, amounts to the sentence, God is a liar.
Thats the overall structure of the paragraph:
Now lets go back and unpack some of its meaning.
Recommended Reading: Bible Verses To Read When Lonely
The Source Of Light Is God Himself
Because God is God, He sees and knows all things. Even the darkness is not dark to Him. All light in the universe comes from Him but beyond that, God is light. Hes the Father of lights, and in Him is no darkness at all . Light is His nature and character. He is righteous, holy and good.
God dwells in unapproachable light because of His radiant holiness there is no stain of sin whatsoever. His light pierces the darkness, and because of what Christ has done in conquering sin, the darkness has not overcome.
The Bible says God, who created light, shines His light in our hearts. He created spiritual light so we can see the truth and not walk in the worlds darkness .
Jesus Teaches Light Vs Darkness
In John 3:19-21, Jesus discussed light and darkness with Nicodemus. The Pharisee came to Jesus by nightsneaking off to see this teacher who was making such a stir. As a member of the Sanhedrin, Nicodemus wasnt supposed to be around those who followed the Lord. But he was curious.
Jesus shared truths that no doubt unsettled Nicodemusand those truths unsettle people today. People love darkness rather than light, Jesus told the Pharisee, because their works are evil. Their hearts are darkened, so they prefer the darkness and they will not come to the light, because they know their wickedness will be exposed. Without Gods light, walking in the night, people stumble around in sin and confusion. But those who do the truth will want to come to the light so people will plainly see they are doing what God wants.
With the enemys lies multiplying around us, Christ-followers need to speak the truth and live the truth. God might use any one of us as Christians to draw people to His life-changing light.
The light people come to is both the written and living Word of God. Someone once said, This book will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from this book. The Bible is light for our lives, showing us how to live. And Jesus, the living Word, said, I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life .
Also Check: In What Order To Read The Bible