You are the Light of the World

Welcome to NHCC, please open your Bibles to Matthew 5.

Zariah baptism after service.

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God is light. The problem- The light has come into the darkness. Jesus is the light of the world.

From the entire godhead as light, to Jesus as light, now we turn our attention to our response.

What does it matter to followers of Jesus that Jesus is the light of the world?

Read Matthew 5:14–16- “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

Pray.

Part of the sermon on the mount. Begins with the beatitudes, describing the one who is blessed, or, stated more plainly, the one who is a follower of Jesus.

Next, Jesus moves from what a Christian is to what a Christian does.

1. Light does not originate in man.

Imperative that we understand ourselves as light insofar as we possess the light of Christ.

The lamp as an illustration.

To ignite fire, there must be fire.

Richard Baxter- “God is not glorified by our adding to him, but by our receiving from him; not by our making him greater or better or happier than he is, but by owning him, loving him, and declaring him as he is, that we and others may thereby be wise and good and happy. He is his own glory and ours; and by his own light only we must know both him and all things. We are not called to bring our candle to show the world that there is a sun; but to persuade them into its light, to open the windows and curtains, to disperse the clouds, and to open the eyes of blinded sinners.”

Any light that comes from any follower of Jesus is the very same light OF Jesus.

When we are trying to figure out what this light looks like, how it manifests itself, we don’t look to ourselves, but instead we look to the nature, character and behavior of Jesus.

Jesus defines for us what are our expressions of light. We don’t get to say that we believe something to be light when Jesus has not expressed it to be true.

Consider this particularly in our treatment of others.

Light is meant to be shown and seen. Don’t put it under a basket.

We must question and understand rightly if what is coming from us is truly the light of Jesus or some other false light.

2. Light is defined as good works.

What is this light that is meant to be shown. How is such light expressed?

Matthew 5:16- “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

The result of the light within a person is a changed mind and life.

Many have swung the pendulum to the extreme which states that a holy life is unimportant.

Jesus makes clear here that works are of vital importance.

James 2:17- “So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.”

Faith is present- expressed in good works.

As we have been considering the light of God, its important to take a moment to see that such light is to be shown through followers of Jesus.

Perhaps one of the greatest ways that God’s light is meant to be seen in this world is through the Church.

3. Good works are to be seen as light.

Pause for a moment- This light described in Matthew 5 is meant to shine in dark places, to be seen, received, experienced, with a purpose of darkness being made light.

The light ought to be a converting light. Turning darkness into light.

Again, the light isn’t meant to be covered. Why? Because it has a purpose. Light up the house. Light up the city on a hill. Light up for those who are in darkness.

This means, first, that light should be seen.

Soren Kierkegaard- “If the New Testament is to decide what is meant by a true Christian, then to be a true Christian in all secrecy, comfortably and enjoyably, is as impossible as firing a cannon in all secrecy.”

Taken a step further, light is meant to be seen AS light.

Those who are in darkness have the capacity of seeing and recognizing light.

Let’s think about this a bit deeper this morning. Not only are we called to be light, but we are called to be light in such a way that those in darkness will see us as light.

Is this true of the church today? Is it true of individual Christians today?

Have we majored in the minors when it comes to evangelism and witness?

Sometimes, the church has focused, even in our witness, on those works that are good yet are not seen as good by those in darkness.

What is the evangelical church oftentimes known for today? Political views, holding culture to our own standards of holiness, judgement, etc.

May our good works be seen as good works, our light seen and experienced as light.

Maybe rather than arguing a political point with a non-believer, our witness would be better served through bringing them a meal.

Please hear me- all good and godly works are good and godly works.

But what Jesus is bringing up here is a focus on light being shone into darkness. Know the darkness and pierce it with light.

Let’s take this one step further.

4. Good works should be tasted and enjoyed.

Our works should show the goodness of a life with Jesus, something that can be seen, shared, and enjoyed by others.

Luke 6:43–44- “For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush.”

The goodness or badness of a tree is known by goodness or badness of its fruit.

How do we recognize the goodness or badness of a piece of fruit? Sometimes by the appearance, but more often by the bite.

Apples growing in dad’s back yard.

Here is the argument that I mean to make this morning- Not only are our good works meant to be seen and recognized as good, they are also to be experienced and tasted as good.

Our good works are meant to benefit those in darkness.

Think of it this way- You working at State Farm- you do good works that are seen by others as good works- volunteer your time at Midwest Food Bank.

Might we add to our good works, our fruit, that which is of benefit to those we know personally who are in spiritual darkness?

5. All glory is to be given to the Father.

A difficulty with this text. Are our good works to be seen or not?

Matthew 6:1- “Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven.”

How do we reconcile these two passages?

Keep focused on the primary audience.

6:1, if read plainly, makes clear that the person practicing righteousness is doing it for the purpose of being seen and given glory.

We must regularly check our heart. Good works with bad intention are not light, but darkness.

6. How does this prepare our hearts to celebrate the incarnation?

What are all of these works that we have been describing? Nothing more than love.

How do we end opposition to God and to the gospel? We have been sent out by Jesus with the great commission, but what will such a life of witness and discipleship look like?

For too long, the church has sought to overcome opposition by force.

Richard Baxter- “Every soldier can end a fever or other disease by cutting a man’s throat, and ending his life; but it is the work of the physician to kill the disease, and save the man.”

This is the work of every Christian everywhere. To see the needs of others, and with a heart of love and precision, serve and care for the needs before us.

This was the very ministry of Jesus. It was His light, given to us.

Placide Cappeau- “Truly He taught us to love one another; His law is love and His gospel is peace. Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother, and in His name all oppression shall cease.”

Note the language- He taught us to love one another.

He lived love. He pushes us into it as well.

In His name all oppression shall cease.

How will this occur? Through God’s Church, the bride of Jesus.

This Advent and Christmas season, might we consider how Jesus came. In humility, gentleness and love.

And may we see such a life and light reflected in our own conversations and actions.