"Let There Be Light"

Scripture Reading: John 1:1-5

Introduction

For the Past 2.5 Years We’ve Taken a Deep Dive into the Life of Jesus…

From the Perspective of the Apostle Matthew

But, as You can Tell from the Front of the Bulletin…

We’re Doing Something Different this Year

We’re Going to Zoom Out & Look at the Big Picture of the Bible

We’re Going to Spend the Next 13 Months (Ending in January of 2025)…

Looking at 13 Themes that Tell the Story of the Scriptures

Each Month will Be Devoted to a Different Theme

And Each Lesson will Be Titled After a Quote…

That Summarizes the Text We’ll Be Studying

If You can Memorize These 13 Themes…

You’ll Be Able to Summarize the Entire Bible

This Month, Our Theme is Creation

And this Week, We’re Looking at the Phrase:

“Let There Be Light”

These are the 1st Recorded Words of God

Genesis 1:1–3 (NASB95)

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was formless and void, and darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was moving over the surface of the waters. 3 Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.

When God Created the Heavens & the Earth (The Sky & Land)…

(Everything Up There & Everything Down Here)…

Notice How the Earth is Described:

“Formless & Void & Covered in Darkness”

“Formless & Void” = An Empty Wasteland

Earth was a Place of Emptiness Covered in Darkness

No Life, Meaning, or Order

Only Darkness & Disorder/Chaos

But Then God Says Those 1st Recorded Words:

“Let There Be Light”

He Brought Light to a Place of Utter Darkness

And Throughout the Days of Creation…

He Went on to Bring Order & Meaning & Life

Often, When We Read the Creation Account…

We Look at it Through a Scientific Lens

We Use it to Make Apologetic Arguments…

For a Young Earth & Against the Theory of Evolution

That’s Really Unfortunate…

Because that wasn’t the Intention of the Creation Account

The Point of Genesis 1 isn’t to Answer the Question “How?”

It’s Not Really about Showing Us “How” Everything Got Here

The Point of the Creation Account is to Answer the Question “Who?”

It’s about Showing Us “Who” God is

He’s a God:

Who Brings Order from Chaos

Who Brings Meaning from Meaninglessness

Who Brings Life from Death

Who Brings Light into Darkness

The Picture We Receive of God in the Creation Account…

Is Extremely Important for Us to have…

As We Move Through the Story of Scripture:

He’s a God Who Fixes/Redeems…

That Which is Not as it Should Be

7 Times Throughout the Creation Account…

The Text Tells Us that God Saw that His Creation was “Good”

Who is God?

He’s a God Who Makes All Things “Good”

Everything God Created was “Good”

It’s Impossible for Us to Fully Imagine Everything Being “Good”

We’ve Never Experienced Anything Perfectly & Wholly “Good” on Earth

But Just Try to Imagine with Me…

What it would Be Like if All Things were Still “Good”:

No Physical Effects of the Fall:

No Growing Old

No Sickness

No Diseases

No Handicaps

No Pain

No Death

No Ecological Effects of the Fall:

No Thorns & Weeds to Hinder the Growth of Crops

No Killing & Being Killed By Animals

No Natural Disasters (Tornadoes, Hurricanes, Earthquakes)

No Sociological Effects of the Fall:

All People Living in Perfect Communion & Common Love

No Broken Relationships, Marriages, or Homes

No Lying, Slandering, Cursing, or Envying One Another

No Selfishness, Pride, Greed, or Lust Toward One Another

No Violence, Murder, or Abuse of Any Kind Toward One Another

No Terrorism or Wars

No Poverty, Racism, Government Corruption

No Personal Effects of the Fall:

No Feeling as if There’s Something Wrong with Us

No Shame

No Fear

No Lack in Self-Confidence

No Lack in Self-Acceptance

No Feeling Unfulfilled

No Lack of Happiness or Joy

No Need to Pursue Happiness Through:

Fame

Fortune

Relationships

Sex

Drugs

Entertainment

No Anxiety, Depression, or Thoughts of Self-Harm

No Theological Effects of the Fall:

No Separation Between Humanity & God

Only a Perfectly Harmonious, Father-Child Relationship

No Fear or Concern of God’s Wrathful Judgment

Only Joy & Peace All the Time

Can You Imagine a World Where Everything is “Good”

That’s the World God Made When He Brought Light into the Darkness

That’s the World that was Lost in the Fall

But that’s Also the World that God is Going to Restore

His Plan was to Bring Light into this Dark World Once Again

And He Did it in the Form of Jesus

John 1:1–5 (NASB95)

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. 5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

Jesus Came into the World…

Like Light Shining in the Darkness

Just Like in Creation…

God Sent Jesus to Light Up this Dark World

Why Did God Do this?

John 3:16–18 (NIV)

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

God Sent Jesus as a Light into a World Covered in Darkness…

Because He Loves the World…

And He Wants to Save Us from the Darkness…

That is Destroying Us

John 3:19–21 (NET)

19 Now this is the basis for judging: that the light has come into the world and people loved the darkness rather than the light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone who does evil deeds hates the light and does not come to the light, so that their deeds will not be exposed. 21 But the one who practices the truth comes to the light, so that it may be plainly evident that his deeds have been done in God.

God Sent Jesus to Save the World, Not Judge/Condemn it

But, Because the World Hates Light…

Those Who Reject God’s Light will Be Judged/Condemned

Why Does the World Hate Light?

Because Light Exposes What Hides in the Darkness

There’s a Reason Most Crimes Happen at Night

They Want to Keep Their Evil Deeds Hidden

But Those Who Practice Truth (Live Faithful Lives to God)…

Aren’t Afraid to Come into the Light

They Willingly Expose Themselves to the Light

They’re Not Ashamed of Their Deeds Being Exposed…

Because They’re Living Faithfully to God

Those Living in the Light…

Don’t have to Be Afraid of Their Sins Being Exposed By His Light…

Because He Didn’t Come to Condemn Those in Darkness

He Came to Save Them from the Darkness

1 John 1:5–9 (NASB95)

5 This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; 7 but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

When We Walk Faithfully in God’s Light…

Fully Exposing Our Sins to His Light…

We have Forgiveness & Cleansing from Our Sins

John 8:12 (NASB95)

12 Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, “I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.”

When We Follow Jesus…

We have the Light of Eternal Life…

And We No Longer Choose to Walk in Darkness Anymore

Those Who Follow Jesus…

Who have Placed Their Faith/Trust/Allegiance in Him…

And Have Devoted Themselves to a Life of Living in Light…

Instead of a Life of Living in Darkness…

Are People of Light

Ephesians 5:8–9 (NLT)

8 For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light! 9 For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.

Now that We are People/Children of Light…

We’re to Live Like it

We’re to No Longer Participate in Sinful Acts of Darkness

We’re to Do What is Good, Right, & True

Romans 13:12–14 (NIV)

12 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. 13 Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14 Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh.

We have Taken Off the Evil Acts of Darkness

We’re Not to Even Think about the Lusts of Our Flesh

Instead, We’re to Put on the Armor of Light, Our Lord Jesus Christ

Set Our Minds on Him & Walk in His Ways…

And Let that Armor of the Light of Jesus Shine in this Dark World

Matthew 5:14–16 (NASB95)

14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; 15 nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

Have You Noticed the Path the Scriptures have Taken Us On?

1st, God Brought Light into the Dark, Empty, Chaotic World of Creation

Then, God Brought Light into this Dark World Through Jesus

And Now, God Brings Light to the World Through Us, His Church

We’re to Continue the Work of God…

By Being the Light of the World

God Sent Jesus to the World to Be the Light of the World

Now He Sends Those Who’ve Been Given Light By Jesus…

To Be the Light of the World…

To Those Who are Still Lost in Darkness

Just Like God…

We’re to Do “Good”

Our Good Works Bring Light to the Darkness

And When Those in Darkness are Exposed to the Light of Our Good Works…

They’ll Be Compelled to Praise God

It is Our God-Given Mission as People of Light…

To Continue the Work of God…

In Spreading Light & Goodness Throughout the World

When Jesus Returns…

He’s Going to Restore All Things

He’s Going to Make All Things “Good” Again

He’s Going to Annihilate the Darkness…

And God Himself will Be Our Light

In Revelation, John Describes the New Jerusalem in the NHNE:

As a Place Where God will Once & for All Live with His People

Where Death, Crying, Pain, & the Curse will Be No More

Where All Things will Be Renewed

Where There is No Night & God will Be Our Source of Light

There’s Coming a Day When God will Make All Things “Good” Again

There’s Coming a Day When All Things will Be Made New Again

There’s Coming a Day When All Darkness will Be Extinguished By God’s Light

There’s Coming a Day When the People of Light…

Will Rule with God Forever

Are We Being People of Light?

Are We Shining the Light of God into the World?

Are We Doing Good Works?

Are Those in Darkness Praising/Glorifying God…

Because of the Good Works We’re Doing?

Are We Making this World a Better Place By Doing “Good”?

What are We Doing with “This Little Christian Light of Mine”?

Are We Hiding it Under Bushel?

Are We Letting Satan Blow it Out?

Or Are We Letting it Shine?