BEING A CHRISTIAN LIGHT

Matthew 5:14–16 ESV

“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.

Light, like salt, affects its environment by being distinctive. The disciple who is visibly different from other men will have an effect on them. But the aim of his good works is not to parade his own virtue, but to direct attention to the God who inspired them.

By so doing the disciple will give light to all

Philippians 2:15 NKJV

that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,

Jesus says “I am the Light”

John 8:12 “Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.””

Jesus is the light of the world but this role he has passed on to his disciples

Acts 13:47 NKJV

For so the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have set you as a light to the Gentiles, That you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.’ ”

The emphasis of the passage is that we should not be hidden

Mark 4:21 NKJV

Also He said to them, “Is a lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed? Is it not to be set on a lampstand?

Luke 8:16 NKJV

“No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but sets it on a lampstand, that those who enter may see the light.

A secret disciple is no more use in the world than one who has lost his identity

Jesus again used the emphatic “YOU,” and again clearly stated that this is already what a believer is, not something he might become.

It is the nature of a kingdom servant to be light in the world.

Any believer who fails to function as light is going against his nature as God’s new creation.

The believer has no light in himself.

The believer’s light is a reflected light.

Until he has illuminated us we can never shine with his reflected light

Believers are to make certain that nothing comes between them and their source of light

The function of light is to make reality or truth visible, thereby giving direction and guidance by what is seen.

Truly the light is sweet, it is welcome; the light of the first day of the world was so, when it shone out of darkness; so is the morning light of every day; so is the gospel, and those that spread it, to all sensible people. The world sat in darkness, Christ raised up his disciples to shine in it; and, that they may do so, from him they borrow and derive their light.

Light is a common theme throughout the Bible

2 Corinthians 3:18 NKJV

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Philippians 2:13–16 NKJV

for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.

We Must Be in Christ to be a Light

We are in Christ when we have a relationship with Him.

We do this through

1. Prayer

2. Reading God’s Word

We must be a Mirror reflecting Him

2 Corinthians 4:6 NIV84

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

Matt. 5:14

14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 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. 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.

John 8:12

I Am the Light of the World

12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

2nd Corinthians Ch.4:6

Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Be a representative of Jesus in your work life

Philippians 2:15

15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world,

Always give a Biblical point of view

Not what you think

Not the culture of where you come from or how you grew up

It is not easy to be a dedicated Christian. Our society is not a friend to God nor to God’s people. Whether we like it or not, there is conflict between us and the world. Why? Because we are different from the world and we have different attitudes.

Works?

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.”

I AM NOTSAYING THAT YOU MUST DO WORKS TO ENTER THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN.

I AM SAYING YOU WILL DO GOOD WORKS WHEN YOU ARE APART OF THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN....

We glorify GOD when we do good works in His name. Not to win His approval, but to worship Him

Compare ourselves to Jesus not each other

Do good works

 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.