Blueprints of the Church: Be Light

Notes:

7 Therefore do not become partners with them; 8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), 10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. 13 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 14 for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,

“Awake, O sleeper,

and arise from the dead,

and Christ will shine on you.”

How to be Light?

Light to Dark Analogy:

Muslim Symbol: Crescent Moon with a Star or Sun

Jewish Symbol: Star of David or the Menora

Ying and Yang: Dots symbolize the sun and the moon

First thing created.

Even before sun and moon were created, God created LIGHT AND DARK

Here: An Amazing Title: “YOU ARE LIGHT!”

You aren’t merely reflecting Light. You aren’t merely like a glow stick that can absorb light for a period of time.

Not strive to come into the light.

Not, walk into the light.

Statement of Identity: The Light People!

Walk as Children of Light

YOU ARE LIGHT!

How to live into this identity?

Be Who you Are (verse 7-10)

7 Therefore do not become partners with them; 8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), 10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord

Be who you are=Light!

Similar Passages:

1 John 1:5 “5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.”

1 Timothy 6:16 “16 who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.”

Psalm 43:3 “3 Send out your light and your truth; let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy hill and to your dwelling!”

Don’t “Partner” with whom?

A. Sons of Disobedience

Business Deals: Who is your Business Partner

Ephesians 3:6 “6 This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.”

Don’t “FUSE” with the Gentiles: Ephesians 3:6 “6 This mystery is that the Gentiles are fellow heirs, members of the same body, and partakers of the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel.”

Rational:

You were once in a different business.

Now you work for the competition!

You are a son or daughter of disobedience. You are no longer part of that tribe. You aren’t identified as a son of disobedience. YOU, my friends, are CHILDREN of LIGHT, because, you are BELOVED CHILDREN.

Because of Christ’s sacrifice for you, you are no longer labeled as disobedient, but as RIGHTEOUS!

Not due to anything you’ve done, but for what happens to you in conversion: Clothed with Christ’s Righteousness.

11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.

DISCERN what is pleasing:

Discern= “Put to the test, examine, or discern.” OR “Determine the validity of”

Romans 12:1 “1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.”

M:T and Partnership

Stott: “Refers to participation, not just association.”

Emphasize PARTNERSHIP not ASSOCIATION.

Used in the Business World:

Strategic Partnership=Here2There, Raleigh Concerts of Prayer, etc.

v.8= “you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord

“Fruit of Light, found in good, right, and true”

v. 8: “Old heathen life and the life ‘in Christ’”

Be “Children of Light”

Children of Light produce Fruit of Light

Do what you Are (11-13a)

11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in secret. 13 But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible

DIFFERENTIATE:

Be no part in unfruitful works of darkness.

Discern first, then take no part in unfruitful works!

Withdrawal versus Confrontation

Calvin College: Responsible Freedom=do whatever you want and then discern afterwards.

Romans 6:21 “21 But what fruit were you getting at that time from the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death.”

O’Brien: “He utterly repudiates these sexual sins, but desires to convey their seriousness without mentioning the details of the depravity. Paul and his readers knew what they were, and he will not dignify them by naming them. Instead, he wants the light of the gospel to shine through the readers’ lives and expose these deeds for what they are.”

EXPOSE!

Exposure and Evangelism: 1 Corinthians 14:24–25 “24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or outsider enters, he is convicted by all, he is called to account by all, 25 the secrets of his heart are disclosed, and so, falling on his face, he will worship God and declare that God is really among you.”

3 But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you.

Snodgrass: “The logic seems to assume that the light not only exposes, but also transforms.”

13-14a: Difficult to translate!

Glow effect?

Verse 14b: Wake Up!

Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

“It”

Paul’s Conversion:

Reminder of their conversion

Exposer and Conversion

AWAKE

Haunting movie

2 movies: Awake

Stays in the Light

ARISE

SHINE