Letting Your Light Shine
Dr. George Bannister
Living Above Your Circumstances • Sermon • Submitted
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· 15 viewsPersonal salvation brings with it responsibilities which Paul related to Christians’ obedience. The responsibility was to live in accord with their salvation, letting the implications of their relationship with Christ transform their social relationships. Paul really meant, in the first place, that they were to act like Christians
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12 Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear.
13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.
14 Do everything without complaining and arguing,
15 so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.
16 Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless.
17 But I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God, just like your faithful service is an offering to God. And I want all of you to share that joy.
18 Yes, you should rejoice, and I will share your joy.
INTRODUCTION:
I- LIVE OUT THE LIFE GOD HAS PLACED WITHIN YOU ().
I- LIVE OUT THE LIFE GOD HAS PLACED WITHIN YOU ().
12 Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear.
13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.
A- Circumstances are not to limit our light.
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12 Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear.
1- The apostle gives serious instructions to people he knows and loves.
a. ἀγαπητόςa, ή, όν: (derivative of ἀγαπάωa ‘to love,’ 25.43) pertaining to one who or that which is loved—‘object of one’s affection, one who is loved, beloved, dear.’
ἀγαπητόςa, ή, όν: (derivative of ἀγαπάωa ‘to love,’ 25.43) pertaining to one who or that which is loved—‘object of one’s affection, one who is loved, beloved, dear.’
b. Correction does not necessarily indicate a lack of concern nor a desire to bring evil upon someone.
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6 For the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.”
2. For the Christian, obedience to God should not be a matter of setting nor of the quality of companionship we find ourselves in.
a. We are to reflect the light of Jesus that is present within us,
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12 Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”
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14 “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.
3. The believer is to strive to demonstrate the validity and power of the salvation that Christ has given.
μετὰ φόβου καὶ τρόμου τὴν ἑαυτῶν σωτηρίαν κατεργάζεσθε (to cause a state to be—‘to cause to be, to make to be, to make, to result in, to bring upon, to bring about.)
Cambridge Greek Testament: Greek Text Chapter 2
μετὰ φόβου καὶ τρόμου τὴν ἑαυτῶν σωτηρίαν κατεργάζεσθε
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cause a state to be—‘to cause to be, to make to be, to make, to result in, to bring upon, to bring about.
o(Romans 6:12 – 16)
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12 Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires.
13 Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God.
14 Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.
15 Well then, since God’s grace has set us free from the law, does that mean we can go on sinning? Of course not!
16 Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living.
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13 So prepare your minds for action and exercise self-control. Put all your hope in the gracious salvation that will come to you when Jesus Christ is revealed to the world.
14 So you must live as God’s obedient children. Don’t slip back into your old ways of living to satisfy your own desires. You didn’t know any better then.
15 But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy.
16 For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”
B- The power to let our light shine in all circumstances comes from God ().
13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.
Cambridge Greek Testament: Greek Text Chapter 2
θεὸς γάρ ἐστιν ὁ ἐνεργῶν ἐν ὑμῖν καὶ τὸ θέλειν καὶ τὸ ἐνεργεῖν ὑπὲρ τῆς εὐδοκίας.
1- We must not rely on our own strength, but allow His strength to flow through us.
2- The key to being continually motivated and empowered to live a life that is pleasing to God comes from maintaining an intimate walk with Christ.
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20 My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
II- LIVE OUT THE LIGHT WITH A POSITIVE DISPOSITION ().
II- LIVE OUT THE LIGHT WITH A POSITIVE DISPOSITION ().
14 Do everything without complaining and arguing,
15 so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.
A- Display a positive disposition to brothers and sisters in Christ ().
14 Do everything without complaining and arguing,
Cambridge Greek Testament: Greek Text Chapter 2
14 πάντα ποιεῖτε χωρὶς γογγυσμῶν καὶ διαλογισμῶν,
Cambridge Greek Testament: Greek Text Chapter 2
γογγυσμῶν
γογγυσμῶν= to express one’s discontent—‘to complain, to grumble, complaint.’
Cambridge Greek Testament: Greek Text Chapter 2
διαλογισμῶν
διαλογισμῶν= to argue about differences of opinion—‘to argue, to dispute, argument.’
to express one’s discontent—‘to complain, to grumble, complaint.’1-
33.446 διαλέγομαιa; διαλογισμόςc, οῦ m: to argue about differences of opinion—‘to argue, to dispute, argument.’
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1- We must avoid the urge to grumble, complain, and argue .. there is a lost world that is watching us!
B- Display positive testimony to the lost world ().
15 so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.
ἵνα γένησθε ἄμεμπτοι καὶ ἀκέραιοι, τέκνα θεοῦ ἄμωμα μέσον γενεᾶς σκολιᾶς καὶ διεστραμμένης, ἐν οἷς φαίνεσθε ὡς φωστῆρες ἐν κόσμῳ,
1- We are to live innocent, blameless lives as children of God ( ἵνα γένησθε ἄμεμπτοι καὶ ἀκέραιοι, τέκνα θεοῦ ἄμωμα).
14 πάντα ποιεῖτε χωρὶς γογγυσμῶν καὶ διαλογισμῶν, 15 ἵνα γένησθε ἄμεμπτοι καὶ ἀκέραιοι, τέκνα θεοῦ ἄμωμα μέσον γενεᾶς σκολιᾶς καὶ διεστραμμένης, ἐν οἷς φαίνεσθε ὡς φωστῆρες ἐν κόσμῳ, 16 λόγον ζωῆς ἐπέχοντες, εἰς καύχημα ἐμοὶ εἰς ἡμέραν Χριστοῦ, ὅτι οὐκ εἰς κενὸν ἔδραμον οὐδὲ εἰς κενὸν ἐκοπίασα.
2- We are to live in a way that shines the light of the gospel into a wicked a perverse world (μέσον γενεᾶς σκολιᾶς καὶ διεστραμμένης, ἐν οἷς φαίνεσθε ὡς φωστῆρες ἐν κόσμῳ,)
Like Enoch ()
5 It was by faith that Enoch was taken up to heaven without dying—“he disappeared, because God took him.” For before he was taken up, he was known as a person who pleased God.
III- LIVE OUT THE LIGHT WITH A TOTAL COMMITMENT TO GOD’S WORD ().
III- LIVE OUT THE LIGHT WITH A TOTAL COMMITMENT TO GOD’S WORD ().
16 Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless.
17 But I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God, just like your faithful service is an offering to God. And I want all of you to share that joy.
18 Yes, you should rejoice, and I will share your joy.
A- Remain faithful to God’s word. ().
16 Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless.
Cambridge Greek Testament: Greek Text Chapter 2
16 λόγον ζωῆς ἐπέχοντες, εἰς καύχημα ἐμοὶ εἰς ἡμέραν Χριστοῦ, ὅτι οὐκ εἰς κενὸν ἔδραμον οὐδὲ εἰς κενὸν ἐκοπίασα.
λόγον ζωῆς ἐπέχοντες, εἰς καύχημα ἐμοὶ εἰς ἡμέραν Χριστοῦ, ὅτι οὐκ εἰς κενὸν ἔδραμον οὐδὲ εἰς κενὸν ἐκοπίασα.
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8 In fact, it says, “The message is very close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart.” And that message is the very message about faith that we preach:
9 If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
10 For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved.
11 As the Scriptures tell us, “Anyone who trusts in him will never be disgraced.”
12 Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him.
13 For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
14 But how can they call on him to save them unless they believe in him? And how can they believe in him if they have never heard about him? And how can they hear about him unless someone tells them?
15 And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”
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15 Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.
16 Avoid worthless, foolish talk that only leads to more godless behavior.
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12 For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.
B- Rejoice in God’s word ().
17 But I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God, just like your faithful service is an offering to God. And I want all of you to share that joy.
18 Yes, you should rejoice, and I will share your joy.
Cambridge Greek Testament: Greek Text Chapter 2
17 Ἀλλὰ εἰ καὶ σπένδομαι ἐπὶ τῇ θυσίᾳ καὶ λειτουργίᾳ τῆς πίστεως ὑμῶν, χαίρω καὶ συνχαίρω πᾶσιν ὑμῖν· 18 τὸ δὲ αὐτὸ καὶ ὑμεῖς χαίρετε καὶ συνχαίρετέ μοι.
17 Ἀλλὰ εἰ καὶ σπένδομαι ἐπὶ τῇ θυσίᾳ καὶ λειτουργίᾳ τῆς πίστεως ὑμῶν, χαίρω καὶ συνχαίρω πᾶσιν ὑμῖν· 18 τὸ δὲ αὐτὸ καὶ ὑμεῖς χαίρετε καὶ συνχαίρετέ μοι.
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23 For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God.
CONCLUSION: