First John Have You Really Seen The Light

Have You Really Seen the Light? I John 1:5 Ethics is first a way of seeing before it is a way of doing But when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, for anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.” Eph.5:13-14 The Miracle of Incarnation The Creator God became a member of created humanity WHY? When God wanted to send the best message He could; He sent a person - Himself In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it…. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. Jn.1:1-5,14, 18 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. Heb.1:1-3 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Heb.4:12-13 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. Isa.9:2 God is light I Jn.1:4 God is love. I Jn.4:8 These are definitive absolute statements about the person of God (The Father, the Son, and the Spirit) How do these two statements fit together? John loved metaphors “Light” 16x in the gospel of John “Light” 5x in I John Contrast light and darkness Without light, there can be no life; darkness would extinguish life In him was life; and the life was the light of men. Jn.1:4 Light dispels darkness, but darkness cannot displace light The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome (comprehended) it. Jn.1:5 What do these two statements tell us about Jesus? Light reveals, but darkness hides And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed. Jn.3:19-20 Light protects us, darkness can cause us lose our way and fall Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knows not whither he goes. Jn.12:35 If any man walk in the day, he stumbles not, because he sees the light of this world. But if a man walk in the night, he stumbles, because there is no light in him. Jn.8:9-10 When John wrote “God is light” what did he mean in the context of his letter? In effect, He is holy (completely other); and in particular context there is nothing sinful in Him. Hence, when we think of God’s holiness we mostly think of God’s Law and our conduct So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good. Rom.7:12 but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” I Pet.1:15-16 When John wrote “God is love” what did he mean in the context of his letter? God always acts in the best interest of His creation, and in particular, mankind For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. Gal. 5:14 Question: Why did Paul not mention the first great commandment, “You shall love the Lord your God with all…?” Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. I Jn.4:20 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. so if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Mt.5:18-24 Jesus did not remove the righteous requirements of the Law. He properly contextualized them …as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness in the law, blameless. Phil.3:5b-6 I was once alive apart from the law, but when the commandment came, sin came alive and I died. Rom.7:9 Walking in love and light Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Eph.5:1-2 for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light Eph.5:8 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing. I Cor. 13:1-3 Why did Jesus have such a problem with the Pharisees? Would Jesus have similar problems with us, the church? Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? Luke 7:39,44 When God wanted to send the best message He could; He sent a person. He still does How well are we communicating His message?