Sermon 032298

Jn. 12:35-36                                        While You Have Light-II                                       3/22/98

                                                                                                                            ABCC

I.     Introduction                                                                                                                      615

q      Some of the most amazing truths about Jesus & the character of people just like you & me are presented in this chapter

q      We see Jesus who is about to die as the Lamb of God (v. 32-33)

q      We also see Jesus as the Light of God bringing grace & truth to the lost & blind (v. 35)

q      We see clever responses to the gospel from a lost & blind crowd (v. 34)

q      The gospel of John presents a striking contrast between darkness & light…

II.    Darkness in this Life

·        Describes the way of the wicked & the lifestyle of the fool (Pr. 4:18-19; Ecc. 2:14)

·        Is a description of spiritual blindness (Jn. 3:19)

·        Describes the condition or state of the wicked (Eph. 5:8)

·        Described as the domain or environment where evil spiritual power exists & is active (Eph. 6:12)

·        There are deeds or activities of darkness (Jn. 3:19; Eph. 5:8; Gal. 5:19-21) – totally opposite of deeds of light

·        There is a lifestyle of darkness (1Co. 6:9-10) – this lifestyle is totally opposite of children of light

·        When Jesus returns, He will overtake people of darkness by surprise because they are spiritually sleep (1Th. 5:3-7)

III.   Darkness in the Next Life

·        Describes the place of eternal punishment (Mt. 25:30; 2Pe. 2:4,17)

In summary, darkness is the lifestyle of the wicked & fools, condition of spiritual blindness & the domain where Satan rules & people who die in darkness will be condemned forever – why would anyone want to stay in this darkness?  Jesus gives the answer “men loved darkness” (Jn. 3:19).

While You Have Light-II, pg. 2

IV.  Come Out of the Darkness & to the Light – HOW & WHY?

A.     God must deliver you from the darkness (Col. 1:13-14; 1Pe. 2:9 = called you out of darkness…)

B.      You must believe (place your trust) in Christ (Jn. 12:36)

C.      To be set free from darkness & slavery to sin (Jn. 8:31-36)

D.     To have your sins forgiven (Jn. 1:29)

E.      To secure eternal life (Jn. 6:44-47; 11:25-26)

F.      To become a child of God (Jn. 1:9-13)

G.     To receive the Holy Spirit, His power, fruit & spiritual gifts (Jn. 7:38-39)

H.     To have a purposeful & fruitful life (Jn. 15:1-8)

I.       To secure heaven as your future home (Jn. 14:1-3)

Jesus Christ is the light & He is shining to show you the way out of darkness into the kingdom of God.  Do you want to come out of the darkness today?  Do you want your sins forgiven, eternal life, to become a child of God…?  Only believe the gospel right now– the good news that Jesus died & rose again take away the penalty & power of sin over you.  For those who have come out of darkness, rejoice today.  Rejoice because your heart, eyes & ear have been opened – now you can see & hear & experience the truth; you know that your sins are forgiven, you have eternal life, you are a child of God, you have received the Holy Spirit, heaven is your home & nothing can separate you from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord!