Light in the Darkness
Victory Life Church — Sunday, October 22, 2023
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 in Scripture
Darkness and Light “in the beginning”: humans cannot flourish in darkness, so God creates light and separates it from the darkness. Light became a way of talking about more than literal light and dark, but metaphors to express the contrast of life and death, good and evil, chaos and order, confusion and clarity, and defeat and salvation. Not only that, there is more to “light” and “dark” than literal or philosophical conditions. They became ways of talking about opposing forces of light and darkness, good and evil. “Good” and “evil” were not just categories to describe actions or states of being, but that there were forces behind good and behind evil. God and His life and goodness operated in the light, but spiritual forces of evil and death operated in the dark.
Humans were designed to flourish in the light; we were made to receive and extend God’s life, His light, and His goodness into all of creation. But humans chose evil, and it wreaked havoc on creation. Our evil unleashed death and spiritual forces of evil into the world. The Old Testament reveals how God was working through humans to not leave them in darkness and evil, but light and life.
Psalm 27:1-2 (ESV) The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall.
Psalm 119:105 (ESV) Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
Proverbs 6:23 (ESV) For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life,
The Light is a Life
John 1:1-5 (ESV) 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.
John 1:9-13 (ESV) The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
John 3:16-18 (ESV) “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 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. But whoever does what is true comes to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have been carried out in God.”
John 8:12 (ESV) 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.”
How the Light Shines
Life marked by Love
Life pursuing Holiness
Life shaped by Wisdom
Life filled with Power
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.”
Old Testament Passages on “Light”:
Psalm 27:1-3 (ESV) The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall. Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident.
Psalm 36:9 (ESV) For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light.
Psalm 119:105 (ESV) Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
Proverbs 6:23 (ESV) For the commandment is a lamp and the teaching a light, and the reproofs of discipline are the way of life,
Exodus 13:21-22 (ESV) And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people.
Isaiah 42:6 (ESV) “I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.”
Isaiah 49:6 (ESV) he says: “It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob and to bring back the preserved of Israel; I will make you as a light for the nations, that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”
Isaiah 51:4 (ESV) “Give attention to me, my people, and give ear to me, my nation; for a law will go out from me, and I will set my justice for a light to the peoples.”
Isaiah 60:1-3 (ESV) Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you. And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.
Isaiah 60:19-22 (ESV) The sun shall be no more your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give you light; but the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. Your sun shall no more go down, nor your moon withdraw itself; for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your days of mourning shall be ended.