Lights in a Dark World
A. vs. 5-11. IMITATE JESUS IN HUMILITY AND SUBMISSION.
B. vs. 12-13. WE MUST DO OUR PART IN SALVATION.
C. vs. 14-16. WE MUST CONTRAST WITH THE WORLD.
A. WE ARE TO DO ALL THINGS WITHOUT MURMURINGS.
1. Murmuring: gongudzo, “mutter, murmur, grumble, say anything in a low tone –
of displeasure or complaining (more private than public).”
2. Why were so many destroyed in the wilderness( 1 Cor. 10: 10-12 ).
3. Disrupted the Jerusalem church( Acts 6:1; 1 Pet. 4:7-9 ).
4. We are not to murmur!
B. DO ALL THINGS WITHOUT QUESTIONINGS AND DISPUTINGS.
1. Disputings, dialogismos, “doubts, disputes, arguments.”
English word – “dialogue.”
2. We are not to entertain doubts( 2 Tim. 2:11-13; James 1:5-8; Heb. 11:6 ).
3. We are to disdain falsehoods which cause doubts( 2 Tim. 2:23 ).
A. BLAMELESS, amemtos Jesus ( 1 Pet. 1:19 ).
ALMOST SYNONYMS. Church( Eph. 5:27 ).
B. WITHOUT BLEMISH, amometos Us!
1. Not because we are innocent ( 1 John 1:8, 10 ).
2. Through the blood of Jesus ( 1:6-7 ).
a. Conditioned upon our walking in the light( Rom. 6:1-2 ).
b. Walking thus, we reflect HIS goodness( 1 Pet. 2:9, 11-12 ).
C. HARMLESS, akeraios, “Lit. unmixed, pure, metaphorically, guileless, sincere,
harmless.” – Vine. “Innocent as far as evil is concerned.” – Arndt & Gingrich.
A. CROOKED ( Acts 2:40 ). Not as it should be, difficult.
B. PERVERSE – Stronger – distort and twist – a vessel misshapen on a potter’s wheel
( Acts 13:8-10; 20:30; Gal. 1:7 ).
C. OUR WORLD IS MISHAPEN, TWISTED, MISLED AND PERVERTED
( Isa. 5:18-23).
A. LIGHTS IN A DARK WORLD – A LUMINARY, asv footnote.
1. Matt. 5:14-16.
2. 1 Pet. 2:9. A reflected light.
3. To God be the glory( Matt. 5:16 ).
B. OUR LIGHT CONTRASTED WITH DARKNESS( Eph. 5:7-14 ).
C. “HOLDING FORTH THE WORD OF LIFE.”
1. epecho, “hold upon, then direct towards, give heed, take heed … hold one’s
mind
toward, to observe.” – Vine. “Hold fast, fix attention upon.” – A&G.
2. The statue of Liberty.
3. Cause great joy and fellowship with their teachers( vs. 17-18 ).
A. WHAT WOULD GIVE US ALL GREAT JOY TODAY?
B. HAVE YOU OBEYED THE GOSPEL?