The Light Shineth in Darkness

TEXT:  John 1:4-5

INTRODUCTION:

A.      WHO IS JOHN WRITING ABOUT( vs. 1-3, 14 ).

B.      WHAT IS MEANT BY DARKNESS.

          1.       Darkness equated with evil( 1 John 1:5-6;  1 Pet. 2:9;  Col 1:13  Eph 5:11 ).

          2.       Concealment( John 3:19-21 ).

          3.       Ignorance( John 8:12;  12:35;  Rom. 2:19;  Rom. 1:21;  Eph 4:18).

I.      THE WHOLE WORLD IS IN DARKNESS.

A.      AS PHYSICALLY( Gen. 1:2-3 ).

B.      THOSE OF US IN THE LIGHT ONCE IN THE DARK( 1 Pet. 2:9;  Col. 1:13 ).

C.      THE WORLD IS THE DOMAIN OF SATAN.

          1.       He is the god of this world( 2 Cor. 4:4 ).

          2.       The prince of this world( John 12:31;  16:11 ).

          3.       John writes of his influence( 1 John 5:19 ).

D.      ONLY LIGHT CAN DISPEL DARKNESS.

          1.       The mission of Jesus and the apostles( John 1:4-5;  Acts 26:18 ).

          2.       The light of Truth dispels the dark( John 8:31-32 ).

          3.       Satan will always oppose the truth( 2 Cor. 4:3-4 ).

II.     JESUS CHRIST - THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD( John 1:4-9 ).

A.      WHY DID MAN REJECT HIM?( John 3:19 ).

B.      IN JESUS WE HAVE ENLIGHTENMENT( John 8:12 ).

C.      AND FORGIVENESS( 1 John 1:6-7 ).

III.    LIGHT THROUGH THE GOSPEL.

A.      GOD'S WORD IS HIS LIGHT( 2 Pet. 1:19;  Psa. 119:105 ).

B.      JESUS IS THE LIGHT, THE WORD( John 1:1 ).

C.      IN HIS GOSPEL IS ENLIGHTENMENT( 2 Tim. 3:16-17 ).

D.      THE EFFECT OF THIS LIGHT( 2 Cor. 4:3-6 ).

E.      WHEN THE GOSPEL IS PREACHED, GOD'S LIGHT SHINES

THROUGH CHRIST( John 12:46-48 ).

When anyone rejects the gospel of Christ,

                             he rejects the light of God to remain in darkness.

III.    LIGHT THROUGH THE LIVES OF CHRISTIANS.

A.      JESUS TALKS ABOUT OUR INFLUENCE( Matt. 5:14-16;  Phil. 2:15 ).

B.      BUT IT IS NOT OUR LIGHT.

          1.       The light originates with God( 1 Pet. 2:9 ).

          2.       To reflect His light we must walk in it( 1 John 1:6-7;  Eph. 5:8 ).

          3.       Man's light can be eclipsed( 1 John 2:15 ).

C.      SO THIS IS OUR MISSION( Acts 26:18;  Rom. 2:19 ).

          1.       By the example we set( Matt. 5:16 ).

          2.       By the Gospel we teach( Phil. 2:15-16 ).

CONCLUSION:

A.      THERE IS NOTHING LIKE BEING LOST IN THE DARK.

B.      NO ONE NEEDS TO BE.

C.      ARE YOU WALKING IN THE LIGHT OF JESUS?