I Am The Light Of The World – Light In The Darkness – John 9 - Part 2 Series

I AM THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD – LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS – JOHN 9 - PART 2

We have been working through the Series on THE “I AMs” of John’s Gospel, and last time we covered the first Part of “I am the Light of the World”. This is Part 2 and looks more at the Christian’s walk as followers of The Light of the World.

John 9:5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

THE EMPHASIS ON THE CHRISTIAN’S WALK

(a). Children of light walk in the light. {{Ephesians 5 v 8 “for you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light Eph 5:9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), Eph 5:10 trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. . . . Eph 5 v 13 but all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light.”}} BEING children of light, means we must WALK as children of light (verse 8). In verses 9 and 10, Paul says what that means – it is producing the fruit of goodness, righteousness and truth, and pleasing the Lord. O, how we fail.

Did you notice I left a word out in verse 9 just then? Yes, I did. It was the word “all”. Some goodness, and some righteousness, and some truth is not good enough. It must be ALL. Yes, we do fail the Lord so much. May the Holy Spirit produce all these fruit in us (It is fruit, not fruits. The fruit of the Spirit, as in Galatians 5 v 22-23 is singular). Paul here is gentle with his dear people at Ephesus – did you notice the start of verse 10? “trying to learn” means put to the test, examine”. It is not always easy, and can be quite difficult at times. However, we have the light, and walk in that light.

Paul added to the Ephesian passage – {{“Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead, even expose them, for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret”.}} This is a direct command. There is a very distinct line of demarcation here between light and darkness in Ephesians 5. The Christian has no place in being part of what is of the world, that is, of what constitutes all of the natural man. Rather he may even expose the sinful works.

(b). Love is a Test of the Light. {{1John 2 v 9 “The one who says he is in the light and yet hates his brother is in the darkness until now. 1John 2:10 The one who loves his brother abides in the light and there is no cause for stumbling in him.”}} John states this clearly in his “no compromise attitude” to the truth. Hate is darkness; love is light. Fellowship is another test of the light – {{1John 1 v 5 “This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. 1John 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practise the truth, 1John 1:7 but if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.”}} The world says, “The proof of the pudding is in the eating.” God’s word says, “By their fruits you shall know them.” May our fruit not betray us as walking in the darkness. How do we walk in the light, and not in the darkness? How do we maintain walking in the light? We need light. How do we obtain light? That brings us to the Psalms.

(c). Light in the Psalms. Here is a remarkable verse – {{Psalm 18 v 28 “You light my lamp. The LORD my God illumines my darkness.”}} The Lord God supplies the light. He is the Light of the World and we walk in the light of his provision. David knew God lit his lamp. He also knew that all his defence and salvation lay in the light of the Lord – {{Psalm 27 v 1 “The LORD is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the defence of my life. Whom shall I dread?”}} The psalms were all written through personal experience, often through very deep trials. I think David went through so many trials and experiences that we can nearly always find in these Psalms, the comfort we need in similar circumstances. {{Psalm 36 v 8 “They drink their fill of the abundance of Your house and You give them to drink of the river of Your delights, Psa 36:9 for with You is the fountain of life. In Your light we see light.”}} In verse 9, the fact is remarkable. “In Your light we see light”. The Light of the World shines on us. Any illumination we have on anything, comes from the Father of lights, and only when we stand in the light of God, will we gain light and understanding.