Forgiven And Brought Into The Light - A Halloween Message Series

Forgiven and brought from darkness to light

The Bible teaches that we are forgiven when we repent and turn from our sins and become disciples of Jesus.

When we trust in Jesus, and Jesus alone, we are set free from the punishment our sins deserve because of what Jesus did at Calvary.

He died that we might live.

His sacrifice was sufficient for the sins of everyone who accepts Jesus as Saviour and Lord.

The Bible in Colossians 1:13-14 states: “God has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of His dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.”

Past, present, future sins have already been forgiven.

But, that does not give us a licence to behave however we want to.

We are set free to live for God. To love for God.

To forgive as we have been forgiven much.

As believers in Christ we have been rescued from the kingdom of darkness and brought into the light. ---

Next Saturday is a day of darkness.

Next Saturday is Halloween.

I know, different people view Halloween in different ways.

I’m sure that even here in church this morning there are a variety of different views and opinions.

Some will think Halloween is harmless fun,

just an opportunity for children to dress up,

collect sweets and enjoy themselves.

Others will think because of it’s pagan origin and it’s glorification of evil that Halloween should not be celebrated at all.

We have different opinions, we have different views, but we need to ensure that we are obedient to God’s commands to us.

The Bible records the words of God about many subjects, His word is true and if our opinion is different from God’s on a specific subject it does not make us right and God wrong.

God is the one who is perfect, not us.

There are times when it is difficult for us to reconcile God’s truth to our own opinion or worldview.

The Bible, must be our guide in this fallen and sin sick world.

God has revealed His truth to us through His Word.

As disciples of Jesus, as Christian’s, people who say we love and trust God, we should want to follow and obey the commands and guidelines God has given to us.

God’s truth is eternal, it does not change, but our understanding of the truth does change as we allow God to work in our hearts and minds.

Maybe right now your sitting here and still thinking the same question many people ask, “What’s wrong with Halloween?”

This morning I intend to answer that question from the Word of God.

There are times when other people will not understand why we take a specific stand on certain issues.

This Halloween, people will encourage children to dress up as the devil and other evil things.

I believe it is terrible that in today’s supposedly enlightened and informed world, people encourage their children to dress up in evil costumes.

Many homes will be decorated with symbols and pictures of evil - Skulls, ghosts, witches, cauldrons, monsters, everything dark – anything macabre.

Halloween turns darkness into a macabre celebration.

I don’t like darkness. Darkness hides things.

In the Bible, darkness symbolizes evil.

Friends, we are not supposed to live in darkness.

What we are supposed to do is light up this world

with God’s love and proclaim the message of freedom, forgiveness and salvation.

God has not commanded us to embrace darkness, God has commanded us to bring light into this sin sick world.

To proclaim the truth that Jesus is the light of the world.

We have been commanded to lead people out of darkness into God’s wonderful light.

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The commission that Jesus gave to His apostles, is also given to us, we are to go into all the world and proclaim the truth that Jesus Christ is Lord and Saviour.

Listen to the words of Jesus in Acts 26:17-18 from The Message: “‘I’m sending you off to open the eyes of the outsiders so they can see the difference between dark and light, and choose light, see the difference between Satan and God, and choose God. I’m sending you off to present my offer of sins forgiven, and a place in the family, inviting them into the company of those who begin real living by believing in me.’”

It is possible to quote a verse of scripture out of context - the context here is an instruction to the Apostle Paul.

It is an instruction that God has given to each and every disciple of Christ.

But, these words of Jesus apply to us today.

We are called to be salt and light.

Remember the Great Commission Jesus has given to all His disciples, Matthew 28:18-20, clearly tells us that WE are to go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.