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.
Teaching new disciples to obey all the commands God has given us.
God wants to use us, you and me, to open the eyes of the outsiders - the unsaved, those who are currently lost in the darkness of sin.
We are to celebrate the gift of eternal life not disguise ourselves in darkness and death to “fit in” with a celebration of a lost and fallen world.
God wants us to help others escape, to know the freedom of sins forgiven.
To choose the eternal light of God, not the darkness of the Devil.
To help others see the difference between life without God and life with God.
Am I being extreme in my interpretation of God’s commands to us His disciples?
Does what I have said so far, go against your interpretation of what the Bible says is permissible in your life and the life of your children?
Do you need proof from God’s word about what is wrong with celebrating the darkness of Halloween?
Let’s consider three passages from God’s Word
The first passage is from the New Testament:
Ephesians 5:11-17 (NLT)
Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said, “Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light.”
So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do.
We are not to take part in deeds of darkness.
We are commanded to be careful how we live.
We are commanded to make the most of every opportunity and to think about what we are doing.
We need to know and do what God wants us to do
The second passage is from the Old Testament, Deuteronomy 18:9-12 (NLT) “When you enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, be very careful not to imitate the detestable customs of the nations living there. For example, never sacrifice your son or daughter as a burnt offering. And do not let your people practice fortune-telling, or use sorcery, or interpret omens, or engage in witchcraft, or cast spells, or function as mediums or psychics, or call forth the spirits of the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the Lord. It is because the other nations have done these detestable things that the Lord your God will drive them out ahead of you.
Just because other people celebrate Halloween, it does not make it ok for us to imitate them.
We are not to do things that are detestable to God.
On Halloween, most people will not attempt to sacrifice a living person, though there are many who will be involved in Pagan and demonic rituals.
Have you read the stories in the local papers of people dancing in the graveyard on Halloween?
It’s dismissed as ‘just a bit of harmless fun’, but is it?
Dressing up as a wizard or a witch, or a fortune teller, or an evil spirit - that could be called just harmless fun too couldn’t it?
Friends, how can dressing up as things that God calls detestable bring Him honour or glory?
I can hear some of you thinking:
But my friends have a really good party planned for Halloween!
Everyone goes to it, if I don’t go I will miss all the fun!
Dean, I know God loves me, all month long I have heard the ministers preaching about the forgiveness of God, surely its not that bad if I dress up a little and go along?
God will understand, God forgive me.. won’t He?
As I said at the start,
It is true that past, present, future sins have already been forgiven.
But, that does not give us a licence to behave however we want to.
God has brought you from darkness to light, don’t walk willing back into the darkness of this world.
The apostle John refers to believes in Jesus as Children of Light.
If we dress up as witches, demons, vampires or skeletons we are embracing darkness not living as “children of light”
Remember the words of Jesus we read earlier in Acts 26: 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.
The whole concept behind Halloween is death, darkness, deception, fear, and pagan rituals.
Halloween is not a night of innocent fun it is a night that glorifies evil and the devil.
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The third passage is from the New Testament Ephesians 6:10-13 (NLT)
Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on all of God’s armour so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armour so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.
Be strong, stand firm, choose light not darkness.
Present-day Satanists and witches consider Halloween to be their “high holy day”– like Easter is to us.
Someone once said, A Christian celebrating Halloween is like Israel declaring a public holiday to celebrate the life of Adolf Hitler.
It is not a day of celebration we should participate in.
1 John 3:8 says, when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil.
Participation in Halloween will not make you a witch,
or a devil-worshiper, or occultist.
But if you choose to celebrate darkness you are dishonouring Jesus, our Lord and Saviour who came into this world to “destroy the works of the devil”.
As Christians we should not compromise the truth – we should not condone evil and darkness in any way.
1 Peter 5:8-9 says “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith.”
Let me close with this:
“What’s wrong with Halloween?”
Simply put, It glorifies Satan – it does not glorify God.
If you are a Christian, if you have accepted Jesus as your personal Lord and Saviour, then you have already been brought from darkness into the light.
If you have trusted Jesus as your personal Saviour
you are in Christ,
you are living in the light
you have the power of the living GOD with you!
AND Greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world!
If you are not a Christian this morning,
if you have never understood your need to be saved from the darkness of sin in your life,
this morning you can ask Jesus into your life,
you can choose to accept Jesus as your Saviour right now –
you can choose to abandon the darkness of sin and walk in the light of God,
you can choose to repent and have your sins forgiven
God is willing to accept you..
Are you willing to accept Him!
God has saved us from darkness and brought us into His marvellous light!
Again 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.’”
This Halloween do not glorify evil –
see the difference between dark and light, and choose light,
do not let your children embrace evil
Do not be afraid of the Evil one.
see the difference between Satan and God, and choose God.
Believe in God, trust in God, know your sins are forgiven.
Walk in the light of His word
Walk in the light of his love.
