“Living in the Light”
John 3:18-21
There was a news article:
- published Friday (10/4/2024)
- in the “USA TODAY”
- about the devastation and chaos brought on by Hurricane Helene
I am going to share parts of the article with you:
? Rescue crews across western North Carolina
? searched Friday for scores
? of missing people following
Helene's historic deluge:
? has killed at least 223 people, hundreds more people are missing
? swallowing whole towns and
? leaving thousands without power or drinkable water.
The storm washed out hundreds of roads and damaged bridges:
? across the southern Appalachians,
? leaving residents in already isolated communities
? stranded amid widespread
? power outages and communication blackouts.
Meanwhile:
? residents throughout the Southeast
? were grappling with
? the storm's immense damage.
Let us pray for these people:
- for their pain, their needs, their lack,
- for the Doctorss and 1st responders
- from broken houses to broken hearts.
- for God to be glorified amid the Chaos
Silent prayer followed by Gary closing.
Thursday night I heard the story:
- of one lady’s tragic experience in the hurricane
- she lost her husband and 7 year old child and
- was thrown into the waters of Hurricane Hellene
She found herself:
- being pushed around in the water for 5 hours
- she must have been bloody and bruised
- she was desperate and helpless
Her life was in danger…in fact without help she was going to perish
She needed a Savior:
- and she was rescued, she was plucked out of the surrounding waters.
- and after being saved from a certain death
- she praised God for Saving her
- right on TV she LOUDLY Praised the name of Jesus
Remember this lady and we’ll come back to her….
Today’s passage… John 3:18-21:
- follows the famous verse John 3:16-17
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
John 3:16-17 (NIV)
In verse 18, we are told there is no condemnation for those who believe in Jesus.
1. The CHOICE between LIGHT and DARKNESS
“Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. 19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.
- John 3:18-19
Verse 18: "Whoever believes in him is not condemned..."
No matter the depth of your sin:
- Salvation is available to you
- no matter how far you have gone away from God
- The Cross is your pass home…
The Cross of Christ:
- offers healing in the place of woundedness
- offers forgiveness in the place of shame
- offers God’s righteousness in the place of our sinfulness.
“For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.”
- Colossians 1:19-20 (NIV)
Salvation is available to everyone:
- But you must believe in the name of Jesus
- put your confidence in the
- death, burial and resurrection of Christ
The emphasis here is on faith in Jesus:
- as the central means of salvation.
- Belief in Christ delivers one from condemnation.
A few moments ago:
- I told you a story about a woman
- who was bruised, bloody and almost drowned?
- but then someone pulled her from certain death and gave her life???
While she was still in the water:
- after 5 hours of being dragged around and into things
- by the strong current of the RIVER
- What was her situation???
Was she saved or lost…Physically?
- physically she could not rescue herself
- if no one intervened she would certainly have died
- her status was lost…
That sounds to me like our situation…
LOST is the status of everyone:
- who has not put their faith in Jesus Christ
- that person outside of Christ and His Kingdom
- are in the current position of LOST….
"...but whoever does not believe stands condemned already..."
This phrase introduces the theme of judgment:
? It is a judgment based on personal response to Jesus,
? The condemnation is not future but
? a present reality for those who reject Jesus.
God desires all people to go to HEAVEN:
- the LOST person is already on the way to Hell
- JESUS is the one who comes along and
- reaches out his hand to pull you from death to life
Many people stand condemned already because….
"...because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son."
Rejecting this truth results in remaining in a state of condemnation.
"This is the verdict: Light has come into the world..."
- John 3:19
In the Bible, Jesus is frequently referred to as "the Light,":
? 8 times in the Gospel of John
? Jesus says He is the light
Here are a few key passages in which Jesus is referred to as light
John 1:4-5
"In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."
John 1:9
"The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world."
John 8:12
"When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'"
- John 8:12
"...but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil."
- John 3:19
Let’s go back to the beginning of Genesis...
In the account of Adam and Eve:
- God was with them in heaven
- they situation was perfect
Genesis 2:16-17 (NIV)
"And the Lord God commanded the man, 'You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.'"
When God told the couple “Do not eat this fruit”:
- He gave them the choice to obey or rebel
Adam and Eve HAD the choice to OBEY or REJECT GOD
God is still in the business of letting people:
- believe in or reject Jesus
- Love or hate Hime
It is like are the drowning person…
o You are the one beaten, exhausted and almost drowning and
o Jesus is there with the life raft; he is throwing you a life preserver
o What are you going to do? (X2)
The reasonable thing to do:
- the smart thing to do is to accept the offer of salvation
- but that is not what most people are doing
- most people I see are rejecting God.
Matthew 7:13-14 (NIV)
"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it."
John 3:19 reveals the heart of the problem: the love of darkness.
“This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.”
People hide from the light of God because:
? They do not want their sin exposed.
? They do not want to submit to God
? They desire their sin more than God
Those that love darkness:
? want to keep getting drunk
? want to keep fornicating and being sexually immoral
? want to keep a foul mouth
? want to be the boss of their own lives
? won’t submit to God and probably not anyone else
Some that love darkness:
- are not aware of their lost state
- they are in love with the darkness of the world
- and are far from God, but they do not see the problem
Jesus addresses this type of person:
- who is disobedient
- in love with unrighteousness
- but they have a hint of religion
“Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”
- Matthew 7:23 (NIV)
Children are often afraid of the dark:
- but give them a little night light
- and they are comforted
- the child’s fear vanishes, and the shadows no longer seem scary.
Daily we face a choice; of choosing light or darkness…
2. Some will reject the LIGHT for FEAR of EXPOSURE
“Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed.”
- John 3:20
The text says there are people who hate the light:
- they hate Jesus and will not come to Him
o They fear judgment,
o they fear the shame of their actions, and
o they are overwhelmed with a sense of shame
We have seen this hatred of Jesus:
- they have an intolerance for anything Biblical
- they do not ignore or dislike God
- God makes them agitated, hostile and sometimes dangerous
They need to come into the light, but they fear the light.
They are afflicted by sin and death:
- and the cure they desperately need
- is the one thing they do not want
- they would rather hide and die in the dark than come into the light
There is healing in bringing to the light:
- oh it can be uncomfortable
- it can be painful
- but it is necessary if healing is to take place
Is there an area of your life:
- you might be avoiding bringing into the light of God’s truth.
- Is there sin or brokenness you’re afraid to confess?
- God's light exposes, but it also heals and forgives.
Imagine a group of cave explorers venture deep into a cavern:
? One of them decides
? to turn off their headlamp
? to experience the total darkness.
At first, it’s exciting to be in complete darkness:
? but soon they become disoriented.
? They can’t find their way back, and the further they walk,
? the more lost they become.
The darkness feels safe initially, but:
? it leads to confusion and danger.
? It’s only when they turn their light back on that
? they can find the right path and see the beauty of the cave.
3. LIVING in the LIGHT
“But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.”
- John 3:21
John 3:21 is a contrast to who love darkness
It speaks of those who:
? live by the truth.
? Hate their own sin and love righteousness
? These people practice the truth and please God
They come into the light because:
• they have nothing to hide:
• No one who follows God is perfect, but
• We must be transparent and open to God’s scrutiny.
Walking in the light is:
• not about being sinless, but
• about being honest before God and
• allowing His truth to guide our lives.
WE remember that we are:
- not saved by our good works
- we do not earn our salvation
- salvation is a gift we do not deserve
We are NOT saved by our GOOD WORKS, but we ARE saved for GOOD WORKS…
“For we are His workmanship,” Paul reminded the Ephesians, “created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”
- Ephesians 2:10
Yesterday at the Fall Festival:
- 33 workers came and served the Lord
- we loved the community
- I enjoyed watching families come and have fun!
- ACC had almost 100 kids and adults yesterday
A special thanks to Alisyn and Stacey for leading this…
But it came at a cost:
- we left exhausted and many left in pain (sore joints/blisters)
- from standing at games for hours, lifting tables
- setting up and tearing down
We gave up our Saturday of fun for a day of service:
- and it was done with a good heart
- we knew we were showing God’s love
- we were doing ministry
Many will donate goodies “College boxes”
- and later this morning workers will
- put together boxes of blessing to send out
- others will donate money for postage…
God’s people will always bear fruit…
On the other hand:
“Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire”
Matthew 7:19
As believers:
? we are called to walk in the light,
? not only in private, but also in public.
? Our actions should reflect someone who seeks to honor God,
WE have a choice…..
1. The CHOICE between LIGHT and DARKNESS
Some will choose SIN and DEATH over Salavtion in JESUS
2. Some will reject the LIGHT for FEAR of EXPOSURE
Some will choose to live in the light
3. LIVING in the LIGHT
God is not looking for people:
- to be silent or ride the fence
- we are called to take a stand and decide
- God isn’t looking for half-hearted followers….
WE can never fool God:
- He sees your heart
- He and knows
- if your hearth belongs to Him
There is soon coming:
- a day of reckoning
- where we will ALL give an account for our lives
- and judgments will be passed out
- both REWARDS and PUNISHMENTS will be issued
Now is the time to commit your heart and life to God
Hear the words of Jesus:
- as He gives an evaluation of the Church in Laodicea
- Jesus shoots straight with them and
- he calls them out for their apathy and indifference
We need to come to Jesus:
- because we have a
- SIN problem and a DEATH problem
- and Jesus solved them both
The GOOD NEWS is that…
- Jesus died on the cross
- to forgive your sins and paid YOUR DEBT
- so that one day you could be with Him in heaven
If you were to die right now:
- do you know for certain
- without any doubt that you would go to heaven?
Do you know that:
- the only thing on this planet that God wants
- is that the people here would
- one day be with Him in heaven?
Let’s pray…
