Identifying Believers, Part 3

Transcript

GRM 1028
5/3/2009
Identifying Believers, Part 3
Matthew 5:10-16
Gil Rugh


We're in Matthew 5 in your Bibles. We are studying the Sermon on the Mount, that covers Matthew 5-7. And if you do any reading on the Sermon on the Mount in commentaries, numerous books have been written on the Sermon on the Mount. You'll find great diversity of viewpoints on this passage of scripture. Not just in the Sermon on the Mount but when you get into the gospels, particularly Matthew, Mark and Luke, there are a whole variety of opinions on how we interpret it, how we understand it. Simple thing to keep you on track, we interpret it literally in its historical context according to the rules of grammar. And we keep in mind we have what we call progressive revelation. God did not reveal all He was going to reveal at one time. So we have the Old Testament and even through Old Testament times God progressively revealed more of His will and ways. Then you come to the New Testament and of course there is greater revelation with the coming of Christ, there is a fullness of revelation that did not exist before. But we must remember new revelation, additional revelation does not change or alter previous revelation. That simple fact will help keep you from getting confused. The promises made to Israel in the Old Testament are not changed by new revelation, later revelation given as part of our New Testament. God does not go back on His word, His word does not change. Additional revelation adds to what has been said, maybe gives a fuller understanding, but it does not change it.

One person well known and has written some helpful things, but he was making the point in his book on the Sermon on the Mount that we must remember that the church is now fulfilling the promises that were made to Israel and we must understand these Old Testament promises now in light of their fulfillment in the church. That only leads to confusion. I mean God's word is settled and sure, we'll come to that in the next section in the Sermon on the Mount. There are no changes. The kingdom has not yet started.

Another man who has written a commentary on Matthew and has some good things in it, but said almost all scholars agree the kingdom has begun. Well I don't know about almost all scholars agree, but the fact is the kingdom has not begun. The king is not on earth, He is not ruling in righteousness. You cannot spiritualize part of the kingdom and say it's already here but it's not yet here fully. No, it's not here, not the kingdom prophesied in the Old Testament, not the kingdom talked about in the gospels.

What Jesus is doing in the Sermon on the Mount, He is in the context, chapter 4 verse 17 to remind you, from that time Jesus began to preach and say, repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. In verse 23 of chapter 4 He is proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom. He comes as the Messiah to offer the kingdom to the nation Israel. What He does beginning in chapter 5 is describe the character and conduct of those who will be part of the kingdom when He does establish it. The Jews were looking for the coming of the Messiah to establish the kingdom. Remember we noted a key verse here in verse 20 of chapter 5, I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. So what kind of righteousness are we talking about that will be necessary for becoming part of the kingdom of heaven? The beatitudes started us off, the blessings, beatitudes coming from the Latin word for blessing. The Greek word here means blessed. We noted spiritual prosperity. They have the salvation of God that has brought the transformation within and all the blessings of God to their life. He is describing them. Now note, He is not describing the conditions within the kingdom when it is established, He is talking about the character and conduct of those who will be part of the kingdom, describing believers. The particular focus here are Jews anticipating the kingdom. But we are going to be part of that kingdom also, even as the church and so the character of a believer doesn't change. And so we see ourselves reflected here even today.

The last of the beatitudes is the one that gets the fullest consideration. In verse 10, blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. We've moved along describing the character of the believers, describing their ministry as peacemakers in the world. We noted this is not trying to bring a resolution to war among nations. These are the blessed feet of those who bring the gospel of God's peace to the lost, they are the peacemakers. But the Bible is realistic. It never presents that pie in the sky picture that we want to be careful to be realistic about.
If you've read much of the Bible you're aware that much of it is negative. You read the Old Testament prophets and they're always talking about problems, sin, trouble. It's characteristic of the Bible. You come to the New Testament, much of it is about trouble and difficulty. When the church is established you have letters about the troubles and problems in the churches. We have material about individuals undergoing suffering. Read Paul's testimony in II Corinthians 11, he just talks about the difficulties, the troubles, the problems that come into his life. We begin to think, is this what there is about the Christian life. No, the Christian life is a life of blessing—blessed are, blessed are, blessed are we have in the beatitudes. You understand that does not mean a life free from difficulty, free from trial. Paul at the end of II Corinthians said he has learned to live with weakness, even the personal problems because I realize when I am weak, then I am strong. It is often in that weakness that God chooses to allow to come into our lives, they really become means of enabling us to bring greater glory to Him. Paul said that's really when I am strong, when I am bringing glory to my God.

So we come in verse 10, a blessing pronounced on those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. They are the ones going to inherit the kingdom, they are the ones going to be part of the kingdom when the Messiah establishes it. These Jews knew they weren't in the kingdom, they were waiting for the Messiah to come and set it up. He is not saying they are in the kingdom, but they are the ones to whom the kingdom will belong, they will be part of it when the Messiah sets it up. Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness. That will be parallel to the end of verse 11 with the statement, because of Me. For the sake of righteousness and because of Me, you are saying the same thing. Because of our identification with Jesus Christ both in our life, lifestyle and message, we will experience persecution. In II Timothy 3:12, when we studied that letter of Paul, he said all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted. It's a sign of God's blessing, it is an evidence of God's salvation, the richness of His work in a life when there is persecution, when there is suffering. When you commit yourself to righteousness because you've committed yourself to Jesus Christ the righteous One, it will bring difficulty and trial and persecution to the life.

Come over to John 15. Jesus is preparing His disciples for His crucifixion. This is His last night with them and the betrayal will happen shortly and His crucifixion will take place. He says in verse 18, if the world hates you, now this is right after the command that He gives that you love one another. You understand this is not going to be a love fest. I command you as believers to love one another, but you understand the world will hate you. If the world hates you, you know that it has hated me before it hated you. Why does the world hate us? It you were of the world, the world would love its own, but because you are not of the world but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you. Here is a simple fact. You know we become so caught up with introspection. The world hates us. Why? Because we seem self-righteous, because we act like we are always right, because ............. And we come up with all these reasons that the world may say. We don't like those fundamental Christians, they are self-righteous, they think they are right, they are always trying to cram their beliefs down your throat, they ............. Jesus said that's not the problem, the problem is I chose you out of the world and the world loves its own but you are not its own. You don't belong to the world, you belong to Me. And so the world hates you. That's the foundational thing. There is nothing you can do to make the world love you if you are truly a believer in Jesus Christ. That brings the persecution.

Verse 20, the slave is not greater than his master. If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you. You see the issue is their attitude toward Jesus Christ. That doesn't mean Christians can't do dumb things and don't do dumb things and sometimes are antagonistic for other reasons. But we're talking about being persecuted for righteousness because of your identification with Christ. And this is the underlying resentment, the seething antagonism there is toward believers. Believers spend so much time trying to prove to the world that we are nice people, that we are good people, that we are lovable people. And we ought to do good things, we ought to treat the world with kindness and respect and understanding. But you understand we cannot back up on certain things. We are who we are and we are followers of Jesus Christ. We belong to Him, we are committed to a life of righteousness and a message of righteousness and the devil never compromises and comes to our side, nor do his followers. That's the point.

Look at verse 26. When the Helper comes whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me and you will testify also because you have been with Me from the beginning. He's addressing His original disciples. But what happens, in Paul's letter to Timothy, you take what is entrusted to you and you pass it on to faithful men who will teach others also. We are in that line of the Spirit bearing testimony. We'll see that further in a moment. So persecution comes because we don't belong to the world. As we will see, we are righteous people in an unrighteous world, giving a message of righteousness to a people who don't want to hear about righteousness. That creates the conflict and antagonism.

Come over to Philippians 1. Paul is in prison when he writes this letter. He is suffering for his faithfulness to the gospel. He says in verse 27, only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. So that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit with one mind, striving together for the sake of the gospel. Now note this, in no way alarmed by your opponents, which is a sign of destruction for them but of salvation for you and that from God. Note what he says. As you are standing together as the church at Philippi, striving together for the gospel, don't be alarmed by your opponents. Their opposition to your ministry of God's truth is a sign that they are people on their way to destruction. And their opposition to you is an indication you have experienced God's salvation. For to you it has been granted for Christ's sake, not only to believe in Him but also to suffer for His sake. I think it is important we see how these two are joined together. We want the first privilege but not the second. It has been granted to you to believe in Christ. What a blessing, what a privilege to have believed in Christ. But that's not the completion of the statement. And also to suffer for His sake. The persecution, the opposition that comes for being identified with Christ, with righteousness.

Come over to I Peter 3:14, but even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. Doesn't that sound like what Christ has said? Blessed are you when you are persecuted for the sake of righteousness. Peter says, even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation and do not be troubled. Don't be troubled. We think if we are being persecuted, if people oppose us when we've presented the gospel that we must have done something wrong. If they speak out and say, you just think you are self-righteous. We think, I have to prove to them I am not. You cannot because you have to submit to their view of righteousness, which is unrighteousness. You cannot win them over that way. So he says, do not be troubled, do not fear their intimidation. Sanctify Christ as Lord of your hearts, always ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence. We're not out to make enemies in that sense, we're out to present Christ. I understand I am presenting it to people who are in darkness, I understand I am presenting it to people who enslaved to sin, I understand I am presenting it to people who are controlled by the devil because I, too, once was like that. So we do it with gentleness and reverence. And we keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame. You know one thing we don't stop doing is what God has called us to do—be identified with righteousness, be identified with Christ.

Look over in chapter 4 verse 12, beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you. But to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing. Remember that, we're going to get the command to do that in a moment—to keep on rejoicing, keep on being glad. So that at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exaltation. Now note this, if you are reviled for the name of Christ you are blessed because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. Think about that. God used me in greater ways, think of the honor that was Paul's, the glory that God gave him to be a testimony for Him. Think of Isaiah, Jeremiah, think of Peter. You know what Peter says here? You can have that privilege. If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. We go away thinking, I wonder what I did wrong, I must not have the gift of evangelism. Better I just keep my mouth shut and try to live in my own little world and not be a problem. You understand we will forego the glory, we will forego the fillness of the Spirit's ministry in and through our lives. The stirring up of opposition is a sign God is using you in a great enough way to make waves. That's the point Peter is making.

Now you have to be sure none of you suffers as a murderer or a their, evildoer, troublesome meddler. But if anyone suffers as a Christian he is not to be ashamed, but he is to glorify God in this name. That's it. I should be ashamed if people ridicule, mock, slander if I am identified with Christ? That's a badge of honor, is it not? We look back at people in history that were faithful to the Lord and we think, what an honor, I would have stood. But it's not a question of would I have stood back then? The question is, will I stand faithful today in the trials that come. He's talking about persecution and slander, all kinds of pressure. The devil is our opponent, he knows what kind of pressures to bring in our lives to make us crack. He has a power that can bring us to our knees, the devil is a masterful ____________ and he can bring one kind of problem and another. Here we are talking about the opposition that comes from those who oppose the gospel.

Come back to Matthew 5. So here you can see we are anticipating those who would go into the kingdom. They are being persecuted. Verse 11 He gives another beatitude which is not a new beatitude. He's going to elaborate on this one, the only one of the beatitudes that is elaborated—the persecution. Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great. For in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. They revile you, they persecute you, they say all kinds of evil against you and you rejoice and be glad. You'll note at the end of verse 11, they do this because of Me. That parallels for the sake of righteousness in the previous verse, being persecuted for the sake of righteousness in verse 10. In verse 11, insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Because of our identification with the one who is righteous. And He is producing His righteousness within me, right? I've been crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I but Christ lives in me. And the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me, Paul wrote to the Galatians in chapter 2. And the One who is righteous, the righteous One dwells in me. I am giving forth the message of righteousness and this brings persecution. It's because of Christ, because of righteousness.

And what do they do? They insult, they persecute, they falsely say all kinds of evil against you. What is the devil? He is the slandered, right? What is one of his means to attack God's people? To slander them, to make all kinds of accusations about them that are not true, to try to destroy your reputation, your character. Now we have to be careful because we take these things to heart and they wound us and we say there is a misunderstanding. I don't want to come across as self-righteous, and we shouldn't. I shouldn't be self-righteous and if you're a true believer you know you are not righteous in and of yourself. But this is the truth. Everyone who disagrees with this is wrong. We're presenting the message that the world must hear.

There are two commands given in verse 12, rejoice and be glad. The commands are given in the present tense—you keep on rejoicing, you keep on being glad. Why? Your reward in heaven is great. I'm not doing it for the rewards of men, I'm doing it for what God will bestow for faithfulness. Well done, good and faithful servant. That's what we look for, right? And in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. You know reading the prophets in the Old Testament is interesting and we have to admire them. Wow, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel, and keep on going. What an honor to be a prophet, what a privilege to stand for the Lord. But you know we have the privilege to stand in the line of these same prophets. I'm not Isaiah, I'm not Jeremiah, I'm not one of those, but I stand in the same line as those men. I'm being persecuted for the same reason, you as a believer are being persecuted for the same reason. We don't want to be like the Jews who honored the prophets, but they were the ones who killed the prophets. They are phony. I would have loved to have been a Jeremiah. We have the opportunity. You can stand in the line of Jeremiah, you can be one who is a center of righteousness in your identification with Christ, living a godly life, giving out the message of Christ. The result will be opposition, it will be persecution, and you'll be able to say, I'm privileged to stand with Jeremiah. Thousands of years later, but we've locked arms on this. They persecuted the prophets before you, you are in good company, Jesus is saying.

You know what is happening here, come over to Acts 5 to see this evidenced out. Acts 5 is a ministry of Peter, and not only Peter, John is associated with him and others are going on here. But in verse 17 the high priest arose with all his associates, that's the sect of the Sadducees. They were filled with jealousy, they laid hands on the apostles, put them in public jail. What are they doing? They are doing the work of Christ. During the night an angel of the Lord opened the gates of the prison and taking them out said, go stand and speak to the people in the temple the whole message of this life, all the words of life. You ought to note something here. The angel doesn't come and say, men you need to listen to me, you are going about this all wrong. You are offending them when you don't need to offend them, you're coming across as self-righteous and know-it-all kind of men. Now I want you to change your approach. No, he unlocks the prison, takes them out and he says, you get back to the temple and you tell them all the words of life. They say, we'll be right back from where you just released us. There is no ___________, this is what it is about.

I say this because we get intimidated, unsettled, confused because we think people are so hostile to us, it must be something we are doing. It is, it is what we are and the world is not ready to hear that.

So they go about, they are back in the temple and there they are preaching. When the Jewish leaders come to get them out of prison they say, you know where those men are? They're not in prison, they're in the temple preaching. So they come and bring them in, bring them before the council. What are you going to do now? They tell them, verse 28, we gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this Name. Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and intend to bring this Man's blood upon us. Wouldn't that be a great testimony if people could say we have filled this city with the teaching of Christ. I mean, we have saturated the city with the message of Christ.

What did Peter do? Well, men, I want to apologize to the Sanhedrin, we probably were a little bit offensive. And sometimes I'm known for speaking out a little more than I should. And if I offended you, I want you to know I am sorry. You know what Peter does? Verse 29, Peter and the apostles answered, we must obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers, here we go with the message of life. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, and now you'll note there is no fudging here, whom you have put to death by hanging on the cross. You see you are opposed to the work of God, you put Him to death on the cross and God raised Him up. He is the One whom God exalted to His right hand as a prince and a Savior, to grant repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins and we are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him. And what is happening? The Holy Spirit now is at work in them. You know what they say? You don't have the Holy Spirit because you don't obey Him. We are witnesses of these things. These men fell on their faces and repented. No. When they heard this they were cut to the quick, cut to the heart and they intended to kill them. You know because you are faithful doesn't always mean people are going to like you. You are stirring up trouble by being identified with Jesus Christ. But we rejoice and be glad.

What do these men do? Well, instead of being killed, Gamaliel counsels them so they beat them. Then they send them away and tell them, verse 40, they flogged them and ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus and released them. And they went on their way, moaning and saying, Lord, what did we do wrong. Not at all. Look at verse 41, they went on their way from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name. Every day in the temple from house to house they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ, the Messiah, the Anointed One.

That's what Jesus is talking about—keep on rejoicing, keep on being glad when you are persecuted for My name, for the sake of righteousness. Why? The Spirit of glory rests upon them, remember? The Spirit of God is bearing testimony through them.

Come back to John 16. We just looked at John 15:26, when the Helper comes whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me and you will testify because you have been with Me from the beginning. Then Peter goes on to say, we have received the Spirit and the Spirit testifies of Christ. We read that in Acts. So you come down into John 16 and what does Jesus tell them? Verse 7, I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away the Helper, paraclete, the Holy Spirit will not come to you. But if I go I will send Him to you. And when He comes He will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment. What happened when the Holy Spirit came into the world in this special and unique way? He came to indwell believers. Now how does the Holy Spirit convict the world? Through believers, right? The Holy Spirit doesn't manifest His presence here and speak directly. Through believers like Peter and the apostles as we read in Acts 5 who had received the Holy Spirit. He was in them testifying and convicting the world of sin, righteousness and judgment. You know what happens when you are under conviction? It's unpleasant, it makes you uncomfortable, it brings a sense of guilt and shame. Now what are we going to do? Well what did the Sanhedrin want to do? They wanted to kill the apostles who were the mouthpiece for the Holy Spirit. What happens as the Holy Spirit dwells in you? He is producing the character of Christ in you and He is using you to testify concerning Christ. That convicts unbelievers of sin, the need of righteousness, of coming judgment. That makes them uncomfortable. Why don't they like me? Why aren't they comfortable with me? Must be my personality, I should read Dale Carnegie, How to Win Friends and Influence People. That may not be a bad idea, we don't want to offend people unnecessarily. If you have bad breath, get a breath mint. There are certain things we don't have to be offensive about, right? But I can't solve the basic problem. The Holy Spirit is using me as a convicting instrument, using you as a believer as a convicting instrument. Unbelievers don't like that and so their opposition is directed.

Why didn't they like Peter? I imagine Peter was a good guy. But now he represents Jesus Christ. He's not somebody we like. If he wouldn't live a godly life and he wouldn't give out that message of Jesus Christ, we could all get along. What did the Sanhedrin tell them? Stop talking about Christ. If they didn't talk about Christ, do you think the Sanhedrin would arrest them? You see the issue here is the work of the Holy Spirit. We say, God, use me, but then suffering comes, opposition comes, animosity comes and we say, Lord, what is wrong? And the message comes back, though you wanted Me to use you. Yes, but when I shared Christ people would put their arms around me and say, thank you for doing that. But that's not the norm, that's the exception.

They persecuted the prophets before you. Come back to Matthew 5. Let's just see the context here. We often quote some of these verses and we pull things out of the gospels, out of the Sermon on the Mount, we throw them out. The next verse. You are the salt of the earth, verse 13. Verse 14, you are the light of the world. We hear this and we say, we are the salt of the earth so we ought to be holding back corruption, we ought to be preventing this law from being passed and changing the social setting and the moral setting. It doesn't say to make the unbeliever salt. You know what He says? You are the salt, you are the light, this is what we are as believers. As Jesus addresses believers, those who would be part of the kingdom, He says, you are the salt. Now we don't try to get those who are not salt to be like salt, to be like light. We are the salt. You'll note the context here, in the context of manifesting godliness in our behavior, in manifesting godliness in our message as the peacemakers, in experiencing the opposition that comes from a life of righteousness and a message of righteousness. You understand you are salt in the world, you are light. These two analogies make clear 1. we are distinct from the world, we've been chosen out of the world but we have not been removed from the world. That tendency as believers, and sometimes the longer we are believers the more we feel like withdrawing into our own private, little cell. And the church in a sense is a separated group of people. But what do we do? We don't live here, just our own group. We are out in the world through the week. That's God's intention. Of if only I didn't have to have unbelieving neighbors, if I didn't have to work with unbelievers. You understand that's God's intention. You re the salt of the earth, you are the light of the world. How are you going to do that if you are not there? This is what we are. God didn't save us and remove us immediately to heaven. Why? He intends us to be in this sin-cursed world, on this sin-cursed earth as salt.

But if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. One writer said that the most often made statement at dinner tables is pass the salt, please. We're familiar with salt, it is seasoning and too much salt is not good for you, we limit salt in our diet. We're talking about this illustration here. Salt has always been a preservative, it was a basic commodity. Roman soldiers got paid in salt, that's where we get our expression, they're not worth their salt, meaning they are not worth their pay. It was a preservative and before refrigeration salt was a major preservative. __________ place in the world. If it didn't have that ability to be a seasoning and a preservative, what good would it be? I'm not going to go into detail, you can read the commentaries on salt of the time and how it could be mixed with impurities and lose its effectiveness. The point here is if salt wasn't salty, what good would salt be? It's just like grains of sand or something like that. We don't sit at the table and say, pass the sand. We don't put sand on our food. Why? It doesn't do anything, but salt does. They rubbed salt on meat in past days to preserve it, and things like that. It has a unique function and purpose to bring in the world. And I think when you connect it with you are the light of the world, a city set on a hill cannot be hidden. You are there to do what you are to do by your presence, you are salt. Now function accordingly. You are light, now function accordingly, consistent with your character as a believer. Why? Being righteous, giving out the message of righteousness. It has nothing to do with trying to make the world a better place. That's a misuse of these kinds of passages. We're describing believers and what they are to do. We are not here to try to make the unbeliever function like a believer, we are here to bring the message that can bring transformation.

He elaborates on both of them. On the light of the world He says you are a city set on a hill that cannot be hidden. You see what we are to be. We sort of like to blend in as believers, don't we? But Jesus said you are a light, you are like a city set on a hill. In those days they didn't have the lights we have spread out so here you have the city and you have the oil lamps and the white buildings. And it could be seen from a long way off, like maybe some of our cities. If you've flown into a city at night and you see all the lights and it stands out. That's the idea. If you're a city on a hill you are above everything and you stand out in that darkness with no other lights out. And you are away from that city in those days, even like we have today. That's what a believer is—we stand out, we are unique, we are salt in this world, we are lights in this world. We are not to be hidden, we cannot be hidden.

Nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven. You see God's intention is not to remove us from the world, not to put us out all by ourselves so we are not defiled by having contact with these dirty people, but to be what the world needs. We bring the message of life, we bring light to those in darkness so that they might hear of the One who is righteous, see what He has done in our lives and perhaps by the grace of God come to believe in the Savior that we have come to know.

Turn over to John 1. You can check commentaries, we could spend a whole study going through the use of salt in the Old Testament and then into the New. Then the use of light. They are extensive. We're just going to look at a couple of references on light. Jesus is called the light in John 1:4. In Him was life and the life was the light of men. You see when He brings life, that life becomes the light. The life we have in Christ is the light which gives off the knowledge, enables men to know the Christ. The light shines in the darkness, the darkness did not comprehend it or overcome it. Verse 9, there was the true light, which coming into the world enlightens every man. He is the light of the world.

Come over to John 8:12, then Jesus again spoke to them saying, I am the light of the world. He who follows Me will not walk in the darkness but will have the light of life. So you see what happens when Jesus talks like this, speaks like this, gives out the message of life and light. The Pharisees said to Him, you are not testifying about yourself, your testimony is not true. They begin to insult Him, they begin to slander Him. That's what happens by those who are opposed to the light, opposed to the message of light.

Come over to Ephesians 5. You know I sometimes think of us as believers. You know how sometimes you can watch a program on television showing crime in a city and they go there at night. And what happens? There are drug dealers out on the street, there are prostitutes out on the street, burglars out on the street. I used to take the subway in and out of Philadelphia when I was a student and I had occasion to go in at night to the city. And we used to joke that anybody you see going down the subway at night is a visitor because I'm not going down into the subway at night. Why? It's dark and things could happen. I'm not saying that is always true, but we sort of look at it that way. I would rather stay up where there were street lights and where there weren't dark corners and these kinds of things. We think of the night as where trouble happens. If you're in the house during the daytime, it's all right. I remember one time we were out on a farm when our kids were little and we went out there for dinner, Dutch and Onneatta. The kids were out, they went out into the barn, this is great, city kids out running all around. After dinner they said, we're going out to the barn. Do you know what they did? They opened the back door, started to step out. They came running back in. You know what they said? It's dark out there. I said, you were out there in the daylight, you know what it's like. Go ahead. I'm not going out there. Why? We have that view of the dark, don't we? It's the same in our home. You hear a noise in your house at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, you go to see what it is. You hear a noise in your house at 3 a.m. and it's something different. Now you're “spooked.” So we talk about the dark in that way.

I sometimes think a believer is like a big lightbulb walking down the street. And we're in the dark. And people doing sinful things don't like the light, they don't want the light shining on them. So they would like the light to be stifled, or they would like to put a cover over the light. That's what we are facing. We are lights in the darkness.

Look at Ephesians 5:8. In this context he is talking about, the chapter opened up with the imitators of God as beloved children. Walk in love just as Christ loved you and gave Himself up for us. Verse 3, immorality, impurity, greed must not even be named among you. No filthiness, silly talk, coarse jesting, and so on. Then he tells who will not be part of the kingdom, verse 5. You know this with certainty that no immoral, impure person or covetous man who is an idolater has an inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Understand this is the same thing Christ has been talking about. Who is going to be part of the kingdom, who will not be part of the kingdom. No immoral, impure, covetous, idolater has an inheritance in the kingdom. The Word of God is rather clear, that's not what a believer is like. So do not be partakers with them. Verse 7, for you were formerly darkness, now you are light in the Lord, walk as children of light. For the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth. That's what we are talking about. We are light in the Lord, now walk as children of light. Be honest, don't try to disguise yourself. The Pharisees tried to disguise themselves as righteous people, they were not. Sometimes believers try to disguise themselves, play down their righteousness. I want to show them I'm just one of them, I'm like them. There was a time when lifestyle evangelism tended toward this—be in the bar, have a beer, show them you're like them. We are not like them, don't try to pretend we are. Not because I am self-righteous, because I am righteous in Christ. We are light, walk as children of light. And that means goodness, righteousness and truth.

Turn over to Philippians 2. At the end of verse 12 we are told to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. That means again the process. Now as believing people, saved people, continue to process in your growth and maturity. For it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. Any wonder we should be characterized by righteousness? It's God who is at work in us and it is for His good pleasure. Do all things without grumbling or disputing so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life. That's what we do. You'll note, we are demonstrating that we are the children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation. We're not trying to get a crooked and perverse generation to live more like believers live. We're calling a crooked and perverse generation to repentance and salvation in Christ. That's where we get confused today, we think if we can get the right legislation, if we can get the right social programs, if we can get the right Supreme Court personnel then we'll get laws ........... But you understand that's not righteousness. That doesn't mean we can't hold our convictions and so on, but that's not what we are called to do and be in the world. We are in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, that's what they are. Only God can change them. That's why they need to hear the message of life and light.
We appear as lights in the world, holding forth the word of life. Here we are, lights in the darkness. Those in the darkness can be brought to the light, they can hear the truth that can bring salvation.

Turn to I John 1:5, this is the message that we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is light. Any wonder we are light when we come to His salvation, when we become partakers of the divine nature, as Peter said, when the Spirit of God dwells in us? God is light, in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and walk in the darkness we lie and do not practice the truth. 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 keeps on cleansing us from all sin. That's who we are. Think about it. What a privilege. Everywhere we go we are lights in the world. The salt of the world, the light of the world. I am privileged here to demonstrate God's righteousness, a life of godliness in this sin-cursed world. I am privileged to give off a message which is life. People say, I think you are self-righteous. You are half right, I am righteous but I'm not self-righteous because I'm like you. In and of myself I'm a lost sinner. But in Christ I have found His righteousness. God has given to me what I could not acquire for myself, He's given me the righteousness I need to be acceptable in His presence. I'm not going to deny I'm a righteous person. There is a difference between self-righteous. A self-righteous persons thinks he is righteous because of what he has done, who he is. I'm righteous because of who I am in Christ. Only God can take me and cleanse me and make me new. There is a battle going on.

One more passage and we are done, II Corinthians 4. Ephesians 6 says we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities, against powers, against the spiritual forces of this world's darkness. We're doing battle against the devil and spiritual hosts, the forces of darkness in this world. We stand as lights and the devil opposes the light. In II Corinthians 4 Paul says as he begins the chapter, therefore, since we have this ministry, and it's a ministry of giving off the knowledge of Christ. This goes back to chapter 2 verse 14 where we are giving off the fragrance of the knowledge of Christ in every place. Chapter 3 verse 5, we are not adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God who made us adequate as servants of the New Covenant. Down in chapter 4 verse 1, therefore since we have this ministry. We say this is exciting. As we have received mercy we do not lose heart. It is exciting, but it is a hard ministry. Why did he say we do not lose heart? Because it is a battle going on, there is persecution, there is opposition, there are trials from within and from without. One way and another the devil comes to attack. I think of Job, the attack is in a variety of ways—his kids, his health, his life, his friends. It's a battle, the devil is relentless.

We do not lose heart, we have renounced the things hidden because of shame. Here we're back to the idea of darkness, the things hidden because of shame. Not walking in craftiness or adulterating the Word of God, but by the manifestation of truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God. Whatever else they say about us, we stand for the truth, we live truth, we preach truth. And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. Now note this, in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ who is the image of God. This is the spiritual battle going on. That's why the devil will do all he can to destroy you and your testimony. He is trying to put a bushel over the light, he is battling to keep the light from penetrating into the heart of the unregenerate person, to keep them in darkness, keep them bound in their sin and under his control. We do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, ourselves as your bond servants for Christ's sake. For God who said, light shall shine out of darkness is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

How did you get into the light, Paul? Because you were a Pharisee, because you worked to be so righteous? No. He's the One who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. He was the One who turned on the light in my life. I live in the light, I know the One who is light, I know the One who is righteous and I have received righteousness from Him. And what does this mean? Where do we go with this? Verse 7, we have this treasure in earthen vessels so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves. Now what's his testimony as one who has been entrusted with the light of the gospel? We are afflicted in every way but not crushed, perplexed but not despairing, persecuted but not forsake, struck down but not destroyed. Always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may be manifest in our bodies. We who live are constantly being delivered over to death for Jesus' sake so that the life of Jesus may be manifest in our mortal flesh. You see Paul says the suffering, the persecution was so that the light of the knowledge of Jesus Christ might go out more clearly, more strongly.

The problem with the Corinthians was they wanted to live like the kingdom had started, like they were already starting to reign. We need to realize who we are as God's people. He is describing those going into the kingdom, they are characterized by being persecuted, by being slandered, by being insulted. They are salt, they are light in the world. And you understand God didn't save us and leave us planted here in this darkness so somebody could put a bushel over us, so we could try to tone down the light with a dimmer. No, His intention is we have the glory of persecution as we live righteously, display righteousness for His glory, give our the message which is life. Aren't you glad someone brought the light out into the darkness so you could see and have the light of the gospel, the glory of Christ shine in your dark life. You know without that no one can be saved. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of Christ. Our greatest glory, sometimes we take as our greatest shame. I'm embarrassed, I'm ashamed, I'm tongue tied. I just go to town and talk about who the next Supreme Court appointee ought to be at the drop of a hat. But open my mouth and talk about Christ, it just seems like my tongue turns to cotton. Do it more often, talk about it more. We are lights, we must give off the light of the knowledge of the glory of Christ. That's why we want unbelievers to come here. We don't change their character, change their conduct. We want to have God change them and make them new. That's why you give testimony to your family, that's why you give testimony at work—your great glory is to be privileged to be a light, to be salt in the world and those destined ultimately to rule and reign with Him in the kingdom He'll establish on this earth.

Let's pray together. Thank you, Lord, for the power of your salvation. What a mighty salvation that you should take lost sinners, those bound in darkness, without hope in the world. You cleanse us, you make us new, you set us free. Your Spirit takes up residence in our lives, we become partakers of the divine nature, we are entrusted with the glorious message of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Lord, may we recognize that it is our greatest glory to be identified with Christ. The more clear that identification is, the greater the glory we are privileged to have as we make Jesus Christ known. May we take that to heart as we go out into the world as salt and light. May we be bold to speak forth the testimony of the Savior who was crucified, buried and raised again and is the Savior of all who will believe in Him. We praise you in Christ's name, amen.