Friday, 4 March 2016
Jesus ran the restore disk...
1Pe 5:10 And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.
We have a laptop which somehow got corrupted and after trying everything, the only option left was to restore it to its factory settings and start all over again. However, before we could restore the laptop, the good files had to be removed in safe mode, otherwise they would be destroyed. It's amazing the information that accumulates over the years. Photos, music files, an archive of old sermons, all sorts of things.
While removing the data it got me thinking - humanity, yes all of us, are like the laptop. Although there are lots of good things, we have a fundamental problem and need restoration.
The bible talks about sin as falling short or missing the mark. 1 John 3v4 talks of sin being the transgression of the law. Israel was given ten commandments in Exodus 20, and in Mark 12v30-31 Jesus boiled them down to two onto which they all hang - Love God & Love Your Neighbour.
You may be thinking that you're ok. But in Matt 5 Jesus turned everything on its head by saying that if you even think about sinning you have done so in your heart so you are guilty. Therefore everyone has a problem that needs fixing.
There are many good people in the world who do charitable things for others, however all are guilty of sin. Rom 3:23-24 says "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God..."
The laptop couldn't fix itself - it needed intervention to restore it. No matter how many good photos and sermons were on it, unless the problem was removed the laptop was dead, and the same was true of humanity.
The good news is that God has solved the problem - Jesus Christ has intervened for us and has restored the relationship between humanity and God by paying the penalty for sin and therefore removing it from the system.
Eph 2:1-2 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.
Eph 2:4-5 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved.
Through Jesus intervention we are new creations transformed by Grace. We don't deserve life, but that is what God has given us. The good news is that Jesus has restored us so God sees only the good as the bad has been destroyed and we have the assurance that God's love is greater than our sin.
Prayer
Thank you God for restoring us through Jesus and giving us new life.
Saturday, 20 February 2016
Do you have to be strong enough?
Many years ago at summer camp when I was a camper they had a giant tug of war and on the final pull they hooked up one side to a speed boat to help them... you can guess who won?
This is the same for us today - on our own we can feel weary and weak but collectively we're stronger. Even so, we're fighting forces we don't know or understand which seek to undermine us - so we desperately need help.
Mat 11:28-30 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
Jesus yoke is light as he's there helping us bear it. Jesus has already suffered and died on our behalf, he's even carried the cross - and we can rest in him knowing all that needs to be done for our salvation has been done already. Our part is to believe this is so, and accept the gift of salvation.
Php 4:13 in the King James says "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." People have defied the odds and defied their physical circumstances all over the world and done amazing things in the name of Jesus in the strength of God.
Moses isn't renouned for his singing but after they crossed the red sea he sang. "The LORD is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him. (Exo 15:2)
Moses gave God the credit for saving the people from Egypt. The deliverance from Egypt, especially the plagues and crossing of the red sea are examples of where they could not have physically done it on their own strength. God strengthened them by displaying his power against the Egyptians.
So, what does God give us strength for today? He strengthens us so that we can help and encourage others. Gal 6:9-10 says "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. "
So when the troubles of the world weigh us down, let's pray for God to uphold us and lets live in His strength.
This is the same for us today - on our own we can feel weary and weak but collectively we're stronger. Even so, we're fighting forces we don't know or understand which seek to undermine us - so we desperately need help.
Mat 11:28-30 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
Jesus yoke is light as he's there helping us bear it. Jesus has already suffered and died on our behalf, he's even carried the cross - and we can rest in him knowing all that needs to be done for our salvation has been done already. Our part is to believe this is so, and accept the gift of salvation.
Php 4:13 in the King James says "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." People have defied the odds and defied their physical circumstances all over the world and done amazing things in the name of Jesus in the strength of God.
Moses isn't renouned for his singing but after they crossed the red sea he sang. "The LORD is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him. (Exo 15:2)
Moses gave God the credit for saving the people from Egypt. The deliverance from Egypt, especially the plagues and crossing of the red sea are examples of where they could not have physically done it on their own strength. God strengthened them by displaying his power against the Egyptians.
So, what does God give us strength for today? He strengthens us so that we can help and encourage others. Gal 6:9-10 says "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. "
So when the troubles of the world weigh us down, let's pray for God to uphold us and lets live in His strength.
Sunday, 7 February 2016
You're Included
Joh 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. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
How many of you like being left out of something? My home town is rugby mad, home of the Scarlets but I was never the sporty type. I remember when they were picking teams for anything - I was always left until one of the last, once all the sporty ones and popular ones had been chosen.
We all like being included – but when it comes to church, people can take a totally contrary view.
People's religious views are a very private thing that are hidden or excluded from others. Tony Blair famously said that you have to keep religion out of politics. Some may be too afraid to take the step and come inside to get to know God because they think of him as a big scary voice in the sky, or maybe it’s the church building or the pastor who’s scary!
Sadly there are a lot of people who are hurt by their previous experience of church. Some may think they are too good so don’t need to go to church, others may feel that they are somehow not good enough. If you get the cart before the horse you may think that the cost of salvation is just too high and you'll never be good enough for God to love you. Guess what - God loves us whether we think we're good enough or not. Rom 5v8 says that Jesus died for us while we were still sinners. It's not about us - it's about Him!!
The good news is that Jesus has already died for us - all of us, once for all as it says in Hebrews and by doing so He offers us the gift of life freely. That's God's grace. We are not super humans who are perfect and deserve it - we have our faults - but God loves us anyway.
Even as a Christian, doubts can enter our head as to whether we are good enough to be saved, are we good enough for God to love us? The good news is that everyone is included in the love of God.
Eph 2v8-9 says “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is a gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.”
This says that we are saved by faith, but this isn’t even from us – we’re saved by the faith of Jesus.
God does not want anyone to Perish – his love is inclusive. Jesus came to save the lost, he came to give life. The parable of the lost sheep in Matt 18v11 – 14 sees great joy when the lost sheep is found. In v14 Jesus said "In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish." This is so encouraging – just as the shepherd rejoiced when he found the sheep, God rejoices when people accept the precious gift of life.
The good news is that Jesus, the word, became flesh and blood like us, He was born, he lived and died and rose again then ascended, so that all who believe in him shall be saved and have eternal life.
How many of you like being left out of something? My home town is rugby mad, home of the Scarlets but I was never the sporty type. I remember when they were picking teams for anything - I was always left until one of the last, once all the sporty ones and popular ones had been chosen.
We all like being included – but when it comes to church, people can take a totally contrary view.
People's religious views are a very private thing that are hidden or excluded from others. Tony Blair famously said that you have to keep religion out of politics. Some may be too afraid to take the step and come inside to get to know God because they think of him as a big scary voice in the sky, or maybe it’s the church building or the pastor who’s scary!
Sadly there are a lot of people who are hurt by their previous experience of church. Some may think they are too good so don’t need to go to church, others may feel that they are somehow not good enough. If you get the cart before the horse you may think that the cost of salvation is just too high and you'll never be good enough for God to love you. Guess what - God loves us whether we think we're good enough or not. Rom 5v8 says that Jesus died for us while we were still sinners. It's not about us - it's about Him!!
The good news is that Jesus has already died for us - all of us, once for all as it says in Hebrews and by doing so He offers us the gift of life freely. That's God's grace. We are not super humans who are perfect and deserve it - we have our faults - but God loves us anyway.
Even as a Christian, doubts can enter our head as to whether we are good enough to be saved, are we good enough for God to love us? The good news is that everyone is included in the love of God.
Eph 2v8-9 says “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is a gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.”
This says that we are saved by faith, but this isn’t even from us – we’re saved by the faith of Jesus.
God does not want anyone to Perish – his love is inclusive. Jesus came to save the lost, he came to give life. The parable of the lost sheep in Matt 18v11 – 14 sees great joy when the lost sheep is found. In v14 Jesus said "In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish." This is so encouraging – just as the shepherd rejoiced when he found the sheep, God rejoices when people accept the precious gift of life.
The good news is that Jesus, the word, became flesh and blood like us, He was born, he lived and died and rose again then ascended, so that all who believe in him shall be saved and have eternal life.
Sunday, 31 January 2016
Climb Every Mountain!
For fun, I enjoy hill walking. You can't beat the beautiful scenery, fresh air and challenge of a mountain to climb. When walking, things come to mind which I'd like to share with you.
Hill walking is like life in that we are all on a path. Sometimes it is relatively flat and smooth but just like a hill walk we also face ups and downs, boggy bits, wet bits and steep rocky bits. How we get through, over or around them will depend on how we are prepared, and our mental attitude as it is very easy to give up before the end.
The ups and downs of life can be, and often are, the work of the enemy as we are in a spiritual battle, but God allows things so that we can grow as people. It doesn't feel that way when you are going through it as you can only see the negatives but people develop when challenged.
When you get to a boggy part you have to pick your way across. Solid ground may be in sight but there are numerous ways of getting there. I've seen a boy get stuck in the bog up to his thighs. Without help, he could go no-where! That's why we are told to help each other.
Joh 15:12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.
1Co 12:24-26 But God has put the body together, giving greater honour to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
Do you think that boy got stuck by choice? No - but the path he chose led to him needing to be rescued.
On a spiritual level, like the boy, no matter how careful we are, we all fail and we are all reliant on God's grace to forgive us and pull us out of the bog.
The end goal - the summit - is the Kingdom of God. Remember, walking is as much mental as physical, in order to get to the end we have to believe we can do it or we'll give up. In life, Christ has already scaled the heights for us, so we need to believe in Him. So take encouragement, look to the summit and don't give up because in Christ we are already there!
Hill walking is like life in that we are all on a path. Sometimes it is relatively flat and smooth but just like a hill walk we also face ups and downs, boggy bits, wet bits and steep rocky bits. How we get through, over or around them will depend on how we are prepared, and our mental attitude as it is very easy to give up before the end.
The ups and downs of life can be, and often are, the work of the enemy as we are in a spiritual battle, but God allows things so that we can grow as people. It doesn't feel that way when you are going through it as you can only see the negatives but people develop when challenged.
When you get to a boggy part you have to pick your way across. Solid ground may be in sight but there are numerous ways of getting there. I've seen a boy get stuck in the bog up to his thighs. Without help, he could go no-where! That's why we are told to help each other.
Joh 15:12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.
1Co 12:24-26 But God has put the body together, giving greater honour to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.
Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
Do you think that boy got stuck by choice? No - but the path he chose led to him needing to be rescued.
On a spiritual level, like the boy, no matter how careful we are, we all fail and we are all reliant on God's grace to forgive us and pull us out of the bog.
The end goal - the summit - is the Kingdom of God. Remember, walking is as much mental as physical, in order to get to the end we have to believe we can do it or we'll give up. In life, Christ has already scaled the heights for us, so we need to believe in Him. So take encouragement, look to the summit and don't give up because in Christ we are already there!
Sunday, 24 January 2016
But it was an Accident!
"But it was an Accident..."
This is a phrase we hear
in our house rather a lot. This is
normally following a howl or a scream or a cry for help with another person
crying in pain. That other person is
normally me!
Some people think that Jesus dying was an accident and
that if He had been more careful, he could have escaped death.
Maybe if He hadn't gone to Jerusalem; or if he hadn't publicly
rode in like a King on Palm Sunday? Maybe
if he hadn't gone to the temple - or overturned the tables upsetting everyone? Maybe if he had stopped Judas leaving instead
of telling him to get it over with... What if he'd gone to hide instead of
going to Gethsemine or if he'd defended himself to Pilot.
Some say He was careless - maybe it was all an accident? Did God make a mistake and let his son die? What do you think?
Just like the temple lambs were born to be sacrifices, so
was Jesus.
It was God's plan that Jesus was needed to save
humanity. God knew that we would not be able
to resist temptation but had the rescue planned out from the start.
God lives outside our time and Jesus said that the
kingdom was prepared since the creation of the world, so in His grace, He did
what it took to make sure the Kingdom was filled with his people despite their
disobedience.
Mat 25:34 talks about "... your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you
since the creation of the world."
Jesus himself knew what was going to happen to him.
Mar
10:33-34 "We are going up to Jerusalem," he said, "and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief
priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will
hand him over to the Gentiles, who will mock him
and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise."
It was no accident - the Kingdom was pre-planned and so was the rescue mission. Despite man's sin, Jesus sacrifice makes it
possible for us to enter the Kingdom.
"He himself bore our sins" in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; "by his wounds you have been healed." 1Peter 2:24
Isn't that an encouraging thought - that God's love for us is so great that Jesus came to earth and has paid the penalty for our sin. Our sin was nailed to the cross and has been
paid for despite the fact that we make mistakes.
That's Grace so we can be confident that our
future is safe in His hands.
Saturday, 9 January 2016
Happy New Year - Romans 5.
Good morning everyone - happy new year!
I'd like to look at a chapter of the bible that's been on my mind over the Christmas period and we've been looking at it in Llanelli (www.llanelli.church).
The incarnation is an incredible event which cannot be emphasised enough at any time of the year. The word becoming flesh was the miraculous union between God and humanity and should never be under emphasised.
Romans 5 contains some profound statements and I thought it would be good to go through the chapter as a bible study and look at the issues it covers as we go through.
Rom 5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
Rom 5:2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.
On first reading this you could conclude that if you have faith you are justified and have grace. Yes, belief takes faith but some people talk as though it is some kind of magic pill that you can take to cure all problems. I'm sure you've all hear the health and wealth preachers say "Have faith and you'll get this that or the other ... however Eph 2 says that even the faith is not ours - it's a gift - so no one can boast. So who's faith is it by which we are justified and have grace? _ Jesus! It is through Jesus faith we are justified and have gained access to the grace in which we stand. Jesus was fully man as well as being part of the triune God so it took faith for him to submit to God's will. Remember he sweat blood in the garden of Gethsemine so you can't underestimate what he went through humanly before, during or after the crucifixion when he hung there dying. This sounds dramatic however you have to realise this to appreciate the faith he had in God and what He did for us individually so that we can stand here in grace.
Before we move on, notice finally that we don't boast in our own glory - we boast in the hope of the glory of who? _ God. The NIrV puts it this way "We are full of joy because we expect to share in God's glory." None of this is for our own glory! Notice the word Hope or Expectation - this is something that features in this chapter.
Rom 5:3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;
Rom 5:4 perseverance, character; and character, hope.
Rom 5:5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
We don't like suffering and would rather not go through any - but Paul had a different perspective of it after all he'd been through... Jail, ship wrecks, beatings stoning - anything else?
The end result is hope or expectation or anticipation - your present suffering makes you yearn for better to come. That's human nature - people generally want what they don't have - and if they are presented with an image of the Kingdom with peace love and abundance - they want a piece of it.
The spread of Christianity seems to be more evident is poorer countries - GCI certainly finds this with growth in Asia and Africa. It seems that when people suffer or have less material wealth they are more receptive to the gospel message and the hope it brings. In the western world people seem to have no interest perhaps because they don't see how it's anything they need to be interested in. Most people have a house, food and relative security and they are not fearful for their lives. It's only when something bad happens that people look to the church to seek comfort.
Paul continues this thought in Romans 8v24-25
Rom 8:24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have?
Rom 8:25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
Maybe it is at people's lowest point that the presence of God becomes evident and He gives hope in the midst of despair?? After having been through it, Paul was able to see the joy in the suffering.
The next section cuts us down if we think we're saved through our own strength.
Rom 5:6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.
Rom 5:7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die.
Rom 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Bang - this puts us in our place and shows the great love of God. Even though human people sin - God's love is greater and he died for us while we were sinners.
Paul uses powerful language to emphasise the point that Jesus did not die for us because we are good enough, or because we are godly righteous people. He died for the ungodly while were still sinners. As we'll read in v12 later, all have sinned. No one is good enough for all have fallen short as it says in Romans 3v23-24.
Rom 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Rom 3:24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
This is the love and grace of God being demonstrated.
Paul poses a dilema in v7 - if you had a chance to donate a kidney to save a life, you were a perfect match, but it posed great risk. Would you do it for a national hero - what if it was for Simon Weston, or Sam Warburton - you may think you'd consider it to save the life of a hero even if it was risky - but what about someone in prison who'd done a horrible crime, maybe a terrorist or what about a homeless person on the street. I would hazard a guess that most people would think twice and not take that risk to save the life of a person they didn't think deserved it. But - that is exactly what Jesus has done. He has died so all can live.
Rom 5:9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him!
Rom 5:10 For if, while we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!
Rom 5:11 Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
Notice that we are no longer enemies of God - we are reconciled to him. It talks about being saved from wrath - don't forget that God hates sin so much that he was willing for Jesus to die to pay for it! Jesus has taken the wrath for everyone, thus bringing reconciliation. However if you don't accept the gift of life that he talks about later on, we would have to accept the wrath of God because, it says, we are His enemies. Revelation talks about the second death and people being punished if they choose not to repent. Let's not down play the consequences of not choosing life. However it says that while we were God's enemies we were reconciled to him through the death of Jesus. In reality, humanity is therefore at peace and reconciled with God through what Jesus has done on our behalf to take the punishment and wrath. For those who believe it seems inconceivable that people can't see this as good news - however unless God opens peoples eyes to it, the whole thing is meaningless and people don't realise they are in any kind of danger that they need to be rescued from and just don't believe any of it.
Notice again it says in verse 11 that we therefore boast in Jesus Christ - it's not our own doing but it's all about what He's done for us.
The next section is particularly relevant when we think of the significance of the incarnation. Jesus is compared to Adam which Paul also wrote to the church in Corinth in 1 Cor 15v22 so the incarnation is kind of a new creation for humanity. He re-booted humanity or ran a restore disk to use computer terminology, to make a fresh start. [Expand if time??] In the context of reconciliation, he first of all talks of death. Following on he says...
Rom 5:12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned--
We read earlier that all have fallen short of God. The second Adam therefore put right what the first Adam messed up.
1 Cor 15v22 says "For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive."
Rom 5:13 To be sure, sin was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not charged against anyone's account where there is no law.
Rom 5:14 Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who is a pattern of the one to come.
As we've heard in sermons over the years - sin is falling short of God's standards - missing the mark. What the law did was set out God's standards for Israel into a written law code, and even then Israel didn't keep them! What Paul is saying is that as a result of Adam's sin all people are guilty. People still died between Adam and Moses even though that law code did not exist. Adam sinned, Cain sinned, the people at the time of Noah sinned, people in Sodom and Gomorrah sinned. They all fell short without breaking the law of Moses. What about the other nations of the world who had no contact even with the law of Moses? They were given to Israel and there is no record that I'm aware of showing the Israelites went out telling anyone else to keep them!! So is everyone lost? Let's continue.
Rom 5:15 But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God's grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many!
Rom 5:16 Nor can the gift of God be compared with the result of one man's sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification.
Rom 5:17 For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!
Rom 5:18 Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people.
Rom 5:19 For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.
Wow!! Isn't that a wonderful passage. Through one man - Jesus - we receive God's abundant provision of Grace. Just as the first brought death to all, the second brings life to all. Even after many trespasses that have taken place since Adam, God's grace has it covered!! We've all enjoyed gifts over Christmas but this is the greatest gift that we have received. I like the way the Contemporary English translation puts it.
Rom 5:15 But the gift that God was kind enough to give was very different from Adam's sin. That one sin brought death to many others. Yet in an even greater way, Jesus Christ alone brought God's gift of kindness to many people.
Rom 5:16 There is a lot of difference between Adam's sin and God's gift. That one sin led to punishment. But God's gift made it possible for us to be acceptable to him, even though we have sinned many times.
Rom 5:17 Death ruled like a king because Adam had sinned. But that cannot compare with what Jesus Christ has done. God has been so kind to us, and he has accepted us because of Jesus. And so we will live and rule like kings.
Rom 5:18 Everyone was going to be punished because Adam sinned. But because of the good thing that Christ has done, God accepts us and gives us the gift of life.
Rom 5:19 Adam disobeyed God and caused many others to be sinners. But Jesus obeyed him and will make many people acceptable to God.
The result of this is that we have the gift of abundant grace, we're not promised health and wealth in this life, however what we are promised is the gift of eternal life itself.
Hebrews talks about the sacrifice of Jesus being once for all. Jesus was faithful and obedient and we stand cleansed by his blood. The incarnation was a new beginning - God became flesh so that he could live and die to deal with Adam's mistake once for all to bring reconciliation between God and humanity.
Let's finish off the chapter.
Rom 5:20 The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more,
Rom 5:21 so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
The law defined sin, but as sin increased, grace increased even more. The law increased sin because it set out and defined how Israel was to live - by defining everything it was easier to fall short because you have something to measure it by. However, no matter what we have done before or do from now on, God's love for us is greater and his grace expands to cover it. Notice that grace reigns in righteousness - Jesus righteousness - to bring eternal life through him.
That eternal life is life in Christ with Christ in us by his Spirit, so bit by bit we are more like him - so we are changed by the abundant grace that we read about earlier.
What Jesus did at a specific time was in reality outside time so his sacrifice covers all people who accept it. One day, when the small and great talked about in Revelation - stand before God, he will show them what He had planned for them all along and they can choose whether or not to accept the gift of life on offer. What Adam did has been cancelled by what Jesus did in response, so as we enter a new year, let's be thankful for the abundant grace that we have been given.
Scriptures from Todays NIV.
I'd like to look at a chapter of the bible that's been on my mind over the Christmas period and we've been looking at it in Llanelli (www.llanelli.church).
The incarnation is an incredible event which cannot be emphasised enough at any time of the year. The word becoming flesh was the miraculous union between God and humanity and should never be under emphasised.
Romans 5 contains some profound statements and I thought it would be good to go through the chapter as a bible study and look at the issues it covers as we go through.
Rom 5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
Rom 5:2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God.
On first reading this you could conclude that if you have faith you are justified and have grace. Yes, belief takes faith but some people talk as though it is some kind of magic pill that you can take to cure all problems. I'm sure you've all hear the health and wealth preachers say "Have faith and you'll get this that or the other ... however Eph 2 says that even the faith is not ours - it's a gift - so no one can boast. So who's faith is it by which we are justified and have grace? _ Jesus! It is through Jesus faith we are justified and have gained access to the grace in which we stand. Jesus was fully man as well as being part of the triune God so it took faith for him to submit to God's will. Remember he sweat blood in the garden of Gethsemine so you can't underestimate what he went through humanly before, during or after the crucifixion when he hung there dying. This sounds dramatic however you have to realise this to appreciate the faith he had in God and what He did for us individually so that we can stand here in grace.
Before we move on, notice finally that we don't boast in our own glory - we boast in the hope of the glory of who? _ God. The NIrV puts it this way "We are full of joy because we expect to share in God's glory." None of this is for our own glory! Notice the word Hope or Expectation - this is something that features in this chapter.
Rom 5:3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;
Rom 5:4 perseverance, character; and character, hope.
Rom 5:5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
We don't like suffering and would rather not go through any - but Paul had a different perspective of it after all he'd been through... Jail, ship wrecks, beatings stoning - anything else?
The end result is hope or expectation or anticipation - your present suffering makes you yearn for better to come. That's human nature - people generally want what they don't have - and if they are presented with an image of the Kingdom with peace love and abundance - they want a piece of it.
The spread of Christianity seems to be more evident is poorer countries - GCI certainly finds this with growth in Asia and Africa. It seems that when people suffer or have less material wealth they are more receptive to the gospel message and the hope it brings. In the western world people seem to have no interest perhaps because they don't see how it's anything they need to be interested in. Most people have a house, food and relative security and they are not fearful for their lives. It's only when something bad happens that people look to the church to seek comfort.
Paul continues this thought in Romans 8v24-25
Rom 8:24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have?
Rom 8:25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
Maybe it is at people's lowest point that the presence of God becomes evident and He gives hope in the midst of despair?? After having been through it, Paul was able to see the joy in the suffering.
The next section cuts us down if we think we're saved through our own strength.
Rom 5:6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.
Rom 5:7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die.
Rom 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Bang - this puts us in our place and shows the great love of God. Even though human people sin - God's love is greater and he died for us while we were sinners.
Paul uses powerful language to emphasise the point that Jesus did not die for us because we are good enough, or because we are godly righteous people. He died for the ungodly while were still sinners. As we'll read in v12 later, all have sinned. No one is good enough for all have fallen short as it says in Romans 3v23-24.
Rom 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Rom 3:24 and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
This is the love and grace of God being demonstrated.
Paul poses a dilema in v7 - if you had a chance to donate a kidney to save a life, you were a perfect match, but it posed great risk. Would you do it for a national hero - what if it was for Simon Weston, or Sam Warburton - you may think you'd consider it to save the life of a hero even if it was risky - but what about someone in prison who'd done a horrible crime, maybe a terrorist or what about a homeless person on the street. I would hazard a guess that most people would think twice and not take that risk to save the life of a person they didn't think deserved it. But - that is exactly what Jesus has done. He has died so all can live.
Rom 5:9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him!
Rom 5:10 For if, while we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!
Rom 5:11 Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
Notice that we are no longer enemies of God - we are reconciled to him. It talks about being saved from wrath - don't forget that God hates sin so much that he was willing for Jesus to die to pay for it! Jesus has taken the wrath for everyone, thus bringing reconciliation. However if you don't accept the gift of life that he talks about later on, we would have to accept the wrath of God because, it says, we are His enemies. Revelation talks about the second death and people being punished if they choose not to repent. Let's not down play the consequences of not choosing life. However it says that while we were God's enemies we were reconciled to him through the death of Jesus. In reality, humanity is therefore at peace and reconciled with God through what Jesus has done on our behalf to take the punishment and wrath. For those who believe it seems inconceivable that people can't see this as good news - however unless God opens peoples eyes to it, the whole thing is meaningless and people don't realise they are in any kind of danger that they need to be rescued from and just don't believe any of it.
Notice again it says in verse 11 that we therefore boast in Jesus Christ - it's not our own doing but it's all about what He's done for us.
The next section is particularly relevant when we think of the significance of the incarnation. Jesus is compared to Adam which Paul also wrote to the church in Corinth in 1 Cor 15v22 so the incarnation is kind of a new creation for humanity. He re-booted humanity or ran a restore disk to use computer terminology, to make a fresh start. [Expand if time??] In the context of reconciliation, he first of all talks of death. Following on he says...
Rom 5:12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned--
We read earlier that all have fallen short of God. The second Adam therefore put right what the first Adam messed up.
1 Cor 15v22 says "For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive."
Rom 5:13 To be sure, sin was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not charged against anyone's account where there is no law.
Rom 5:14 Nevertheless, death reigned from the time of Adam to the time of Moses, even over those who did not sin by breaking a command, as did Adam, who is a pattern of the one to come.
As we've heard in sermons over the years - sin is falling short of God's standards - missing the mark. What the law did was set out God's standards for Israel into a written law code, and even then Israel didn't keep them! What Paul is saying is that as a result of Adam's sin all people are guilty. People still died between Adam and Moses even though that law code did not exist. Adam sinned, Cain sinned, the people at the time of Noah sinned, people in Sodom and Gomorrah sinned. They all fell short without breaking the law of Moses. What about the other nations of the world who had no contact even with the law of Moses? They were given to Israel and there is no record that I'm aware of showing the Israelites went out telling anyone else to keep them!! So is everyone lost? Let's continue.
Rom 5:15 But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God's grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many!
Rom 5:16 Nor can the gift of God be compared with the result of one man's sin: The judgment followed one sin and brought condemnation, but the gift followed many trespasses and brought justification.
Rom 5:17 For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God's abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ!
Rom 5:18 Consequently, just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act resulted in justification and life for all people.
Rom 5:19 For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.
Wow!! Isn't that a wonderful passage. Through one man - Jesus - we receive God's abundant provision of Grace. Just as the first brought death to all, the second brings life to all. Even after many trespasses that have taken place since Adam, God's grace has it covered!! We've all enjoyed gifts over Christmas but this is the greatest gift that we have received. I like the way the Contemporary English translation puts it.
Rom 5:15 But the gift that God was kind enough to give was very different from Adam's sin. That one sin brought death to many others. Yet in an even greater way, Jesus Christ alone brought God's gift of kindness to many people.
Rom 5:16 There is a lot of difference between Adam's sin and God's gift. That one sin led to punishment. But God's gift made it possible for us to be acceptable to him, even though we have sinned many times.
Rom 5:17 Death ruled like a king because Adam had sinned. But that cannot compare with what Jesus Christ has done. God has been so kind to us, and he has accepted us because of Jesus. And so we will live and rule like kings.
Rom 5:18 Everyone was going to be punished because Adam sinned. But because of the good thing that Christ has done, God accepts us and gives us the gift of life.
Rom 5:19 Adam disobeyed God and caused many others to be sinners. But Jesus obeyed him and will make many people acceptable to God.
The result of this is that we have the gift of abundant grace, we're not promised health and wealth in this life, however what we are promised is the gift of eternal life itself.
Hebrews talks about the sacrifice of Jesus being once for all. Jesus was faithful and obedient and we stand cleansed by his blood. The incarnation was a new beginning - God became flesh so that he could live and die to deal with Adam's mistake once for all to bring reconciliation between God and humanity.
Let's finish off the chapter.
Rom 5:20 The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more,
Rom 5:21 so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
The law defined sin, but as sin increased, grace increased even more. The law increased sin because it set out and defined how Israel was to live - by defining everything it was easier to fall short because you have something to measure it by. However, no matter what we have done before or do from now on, God's love for us is greater and his grace expands to cover it. Notice that grace reigns in righteousness - Jesus righteousness - to bring eternal life through him.
That eternal life is life in Christ with Christ in us by his Spirit, so bit by bit we are more like him - so we are changed by the abundant grace that we read about earlier.
What Jesus did at a specific time was in reality outside time so his sacrifice covers all people who accept it. One day, when the small and great talked about in Revelation - stand before God, he will show them what He had planned for them all along and they can choose whether or not to accept the gift of life on offer. What Adam did has been cancelled by what Jesus did in response, so as we enter a new year, let's be thankful for the abundant grace that we have been given.
Scriptures from Todays NIV.
Jesus - Light of the World.
Jesus - Light of the World.
The bible talks about light coming into a dark world so today I'd like to talk about Jesus - Light of the World. Let's start by looking at a few scriptures from the book of John and see how we can relate them to our lives.
John introduces the concept in Chapter 1v1-9.
Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Joh 1:2 He was with God in the beginning.
Joh 1:3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
Joh 1:4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.
Joh 1:5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
Joh 1:6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John.
Joh 1:7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe.
Joh 1:8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.
Joh 1:9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.
John used this terminology because Jesus himself described himself as light. John records this later in the book.
In John 8v12 Jesus said,
"I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
This was said in the context of the woman who was caught in adultery just after he invited anyone who had not sinned to cast the first stone and when no one did, he said neither do I condemn you, go and sin no more.
She was in a dark place, she had been naughty, got caught, nearly got killed but Jesus had shown her grace. He gave her new life which He likens to light. There was an association between light and life. Remember we just read in John 1 "In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. "
John also records Jesus describing himself but not only himself but God the father as light in Chapter 12v44-48.
Joh 12:44 Then Jesus cried out, "Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me.
Joh 12:45 The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me.
Joh 12:46 I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.
Joh 12:47 "If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world.
Joh 12:48 There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day.
This is an interesting passage - notice that Jesus was saying that when we look at him we see God the father - so we see that Jesus is the revelation of God. John 1 we read that the word was with God and the word was God. He reveals the Father's heart.
Notice, He did not come to judge but to save, and it is only those who reject him and do not accept His words that are judged. Notice too there is a difference in terminology between hearing the word and not keeping, and rejecting Him and not accepting His words. As we'll see later people have blind folds on so don't see it clearly until they are removed.
If you hear and don't do, you are not judged, but if you hear and reject you are judged. Revelation talks about the consequences of those who refuse to repent. You see a picture here of God's grace - and confirmation he doesn't want any to perish - but it also confirms the fact people have the option of rejecting him and not repenting. This seems preposterous, but we see suicide bombers all over the place nowadays so we can't discount people rejecting the gift of life if they think there's a better alternative elsewhere!!
We can read this in parallel with the most famous passage of all - John 3v16-18
Joh 3:16 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.
Joh 3:17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
Joh 3:18 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.
We see that Jesus came to save not condemn, to give life not death, so we see the heart of God yet again. And - if we read on we see Him described as Light.
Joh 3:19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.
Joh 3:20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed.
Joh 3:21 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.
Many crimes are committed at night - and the phrase used is "under the cover of darkness". Along with apathy and irrelevance, this is the third biggest obstacle for churches to preach the gospel. People actually enjoy their sinful behaviour and do not want it exposed as being wrong.
Ok that's a generalisation and I realise that some people steal out of necessity as they are desperate, but if you look at the Hatton Garden jewel thieves for example, they went further than providing for their families. Under the cover of darkness they excavated a tunnel to break in to the vault and they were careful not to be exposed.
For someone to live in the light is to be exposed to scrutiny and be accountable for their actions. For example the snooping saga has people infuriated because if the Government suspects you of anything they can check your internet and phone records - but if you are not doing anything wrong why would you care?? If you live in Christ, you live in the light. Yes your mistakes are exposed, but in Christ they have also been paid for.
The other occurrence of Jesus describing himself as Light in John is in John 9 when Jesus encountered a blind man and the disciples asked who had sinned to cause his blindness - Jesus said
Joh 9:3 "Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.
Joh 9:4 As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work.
Joh_9:5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world."
Some will say that illness and trials are caused by sin, and if you want to be rid of them you must work very hard and have faith, thus treating God as a puppet who can be manipulated. This health and wealth thinking is very damaging as it can make people feel that it's all their fault. Jesus on the other hand said that the blind man was not a victim of sin, but that it was for the works of God to be displayed - so that the man and all around could see the light of God defeating the darkness of the man's trial. It also exposed the gulf between legalistic observance of the old covenant sabbath and Jesus way of expressing the law as love God and love your neighbour - the man was healed on the sabbath so they accused him of sinning and this was not the only occasion when Jesus put love above law. Anyhow that's another story.
By flitting around a few passages in John we see the picture of God emerging. Under the old covenant law, Israel proved itself incapable of living up to God's standards, so God in his love and grace sent his son into a dark world. Jesus turned the law on its head by saying you can't even think about sinning so made it even more difficult. But - instead of leaving in the darkness of sin, Jesus was the light that was to guide people to God, all people, not just Israel. Jesus did not come to condemn but bring life and that's true for us also. We should not condemn people for not following God - we should love them as God does and be a light to guide them to Him. Not our own light - that can be dim sometimes but reflect the light of God and let his presence burst out of us.
Yes, we have a role to play.
In Matt 5 Jesus said
Mat 5:14 "You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.
Mat 5:15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.
Mat 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
This all sounds great in theory and we should be perfect examples and everyone will glorify God because they see how great we are. However, we're not perfect are we, so we can feel inadequate. Don't worry - life throws all sorts at us - both good and bad - and it's easy for one of two things to happen.
1. Everything is going good so we don't see the light of God because we think we're ok on our own. Perhaps we take God's love for granted and lose focus. It's good to remind ourselves how much we rely on God's grace as we are not perfect on our own despite how much we'd like to be or think we are. God's grace is there for us despite ourselves so don't feel either inadequate or proud of our own efforts. Jesus has done all that's required for our salvation.
2. Secondly we can be so focussed on the dark stuff that it obscures the light. As we read in 2 Cor 4v4 the enemy not only throws bad stuff at us, he also blinds people from seeing the light of God. We should not condemn people therefore if they don't follow the word right now. Even believers can find it hard to feel the comfort and see the light sometimes because Satan tries his best to obscure it - and that's ok - we're human. To quote Disney Pixar "Beyond the cloud, the sun is shining, even though we can't quite make it out". Can you name the film. __ Cars __
Remember that the light is always there and darkness in itself is nothing. The enemy can't dark something - all he can do is put stuff in front of the light to make it difficult to see.
In Llanelli when I gave this message I illustrated the point by putting this blind fold on Clara and asking if she could see the light. The expected answer was no - illustrating the point that Satan blinds people. But she said Yes - which illustrates another point whilst Satan puts things in the way - light still penetrates the darkness. We discovered that when Clara went further away the light grew dimmer and dimmer and disappeared. The light was however still there, just the blind fold was more effective. When God is working on someone, they are drawn to the light and the clearer the light becomes until eventually the blind fold is ineffective and they see the full picture. The light is however there throughout. We sang Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet - if someone has a blindfold on and they can see a light and follow it - they can be led through dangers as long as they keep straight ahead following it. The word of God provides that guidance. God may use us to be that light to draw people to him, but if we hide it, it makes it much more difficult - but wait - God is still more powerful!
I refer to the Martin Luther King Jr quote again. "Darkness cannot drive out darkness only light can do that, Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that."
When we see the darkness and hate around us, let's pray that we can be beacons of God's light and love to those we come in contact with. Let's thank God that through his Grace, God has revealed his light to us and the blind fold of the enemy has been torn. Let's pray for Jesus return when the darkness will be a thing of the past and the world will be lit by the glory of God.
So in conclusion, when we think about the incarnation, think about the fact that Jesus is described as light which shines in a dark world. God saw that people could not be shining lights on their own so he sent Jesus to become one of us. Remember the Martin Luther King quote - darkness can not drive out darkness - man cannot do it by themselves - only light can drive out darkness - man needed Jesus intervention to light the way to God and new life. Let us be lights in this dark world by reflecting the light and love of God. Wouldn't that be a great gift this Christmas.
Scriptures from Today's NIV.
The bible talks about light coming into a dark world so today I'd like to talk about Jesus - Light of the World. Let's start by looking at a few scriptures from the book of John and see how we can relate them to our lives.
John introduces the concept in Chapter 1v1-9.
Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Joh 1:2 He was with God in the beginning.
Joh 1:3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
Joh 1:4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.
Joh 1:5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
Joh 1:6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John.
Joh 1:7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe.
Joh 1:8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.
Joh 1:9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.
John used this terminology because Jesus himself described himself as light. John records this later in the book.
In John 8v12 Jesus said,
"I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
This was said in the context of the woman who was caught in adultery just after he invited anyone who had not sinned to cast the first stone and when no one did, he said neither do I condemn you, go and sin no more.
She was in a dark place, she had been naughty, got caught, nearly got killed but Jesus had shown her grace. He gave her new life which He likens to light. There was an association between light and life. Remember we just read in John 1 "In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. "
John also records Jesus describing himself but not only himself but God the father as light in Chapter 12v44-48.
Joh 12:44 Then Jesus cried out, "Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me.
Joh 12:45 The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me.
Joh 12:46 I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.
Joh 12:47 "If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world.
Joh 12:48 There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day.
This is an interesting passage - notice that Jesus was saying that when we look at him we see God the father - so we see that Jesus is the revelation of God. John 1 we read that the word was with God and the word was God. He reveals the Father's heart.
Notice, He did not come to judge but to save, and it is only those who reject him and do not accept His words that are judged. Notice too there is a difference in terminology between hearing the word and not keeping, and rejecting Him and not accepting His words. As we'll see later people have blind folds on so don't see it clearly until they are removed.
If you hear and don't do, you are not judged, but if you hear and reject you are judged. Revelation talks about the consequences of those who refuse to repent. You see a picture here of God's grace - and confirmation he doesn't want any to perish - but it also confirms the fact people have the option of rejecting him and not repenting. This seems preposterous, but we see suicide bombers all over the place nowadays so we can't discount people rejecting the gift of life if they think there's a better alternative elsewhere!!
We can read this in parallel with the most famous passage of all - John 3v16-18
Joh 3:16 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.
Joh 3:17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
Joh 3:18 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.
We see that Jesus came to save not condemn, to give life not death, so we see the heart of God yet again. And - if we read on we see Him described as Light.
Joh 3:19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.
Joh 3:20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed.
Joh 3:21 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.
Many crimes are committed at night - and the phrase used is "under the cover of darkness". Along with apathy and irrelevance, this is the third biggest obstacle for churches to preach the gospel. People actually enjoy their sinful behaviour and do not want it exposed as being wrong.
Ok that's a generalisation and I realise that some people steal out of necessity as they are desperate, but if you look at the Hatton Garden jewel thieves for example, they went further than providing for their families. Under the cover of darkness they excavated a tunnel to break in to the vault and they were careful not to be exposed.
For someone to live in the light is to be exposed to scrutiny and be accountable for their actions. For example the snooping saga has people infuriated because if the Government suspects you of anything they can check your internet and phone records - but if you are not doing anything wrong why would you care?? If you live in Christ, you live in the light. Yes your mistakes are exposed, but in Christ they have also been paid for.
The other occurrence of Jesus describing himself as Light in John is in John 9 when Jesus encountered a blind man and the disciples asked who had sinned to cause his blindness - Jesus said
Joh 9:3 "Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him.
Joh 9:4 As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work.
Joh_9:5 While I am in the world, I am the light of the world."
Some will say that illness and trials are caused by sin, and if you want to be rid of them you must work very hard and have faith, thus treating God as a puppet who can be manipulated. This health and wealth thinking is very damaging as it can make people feel that it's all their fault. Jesus on the other hand said that the blind man was not a victim of sin, but that it was for the works of God to be displayed - so that the man and all around could see the light of God defeating the darkness of the man's trial. It also exposed the gulf between legalistic observance of the old covenant sabbath and Jesus way of expressing the law as love God and love your neighbour - the man was healed on the sabbath so they accused him of sinning and this was not the only occasion when Jesus put love above law. Anyhow that's another story.
By flitting around a few passages in John we see the picture of God emerging. Under the old covenant law, Israel proved itself incapable of living up to God's standards, so God in his love and grace sent his son into a dark world. Jesus turned the law on its head by saying you can't even think about sinning so made it even more difficult. But - instead of leaving in the darkness of sin, Jesus was the light that was to guide people to God, all people, not just Israel. Jesus did not come to condemn but bring life and that's true for us also. We should not condemn people for not following God - we should love them as God does and be a light to guide them to Him. Not our own light - that can be dim sometimes but reflect the light of God and let his presence burst out of us.
Yes, we have a role to play.
In Matt 5 Jesus said
Mat 5:14 "You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.
Mat 5:15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.
Mat 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
This all sounds great in theory and we should be perfect examples and everyone will glorify God because they see how great we are. However, we're not perfect are we, so we can feel inadequate. Don't worry - life throws all sorts at us - both good and bad - and it's easy for one of two things to happen.
1. Everything is going good so we don't see the light of God because we think we're ok on our own. Perhaps we take God's love for granted and lose focus. It's good to remind ourselves how much we rely on God's grace as we are not perfect on our own despite how much we'd like to be or think we are. God's grace is there for us despite ourselves so don't feel either inadequate or proud of our own efforts. Jesus has done all that's required for our salvation.
2. Secondly we can be so focussed on the dark stuff that it obscures the light. As we read in 2 Cor 4v4 the enemy not only throws bad stuff at us, he also blinds people from seeing the light of God. We should not condemn people therefore if they don't follow the word right now. Even believers can find it hard to feel the comfort and see the light sometimes because Satan tries his best to obscure it - and that's ok - we're human. To quote Disney Pixar "Beyond the cloud, the sun is shining, even though we can't quite make it out". Can you name the film. __ Cars __
Remember that the light is always there and darkness in itself is nothing. The enemy can't dark something - all he can do is put stuff in front of the light to make it difficult to see.
In Llanelli when I gave this message I illustrated the point by putting this blind fold on Clara and asking if she could see the light. The expected answer was no - illustrating the point that Satan blinds people. But she said Yes - which illustrates another point whilst Satan puts things in the way - light still penetrates the darkness. We discovered that when Clara went further away the light grew dimmer and dimmer and disappeared. The light was however still there, just the blind fold was more effective. When God is working on someone, they are drawn to the light and the clearer the light becomes until eventually the blind fold is ineffective and they see the full picture. The light is however there throughout. We sang Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet - if someone has a blindfold on and they can see a light and follow it - they can be led through dangers as long as they keep straight ahead following it. The word of God provides that guidance. God may use us to be that light to draw people to him, but if we hide it, it makes it much more difficult - but wait - God is still more powerful!
I refer to the Martin Luther King Jr quote again. "Darkness cannot drive out darkness only light can do that, Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that."
When we see the darkness and hate around us, let's pray that we can be beacons of God's light and love to those we come in contact with. Let's thank God that through his Grace, God has revealed his light to us and the blind fold of the enemy has been torn. Let's pray for Jesus return when the darkness will be a thing of the past and the world will be lit by the glory of God.
So in conclusion, when we think about the incarnation, think about the fact that Jesus is described as light which shines in a dark world. God saw that people could not be shining lights on their own so he sent Jesus to become one of us. Remember the Martin Luther King quote - darkness can not drive out darkness - man cannot do it by themselves - only light can drive out darkness - man needed Jesus intervention to light the way to God and new life. Let us be lights in this dark world by reflecting the light and love of God. Wouldn't that be a great gift this Christmas.
Scriptures from Today's NIV.
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