Monthly Archives: September 2015

Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)

Jesus is the light of the world, but many people are being blinded from seeing this light.

And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (2 Cor. 4:3-6)

We all know there is a God because His reality is clearly seen through the universe He created, so nobody has an excuse before God for not believing in Him. I call this “The Light of Creation.”

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. (Romans 1:18-21)

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork (Psalm 19:1-6)

Deep inside we know we are sinners and when we sin we experience guilt which is a divinely implanted mechanism to lead us back to God. We can suppress it and try to shut it down or respond to it and reach out to God. I call this “The Light of Conscience.”

for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, 15 who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them 16 in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel. (Romans 2:14-16)

Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20 Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin. (Romans 3:19-20)

The result of not thanking God and giving Him glory for what He alone has done leads to hardened and darkened hearts. We can either be self-seeking leading to God’s wrath or God seeking leading to eternal life.

Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? 5 But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6 who “will render to each one according to his deeds”: 7 eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; 8 but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, 9 tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; 10 but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 11 For there is no partiality with God. (Romans 2:4011)

But many people suppress the truth and reality of God because they want to rule their own lives and not be accountable to God. They love the darkness more than the light. So God’s wrath against them is justified.

He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.” (John 3:18-21)

Those that want to do good and know they are sinners and need to be saved from their sins come to the light (who is Christ) but those who justify their sin and deny God and the need for a savior remain in the darkness.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. (John 3:16)

Those that genuinely seek and search for God because they respond to the light that they have (The Light of Creation and the Light of Conscience) and cry out for understanding of His way, will be given more light.

3 Yes, if you cry out for discernment,
And lift up your voice for understanding,
4 If you seek her as silver,
And search for her as for hidden treasures;
5 Then you will understand the fear of the LORD,
And find the knowledge of God.
6 For the LORD gives wisdom;
From His mouth come knowledge and understanding. (Proverb 2:1-6)

It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Therefore everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to Me. (John 6:45)

“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.” (Matt. 7:7)

But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart and with all your soul. (Deut. 4:29)

For this reason He says, “Awake, sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine [as dawn] upon you and give you light.” (Eph. 5:14)

“All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will never turn away.” (John 6:37)

The Light of Creation and the Light of Conscience are there to lead us to the Light of Christ.

“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)

LET THE LIGHT LEAD YOU ON!

Ever since Eve was deceived and Adam sinned man has gone his own way. First, God wiped out all mankind except Noah and his family because “every intention of the thoughts of his heart were continually evil” (Gen. 6:5). God gave us a second chance because he found Noah, a preacher of righteousness (2 Pet. 2:5). When the Israelites were in the wilderness during the time of the Exodus, their rebellion and sin against God reached such an extreme level that God was compelled to reveal their wicked hearts to them and lay down the consequences of their actions. He was fed up…again.

God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant. (Rom. 5:20 NLT)

The law came in so sin could increase. Then we could all see how sinful we really were. It showed sin for what it really was and showed us who we really were deep down inside. Now there was a standard of conduct to measure ourselves against. We were weighed in the balance and found wanting (i.e. Dan. 5:27). But this also showed us that God’s grace is always able to cover our sins, no matter how sinful we are.

God did that, then He brought an end to the law. Once we realized that we are sinners in need of grace, He then gave us the Grace Giver. “The Law came through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (John 1:17).

What is Paul saying? “Where sin abounded, grace abounded all the more.” In other words, no matter how wicked we were all behaving, the sacrifice of Christ is able to cover it all. There is no depth of sin, level of depravity, or darkened past that His grace cannot reach. His solution was Grace. Period.

And all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. (Rom. 3:24)

The answer is to come under God’s grace. If we do, then our sin is no longer counted against us because His grace covers all sin.

For sin indeed was in the world before the law was given, but sin is not counted where there is no law. (Rom. 5:13)

Where there is no law sin is not counted against us! For Christ is the end of the Law, in order to bring righteousness to everyone who believes. (Rom. 10:4)

And how do we come under grace? Through faith in the Grace Giver!

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith–and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. (Eph, 2:8-9)

Our works have nothing to do with it. Grace is not of ourselves, it is the gift of God. Just believe and receive the gift!

If you are under grace you are not under the law.

Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the requirements of the law. Instead, you live under thefreedom of God’s grace. (Rom. 6:14 NLT)

The wage you owe for your sin was already paid for. The wages of sin is death and Jesus died for your sins.

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom. 6:23)

So, does that mean that since we are no longer under the law but under grace that we can sin all we want and it doesn’t matter? That all depends. Do you want to be a slave to what destroys you or a servant of the Grace Giver which brings an abundant and fruitful life?

What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means! Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? (Rom. 6:15-16)

Grace is God’s solution. God’s Righteousness At Christ’s Expense