Out of darkness into his marvelous light
Jesus Christ who is our shepherd is also the light of the world, and He has called us out of darkness into his marvelous light. Those that follow Him in Spirit and in Truth, shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life (1 Peter 2:25; John 8:12; John 4:23).
But we are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood and a holy nation. We are a peculiar people; that we should show forth the praises of him who has called us out of darkness into his marvelous light. In time past we were not a people, but now we are the people of God, which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy (1 Peter 2:9-10).
Many who claim to be Christians seem to honor Jesus in in what they say, yet their hearts are far from Him. When our worship of Him is based upon the teachings and commandments of men, it is unprofitable or in vain (Matt 15:8-9). Christianity should not be just another religion.
James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
Religion is simply man’s attempt to find or create a god or belief system that satisfies their selfish desires. True Christianity is God’s offer to us, unto transformation and ultimately Eternal Salvation.
Mic 7:7 Therefore I will look unto the LORD; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me.
2 Timothy 2:15-16 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
The truths contained in the Word of God are spiritually discerned, they are revealed to the Faithful follower by the Holy Spirit, enabling us to hear, understand and obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ (Heb 5:9; 2 Thes 1:5-8).
Isa 12:2 Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.
The Christian Transformation – Out of darkness into His Marvelous Light
The Christian experience is a remarkable life changing journey. It begins when we are truly able to hear the Words of Jesus Christ, and they become implanted in our minds for the first time. This begins the process of coming out of darkness into his marvelous light.
As we diligently labor in the scriptures, the very Word of God enters into our mind and heart. When our study and prayer time become a labor of love, great joy and wonder overwhelms our senses.
As we start to trust and believe the truth in the Word, our faith gets stronger and submitting to our Redeemer becomes easier. When we allow Him to become the Lord and focus of our lives, a dynamic and lasting relationship that cannot easily be severed blossoms.
When the Spirit of Truth which proceeds from Jesus Christ dwells in us, we can then begin to fully understand the Gospel message and the peace of God which passes all understanding.
Many claim to have faith, but a worldly faith can easily be shattered if it is based upon illusions and deceit, better known as false teachings.
A Christian believer walking in the truth, as a result of the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, is kept by the power of Christ through an enduring faith.
With the Holy Spirit we can have a full assurance of the hope of our Salvation, and an understanding of the truth of the Gospel. It is only through Jesus Christ who is the Living Word, that we can receive His precious gifts of Faith, Hope and Love (Gal 5:22).
Through these gifts, we can be certain of our power, purpose, and place with our Savior and Lord (2 Cor 4:13, Heb 10:22, 1 John 5:4).
John 1:1-4 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men
Christ is the light, and all who are faithful to the calling see and accept that light. With His illumination we can share the truth and come out of darkness into his marvelous light.
John 1:10-12 He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
The generation that Christ came unto, for the most part failed to receive him. These were not his by possession, as they never knew Him or his Father. They deceived themselves and others with a false religion based on the traditions of men.
John 3:19-21 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
Isaiah 62:11-12 Behold, the LORD hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him. And they shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the LORD: and thou shalt be called, Sought out, A city not forsaken.
Out of darkness into His Marvelous Light – Is it harder to believe in the truth, than it is to believe in a lie?
People frequently develop an irrational mental coping arrangement wherein they are unable and or unwilling to process scripture that conflicts with their existing beliefs, regardless of the validity of what is presented.
The perceived value is, in association with clinging to false perceptions, correlates to what extent one will go to avoid the truths that would prove their beliefs to be false.
The Biblical reason for this disorder is defined below.
2 Cor 4:3-4 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
Below we will present several examples of this phenomenon that is prevalent within Christianity today. So many people allow contradictory beliefs to exist in their minds at the same time.
It should be understood that anyone that rejects the Son also rejects the Father (1 John 2:22, John 10:30).
It is also falsely taught and believed on by many that those in Israel today are the chosen ones or people of God, even if they reject the Son.
Gen 12:3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee, and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
Many hold to the false teaching that the blessing in Genesis 12:3, is unto modern day Israel, when in fact it is unto Abraham and those who have the same faith in Christ (Gal 3:6-16).
This blessing was given to Abraham who would be the father of nations through Christ; the blessing was not to Israel or Judah after the flesh that rejected the Father as well as the Son. The blessing is to the Israel of God, which most assuredly is not the man made nation that exists today (Gen 12:1-2).
Gal 3:14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
We all as true believers need to embrace the light and allow our deeds and actions to be manifest by that same light. Christ’s truth will allow us to come out of darkness into his marvelous light.
Out of darkness into His Marvelous Light through the holy Spirit
Many spend a great deal of time masking their true nature, instead of dealing with it. These we compare to Halloween characters. They disguise true motives or intentions, and are but chameleons, changing with every situation. These are more interested in creating an illusion of righteousness to impress others, as opposed to submitting to the righteousness of Christ Jesus. It is impossible to come out of darkness into his marvelous light if you are an imposer.
John 1:5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.
We all need to allow the true light of our Savior and Lord to shine in us, exposing our sin and deception. If we however hold on to any part of that sin nature, the darkness in us will prevent the light from shining through.
Matt 25:29-30 For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
From him who does not have the Holy Spirit, faith and the truth, even that which he thinks he has will be taken away.
If we fail to share the truth with others, so that they may also come to the light; what we claim to have received never really was there to begin with.
Matt 5:13-16 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
Salt is a preserver, and the light exposes darkness and reveals the truth.
The Gospel of Christ is meant to be shared, and not hidden because of doubt, fear or apathy.
Luke 11:34-36 The light of the body is the eye: therefore when thine eye is single, thy whole body also is full of light; but when thine eye is evil, thy body also is full of darkness. Take heed therefore that the light which is in thee be not darkness. If thy whole body therefore be full of light, having no part dark, the whole shall be full of light, as when the bright shining of a candle doth give thee light.
When the eye is single the whole body is full of light. When we come out of darkness into his marvelous light, our eyes focused on Jesus as opposed to the fleshly lusts, that war against our souls (1 Peter 2:11).
Just as a candle has light only and thus no darkness, we too must fully let our light shine bright, and shut out all evil. The verse in James 4:7, points out that we must:
1- Submit (fully) to God
2- Resist the devil (always)
3- Only then will he will flee from us, if we have embraced points 1 & 2.
1 John 2:3-6 And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.
Here we have a powerful testimony of who really loves Christ. Do we keep his commandments?
There are two major commandments, and all of the other teachings of Christ fall under them.
We must love Jesus with all of our heart, mind and soul and our neighbors as ourselves. To come out of darkness into his marvelous light requires the infilling of the Holy Spirit.
Without him we can do nothing! So he gives us the power to accomplish this task.
1 John 1:5-7 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
If we love this world, we have not the truth, and walk in darkness (1 John 2:15).
Matt 5:43-44 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
Our eyes have not seen, nor our ears heard, neither has it entered into our hearts, the things which God has prepared for those that love him (Isa 64:4; 1 Cor 2:9). It will be awesome for sure, and our eternal destiny should be the light we draw near to.
Jude 1:3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
Earnestly contend means to:
1- Fight or battle with enemies (spiritual wickedness in high places)
2- Struggle, with difficulty or dangers
3- Strive (devote serious effort or energy) to obtain something
When one studies the Lord’s Prayer it becomes clear that everything in this prayer is spiritual including our daily bread, which is the Word of God.
John 6:33 For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.