(2) …that the believer’s continual state is not like that of the unbelieving world—in mental, moral, and spiritual darkness because they are still in Adam, “Vs:22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.” 1 Corinthians 15:22. Those who are in sin and in the darkness because they have not believed in the Light—as such, they are children of Satan; “Vs:44 You are of your father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from…
(3) …the beginning, and does not stand in the truth because there is no truth in him. Whenever he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” John 8:44. “Vs:5 for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness;” Not in darkness—is the Greek negative meaning absolutely not. It means as believers our position is sure in Christ, the Light of the world. Yes, we can choose to walk in the darkness,…
(4) …for we still have the flesh nature within these decaying physical bodies. The difference is that now that we are children of light and do not have to stay in the darkness under the dominion of sin, “So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8:36 NASB. How tragic, when a genuine believer chooses to “go back to the leeks, and the onions, and the garlic” of Egypt for a moment, a day, or a season! Dear Church, let us not be deceived…
(5) …if one habitually, continually abides in the darkness despite a profession of being a child of the Light, their persistence in the darkness proves that they just might not belong to Him! Do not be deceived; God is not mocked. Repent. Believe. “Vs:15 The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” Mark 1:15 NASB. Come out from the darkness, come out from their midst and be separate, for “what fellowship has light with darkness”?
(6) “Vs:5 for you are all children of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness;” 1 Thessalonians 5:5 NASB. Darkness can be a shadow thrown by an object—it is literally that sphere in which light is absent. In spiritual terms, absence of light by default pictures that which is accustomed in evil and sin. The world is divided into night people and day people—a division which is forever (unless the night person repents and believes in Jesus). Fittingly, hell is the abode…
(7) …of night people and is manifest by eternal darkness. In stark contrast, heaven is the eternal light, the abode of day people. John describes heaven as a place where there shall no longer be any night; and they shall not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God shall illumine them; and they shall reign forever and ever. “Vs:5 And there will no longer be any night; and they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor…
(8) …the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illumine them; and they will reign forever and ever.” Revelation 22:5 NASB. This demonstrates a total separation between believers and unbelievers, those who are saved and lost. Believers can be assured they will not suffer the wrath of God in the Day of the Lord, for Christ on the Cross took His Father’s wrath which we deserved, “Vs:13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a…
(9) …curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree” Vs:14 in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we would receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.” Galatians 3:13-14 NASB. Paul says we should be encouraged because of the distinctiveness of three things—our nature, our behavior, and our destiny! This morning we will elaborate on the day/night, light/dark descriptions noting that…
(10) …the Bible divides history into two ages or “like.” From the Old Testament perspective they were called “the present age,” which was evil, “Vs:4 who gave Himself for our sins so that He might rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father.” Galatians 1:4 NASB. Also in “the age to come,” which would be the time of the Messiah, the Millennium. Moreover, the two ages were sometimes portrayed in terms of the night and the day.
(11) The present age was like a long dark night, but when the Messiah came, the sun would rise, the day would break, and the world would be flooded with light. Vs:78 “Because of the tender mercy of our God, with which the Sunrise from on high will visit us, Vs:79 to shine upon those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” Luke 1:78-79 NASB. The Bible also teaches that Jesus Christ is that long-awaited Messiah,…
(12) …and that therefore the new age began when He came. He was the dawn of the new era. He ushered in the day. He proclaimed the break-in of the kingdom of God. At the same time, the old age has not yet come to an end. As John put it, “the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining.” 1 John 2:8. So, for the time being, the two ages overlap. Unbelievers belong to the old age and are still in the darkness. But those who belong to Jesus Christ have been…
(13) …transferred into the new age, into the light. Already in Christ we have “tasted the powers of the coming age.” Already, God has brought us “out of darkness into His wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9. Only when Christ comes in glory will the present overlap end. The transition period will be over. The old age will finally vanish, and those who belong to it will be destroyed. The new age will be consummated, and those who belong to it will be fully and finally redeemed.
(14) So then (and this is the point which we have been working up to), whether we are ready for Christ’s coming or not depends on which age we belong to—on whether we are still in the darkness or already belong to the light. It is only if we are in the light that we will not be taken by surprise. So the question which Paul’s teaching presses upon us is this: To which age do we belong, the old or the new? Do we belong to the night or to the day? Are we asleep or awake?
(15) Are our curtains still drawn (“peace & safety”), or has the light of Jesus Christ shone in upon us? Verses 4 to 8 become quite clear once we have grasped the biblical teaching on the two ages—the old age of darkness and the new age of light. For the imagery of day and night, light and darkness, is continued throughout. Moreover, Paul begins with an affirmation as to who we are, and continues with an exhortation as to what we should be (alert and sober)!
