The Darkness And The Light
Faith Development
Saving Grace
Another Look At The Word And The Sacraments
These four Bible passages point us to the difference between the people of darkness and the people of light. The also point us to the way someone can cross from demonic darkness into the light of the kingdom of God (or the kingdom of heaven, as Matthew's Gospel puts it). In these passages we have bad news and good news.
The Bad News
The Bible uses darkness as a way to describe people who do not know God. There are two different kinds of people in the world: those who know God and follow his ways, and those who do not know God and do not follow his ways. The Bible calls these people "children of light" and "children of darkness."
In the first chapter of the Gospel of John, we read these words:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. -- John 1:1-5
Some translations read, "The darkness has not overcome it." One way or the other, the people of darkness just don't get what God has done for them by creating them in his image. They just don't get what Jesus Christ has done for them. The people of darkness don't recognize who Jesus is (John 1:10). They hate the light.
In Genesis the creation story is described in terms of darkness and light. There was darkness and a void and God said, "Let there be light and there was light."
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, Let there be light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light "day," and the darkness he called "night." -- Genesis 1:1-5
The people of darkness refuse to acknowledge God as their Creator. They also refuse to recognize God as their Redeemer.
The powerful, dark powers of this world are evil. They work unbelief in the hearts of people. The children of light must be on guard at all times so that they do not succumb to the powers of darkness. The Great Deceiver is the god of this world. He has blinded the minds of unbelievers to the glory of Christ (2 Corinthians 4:4).
In this world there is a battle for people's minds and souls. It is the battle between believers and unbelievers. It is a battle between God and Satan. The Great Deceiver or Great Liar, as Satan is sometimes called, tries to lure us away from God. The Great Impostor, another name for Satan, makes promises of happiness and prosperity that will never be fulfilled. If we believe these lies and false promises, we end up in darkness.
Saint Paul warns against the powers of evil in Ephesians 6:12. He calls them "rulers of darkness, spiritual hosts of wickedness."
The bad news is that the powers of darkness are stronger than we are. The good news is that God is stronger than all the hosts of wickedness. The Bible teaches that ultimately God defeats the powers of darkness. Light overcomes darkness. We can be the recipients of God's victory over the Great Impostor. "God is light. In him is no darkness at all" (1 John 1:5). John 1:4 teaches that Jesus came to bring life and light to everyone who believes.
The bad news is we are sinners. The good news is Jesus died on the cross for sinners.
The Good News
All four of the passages cited earlier point to the way the good news overcomes the bad news. Isaiah 9:2 teaches that the people of darkness and shadows have seen a great light. Psalm 27:1 speaks of the Lord as my light, my life, and my stronghold. 1 Corinthians 1:18 tells us that the message of Jesus' crucifixion is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to those being saved, it is the power of God. In Matthew 4:17 Jesus tells the people of his time to repent for the kingdom of heaven is near.
Repentance is a way of life for the children of light. Being a part of the kingdom of heaven by Baptism and faith, we recognize our sins and bring them to the altar of God.
Those who are baptized and believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior receive the benefits of what Christ has done for them on the cross. The benefits include eternal life and light for this world and the next.
Jesus died for all, but those who refuse to believe are like a foolish man who is given a check for $1,000,000 but refuses to endorse it. The gift has been given, but they don't receive the benefits of it, because they refuse to sign it and make it their own.
Before Pastor Jeff could finish the main point of his sermon about the good news of the gospel and tell two stories of how people's lives have changed from darkness to light by God's grace, Grace Livingstone was on her feet and headed for the door. "I've got to go to the bathroom," she whispered to Mary who was sitting next to her. She did not return.
Grace cried all the way home. They are always talking about repentance. How can repentance be a way of life? Why do I have to change? They are always talking about the importance of Baptism. Why do I have to be baptized? Why does there have to be bad news? Why can't we just have good news? What does God want me to do?
Her eyes were red and swollen as she walked into her house. She tried to dry her tears before Jake, her live-in-boyfriend, noticed.
"What's the matter?" Jake asked as she entered the door. "I told you that church was nothing but trouble. You ought to quit and stay home with me on Sunday mornings, have a little sex, drink beer, and watch the football games on TV."
"You're right," Grace wept. "I just can't take it anymore. I'm through with all this church stuff. They keep talking about Baptism and belief. I'm not baptized and I don't even know anymore if I believe in God."
Later that day when Mary phoned her to ask if everything was okay, Grace lied. She said she had gotten sick at church that morning. In a way, it wasn't a lie. She was sick of hearing about sin, darkness, and the Great Deceiver. She was sick and tired of hearing about belief and Baptism. She was sick and tired of fighting with God.
Four weeks later, Mary phoned again. Grace was prepared. She would just tell Mary that her hours at the restaurant had been increased. She didn't have to explain that she had asked for more hours. She had to work Sunday mornings. She couldn't attend church anymore. That should end all this struggle about God and church, she thought.
"Grace, I'm sorry to tell you this, but our friend Sarah Williams just died. It was pancreatic cancer. I thought you might want to know."
Questions For Personal Consideration
And/Or Group Discussion
1.
Why do pastors preach and teach both the law (bad news) and the gospel (good news)?
2.
What are the dangers of preaching and teaching both the law and the gospel?
3.
What would happen if preaching and teaching the bad news about sin, darkness, and the Great Deceiver were eliminated?
4.
How do stories of the good news of people moving from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light help other people?
5.
How would you describe
a.
the bad news?___________________________________
_____________________________________________
b.
the good news? _________________________________
_____________________________________________
6.
Do you agree or disagree with the statement: "Preaching should afflict the comfortable and comfort the afflicted"?
Digging Deeper
1.
There is a difference between guilt and false guilt. Guilt comes from doing or thinking in ways that are contrary to God's law. Guilt comes from hurting God and people. Guilt comes from self-centered actions and thoughts. Guilt is relieved by repentance and forgiveness.
On the other hand, false guilt feels just as bad as real guilt, but its source is different. False guilt comes from feelings of inferiority. People feel false guilt, even when they haven't done something wrong. False guilt is not relieved by repentance and forgiveness, but by acceptance and love.
Grace Livingstone, as described in this book, has a dangerous mixture of both guilt and false guilt.
2.
Grace Livingstone has massive inferiority feelings. These feelings got "hooked" by the first part of Pastor Jeff's sermon on bad news. Because so many people, like Grace, have false guilt because of feelings of inferiority, should Pastor Jeff have skipped over the bad news of sin, darkness, and the Great Deceiver?
3.
One possible approach to preaching and teaching both the law and the gospel might be called "the bookends" approach where we start and end with the good news.
a.
Good news about God's love and grace
b.
Bad news of our sinfulness and need for love and grace
c.
Good news about God's love and grace
The Bad News
The Bible uses darkness as a way to describe people who do not know God. There are two different kinds of people in the world: those who know God and follow his ways, and those who do not know God and do not follow his ways. The Bible calls these people "children of light" and "children of darkness."
In the first chapter of the Gospel of John, we read these words:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. -- John 1:1-5
Some translations read, "The darkness has not overcome it." One way or the other, the people of darkness just don't get what God has done for them by creating them in his image. They just don't get what Jesus Christ has done for them. The people of darkness don't recognize who Jesus is (John 1:10). They hate the light.
In Genesis the creation story is described in terms of darkness and light. There was darkness and a void and God said, "Let there be light and there was light."
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, Let there be light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light "day," and the darkness he called "night." -- Genesis 1:1-5
The people of darkness refuse to acknowledge God as their Creator. They also refuse to recognize God as their Redeemer.
The powerful, dark powers of this world are evil. They work unbelief in the hearts of people. The children of light must be on guard at all times so that they do not succumb to the powers of darkness. The Great Deceiver is the god of this world. He has blinded the minds of unbelievers to the glory of Christ (2 Corinthians 4:4).
In this world there is a battle for people's minds and souls. It is the battle between believers and unbelievers. It is a battle between God and Satan. The Great Deceiver or Great Liar, as Satan is sometimes called, tries to lure us away from God. The Great Impostor, another name for Satan, makes promises of happiness and prosperity that will never be fulfilled. If we believe these lies and false promises, we end up in darkness.
Saint Paul warns against the powers of evil in Ephesians 6:12. He calls them "rulers of darkness, spiritual hosts of wickedness."
The bad news is that the powers of darkness are stronger than we are. The good news is that God is stronger than all the hosts of wickedness. The Bible teaches that ultimately God defeats the powers of darkness. Light overcomes darkness. We can be the recipients of God's victory over the Great Impostor. "God is light. In him is no darkness at all" (1 John 1:5). John 1:4 teaches that Jesus came to bring life and light to everyone who believes.
The bad news is we are sinners. The good news is Jesus died on the cross for sinners.
The Good News
All four of the passages cited earlier point to the way the good news overcomes the bad news. Isaiah 9:2 teaches that the people of darkness and shadows have seen a great light. Psalm 27:1 speaks of the Lord as my light, my life, and my stronghold. 1 Corinthians 1:18 tells us that the message of Jesus' crucifixion is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to those being saved, it is the power of God. In Matthew 4:17 Jesus tells the people of his time to repent for the kingdom of heaven is near.
Repentance is a way of life for the children of light. Being a part of the kingdom of heaven by Baptism and faith, we recognize our sins and bring them to the altar of God.
Those who are baptized and believe in Jesus as Lord and Savior receive the benefits of what Christ has done for them on the cross. The benefits include eternal life and light for this world and the next.
Jesus died for all, but those who refuse to believe are like a foolish man who is given a check for $1,000,000 but refuses to endorse it. The gift has been given, but they don't receive the benefits of it, because they refuse to sign it and make it their own.
Before Pastor Jeff could finish the main point of his sermon about the good news of the gospel and tell two stories of how people's lives have changed from darkness to light by God's grace, Grace Livingstone was on her feet and headed for the door. "I've got to go to the bathroom," she whispered to Mary who was sitting next to her. She did not return.
Grace cried all the way home. They are always talking about repentance. How can repentance be a way of life? Why do I have to change? They are always talking about the importance of Baptism. Why do I have to be baptized? Why does there have to be bad news? Why can't we just have good news? What does God want me to do?
Her eyes were red and swollen as she walked into her house. She tried to dry her tears before Jake, her live-in-boyfriend, noticed.
"What's the matter?" Jake asked as she entered the door. "I told you that church was nothing but trouble. You ought to quit and stay home with me on Sunday mornings, have a little sex, drink beer, and watch the football games on TV."
"You're right," Grace wept. "I just can't take it anymore. I'm through with all this church stuff. They keep talking about Baptism and belief. I'm not baptized and I don't even know anymore if I believe in God."
Later that day when Mary phoned her to ask if everything was okay, Grace lied. She said she had gotten sick at church that morning. In a way, it wasn't a lie. She was sick of hearing about sin, darkness, and the Great Deceiver. She was sick and tired of hearing about belief and Baptism. She was sick and tired of fighting with God.
Four weeks later, Mary phoned again. Grace was prepared. She would just tell Mary that her hours at the restaurant had been increased. She didn't have to explain that she had asked for more hours. She had to work Sunday mornings. She couldn't attend church anymore. That should end all this struggle about God and church, she thought.
"Grace, I'm sorry to tell you this, but our friend Sarah Williams just died. It was pancreatic cancer. I thought you might want to know."
Questions For Personal Consideration
And/Or Group Discussion
1.
Why do pastors preach and teach both the law (bad news) and the gospel (good news)?
2.
What are the dangers of preaching and teaching both the law and the gospel?
3.
What would happen if preaching and teaching the bad news about sin, darkness, and the Great Deceiver were eliminated?
4.
How do stories of the good news of people moving from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light help other people?
5.
How would you describe
a.
the bad news?___________________________________
_____________________________________________
b.
the good news? _________________________________
_____________________________________________
6.
Do you agree or disagree with the statement: "Preaching should afflict the comfortable and comfort the afflicted"?
Digging Deeper
1.
There is a difference between guilt and false guilt. Guilt comes from doing or thinking in ways that are contrary to God's law. Guilt comes from hurting God and people. Guilt comes from self-centered actions and thoughts. Guilt is relieved by repentance and forgiveness.
On the other hand, false guilt feels just as bad as real guilt, but its source is different. False guilt comes from feelings of inferiority. People feel false guilt, even when they haven't done something wrong. False guilt is not relieved by repentance and forgiveness, but by acceptance and love.
Grace Livingstone, as described in this book, has a dangerous mixture of both guilt and false guilt.
2.
Grace Livingstone has massive inferiority feelings. These feelings got "hooked" by the first part of Pastor Jeff's sermon on bad news. Because so many people, like Grace, have false guilt because of feelings of inferiority, should Pastor Jeff have skipped over the bad news of sin, darkness, and the Great Deceiver?
3.
One possible approach to preaching and teaching both the law and the gospel might be called "the bookends" approach where we start and end with the good news.
a.
Good news about God's love and grace
b.
Bad news of our sinfulness and need for love and grace
c.
Good news about God's love and grace
