Living In The Light
Text: I John 1: 6 & 7; I Pet.2: 9 & 10
Intro: In perhaps an elementary, yet practical sense, to walk in the light is to walk where one’s path is illuminated. The Christian is supposed to be one who has been illuminated, for they have received into their hearts He who is said to be the “light of men” (John 1: 4b).
To live in the light is to live by the revealed will of God. It is to live according to the righteous standard set forth by Christ Jesus Himself. It is living openly, honestly, and sincerely before God and man. As John stated, walking in the light is a prerequisite for having fellowship with God. “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another…” (I John 1: 7a). Since the theme of I John is “’The Saint’s Fellowship with God,’” I believe the fellowship John speaks of here is that enjoyed by God and His obedient children (Kenneth S. Wuest, Wuest’s Word Studies, Vol. II, published by Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, Grand Rapids, Michigan; The Exegesis Of I John, pg. 102).
Just as there are certain traits exhibited by those who don’t know God, and live in fellowship with Him, the same is true of those who do. It isn’t possible to discuss all of the characteristics of the child of God today, but Peter does give us a good idea of what kind of person a Christian ought to be.
The Apostle Peter believed that the saint was to be different from the world. His reason for this belief was because the Christian has been “…born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God…” (I Pet.1: 23). The child of God has experienced the miracle of the New Birth; and that always changes a person. If there’s been no change, there’s been no conversion.
Look with me into I Peter chapter two, as we seek to discover some of the traits of those who are “LIVING IN THE LIGHT.”
Theme: Peter tells us that:
I. CHRISTIANS SHOULD LIVE RAVENOUSLY
A. God’s Children Should Have A Hunger For The Word Of Life.
1. No one gets saved apart from the Word of God.
I Pet.1: 23 “Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth forever.
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25 But the word of the Lord endureth forever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you.”
2. After salvation, the Word of God produces continued spiritual growth.
I Pet.2: 2 “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.”
NOTE: [1] The word “desire” carries the idea of “an intense yearning” (Ibid, First Peter In The Greek New Testament, pg. 51).
[2] The Word of God is referred to as the “sincere milk of the word” (v. 2). That means that God’s Word is “guileless, pure” (W.E. Vine, M.A., An Expository Dictionary Of New Testament Words, Vol. IV, publish by Fleming H. Revell Company, Old Tappan, New Jersey; pg. 34). The Bible is without adulteration, without ulterior motives. God’s Word has one basic purpose—to nourish man’s spirit by revealing the truth and person of God.
[3] There is a prerequisite to the saint’s intense yearning for the Word of God implied in verse one. The words “laying aside,” in I Pet.2: 1 implies that known sin is to be dealt with decisively, in a “once for all action” (Kenneth S. Wuest, Wuest’s Word Studies, Vol. II, published by Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, Grand Rapids, Michigan; First Peter In The Greek New Testament, pg. 50). Someone once printed a very true statement in the flyleaf of one of my bibles: “This Book will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from this Book.”
[4] Just as a healthy baby is a hungry baby, even so, “A spiritually healthy Christian is a hungry Christian. This solves the problem of why so many children of God have so little love for the Word” (Ibid, First Peter In The Greek New Testament, pg. 52).
[5] There are some folks however, who have such a love for the Word of God they won’t let anything keep them from it.
Read with Tongue
A man in Kansas City was severely injured in an explosion. Evangelist Robert L. Sumner tells about him in his book The Wonders of the Word of God. The victim’s face was badly disfigured, and he lost his eyesight as well as both hands.
He was just a new Christian, and one of his greatest disappointments was that he could no longer read the Bible. Then he heard about a lady in England who read Braille with her lips. Hoping to do the same, he sent for some books of the Bible in Braille. Much to his dismay, however, he discovered that the nerve endings in his lips had been destroyed by the explosion.
One day, as he brought one of the Braille pages to his lips, his tongue happened to touch a few of the raised characters and he could feel them. Like a flash he thought, I can read the Bible using my tongue. At the time Robert Sumner wrote his book, the man had “read” through the entire Bible four times.
The Wonders of the Word of God, by Robert L. Sumner.
B. God’s Children Should Have A Hunger For The Lord.
I Pet.2: 3 “If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious,
4 To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious,
5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.”
NOTE: [1] The word “if” in verse three, carries the idea of “since.” It speaks of a condition already fulfilled. The word “gracious,” found at the end of verse three, can be understood to mean “better,” or “excellent,” which is the literal meaning of the word (Ibid, First Peter In The Greek New Testament, pg. 52). The point that Peter is making here is that those who are saved know that the Lord is better than anything they might have experienced in the world.
[2] Peter is obviously speaking to the saints here. According to the Greek text, the words “to whom coming” do not refer to:
…the initial act of the sinner coming to the Lord Jesus for salvation, but indicate a close and habitual approach and an intimate association made by faith when the believer realizes the presence of and seeks communion and fellowship with his Lord (Ibid, First Peter In The Greek New Testament, pg. 52).
[3] Our hunger for the Lord should be much like the following:
Socrates
There’s a story about a proud young man who came to Socrates asking for knowledge. He walked up to the muscular philosopher and said, “O great Socrates, I come to you for knowledge.”
Socrates recognized a pompous numbskull when he saw one. He led the young man through the streets, to the sea, and chest deep into water. Then he asked, “What do you want?”
“Knowledge, O wise Socrates,” said the young man with a smile.
Socrates put his strong hands on the man’s shoulders and pushed him under. Thirty seconds later Socrates let him up. “What do you want?” he asked again.
“Wisdom,” the young man sputtered, “O great and wise Socrates.”
Socrates crunched him under again. Thirty seconds passed, thirty-five. Forty. Socrates let him up. The man was gasping. “What do you want, young man?”
Between heavy, heaving breaths the fellow wheezed, “Knowledge, O wise and wonderful …”
Socrates jammed him under again. Forty seconds passed. Fifty. “What do you want?”
“Air!” he screeched. “I need air!”
“When you want knowledge as you have just wanted air, then you will have knowledge.”
M. Littleton in Moody Monthly, June, 1989, p. 29
II. CHRISTIANS SHOULD LIVE RIGHTEOUSLY
A. They Should Begin By Making The Right Spiritual Choice.
I Pet.2: 1 “Wherefore laying aside (once and for all) all malice, and all guild, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speaking,”
NOTE: [1] This “once and for all” choice to put away known sin in ones life does not result in sinless perfection. However, it means that one chooses not to allow sin to rule in their life. Obviously there will be spiritual battles. But victory begins with a spiritual choice not to let sin rule.
[2] This is not the only place in Scripture where the idea of dealing decisively with sin in ones life is taught.
Rom.6: 12 “Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.”
Heb.12: 1 “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,”
[3] We need to determine to repent of the sin in our lives, not redefine it.
Sin Compared to Poison
Dr. J. Wilbur Chapman told of a distinguished minister, Dr. Howard, from Australia who preached very strongly on the subject of sin. After the service, one of the church officers came to counsel with him in the study. “Dr. Howard,” he said, “we don’t want you to talk as openly as you do about man’s guilt and corruption, because if our boys and girls hear you discussing that subject they will more easily become sinners. Call it a mistake if you will, but do not speak so plainly about sin.”
The minister took down a small bottle and showing it to the visitor said, “You see that label? It says strychnine—and underneath in bold, red letters the word ‘Poison!’ Do you know, man, what you are asking me to do? You are suggesting that I change the label. Suppose I do, and paste over it the words, ‘Essence of Peppermint;’ don’t you see what might happen? Someone would use it, not knowing the danger involved, and would certainly die. So it is, too, with the matter of sin. The milder you make your label, the more dangerous you make your poison!”
Source unknown
B. They Should Live According To Saintly Conduct.
1. This is to be practiced in the spiritual realm.
a. We must be careful to remember our purpose.
I Pet.2: 9 “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:”
b. We must be careful to remember the spiritual peril.
I Pet.2: 11 “Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;”
c. We must be careful to remember the lost world’s perspective.
I Pet.2: 12 “Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.”
NOTE: [1] Peter says that the Christian’s manner of life should be “honest.” That means more than merely not being dishonest. The Greek word used here, refers to:
…goodness which is beautiful, an outer goodness that strikes the eye…Our manner of life is honest when our lives are in accordance with what we are inwardly, cleansed, regenerated children of God (Ibid, First Peter In The Greek New Testament, pg. 59).
[2] The word “visitation” speaks of the time when God visits the lost, who has watched the saints’ godly lives, with salvation. The lost world will be more impressed by what you do than what you say. The conduct of God’s children should give visible evidence to the change that Jesus Christ brings into one’s life.
2. This is to be practiced in the secular realm.
a. Christians are to be Christ-like and respectful toward government officials.
I Pet.2: 13 “Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme;
14 Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well.”
b. Christians are to be Christ-like and respectful toward all men.
I Pet.2: 17 “Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king.”
c. Christians are to be Christ-like and respectful toward their boss.
I Pet.2: 18 “Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.”
III. CHRISTIANS SHOULD LIVE REPRESENTATIVELY
II Cor.5: 20 “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.”
A. We Should Seek To Emulate Christ’s Spotless Life.
I Pet.2: 21 “For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously.”
B. We Should Seek To Emulate Christ’s Selfless Life.
I Pet.2: 24 “Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.”
NOTE: Selflessness always has positive results, as this true story illustrates.
Angus McGillivray Gave It All
In Ernest Gordon’s true account of life in a World War II Japanese prison camp, Through the Valley of the Kwai, there is a story that never fails to move me. It is about a man who through giving it all away literally transformed a whole camp of soldiers. The man’s name was Angus McGillivray.
Angus was a Scottish prisoner in one of the camps filled with Americans, Australians, and Britons who had helped build the infamous Bridge over the River Kwai. The camp had become an ugly situation. A dog-eat-dog mentality had set in. Allies would literally steal from each other and cheat each other; men would sleep on their packs and yet have them stolen from under their heads. Survival was everything. The law of the jungle prevailed...until the news of Angus McGillivray’s death spread throughout the camp. Rumors spread in the wake of his death.
No one could believe big Angus had succumbed. He was strong, one of those whom they had expected to be the last to die. Actually, it wasn’t the fact of his death that shocked the men, but the reason he died. Finally they pieced together the true story.
The Argylls (Scottish soldiers) took their buddy system very seriously. Their buddy was called their “mucker,” and these Argylls believed that is was literally up to each of them to make sure their “mucker” survived. Angus’s mucker, though, was dying, and everyone had given up on him; everyone, of course, but Angus. He had made up his mind that his friend would not die.
Someone had stolen his mucker’s blanket. So Angus gave him his own, telling his mucker that he had “just come across an extra one.” Likewise, every mealtime, Angus would get his rations and take them to his friend, stand over him and force him to eat them, again stating that he was able to get “extra food.” Angus was going to do anything and everything to see that his buddy got what he needed to recover.
But as Angus’s mucker began to recover, Angus collapsed, slumped over, and died. The doctors discovered that he had died of starvation complicated by exhaustion. He had been giving of his own food and shelter. He had given everything he had—even his very life.
The ramifications of his acts of love and unselfishness had a startling impact on the compound. “Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:12). As word circulated of the reason for Angus McGillivray’s death, the feel of the camp began to change. Suddenly, men began to focus on their mates, their friends, and humanity of living beyond survival, of giving oneself away. They began to pool their talents—one was a violinmaker, another an orchestra leader, another a cabinetmaker, another a professor. Soon the camp had an orchestra full of homemade instruments and a church called the “Church Without Walls” that was so powerful, so compelling, that even the Japanese guards attended. The men began a university, a hospital, and a library system. The place was transformed; an all but smothered love revived, all because one man named Angus gave all he had for his friend. For many of those men this turnaround meant survival. What happened is an awesome illustration of the potential unleashed when one person actually gives it all away.
Holy Sweat, Tim Hansel, 1987, Word Books Publisher, pp. 146-147
C. We Should Seek To Emulate Christ’s Sincere Love.
Luke 6: 35 “But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.”
I John 3: 18 “My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.”
NOTE: There is a saying that, “People won’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.” Real love cares for others without concern for oneself.
Real Love Forgets Self
William Gladstone, in announcing the death of Princess Alice to the House of Commons, told a touching story.
The little daughter of the Princess was seriously ill with diphtheria. The doctors told the princess not to kiss her little daughter and endanger her life by breathing the child’s breath.
Once when the child was struggling to breathe, the mother, forgetting herself entirely, took the little one into her arms to keep her from choking to death. Rasping and struggling for her life, the child said, “Momma, kiss me!” Without thinking of herself the mother tenderly kissed her daughter. She got diphtheria and some days thereafter she went to be forever with the Lord.
Real love forgets self. Real love knows no danger. Real love doesn’t count the cost. The Bible says, “Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it.”
Source unknown
Theme: Peter tells us that:
I. CHRISTIANS SHOULD LIVE RAVENOUSLY
II. CHRISTIANS SHOULD LIVE RIGHTEOUSLY
III. CHRISTIANS SHOULD LIVE REPRESENTATIVELY
