The Light of the World:
A Study
in Christian Witness
Tony Thomas
"You are the light of
the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light
a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light
to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before
others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your
Father who is in heaven." [Matthew 5:14-16 ESV]
Jesus
did not ask us to shine for him.
Like it or not, as believers in
Jesus Christ we are on display in this world. If we are going to
follow Jesus, we have no choice in the matter. Jesus did not ask us
to “please shine for me”. He declared without qualification that
we are the “light of the world” and that we will shine. By its
nature the church cannot be hidden. Period.
There
is only one source of light.1
Just as Jesus declared “let there
be light” in the first chapter of Genesis, he has declared that we
are the “light of the world” in the spiritual sense. Just as his
word is fulfilled in the natural declaration, it is also filled in
the spiritual.
The light of the church is directly
derived from the light of it head, Jesus Christ. How is it possible
for Jesus to be the “light of the world” in one place and his
church to be that light in another? Let’s explain it this way. I
can refer to the source of illumination (bulb, candle, etc.) as a
“light”, and simultaneously refer to the illumination itself as
“light”. He is the source light, and we are sent out by him to
carry that light to all the world.
It is important to remember that
Jesus is the only source of hope for humanity.2
Apart from the gospel, everything else is just more darkness.
Philosophy, social experimentation, and even charity are just motions
in the dark.
The
individual light of the believer is like a lit candle.
The
illustration of righteousness as light is one of Jesus' favorite
illustrations. It appears in the gospels and other places in
scripture.3
As individuals we bear witness to the world about the truth of the
gospel. The world does not judge us on our intentions or
inclination. We are judged by our behavior. Good behavior brings
glory to God4,
and bad behavior brings a reproach.
The
corporate light of the Church is like a city on a hill.
The light of every city is simply a
concentration of individual lights. If you get enough of the
individual lights together they can be seen from hundreds of miles
away. While it is possible to extinguish an individual light, it is
not possible to extinguish the corporate light of the church.5
The
relationship of light to those who dwell in darkness.
In the darkness of this world there
are two types of people; those who enjoy the darkness, and those who
live in it in desperation. There will always be those who are drawn
to the light. Even in the natural setting, bugs, snakes and frogs are
all drawn to an open flame. The same is true in the spiritual.
Desperate people will be drawn to the gospel.6
Not everyone who lives in the darkness, however, is desperate to get
out.7
For this reason, those who bear the light of the gospel are often
unwelcome in this world. The gospel exposes the evils of sin and is
therefore unwelcome in many place.
Through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Paul
expands on the concept of light verses darkness in Ephesians 5. Let's
take a look.
1 Therefore
be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And
walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a
fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
3 But
sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be
named among you, as is proper among saints. 4 Let
there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are
out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. 5 For
you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or
impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance
in the kingdom of Christ and God. 6 Let
no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the
wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore
do not become partners with them; 8 for
at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord.
Walk as children of light 9 (for
the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and
true), 10 and
try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Take
no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose
them.12 For
it is shameful even to speak of the things that they do in
secret. 13 But
when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes visible, 14 for
anything that becomes visible is light. Therefore it says,
15 Look
carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, 16 making
the best use of the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore
do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord
is. 18 And
do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled
with the Spirit, 19 addressing
one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and
making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 giving
thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our
Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting
to one another out of reverence for Christ.
22 Wives,
submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. 23 For
the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ is the head of the
church, his body, and is himself its Savior. 24 Now
as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in
everything to their husbands.
25 Husbands,
love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for
her,26 that
he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water
with the word,27 so
that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot
or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without
blemish. 28 In
the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He
who loves his wife loves himself. 29 For
no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just
as Christ does the church, 30 because
we are members of his body. 31 “Therefore
a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife,
and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This
mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the
church.33 However,
let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see
that she respects her husband.
Conclusion
There is no good reason
to attempt to hide our relationship with Jesus Christ. If we love him
we will be a light for him in this world. We cannot be, nor should we
attempt to be secret Christians.8
To continue to the next lesson, click HERE.
To continue to the next lesson, click HERE.
2 For
there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the
man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the
testimony given at the proper time. [1Ti 2:5-6 ESV] Jesus said to
him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes
to the Father except through me. [Jhn 14:6 ESV]
3 Prov.
4:18, John 12:36, Ephesians 5:8-14, Mark 4:21, Luke 8:16; 11:33,
Exodus 25:37, Numbers 8:2.
4 Matthew
5:16
5...
on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not
prevail against it. [Mat 16:18 ESV]
6 And
as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors
and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples.
[Mat 9:10 ESV]
7 And
this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people
loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were
evil. [Jhn 3:19 ESV]
8 For
whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and
sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when
he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels." [Mar
8:38 ESV]
