Friday, November 9, 2012

As a Child of Light, Darkness Will Abhor You

Just as believers will be persecuted for righteousness' sake, having received by grace through the faith the complete remission of sins and eternal life -- what a deal! -- we are translated into God's light:

"Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness." (1 Thessalonians 5: 5)

and

"For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light." (Ephesians 5: 8)

Because we walk in the light, we have the assurance of abiding in God:

"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." (1 John 1: 5)

In Him, we receive continuous remission of sins:

"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." (1 John 1: 7)

It is the Father of Lights in whom we can trust and receive all things:

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." (James 1: 17)

Now, we will face opposition in this world, a dark place, but we are called to shine in the darkness:

"That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;" (Philippians 2: 15)

Now, people who walk in darkness will not understand you:

"And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. " (John 1: 5)

In fact, those in darkness will hate your because of your light:

"And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil." (John 3: 19)

Do not be dismayed that you receive persecution as a child of light:

"For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;" (2 Corinthians 4: 17)

This glory is for now as well as eternity, for Christ is in you, beloved, the hope of glory.

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