Walking as Children of Light in a Dark World
Devotional
Sermon Summary
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We are not merely before we become Christians in the dark; the darkness is in us also. We are darkness, and likewise, as Christians, we are not only in the light, but we have become light itself in the Lord. [00:02:07]
Christians, after all, are not people who live in some kind of glass houses. We don't live an isolated, segregated life. We have to live this Christian life in the world; that is the New Testament teaching about this matter. [00:03:10]
We are no longer to take part with them in those things. We are no longer to join with them as they indulge in those things. That's the meaning of the word. In our conduct and practice and behavior, there are certain things that we are to avoid completely and entirely. [00:08:49]
We are not even to show the slightest interest in these things. It isn't enough that we don't do them; we mustn't even display an interest in them. To be still more practical, we must not even talk about them in the wrong way. [00:14:02]
We are to have no fellowship with the things that they enjoy. You can have fellowship with them without enjoying the things they're doing. You can maintain your hold upon them, your contact with them for their good and for their benefit, but have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness. [00:27:16]
Our attitude is not only to be negative; it is to be positive. He says, have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. That's the third thing; therefore, we are to reprove these things which they do. [00:28:19]
To reprove does not simply mean to reprimand. It doesn't simply mean to condemn. It doesn't simply mean to be negative in the sense of denouncing. Now, it's very easy to do that, isn't it? And we have often interpreted reproving as meaning that. [00:29:50]
To reprove means to convince by means of evidence, to convict by means of giving enlightenment and understanding. In what way? In this way: it means that we are to throw light upon these things in such a way and in such a manner that we really shall convince the person. [00:36:16]
We are to talk the gospel to these people, not to preach at them, but to talk the gospel. They will know that we are different. They will know that perhaps we once partook in those things, but that we no longer do so. [00:39:34]
We are to give them glimpses of a better life, a purer and a cleaner life, yes, and a life which is much more enjoyable. You see, the tragedy is that they think that our life is a miserable one and an unhappy one, and you know you can't blame them for thinking that. [00:39:57]
Holiness ought to be attractive. It ought to be loving. It ought to be enticing. It ought to be charming. It ought to draw people. That's what he means by reproving. We are to reprove the unfruitful works of darkness by being light. [00:42:52]
Radiate upon them the light of the Gospel. Remember that you are the light of the world, and in your light, they will see themselves in what they're doing as they've never seen it before, and they will long to be cleansed, to be washed, to be purified. [00:43:57]
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Christians, after all, are not people who live in some kind of glass houses. We don't live an isolated, segregated life. We have to live this Christian life in the world; that is the New Testament teaching about this matter. [00:03:10]
We are no longer to take part with them in those things. We are no longer to join with them as they indulge in those things. That's the meaning of the word. In our conduct and practice and behavior, there are certain things that we are to avoid completely and entirely. [00:08:49]
We are not even to show the slightest interest in these things. It isn't enough that we don't do them; we mustn't even display an interest in them. To be still more practical, we must not even talk about them in the wrong way. [00:14:02]
We are to have no fellowship with the things that they enjoy. You can have fellowship with them without enjoying the things they're doing. You can maintain your hold upon them, your contact with them for their good and for their benefit, but have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness. [00:27:16]
Our attitude is not only to be negative; it is to be positive. He says, have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. That's the third thing; therefore, we are to reprove these things which they do. [00:28:19]
To reprove does not simply mean to reprimand. It doesn't simply mean to condemn. It doesn't simply mean to be negative in the sense of denouncing. Now, it's very easy to do that, isn't it? And we have often interpreted reproving as meaning that. [00:29:50]
To reprove means to convince by means of evidence, to convict by means of giving enlightenment and understanding. In what way? In this way: it means that we are to throw light upon these things in such a way and in such a manner that we really shall convince the person. [00:36:16]
We are to talk the gospel to these people, not to preach at them, but to talk the gospel. They will know that we are different. They will know that perhaps we once partook in those things, but that we no longer do so. [00:39:34]
We are to give them glimpses of a better life, a purer and a cleaner life, yes, and a life which is much more enjoyable. You see, the tragedy is that they think that our life is a miserable one and an unhappy one, and you know you can't blame them for thinking that. [00:39:57]
Holiness ought to be attractive. It ought to be loving. It ought to be enticing. It ought to be charming. It ought to draw people. That's what he means by reproving. We are to reprove the unfruitful works of darkness by being light. [00:42:52]
Radiate upon them the light of the Gospel. Remember that you are the light of the world, and in your light, they will see themselves in what they're doing as they've never seen it before, and they will long to be cleansed, to be washed, to be purified. [00:43:57]
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