LIGHT – The principle of openness, disclosure, and brining things to the light

The following is a first look into the topic of being open.  It is really important to share this biblical teaching when someone wants to keep their sin hidden.  The first passage shows this tendency to hide is the very nature of sin.  It works within to deceive our hearts, and like the second passage indicates, to ultimately choke out God's word.  We're not going to ever arrive at a place where we can claim to be without sin.  Also as 1John 1 indicates, that would be calling God a liar.  Instead, we live humbly before God, always needing to confess and shine light on our sin.  Scary the place when sin goes unconfessed and there is no need to get open.

 

John 3

a)     Vs.1-2 Nicodemus is a leader within the Pharisees and comes to Jesus at night

b)     Vs.3-15 Jesus proceeds to take the conversation to the topic of the salvation process, although Nicodemus leaves it open-ended.

c)      Vs.16-21 Jesus is Savior, not condemner; however, our response determines whether we receive the condemnation of our sin or the justification of His grace

a.      What does this passage say about light and darkness?

                                                              i.       Note the concept of "practicing" mentioned here is the same as mentioned in Galatians 5:21 and the proceeding passages—so we're talking about a life-style of persisting to sin, not an individual instance of sin.

b.     How does Nicodemus coming to Jesus at night bring to view a sort of play on words?

c.      How does the verdict in verses 19-21 implicate "believing in Jesus"?

                                                             i.       Living by the truth is coming into the light, whereas one hates the light when avoiding the exposure of their sin—personified into hating Jesus!

 

1John 1:5—1John 2:11

a)     The logical flow of this passage its language is quite clear in any translation—

a.      What does it look like to walk in the darkness…walk in the light?

b.     What is the promise for someone who is born again who walks in the light ( i.e. confesses their sin)? 

                                                              i.       Purification from all sin, from all unrighteousness, which is being continually cleansed (sanctified) by the blood of Jesus.

c.      On the other hand, what is the promise for the person who claims to be okay without living an open life ( i.e. talking about a once born again disciple of Jesus who deliberately sins after a knowledge of the truth)?

                                                              i.       Deception—lying to self, other, and most importantly to God

                                                            ii.       No fellowship with God

                                                          iii.       Not living by the truth, truth is not in us, and His word has no place in our lives

 

2Corinthians 7:8-13

What is more characteristic from this description of what godly sorrow produces?

                                            i.      Caring more how it makes you look?

                                          ii.      Caring more about how it makes the other person you committed sin with look?

                                        iii.      Or caring most how it looks in God's eyes?