The True Light

Introduction:

read John 1: 1-5. Thus begins John's account of Christ's life. Jesus, the Messiah, is eternal. He is deity. He is God. He is the creator and the giver of life. He is also the light of men. Then the writer John tells of another John. He tells of one who came to bear witness of the light. The aim of his work was so that people would come to believe in Jesus as the son of God (John 1: 6- 8). This John is often referred to as the Baptist or the Baptizer. The Old Testament prophesied about his coming (Isaiah 40:3-5, Malachi 3:1, then John 1:19- 28).

Sermon text: John 1: 9-13

body:

1.      the rejection of the light (verses 9-11)

Jesus gives light to every man (John 8: 12; 12: 46 ) in particular, he came to his own domain (his own land and his own people- Deuteronomy 7: 6 )

but his own people as a whole rejected him (Isaiah 53:3, Luke 18: 31-33, Luke 23:18 ).

Why did they reject him? They did not know him! Listen to Paul's words to the Jews in Antioch (acts 13: 25- 27 ). They did not acknowledge him as the creator (Colossians 1:16 )

people reject Jesus for many reasons:

·         They enjoy the darkness (John 3: 19- 20 )

·         they do not search the scriptures with the desire to know God (John 5: 39- 44)

·         they are more concerned with the praise of men (John 12: 42-43)

·         they love their traditions more than God's (Matthew 15: 1-9)

2.      The acceptance of the light (versus 12-13)

by accepting the light, one has the right to become a child of God.  The word ” right” Means they have the authority.

This displays the extent to which God was willing to go to make salvation available (Romans 6-8, 8: 14- 17).

·         Unlike the Jews under the Old Testament being born a child of God is “not of blood” - not based upon who your parents or grandparents were (lineage).

·         Not of the” will of the flesh" - not based upon physical attributes or abilities.

·         Not of the  “will of man” - not due to achievements or good deeds.

·         It is based upon the will of God- a new birth made possible by the spirit of god (John 3: 5; Titus 3: 5 )

conclusion:

how does one receive the light?

·         Believe in his name (John 1: 12 ) believe in Jesus as the Christ, the son of the living God. This belief gives us the power or authority to become a child of God. But belief alone does not save. It does not make one a disciple of christ (john 8: 30-32, 38, 44 ).

·         This faith must move us to confess his name (Romans 10: 9- 10 )

·         and repent (acts 2: 38 )

·         Then the final act that makes us a child of God is an immersion in water for the forgiveness of sins (Galatians 3: 20- 27 )

Sermon prepared by Bobby Stafford

November 17, 2024

The church of Christ at Granby, MO

Located at
516 East Pine St.
P.O. Box 664
Granby, Mo. 64844
(417) 472-7109

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