In him exists life and that life exists the light of men.*
What is evangelism, if life exists the light of men? The life we have in Christ is of the concept of abundant or fullness of life. It is related to the concept of growth wherein maturity is bearing fruit. This is the growth process, the seed dies, it starts to grow, not upward but downward growing deep roots, then upward enduring the weeds it matures to bear fruit unto God. God is glorified in this that we bear fruit.* The outcome of the discipline of God is that we share in his character.* So true fruit is being like him which comes from growing up in him, into maturity, his workmanship prepared beforehand to do good works. The same concept of bearing fruit we see in this verse in regards to life. The life exists a light unto the world. The one bearing fruit of life exists a light unto the world. The testimony is of the glorious calling out of darkness into life, a life above the life of this world. It is maturity of life in Christ we place on a lamp stand for all the world to see.
Now at the present, freed from sin, now, devoted to God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification, now, the outcome is life.*
The problem that occurs when the church focuses on good works at the neglect of growth, often wrongly thought of as sacrificing, is that though we do good works we do not look like Jesus, we do not have life fully therefore we are not truly a light unto the world. "Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bushel but on a stand also giving light to all in the house."* Many teach that we are being a light when we talk about the gospel but talking and walking are two different things. We are to walk in the light, which is walking in truth, love, and life. If I do not have life will the world believe my testimony? The testimony is "that life exists the light of men," thus it is life that is placed on a lampstand for all the world to see. If I am to put life on a lamp stand, to give light unto the world, then I must be experiencing life first, because it is the life in Christ that is a light to others.
Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?*
There are two types of life; the life of this world, and the life that endures unto eternal life. There are two types of food; food that gives life to the world that perishes and food that gives life to the spiritual, that endures eternally. If the life in us is a light to others then this changes our concept of evangelism putting importance on growth, maturity, on bearing fruit. If the Church is not bearing fruit then what is the issue? either it is in apostasy, a falling away from truth, or still children tossed to and fro in deceitful scheming and craftiness of doctrines and traditions of men. If perfection/maturity is important then the focus should be on what I must I do to mature so that I bear fruit of life. The natural outcome of a plant maturing is bearing fruit. In the natural we desire food that gives life to this body and if the fig tree in fruit bearing season has no fruit to offer me for life then it is worthless. The same concept applies to the spiritual, if I am not bearing fruit of life then what good am I in regards to giving life to those seeking life?
if therefore your whole body is radiant with light, having no part in darkness, it is wholly bright, like as when a lamp gives light on a lamp stand.*
Here Jesus answers the question of how we are a light on a lamp stand; if we are a light unto the world, then the body must have radiant light, not having part in darkness. This is the testimony of water, of consecration, of purification of sin this body in which sin dwells. In this is of the concept of walking in the light, if we walk in the light we have fellowship with him, if we walk in darkness we do not yield truth.* Yielding truth occurs as we mature in our walk in light, putting off darkness. Yielding truth is of the concept of maturity and bearing fruit which comes through abiding in the Vine. In the words of Jesus the young person becomes strong overcoming the evil one. It is of the concept of growth, a true disciple of Christ abides in the truth, he knows the truth and is set free. This is a process of growth.* The Spirit of truth teaches us to abide in Jesus, as consecration in truth and the words of Jesus exist truth.* We consecrate, set apart the body in which sin dwells to walk in newness of life. What we have as a child of God leads us into consecration, and the outcome of consecration is life. In this is the true grace of God revealed, those born of God, who have his seed within them will grow up to bear fruit of righteousness.
I am the light of the world, the one following me does not walk in darkness but has the light of life.*
This is a circular truth like the love of God is perfected or fulfilled or matured in us when we bear fruit of obedience, which is reflecting his character. Do we see how important growth is and the sanctification process in regards to being a light unto the world? A mature church will be the one that is a light unto the world. If life is the light to men what good am I if I do not walk in life? And how can I walk in life but to walk in light? If the salt has lost its flavor what good is it? it is no good. Life in maturity is like a plant bearing fruit also like a fountain within gushing forth living water. If life is the light then it is not the good works, even evangelism, but the fruit of life we display through the good works. When we do not have life then we are not a light unto the world. In fact it is dangerous, to do good works without life, as Jesus warned many will think they will enter heaven because of the good works alone. This is the false sacrificial mindset of a church that sacrifices growth for good works. If it is true that life is the light then a church without life will never be a light unto men.
the one hating his brother is in darkness and walks in the darkness and doesn't know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes.*
The revealing of walking in darkness is a church that would sacrifice in the name of Jesus, the brother in the church, not my earthly one, in order to evangelize or serve or give to strangers. How can you say you love God whom you have not seen and the brother in whom God dwells, you do not love. The command is to believe and love one another, it is simple. And the sacrifice that God desires is to present your body a living sacrifice unto holiness, this sacrifice is the one acceptable to God and your reasonable service. This true service bears fruit of life. "The one following me, doesn't walk in darkness but possesses the light of life.* Now, we see how important such a task is; if I walk in darkness or my brother walks in darkness then we do not walk in life and as the church we put a basket over the light, it is not being placed on a lamp stand for the world to see.
if we say we have fellowship with him and walk in darkness, we lie and don't yield the truth.*
Yielding is a product of maturity. For those still struggling with sin we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ. The child can boldly approach the throne of grace and receive grace and mercy as needed. It is a concept of repenting, confession of sin but most important is getting back into the light as this is fellowship and cleansing of all sin. There is a further sanctification, of the washing of the word, and of the Spirit, whereby sin is rendered powerless in the flesh. This testimony of water is the washing or purification of the body of sin, and the goal of faith, the salvation of our souls. As we grow up in knowledge of the Son, we become like him in character putting away the old man, and putting on the new creation we are in Christ. This marvelous mystery is how Jesus condemns sin in the flesh, not the ones who are a new creation, spiritual. Such doesn't take away from God's holiness and judgment of sin, because sin is condemned in the flesh, and at the same time it accomplishes the goal of sharing in his character which is pure and holy, being partakers of his divine nature.
And this exists the message that heard from him and proclaim to you; God is light and exists absolutely no darkness in him.*
As a new creation in Christ, I am spiritual. Paul writes "for walking in the flesh, not according to the flesh."* We have this dual reality of being a temple of God in a corrupt body. Sin dwells in this body and evil uses this weakness to war against our souls, to bring us again into captivity to sin, which is to overpower us in darkness. There exists a dual reality of natures, one of the image God created man in, that reflects his nature, and the one we were sold into, that of Satan, the essence of darkness, the father of lies, and in whom murder and pride was conceived. His servants we are warned masquerade as light, in the church.* Jesus tells us to judge them by their fruit. The power of the devil energizes the world and works to over power believers, and works against the Spirit so that we do not grow up to bear fruit, so we are not transformed into the image of God through Christ.
do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures unto eternal life.*
Jesus said our whole earthly life should about seeking food that endures unto life. There is an earthly life and for those who believe a spiritual life. One is about earthly food and desires, the other about that which endures unto eternal life. Jesus said these people were following him because they wanted a blessed earthly life. A king that would throw off Roman slavery, and food that satisfies the belly. They wanted earthly life, but Jesus offered them something more; a different kind of life and food of living bread and water, food not of this world but of heavenly origin, that doesn't perish but endures unto life. What is the food that endures unto life? Jesus said it is his flesh he gives that is life above the life of the world. We must eat of his flesh and drink of his blood, it is real food, and real drink. It is through a granting of the Spirit and revelation in Christ that one understands such. But Peter gives us insight, Jesus was the living bread that came down from heaven, his words exists eternal life. The Word became flesh, food that endures unto life. This is how we have life, we seek food that endures unto life, like a man finding treasure in a field, he gives away his earthly life to have this life.
whoever finds his life will loose it, but whoever looses his life will find it.*
This is the dual reality of two lives, an earthly and a heavenly life. If I save this earthly life then I loose the heavenly life. And what can I exchange for the heavenly life? if at the end of this earthly life what can I give to have life that endures eternally? And if I teach my children to prosper in the life of this world what have they gained if they loose the life that endures? Prosperity not in the earthly life but the life that endures is what is a light to the world. If we walk in darkness it is like putting a basket over the light, we do not have life and are not a light into the world. It is a war over our souls, a spiritual war unprecedented, and we exist in a wretched state to be of light but overpowered by darkness. Important is sanctification in this battle, important is that we abide in truth and love. There are many who have gone astray. The devil took dominion over this world through the seduction of Adam and Eve and he still does. Like them we can trade the image we were created in for the fallen image of this earthly life, an image of Satan. God wants a people of his own, who willingly choose light over darkness, who exist of his own image and character. Satan is against this but Christ came to free us from his power and give us victory over death. If we walk in this victory, we also walk in life and are a light in the darkness.
you are a chosen offspring, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of His own in order that you proclaim the excellence of the one calling you from darkness into that his glorious light.*
I am called out of darkness, to walk in his glorious light, not the veiled glory of the old covenant, but the glory that shines forth in the face of Jesus Christ, being revealed in us.* We proclaim the excellence of God when we walk in light. Walking is of the concept of growth, of maturity. The child is learning how to walk, he attempts to walk stumbling quite often, but something drives him on because it is his purpose to walk. Then as he grows he learns to walk without stumbling and the completion of maturity is that he would not stumble at all. This is true of maturity that we walk in the light not darkness and would not cause a brother who is not as mature to stumble. Of course to say we are without sin is to deceive ourselves. One day our salvation, redemption will be perfected in a new body. Paul writes of this, not obtaining it fully and Jesus said there will always be a cause for stumbling, but woe to the one who causes the stumbling. Surely, the purpose of the Church is about sanctification, that we grow up in knowledge of and into the full image of Christ, truth in love. The outcome of such a Church is life and that life is the light of men.
Now at the present, freed from sin, now, devoted to God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification, now, the outcome is life.*
The problem that occurs when the church focuses on good works at the neglect of growth, often wrongly thought of as sacrificing, is that though we do good works we do not look like Jesus, we do not have life fully therefore we are not truly a light unto the world. "Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bushel but on a stand also giving light to all in the house."* Many teach that we are being a light when we talk about the gospel but talking and walking are two different things. We are to walk in the light, which is walking in truth, love, and life. If I do not have life will the world believe my testimony? The testimony is "that life exists the light of men," thus it is life that is placed on a lampstand for all the world to see. If I am to put life on a lamp stand, to give light unto the world, then I must be experiencing life first, because it is the life in Christ that is a light to others.
Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing?*
There are two types of life; the life of this world, and the life that endures unto eternal life. There are two types of food; food that gives life to the world that perishes and food that gives life to the spiritual, that endures eternally. If the life in us is a light to others then this changes our concept of evangelism putting importance on growth, maturity, on bearing fruit. If the Church is not bearing fruit then what is the issue? either it is in apostasy, a falling away from truth, or still children tossed to and fro in deceitful scheming and craftiness of doctrines and traditions of men. If perfection/maturity is important then the focus should be on what I must I do to mature so that I bear fruit of life. The natural outcome of a plant maturing is bearing fruit. In the natural we desire food that gives life to this body and if the fig tree in fruit bearing season has no fruit to offer me for life then it is worthless. The same concept applies to the spiritual, if I am not bearing fruit of life then what good am I in regards to giving life to those seeking life?
if therefore your whole body is radiant with light, having no part in darkness, it is wholly bright, like as when a lamp gives light on a lamp stand.*
Here Jesus answers the question of how we are a light on a lamp stand; if we are a light unto the world, then the body must have radiant light, not having part in darkness. This is the testimony of water, of consecration, of purification of sin this body in which sin dwells. In this is of the concept of walking in the light, if we walk in the light we have fellowship with him, if we walk in darkness we do not yield truth.* Yielding truth occurs as we mature in our walk in light, putting off darkness. Yielding truth is of the concept of maturity and bearing fruit which comes through abiding in the Vine. In the words of Jesus the young person becomes strong overcoming the evil one. It is of the concept of growth, a true disciple of Christ abides in the truth, he knows the truth and is set free. This is a process of growth.* The Spirit of truth teaches us to abide in Jesus, as consecration in truth and the words of Jesus exist truth.* We consecrate, set apart the body in which sin dwells to walk in newness of life. What we have as a child of God leads us into consecration, and the outcome of consecration is life. In this is the true grace of God revealed, those born of God, who have his seed within them will grow up to bear fruit of righteousness.
I am the light of the world, the one following me does not walk in darkness but has the light of life.*
This is a circular truth like the love of God is perfected or fulfilled or matured in us when we bear fruit of obedience, which is reflecting his character. Do we see how important growth is and the sanctification process in regards to being a light unto the world? A mature church will be the one that is a light unto the world. If life is the light to men what good am I if I do not walk in life? And how can I walk in life but to walk in light? If the salt has lost its flavor what good is it? it is no good. Life in maturity is like a plant bearing fruit also like a fountain within gushing forth living water. If life is the light then it is not the good works, even evangelism, but the fruit of life we display through the good works. When we do not have life then we are not a light unto the world. In fact it is dangerous, to do good works without life, as Jesus warned many will think they will enter heaven because of the good works alone. This is the false sacrificial mindset of a church that sacrifices growth for good works. If it is true that life is the light then a church without life will never be a light unto men.
the one hating his brother is in darkness and walks in the darkness and doesn't know where he is going because the darkness has blinded his eyes.*
The revealing of walking in darkness is a church that would sacrifice in the name of Jesus, the brother in the church, not my earthly one, in order to evangelize or serve or give to strangers. How can you say you love God whom you have not seen and the brother in whom God dwells, you do not love. The command is to believe and love one another, it is simple. And the sacrifice that God desires is to present your body a living sacrifice unto holiness, this sacrifice is the one acceptable to God and your reasonable service. This true service bears fruit of life. "The one following me, doesn't walk in darkness but possesses the light of life.* Now, we see how important such a task is; if I walk in darkness or my brother walks in darkness then we do not walk in life and as the church we put a basket over the light, it is not being placed on a lamp stand for the world to see.
if we say we have fellowship with him and walk in darkness, we lie and don't yield the truth.*
Yielding is a product of maturity. For those still struggling with sin we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ. The child can boldly approach the throne of grace and receive grace and mercy as needed. It is a concept of repenting, confession of sin but most important is getting back into the light as this is fellowship and cleansing of all sin. There is a further sanctification, of the washing of the word, and of the Spirit, whereby sin is rendered powerless in the flesh. This testimony of water is the washing or purification of the body of sin, and the goal of faith, the salvation of our souls. As we grow up in knowledge of the Son, we become like him in character putting away the old man, and putting on the new creation we are in Christ. This marvelous mystery is how Jesus condemns sin in the flesh, not the ones who are a new creation, spiritual. Such doesn't take away from God's holiness and judgment of sin, because sin is condemned in the flesh, and at the same time it accomplishes the goal of sharing in his character which is pure and holy, being partakers of his divine nature.
And this exists the message that heard from him and proclaim to you; God is light and exists absolutely no darkness in him.*
As a new creation in Christ, I am spiritual. Paul writes "for walking in the flesh, not according to the flesh."* We have this dual reality of being a temple of God in a corrupt body. Sin dwells in this body and evil uses this weakness to war against our souls, to bring us again into captivity to sin, which is to overpower us in darkness. There exists a dual reality of natures, one of the image God created man in, that reflects his nature, and the one we were sold into, that of Satan, the essence of darkness, the father of lies, and in whom murder and pride was conceived. His servants we are warned masquerade as light, in the church.* Jesus tells us to judge them by their fruit. The power of the devil energizes the world and works to over power believers, and works against the Spirit so that we do not grow up to bear fruit, so we are not transformed into the image of God through Christ.
do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures unto eternal life.*
Jesus said our whole earthly life should about seeking food that endures unto life. There is an earthly life and for those who believe a spiritual life. One is about earthly food and desires, the other about that which endures unto eternal life. Jesus said these people were following him because they wanted a blessed earthly life. A king that would throw off Roman slavery, and food that satisfies the belly. They wanted earthly life, but Jesus offered them something more; a different kind of life and food of living bread and water, food not of this world but of heavenly origin, that doesn't perish but endures unto life. What is the food that endures unto life? Jesus said it is his flesh he gives that is life above the life of the world. We must eat of his flesh and drink of his blood, it is real food, and real drink. It is through a granting of the Spirit and revelation in Christ that one understands such. But Peter gives us insight, Jesus was the living bread that came down from heaven, his words exists eternal life. The Word became flesh, food that endures unto life. This is how we have life, we seek food that endures unto life, like a man finding treasure in a field, he gives away his earthly life to have this life.
whoever finds his life will loose it, but whoever looses his life will find it.*
This is the dual reality of two lives, an earthly and a heavenly life. If I save this earthly life then I loose the heavenly life. And what can I exchange for the heavenly life? if at the end of this earthly life what can I give to have life that endures eternally? And if I teach my children to prosper in the life of this world what have they gained if they loose the life that endures? Prosperity not in the earthly life but the life that endures is what is a light to the world. If we walk in darkness it is like putting a basket over the light, we do not have life and are not a light into the world. It is a war over our souls, a spiritual war unprecedented, and we exist in a wretched state to be of light but overpowered by darkness. Important is sanctification in this battle, important is that we abide in truth and love. There are many who have gone astray. The devil took dominion over this world through the seduction of Adam and Eve and he still does. Like them we can trade the image we were created in for the fallen image of this earthly life, an image of Satan. God wants a people of his own, who willingly choose light over darkness, who exist of his own image and character. Satan is against this but Christ came to free us from his power and give us victory over death. If we walk in this victory, we also walk in life and are a light in the darkness.
you are a chosen offspring, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of His own in order that you proclaim the excellence of the one calling you from darkness into that his glorious light.*
I am called out of darkness, to walk in his glorious light, not the veiled glory of the old covenant, but the glory that shines forth in the face of Jesus Christ, being revealed in us.* We proclaim the excellence of God when we walk in light. Walking is of the concept of growth, of maturity. The child is learning how to walk, he attempts to walk stumbling quite often, but something drives him on because it is his purpose to walk. Then as he grows he learns to walk without stumbling and the completion of maturity is that he would not stumble at all. This is true of maturity that we walk in the light not darkness and would not cause a brother who is not as mature to stumble. Of course to say we are without sin is to deceive ourselves. One day our salvation, redemption will be perfected in a new body. Paul writes of this, not obtaining it fully and Jesus said there will always be a cause for stumbling, but woe to the one who causes the stumbling. Surely, the purpose of the Church is about sanctification, that we grow up in knowledge of and into the full image of Christ, truth in love. The outcome of such a Church is life and that life is the light of men.