You Are Light; Let Your Light So Shine

Minister:
Date: PM
Text: Matthew 5:14-16
Psalters: 137, 91, 182, 308
Confession of Faith
  1. Our identity.
    1. The Biblical concept “light” describes the awesome glory emanating from perfect goodness.
      1. “God is light” (I John 1:5), i.e., perfect goodness with regard to every virtue, and He is so eternally.
      2. Jesus is “light,” for as the Word made flesh He is life (the life of God) and the life was the light of men (John 1:4).
    2. This world is in a state of spiritual darkness, i.e., absent of any goodness, unable to know God and truth (I Cor. 2:14).
    3. It is in this world that Jesus’ church and His people exist; in it but not of it.
      1. When the Spirit of this Jesus dwells in you and regenerates you, then you are “light in the Lord” (Eph. 5:8).
      2. Thus the church of Jesus Christ and every citizen of Jesus’ kingdom is “the light of the world.”
  2. Every citizen of Jesus’ kingdom and the church of Jesus Christ is light and is to “let your light shine.”
    1. First, we are admonished not to cover the light, but let it shine.
    2. When we shine, then we speak, walk, and live as Christ, walking in all “good works.”
      1. We shine when we proclaim and confess Him and the truth of His Word.
      2. Light, by its very nature, illuminates, so we cannot help but illuminate – with two results:
  3. We are admonished to shine “so,” i.e., shine in such a manner that God is glorified.
    1. The church and believers are not passive light-bearers (like candle or flashlight), but active, rational beings.
    2. Sinful reasons for letting our light shine:
    3. The right reason for shining in good works is so God is glorified by others who see our life and how we live out of Christ.
      1. God is glorified when the church is gathered, defended, and preserved.
      2. God is glorified when the ungodly are made more accountable when they refuse to give God the glory.