LIGHT AND DARKNESS
LIGHT AND DARKNESS
There is no reason to inform you that these are opposites, right? You all know that darkness cannot overcome light, as well. And you all know that light always overcomes darkness. Using different words, one could rightfully state that light dispels darkness. Then again, nobody would disagree that it is very hard to find one’s way when it is dark. One is likely to take a wrong turn, or fall over something on the floor, street, or path, when it’s really dark. I want you to be consistently aware of all of that when we take a peek at what God says about light and darkness. The bible is full of scripture that speaks of these two opposites. I will give you many of them but there are literally hundreds more.
After the Israelites had been sent from Egypt with all sorts of bounty given to them by the Egyptians, because they wanted to see the last of these foreigners after all of the plagues that had devastated them and not touched the Israelites, they were on the shores of the Red Sea with the might of the Egyptian army just a little distance from them.
The cloud that had been leading the Israelites, moved from in front of them to behind them, separating them from the Egyptian army. On the sea-side of the cloud there was light, but on the army’s side, there was darkness. This phenomenon remained while Moses raised his staff over the sea, and it parted, with walls of water on either side, with dry ground between. God’s children simply walked through that passage with great walls of water on each side of them. When they stepped onto the sands of the desert on the other side of the Red Sea, God lifted the cloud and allowed the army to be in light again.
They saw this incredible sight of a passage of dry ground between two large walls of water, and the Israelites on the other side, and rushed forward to continue the chase. When they were all down in that passage between the walls of water God turned that dry ground to mud, which caused the chariots to be stuck, then He ordered the waters to return to their original state, drowning all of the Egyptians.
This is one of many passages about light and darkness, with a very important ‘punch line.’ What we see in this story is the clear difference between light and darkness, spiritually. Or ‘in God’s order of things.’ The enemy was kept from God’s kids because they were in deep darkness, not being able to continue their pursuit of the Israelites. But God’s kids were in the light, and were able to see clearly God’s way of escape, and take it. This is one of many passages about light and darkness, offering us a similar truth. In the New Testament, God speaks of Jesus as being ‘a great light, ‘appearing on the planet.
When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he withdrew to Galilee. Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali—to fulfil what was said through the prophet Isaiah:
“Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.” Matt.4:12-16
Jesus was God incarnate, and truly represented all that God is, as He walked the dusty roads of Judea, Galilee and Samaria. So, as was the case at the Red Sea, ‘God’s order of things’ is that light is His domain, and darkness is the domain of the enemy, Satan.
It is interesting that when God came down to the top of Mount Sinai, to meet with Moses, thick darkness covered the mountain.
You [ God’s chosen people] came near and stood at the foot of the mountain while it blazed with fire to the very heavens, with black clouds and deep darkness. Deut. 4:11
This was because God could NOT be where there was sin, and the Israelites had just made a golden calf and worshiped it. So, God had to separate Himself from that sin by bringing thick darkness over the mountain. But when Moses went up to the top of that same mountain, he was able to see, because God had dispelled the darkness there. I believe that this mountain was not erupting with molten lava shooting into the sky, but that was what God caused the guilty Israelites to see.
Moses actually asked God if he could see His glory. Ex. 33:18. But God told Moses that He would cause all of His glory to pass in front of Moses, but Moses could not see His face because nobody could see His face and live. Then God told Moses to stand on a rock in a cleft, and He would put His hand over Moses’ eyes as He passed by that cleft, and once He had passed by, He would remove His hand so that Moses could see His back, because His face must not be seen. Ex. 33:19-22. So, clearly, where God was, there was light! And may I add. There was not a massive volcano erupting on top of that mountain.
The ’moral’ of that story is that God cannot be in the same place as sin. So, He caused deep darkness to separate Him from the sin of the Israelites.
This confirms David’s description of God in Psalm 5:4-6
For you are not a God who is pleased with wickedness; with you, evil people are not welcome.
The arrogant cannot stand in your presence. You hate all who do wrong;
you destroy those who tell lies. The bloodthirsty and deceitful you, LORD, detest. Ps. 5:4-6
When Hannah gave birth to a son, after crying out to God:
“LORD Almighty, if you will only look on your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the LORD for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.” 1 Sam. 1:11
When her son was born, and she gave him to the priests, she prayed to God a great prayer of praise. These are some of her words:
He will guard the feet of his faithful servants, but the wicked will be silenced in the place of darkness. “It is not by strength that one prevails;
those who oppose the LORD will be broken. The Most High will thunder from heaven; the LORD will judge the ends of the earth. “He will give strength to his king and exalt the horn of his anointed.” 1 Sam. 2:9-10
Once again, we see very clearly that darkness is symbolic of sin, which is wickedness.
David sang a song of praise to God after God had rescued him from Saul, who desperately wanted to kill him. He used the phrase; “He made darkness His canopy, the dark rain clouds of the sky.” But his next words were; “Out of the brightness of His presence bolts of lightning blazed forth.” This song of praise is found in 2 Sam. 22, and it tells of God’s great anger at the sin of King Saul. How He came down to display His great wrath. David uses symbolic language here, and elsewhere in the bible. In this instance David uses very dramatic language to describe how God responded to Saul’s disgusting conduct. But he was aware that God could not come into the presence of the likes of Saul, so He hid Himself in surrounding dark clouds so he could not see sinners or be seen by them. The moral of these words of David is the same again. God cannot be where sin is present. And sinners cannot see Him, or communicate with Him. David went on to say. “You are my lamp O Lord; the Lord turns my darkness into light.” Paul reminded us all of this truth. Sin separates human beings from a holy God. Paul was writing to godly saints, who knew, feared, loved, and obeyed God, and had repented Col. 1:1. They lived IN CHRIST, where there is NO SIN! 1 Jn. 3:4-6
Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. Col. 1:21.
The sons of Korah wrote a Psalm, in which they make this statement;
Are your wonders known in the place of darkness, or your righteous deeds in the land of oblivion? Ps. 88:12
Even in darkness light dawns for the upright, for those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous. Prov. 4:19
If someone curses their father or mother, their lamp will be snuffed out in pitch darkness. Prov. 20:20
Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. Is. 5:20
This dire warning from the Prophet Isaiah is relevant for all who sin, yet claim to walk in the light.
Here am I, and the children the LORD has given me. We are signs and symbols in Israel from the LORD Almighty, who dwells on Mount Zion. When someone tells you to consult mediums and spiritists, who whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living?
Consult God’s instruction and the testimony of warning. If anyone does not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn. Distressed and hungry, they will roam through the land; when they are famished, they will become enraged and, looking upward, will curse their king and their God.
Then they will look toward the earth and see only distress and darkness and fearful gloom, and they will be thrust into utter darkness. Is. 8:18-22
That was another dire warning from Isaiah for all who ignore truth which is clearly proclaimed in the bible. For example: God NEVER hears prayers from sinners. The ONLY way to heaven is doing God’s will. The letters of the NT were written to godly saints who knew, feared, loved and obeyed God & had repented. They lived in Christ where there is no sin. They are most assuredly NOT relevant for any sinner! The writers of most of those letters addressed them to such people in the first verse for all to see.
Woe to those who go to great depths to hide their plans from the LORD, who do their work in darkness and think, “Who sees us? Who will know?” Is. 29:15
That warning is for all those who use social media to try to promote themselves. I see them all day, every day on X, plagiarizing words from David or other biblical saints, using their words as if they were true of them. Others deliberately alter God’s word to make it agree with Satan’s ‘Jesus Freaking’ cult doctrine. They think that they are pulling the wool over the eyes of other X’ers but forget that God sees everything they do.
I will keep you and will make you a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness. Is. 42:7
That is part of Isaiah’s prophetic declaration of the coming Messiah’s ministry. I’m sure you all know what he meant by ‘to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.’ From all the bible has to say about darkness, we know that this meant specifically, ‘those who sin.’
Later, in the same prophecy, Isaiah adds these words:
I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them. Vs 16
Blindness and darkness are both symbolic of the state of lost sinners in God’s life instruction manual. Did you notice that God will ‘make the rough places smooth,’ so we don’t trip over stuff? Following is more of Isaiah’s prophecy of the Messiah.
to say to the captives, ‘Come out,' and to those in darkness, ‘Be free!' “They will feed beside the roads and find pasture on every barren hill. Is. 49:9
Those set free from darkness can see where they are going, and how to find food [spiritual] for their souls. The next passage is the beginning of more prophecy about the Messiah where he speaks of beauty for ashes and the oil of gladness instead of mourning etc. Please note who the recipients of those amazing things were. Captives set free, and those released from darkness! Sinners cannot expect to enjoy any of the beautiful things God promises His children in this prophecy. Yet we see sinners posting verses from this chapter on X, fantasizing they enjoy such miracles. As usual, they forget that all promises of God have conditions attached.
The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners Is. 61:1
The next passage is from Jeremiah chapter twenty-three, where he prophecies about God’s response to false prophets. There are many of these on X!! They decree all sorts of amazing things for sinners, who make up the vast majority of their audience on X. I guess none of them have ever studied a bible to see what they can expect in their future.
“Therefore their path will become slippery; they will be banished to darkness and there they will fall. I will bring disaster on them in the year they are punished,” declares the LORD. Jer. 23:12
Woe to you who long for the day of the LORD! Why do you long for the day of the LORD? That day will be darkness, not light.
It will be as though a man fled from a lion only to meet a bear, as though he entered his house and rested his hand on the wall only to have a snake bite him.
Will not the day of the LORD be darkness, not light— pitch-dark, without a ray of brightness?
“I hate, I despise your religious festivals; your assemblies are a stench to me.
Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Though you bring choice fellowship offerings, I will have no regard for them.
Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps.
But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!
“Did you bring me sacrifices and offerings forty years in the wilderness, people of Israel?
You have lifted up the shrine of your king, the pedestal of your idols, the star of your god— which you made for yourselves.
Therefore I will send you into exile beyond Damascus,” says the LORD, whose name is God Almighty. Amos. 5:18-27
I truly believe that God feels exactly the same today, as He looks at churches across America. He has seen the sin, which is unrighteousness, and the charades of worship while clever ‘worship leaders’ and musicians stir up emotions in the people. He sees your idols of sportsmen and women, of pop stars and musical celebrities, and yes, even of Jesus. He knows the strong pull of wealth, for many, to become the star of their god.
This is what the LORD says: “As for the prophets who lead my people astray, they proclaim ‘peace’ if they have something to eat, but prepare to wage war against anyone who refuses to feed them.
Therefore night will come over you, without visions, and darkness, without divination. The sun will set for the prophets, and the day will go dark for them.
The seers will be ashamed and the diviners disgraced. They will all cover their faces because there is no answer from God.” Micah 3:5-7
I have witnessed how church leaders will react to anybody who dares to disagree with them. They do become VERY angry, and really do wage war against ‘the trouble-maker.’ But this has been happening ever since the first true prophet, Moses, began sharing God’s truth with God’s chosen people.
When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help.
“Lord,” he said, “my servant lies at home paralyzed, suffering terribly.” Jesus said to him, “Shall I come and heal him?”
The centurion replied, “Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. But just say the word, and my servant will be healed.
For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
When Jesus heard this, he was amazed and said to those following him, “Truly I tell you, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith.
I say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven.
But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
Then Jesus said to the centurion, “Go! Let it be done just as you believed it would.” And his servant was healed at that moment. Matt. 8:5-13
Here we see how a centurion came to Jesus to make a request on behalf of his servant. I see absolutely no gushing or gooing from this man over Jesus. He respected Jesus so much, he said that he didn’t even deserve to have Him come into his house. Can you imagine any of these ‘Jesus Freakers’ of today not jumping at any opportunity to have Jesus, in then flesh, come to their house? But Jesus gave us a frightening look at how those who do all of the gushing and gooing over Him, without as much as obeying what He commands them, will end up!! They all believe wholeheartedly that they are ‘subjects of the kingdom.’ This centurion simply treated Jesus with utmost respect, and obeyed Him, and went home.
Jesus made it abundantly clear that without repentance we perish. Lk. 13:3, 5. The preachers and biblical teachers of today speak of repentance as if it is simply confessing one’s sins to ask for forgiveness, and we must do this repeatedly. But James gives us a whole different description of the event.
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom.
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. Js. 4:7-10
We see ‘Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you,’ or ‘come near to God and he will come near to you.’ frequently posted on X, but never the rest of this incredibly important message from God’s word. Repentance is an incredibly emotional event that nobody would ever wish to repeat. Can you imagine the saints of old ever repeating their repentance of stripping, putting on sackcloth, sitting on dung heaps for days without eating or drinking, as they threw handfuls of dung dust and ashes over their heads? I am sure I would never want to repeat that experience. And I can assure you, I never want to repeat the experience of my repentance.
You see, ‘Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord’ is not something that any normal person would want to repeat over and over again. Repentance is only ever done once in anyone’s life. God assured us of that with these words from Hebrews:
It is impossible for those who have been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God & the powers of the coming age, if they fall away, to be brought back to repentance, bc to their loss, they are crucifying the Son of God all over again & subjecting Him to public disgrace. Heb. 6:4-6
Please note how Paul described Christians here. ‘Those who have been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, who have tasted the goodness of the word of God & the powers of the coming age.’ It’s only those who fear God and repent who are given the Holy Spirit. Not those who have said some words after the preacher or evangelist, or ‘prayed the sinner’s prayer.’
Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Acts 2:38
It is not until one repents that one can receive the Holy Spirit, because there is zero forgiveness in the absence of repentance. And of course, God cannot live in a sinner’s life.
For you are not a God who is pleased with wickedness; with you, evil people are not welcome.
The arrogant cannot stand in your presence. You hate all who do wrong;
you destroy those who tell lies. The bloodthirsty and deceitful you, LORD, detest. Ps. 5:4-6
Okay, that was all incredibly essential truth, and it is directly connected with light and darkness. All sinners live in darkness, so it’s not until they repent that they can experience the light of Christ, as they begin to live in Him after their repentance, and forgiveness of their sins.
Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And IN HIM IS NO SIN. NO ONE WHO LIVES IN HIM SINS. No one who sins has either seen him or known him. 1 Jn. 3:4-6
“Then the king told the attendants, ‘Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' Matt. 22:13
And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' Matt. 25:30
“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” Matt. 25:46
Those three verses were each the result of what happens to those who are not ready when Jesus returns, or they die before that event. Did you notice that darkness is symbolic of eternal punishment, due for all the unrighteous [sinners]?
And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.” Lk. 1:76-79
That was part of Zechariah’s song, after his son, John the Baptist was born. He was aware that there is no forgiveness in the absence of repentance, as well. There is NEVER salvation, without repentance. He was also aware that those who repented to acquire salvation would live in the light, and shed the light onto those living in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide their feet to the path of peace. This is yet more evidence that sinners cannot ever expect to shine light onto those living in darkness. They are ‘fellow members of the dark side.’
“No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light. Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are healthy, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are unhealthy, your body also is full of darkness. See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness.
Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be just as full of light as when a lamp shines its light on you.” Lk. 11:33-36
All through the bible we are encouraged and even commanded to seek or search for certain things that are very good for our spiritual health. Our eyes are what we use to do that seeking and searching. Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. Search for God with all your hearts. The bible is the key to those, which only our passionate study of, will bring about that spiritual health. Remember that the bible is God’s autobiography, so that’s where we must go to get to know God. Once we know God well, we will learn of His righteousness and kingdom. We will also learn to fear Him, which will result in true repentance.
Moses said to the people, do not be afraid: God has come to test you so that the fear of God will be with you to stop you from sinning [repentance]. Ex. 20:20
Blessed is the man who always fears the Lord. Prov. 28:14
Through the fear of the LORD evil is avoided. Prov. 16:6
The fear of the Lord leads to life: then one rests content, untouched by trouble. Prov. 19:23
Humility and the fear of the LORD; its wages are riches and honor and life. Prov. 22:4
Whoever fears the LORD has a secure fortress, and for their children it will be a refuge. The fear of the LORD is a fountain of life, turning a person from sin. Prov. 14:26-27
Who then is the man who fears the Lord? He will instruct him in the way chosen for him. He will spend his days in prosperity, & his descendants will inherit the land. The Lord confides in those who fear Him; he makes His covenant known to them. Ps 25:12-14
So, we see that obedience to Jesus leads to all that is necessary for LIFE? He commanded us to be afraid of God.
Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell. Matt. 10:28
In him [Jesus] was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. Jn. 1:4-5
This passage informs us that from the beginning of time, real human LIFE was always found in Jesus. So, if we live in Christ the darkness cannot overcome us. This is confirmed in John’s first letter, where he teaches us:
Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins. And IN HIM IS NO SIN. NO ONE WHO LIVES IN HIM SINS. No one who sins has either seen him or known him. 1 Jn. 3:4-6
This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil [they sinned]. Jn. 3:19
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” Jn. 8:12
Here we have another confirmation that Christians do not sin.
After Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, the crowds were really excited and gathered around Him. His stern warning was that darkness would overtake them if they did not accept what He taught, and obey Him. Once again, we see that those in the dark don’t know where they are going. Today, they all fantasize all sorts of things that are true only for those who live in the light. Satan has done an incredible number on all who accepted his ‘Jesus Freaking’ cult lies.
Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going. Jn. 12:35
I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness. Jn. 12:46
WOW!! How do all these Jesus Freaking cultists get around that? They all unashamedly admit to being sinners.
When the bible [NT] uses the word 'believe' it has been translated from a Greek word, ‘pisteuo,’ that means: believe, trust, have faith in, with the implication that actions based on that belief, trust & faith will follow. It never means a mental assent. It demands action/works/conduct
After Saul and his traveling companions fell to the ground due to an incredibly bright light shining on them all, Saul said, “Who are you, Lord?” Here was God’s answer:
I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’ Acts 26:17-18
Once more we see the clear distinction between light and darkness. One is Satanic, and the other of God. With light, comes the forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in Christ. Always remember that faith is useless and dead in the absence of works. Js. 2:14-26 One cannot just speak some words about having faith in Christ and keep on acting like those who live in darkness.
Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness 2 Cor. 6:14
Did you see the comparison there, of light and darkness? Wickedness [sin] is symbolic of unbelievers, and those in the dark. Righteousness is the opposite to wickedness [sinfulness]. So clearly, righteous folks cannot sin. One cannot be in both camps at the same time.
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord.
Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. Eph. 5:8-11
The fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth. That clearly means that sin is not present, and that those living in the dark cannot possibly claim to live in the light, because that is not the truth. Following is one more confirmation that darkness [sin] is simply not possible in Christ’s kingdom.
For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves. Col. 1:13
But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief.
You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 1 Thes. 5:4-5
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Pet. 2:9
For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but sent them to hell, putting them in chains of darkness to be held for judgment; if he did not spare the ancient world when he brought the flood on its ungodly people, but protected Noah, a preacher of righteousness, and seven others;
if he condemned the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah by burning them to ashes, and made them an example of what is going to happen to the ungodly;
and if he rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the depraved conduct of the lawless (for that righteous man, living among them day after day, was tormented in his righteous soul by the lawless deeds he saw and heard)—if this is so, then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to hold the unrighteous for punishment on the day of judgment.
This is especially true of those who follow the corrupt desire of the flesh and despise authority. Bold and arrogant, they are not afraid to heap abuse on celestial beings; yet even angels, although they are stronger and more powerful, do not heap abuse on such beings when bringing judgment on them from the Lord.
But these people blaspheme in matters they do not understand. They are like unreasoning animals, creatures of instinct, born only to be caught and destroyed, and like animals they too will perish. 2 Pet. 2:4-12
I could not help but think of all those who use Christ’s name as or in their screen name on X. I have told them that such a thing is nothing but blasphemy. They just desperately desire attention, acclamation, praise or flattery and commit self-aggrandization which is obviously only present in darkness.
This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth, but if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 1 Jn. 1:5-7
Another confirmation that those who walk in in the light do NOT sin.
Yet I am writing you a new command; its truth is seen in him and in you, because the darkness is passing and the true light is already shining.
Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates a brother or sister is still in the darkness.
Anyone who loves their brother and sister lives in the light, and there is nothing in them to make them stumble.
But anyone who hates a brother or sister is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness. They do not know where they are going, because the darkness has blinded them. 1 Jn. 2:8-10
Please know that Paul used that term ‘hating a brother’ as symbolic of sin.
Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error; they have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion.
These people are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm—shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted—twice dead.
They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever. Jude 1:11-13
This is clearly God’s very strong rebuke against pastors whose focus is on money rather than leading those in darkness, into the light. I have personally got to know pastors like this. They are not rare!! They most assuredly cannot lead anyone into light, because they are in the dark themselves.
I knew there was a lot of teaching about light and darkness through the bible, but this study has amazed me. While I was talking with God a couple of nights ago, He asked me to write an article called ‘light and darkness.’ I have been busy for many hours doing just that, and I am truly amazed at just how clear His teaching is on this matter. And I only searched for the word ‘darkness’, thinking that I would search for ‘light’ once I had done with darkness. Now that I’ve written this much, I will leave it there, because what you have read above clearly teaches you that people who sin live in darkness and cannot be God’s kids. And I only copied a small number of verses that taught about darkness. There are heaps more!!
I researched ‘American Christianity’ across the states from 1992 to 2011 and was truly alarmed and seriously grieved as a result. I wrote a book declaring God’s plan to rescue America from Satan’s claws that have almost destroyed the nation beyond rescue. Amazon or B & N have ‘A Nation Broken’ ready to ship to you now. It is a must read for all who truly love America.