13 “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.
14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5: 13-16
Matthew 5: 14-16
8 for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light
9 (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth),
10 trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.
11 Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them;
12 for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret.
13 But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light.
14 For this reason it says,
“Awake, sleeper,
And arise from the dead,
And Christ will shine on you.” Ephesians 5: 8-14
You are the light of the world - So in verse 13, about the salt, we saw that the world was in decay. It is not heading toward some evolutionary epoch where men evolve into peacefulness, love and euphoria, no, it is a downward spiral, which men cover with hopes tied to technology. For all our knowledge, and it has increased rapidly with the industrial age, with tech, and our ability to see further into the finite, gathering more information about the world inside of time and space, yet here, Christ is saying the world is in darkness. He starts with another proclamation, "you are the light of the world". So what is light here?
5 This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 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 cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. 1 John 1: 5-10
In Ephesians 5:9, copied above, we see that the fruit consistent with being light, or walking in the light as in 1 John, is in "all goodness, righteousness and truth". Jesus declared that He was "the way, the truth and the life." He brings light into the world, the light of the gospel, and those that follow Him, His disciples, He is the lamp that lights their lamps. Light is an amazing thing, for darkness flees before it. He has also given us light through His word, this brings the truth about God, about creation, about sin and judgment; it illuminates the things that we would be in the dark about.
…10Then Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are your accusers? Has no one condemned you?” 11“No one, Lord,” she answered. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Now go and sin no more.” 12Once again, Jesus spoke to the people and said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in the darkness, but will have the light of life.”… John 8: 10-12
You are the light of the world - Great privilege carries with it great responsibility! "Jesus gives the Christian both a great compliment and a great responsibility when He says that we are the light of the world, because He claimed that title for Himself as He walked this earth (John 8:12 and John 9:5)." (Guzik)
A city set high on a hill cannot be hidden - He said you are a light, and now He is saying where you are as someone who claims to be a believer. You are in full view, anyone close enough to the hill, your area of influence, can see you. Now this should be a cause for pause and consideration. Let's think about this, the people who walk in the light are the one's with the truth of God, and the Bible makes it clear that men love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil. So the first problem, and this is a big reason why they did public baptism, because you are going to publicly pronounce and associate yourself with Christ and His gospel, the same gospel that took Him to the cross and got all His disciples persecuted. Do you really want to associate with that?
32Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father in heaven. 33But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father in heaven. 34Do not assume that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.… Matthew 10: 32-34
The second problem, not everyone who says they walk in the light truly does. There are plenty of wolves in sheep's clothing, and it was one of my big complaints about the church as a kid, and it is a huge problem, a much grander problem in countries with more religious freedom and liberty. Many people have no fear of claiming to know God in such places, but if you look closely, they deny Him in their lives, not because they mess up, but because they are unrepentant and truly in love with the world. There are many who like titles and a certain amount of morality, so they were made deacons and elders, but they led people astray, and when I saw them as the bar then I wasn't seeing the truth, I wasn't convicted, I was left in the dark.
… 15Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You traverse land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are. 16Woe to you, blind guides! You say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’… Matthew 23: 15-16
…13For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. 14And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their actions.… 2 Corinthians 11: 13-15
…21Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ 23Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness!’… Matthew 7: 21-23
Put it under a basket - Third problem, you can't hide your lamp under a basket and still do your job. It is lit so that it will be on display, and you will be associated with other believers because God commands us to not forsake the assembling of ourselves together, but He also demands that we use discernment. Remember, many, especially where there is religious freedom or popularity, will claim to be Christian, hoping for the byproducts of the faith, some fish and bread, some socializing and maybe some good business connections with like minded people who vote like me and enjoy the same sports as I do. We're not called to be members of a secret society, our light is going to shine and hopefully give us away as true followers of Christ, aliens. We are members of the body of Christ, so do you want to be associated with people that deem that a small thing? And what does it do to the light when they preach another gospel? Remember, the light is associated with truth.
…10I was not including the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. 11But now I am writing you not to associate with anyone who claims to be a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a verbal abuser, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat. 12What business of mine is it to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside?… 1 Corinthians 5: 10-12
…7which is not even a gospel. Evidently some people are troubling you and trying to distort the gospel of Christ. 8But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be under a curse! 9As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be under a curse!… Galatians 1: 7-9
So they may see your good works - We are known by our fruit, and I have heard many in the modern church deny this, clinging to an antinomianism that makes such unsound doctrines as that of the carnal Christian or as someone I know put it, "I am a good Corinthian Christian", seeing them as an excuse for a life marked by lust, greed, unforgiveness and perpetual immaturity, even seeing it as okay to lead others astray. It is not possible, nor would I ever suggest that one can work unto faith or salvation, but when one has received such faith that comes from God, it will grow and produce good works. These aren't selfie moments, not there to make you look good, to make your name great, for you didn't save yourself, you were not born righteous, you had to be born again and that came from above, from outside of you. These good works come from a changed heart, a love of God, a love for His people, and a love for the lost. They are demonstrations, witnesses to the power of God to save, to redeem, to regenerate.
…14Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine as lights in the world 16as you hold forth the word of life, in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain.… Philippians 2: 14-16
…6In the same way, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. 7In everything, show yourself to be an example by doing good works. In your teaching show integrity, dignity, 8and wholesome speech that is above reproach, so that anyone who opposes us will be ashamed, having nothing bad to say about us.… Titus 2: 6-8
…8For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9not by works, so that no one can boast. 10For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life.… Ephesians 2: 8-10
Give glory to your Father in heaven - He is Creator, He gave His Son, He lived the life that was required by the law, He died the death that was required by holy, supreme justice, and He loved the unlovable. He gave us of His Spirit, tilled the ground of my hard heart and planted the seed of faith. "To God be the glory, great things He hath done, so loved He the world that He gave us His Son." Let Him be lifted up, carry the light of truth to those dwelling in darkness, that they may see and praise Him Who sent us. Are you a light and where is your hill?
…2to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of our God’s vengeance, to comfort all who mourn, 3to console the mourners in Zion— to give them a crown of beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and a garment of praise for a spirit of despair. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified. 4They will rebuild the ancient ruins; they will restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities, the desolations of many generations.… Isaiah 61: 2-4
…7If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to My Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, proving yourselves to be My disciples. 9As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you. Remain in My love.… John 15: 7-9
…10Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. 11Beloved, I urge you, as foreigners and exiles, to abstain from the desires of the flesh, which war against your soul. 12Conduct yourselves with such honor among the Gentiles that, though they slander you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us.…
13Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to the king as the supreme authority, 14or to governors as those sent by him to punish those who do wrong and to praise those who do right. 15For it is God’s will that by doing good you should silence the ignorance of foolish men.… 1 Peter 2: 10-15
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