Christ Our Light And Life

Q: What does the Bible say about Christ as light?

The Bible describes Christ as the light of the world, essential for salvation and illuminating our understanding of God. In John 8:12, Jesus declares, 'I am the light of the world.' This statement emphasizes that He is the only source of light in a dark world filled with sin. Light in scripture often represents truth, life, and revelation from God. By believing in Christ, one moves from darkness to light, overcoming ignorance and spiritual death. Without Him, we dwell in darkness, lacking true understanding and relationship with God.

Q: How do we know Christ is the only way to salvation?

Jesus' statements in scripture assert that He is the exclusive source of salvation, declaring Himself as the way, the truth, and the life. Christ's assertion in John 14:6, where He states, 'I am the way, the truth, and the life,' highlights His unique role in salvation. This doctrine holds that all aspects of life and eternal life are found in Him alone. The Reformed perspective emphasizes that salvation is not found in our works or merits but solely in the redemptive work of Christ, who fulfilled all righteousness on behalf of His people. To reject Christ's deity and His role as Savior is to forfeit the hope of salvation.

Q: Why is following Christ important for Christians?

Following Christ is essential as it signifies belief in Him and results in receiving eternal life and light. Following Christ, as stated in John 8:12, means embracing Him as the light of life. This act is central to the Christian faith, illustrating a profound commitment to the Savior. Those who follow Him no longer walk in darkness but are granted the light that brings eternal life (John 17:3). This transformation from darkness to light not only provides guidance and understanding but also secures one's place in the kingdom of God, enabling believers to share in His glory and righteousness.

Q: What does it mean that Christ is both light and life?

Christ being both light and life indicates that He is the source of spiritual illumination and eternal existence for believers. The dual nature of Christ as light and life points to His essential role in salvation. In John 10:10, He describes His purpose as bringing life, and in John 8:12, He identifies Himself as the light, making clear that true spiritual life can only be found in Him. Without Christ, one remains in spiritual darkness and death. This theological truth reinforces that all aspects of salvation—light and life—are unified in the person of Jesus Christ. He enlightens our minds and imparts eternal life to our souls.

Let's read John chapter 8 verse
12. I'm going to read this verse repeatedly. I want it to sink in. I want it to sink in. I pray the Lord will drive it
into our heart. Put it in our heart. The Lord
again spake unto them as He was teaching in the temple, teaching
sinners away of salvation. He said to them, I am the light. I'm the only light in this dark
world. The world of rebels. The world
of sinners. Christ is the only light. He
that followeth me shall not walk in darkness. Darkness. Now how
do we walk by nature? in darkness. Those who follow
Him no longer walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."
Now what does a dead sinner need? Life. Life. Life. I'm entitling the message, Christ
Our Light and Christ Our Life. These two things go together.
Both are necessary to our salvation. There is no life without light
and there is no life without light. There is no light without
life. Both are in the Lord Jesus Christ. He's not only the bread of life,
He is the water of life. He is the light of life. And
that means that all of salvation is in Him. All of salvation is
from Him. He is both light and life in
Him alone and in no other. Turn a few pages to John chapter
10, look at verse 10. The thief cometh not, but for
to steal and to kill and to destroy. I am come that they might have
life, life, salvation. that they may have it more abundantly. I am the Good Shepherd, I am
the Good Shepherd, and the Good Shepherd giveth His life for
the sheep." We have life, we have light, because He gave His
life to put away our sin. Now remember from our message
last week, the Lord Jesus Christ was teaching and preaching in
the temple, as it says in verse 2, John chapter 8, and early
in the morning he came again to the temple and all the people
came unto him and he sat down and he taught them in the temple. He taught them and was teaching
them the way of salvation in Christ Jesus. While he was preaching
the gospel, he was rudely interrupted by the Pharisees. who caught
this woman up in a adulterous affair, and they drug her before
the Lord Jesus Christ as he was preaching the gospel. They did
that for one reason. They did that to discredit him
and to destroy his ministry. After the Lord had put them to
silence, they walked off, remember, from last week. but not for long. We see them rallying their forces
and again in verse 13 it says, "...the Pharisees therefore said
unto him, Thou barest record of thyself, thy record is not
true." After the Lord had freely pardoned and justified this woman
caught in the act of adultery. Now who can do that? Who can
freely forgive sin and justify the ungodly? Who can do that? None but God being justified
freely by His grace. Our Lord said to the woman, neither
do I condemn thee, go and sin no more. He justified her because
the Lord Jesus Christ put away her sin by the sacrifice of Himself.
And after He did that, after He pardoned that woman who was
guilty, caught red-handed, justified her because the Lord Jesus Christ
put away her sin. You know what He did? He went
right back to preaching the gospel. You see again in verse 12, Then
spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I believe he preached
the same thing that he started with, I am the light of the world. And again he said, I am the light
of the world. He went right about his business
of preaching the gospel of God's grace, undaunted and undisturbed,
by the tax of these self-righteous religious Pharisees. He went
right about doing the Father's business. What was the Father's
business? Look at verse 29. He that sent
me is with me, the Father hath not left me alone, for I do always
those things that please Him. He must be about His Father's
business. Turn back to John chapter 4. John chapter 4 verse 34. He said, my meat, my satisfaction
is to do the will of Him that sent me and to finish His work,
His work of salvation, His work of redemption. The Lord Jesus
Christ again was about His Father's business, praying all night and
preaching during the day. Now verse 12, He says, I am the
light of the world. What a statement. in this dark
world, in this vile world in which we live, the only true
light is the Lord Jesus Christ. I am the light of the world. Now, in the Gospel of John, there
are seven statements the Lord makes about being the I am. You remember from John chapter
6, the Lord said, I am the bread of life. He that believeth on
me shall never hunger. He that cometh to me shall never
thirst. I am the bread of life. And then we're gonna see in John
chapter 10, he said, I am the door. I am the door. By me, if any man enter in, he
shall be saved. He's the door. He's the bread. He's the light. And then in John
chapter 10, again, we're gonna see that the Lord Jesus Christ
said, I am the good shepherd. The Good Shepherd laid down his
life for the sheep. And then in John chapter 11 we're
going to read about the Lord Jesus Christ said, I am the resurrection
and the life. He that believeth in me though
he were dead, yet shall he live. And whosoever liveth and believeth
in me shall never die. I am the resurrection. I am the life. In John 14, We're
going to study this. The Lord said, I am the way.
Not a way, the way. I am the truth. I am the life. No man comes to the Father but
by and through me. You kind of get the idea. In
salvation, the Lord Jesus Christ, well, He plays a part. No, He
is salvation. He's the whole of salvation.
And then in John 15, we're going to study this. The Lord said,
I am the true vine. The true vine. We only have life
from that true vine. All the salvation comes from
that one vine. Christ, the true vine, true life. Neither is there salvation in
any other. For there's no other name under
heaven given among men whereby we must be saved. I am the light
of the world. What a glorious statement of
absolute truth. What does this tell us about
the Lord Jesus Christ? It tells us plainly this statement
here. As the Lord makes His statement,
what does it tell us about His character? It tells us that He
is God. He is God. Remember what we read
in 1 John chapter 5? 1 John chapter 1 verse 5, God
is light and in Him is no darkness at all. And the Lord said here,
I am light. That's the same as Him saying,
I am God. You've seen me, you've seen the
Father. I and my Father, we are one. So it's a plain and clear
statement of His deity. Now our Lord said here in verse
24 of this same chapter, if you believe not that I am, you'll
die in your sin. If you believe not the Lord Jesus
Christ is God our Savior, you'll die in your sin. What about those who deny the
deity of the Lord Jesus Christ? What does that say about them?
Well, according to this book, and that's the only thing we
can go by, is his book. Those who deny the deity of the
Lord Jesus Christ will die in their sin. You see, it's God
our Savior. That's the true Savior. It's
the Lord Jesus Christ who saves. When Old Rock Barnard came to
Ashland in 1950, talked about that earlier today, preaching
the gospel of God's sovereign grace, he said to those religious
folks, Jesus can't save a flea. They about died. They about died. He said, it's the Lord Jesus
Christ that saves. And that's so. If He's not Lord,
if He's not God, Almighty, manifest in the flesh. You see, it's just
not some, it's just not that some man died. There were a lot
of Jews crucified. It's who this man is. that gives
power and glory to what He did. God bought us with His own blood. You see that? You understand
that? The Lord said, I am light. That's the same as Him saying,
I am God. The Lord Jesus Christ is all
the light, all the revelation of God. In the last chapter of
the Old Testament, Malachi chapter 4, there's a prophecy concerning
the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. And He's called the Son
of Righteousness that will shine and come forth with healing in
His wings. He is our Son. He is our Righteousness. He is our healing. With His stripes
we are healed. You see, this statement declares
plainly again His deity, doesn't it? In Revelation 21, we study
this. You remember when it talks about
that glorious city? And the light of that city? You
remember what it says? The Lamb is the light of that
city. The Lamb is the light of that
city. We've studied in Hebrews chapter 1, the Lord Jesus Christ
is the express image, and the express image of His person,
upholding all things by the word of His power, and He's the brightness
of God's glory. Again, we see the deity of the
Lord Jesus Christ. We read in scripture that God
is spirit. You remember John chapter 4.
God is spirit. He seeketh such to worship Him
in spirit and in truth. And then in 1 John 4 verse 8
it says that God is love. God is love. He's not a God of
love. God, He is love. And then in
1 John 1 we read a moment ago, God is light. And in Him is no
darkness at all. We begin our study in the book
of John, John chapter 1, where it says that John the Baptist
came to bear witness of the true light that lightens sinners,
the way of salvation. The Lord Jesus Christ is the
only revelation of God to any guilty, sinful, fallen sinner
in this world. If you would ever know God, He's
only known in Christ Jesus. Now listen to Scripture, 2 Corinthians
4, 6. God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness has
shined in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge
of the glory of God. Where? In the face of Jesus Christ. He must enlighten us and give
us an understanding that we might know who He is. He must command
the light to shine in our darkened hearts. Find Ephesians chapter
1. Ephesians chapter 1. I am the light. I am the Savior. I am the way. In the Lord Jesus
Christ, is all of salvation. He is the Savior. Ephesians chapter
1, look at verse 17. That the God of our Lord Jesus
Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit
of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of
your understanding being enlightened. that you may know what is the
hope of His calling, and what the riches of the glory of His
inheritance in the saint, and what is the exceeding greatness
of His power to us who believe according to the working of His
mighty power." He must enlighten us. He must enlighten our understanding
that we might see Him who is the true and living God. Now
to reject and disregard the Lord Jesus Christ as the only true
God in whom accomplish all salvation, in whom is salvation, is to throw
away any hope of pardon, any hope of forgiveness, any hope
of salvation, and is to continue to dwell in darkness. You forsake Him, and you go about
to establish your own thing, do your own thing, your own righteousness,
You throw away any hope of real salvation. To disregard the Lord
Jesus Christ? What a sad thing. You see, everything
God has for the sinner is in Christ. Everything God has for
sinners is in the Lord Jesus Christ. To disregard Him is to throw away any hope of
salvation. Our Lord said, if you believe not that I am He,
you'll die in your sin. We only have a good hope of salvation
as it's revealed, a good hope through grace in Christ Jesus. As light and life are one in
Christ and go together, so too, our Lord said, darkness and death,
they also go together. In Adam, all sinned. In Adam, all died. In Adam, nothing
but sin, darkness, judgment, and guilt. But in the Lord Jesus
Christ, life, light, salvation. In Adam all died, even so in
Christ shall all, all be made alive. Now the Lord Jesus Christ is exactly what you need. He's
the exact prescription for our problem. He's exactly what you
need, whether you know it or not. He's the only remedy for
sin. He's the only Kinsman Redeemer.
He is the only Savior of sinners. He's the only Physician for our
soul. He's the only Advocate, the only
Mediator, the only Righteousness. He's everything you need, whether
you know it or not. I trust you do. I trust you see
in Him all of salvation. The Lord Jesus Christ is exactly
what we need, whether we see it or not. Now here's the reason
why. By nature, look what it says,
he that follows me shall not walk in darkness. But by nature
now, what do we have? Darkness. Darkness. Our understanding
is darkened. By nature we're in the dark. We're in the darkness of seeing
itself. And you know what the Scripture says about our darkness?
Turn back to John chapter 3. You see, He must command the
light to shine. We're born in darkness. We're
born in ignorance. We're born not knowing God. We're
born dead in sin. And here's what the Lord says
about this darkness. John chapter 3, look at verse
19. This is condemnation. Here it is. Light is coming to
the world. Okay, who is that light? It's
Christ, isn't it? Light is coming to the world,
and men love darkness rather than light, because their deeds
are evil. We're born in the dark, and you
know what? We love it. We love darkness. We love not light.
Not light. Darkness. Darkness. Darkness. Let me show you a couple of scriptures.
Turn first of all to 2 Corinthians chapter 4. 2 Corinthians chapter
4. We're born in the dark. We live
in the dark, we must be delivered from the darkness of sin. Now
here's our problem. 2 Corinthians chapter 4, look
at verse 3. But if our gospel be hid, it's
hid to them who are lost, in whom the God of this world, notice
small g, talking about Satan, the God of this world had blinded
the minds of them which believe not. lest the light of the glorious
gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto
them. For we preach not ourselves,
but Christ Jesus the Lord, yourselves, your servants, for His sake."
Now, I quoted this verse a moment ago, but let's read it. For God,
who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, has shined in
our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory
of God in the face of Jesus Christ. Another scripture turned to Ephesians
4 this time, Ephesians chapter 4. The point I'm making is this,
by nature we're in the dark. And the only way to be delivered
from that darkness of ignorance and death is for the Lord to
command the light to shine, to turn the light switch on that
we might see. Look what it says here in Ephesians
4, verse 17, This I say therefore and testify in the Lord that
you henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk in the vanity of
their mind, having the understanding darkened, being alienated from
the life of God through the ignorance that is in them because of the
blindness of their heart. Ignorance, blindness, understanding
darkened. This is what we are by nature.
We're in the dark. in the dark. We don't understand
the things of God. God must sovereignly command
light to shine. The light of the gospel must
shine in our heart or we'll continue dead in our sin. He must give
us life. He must quicken us from the dead.
As darkness is dispelled by light, how do you get rid of darkness?
When you go into your house at night and the room is dark, how
do you dispel that darkness? We turn on the light, don't you?
It dispels the darkness. As darkness is dispelled by light,
so too spiritual darkness is only dispelled by Christ who
is the light. This light reveals the things
of the gospel of Christ unto us. Christ who is the light. when Saul of Tarsus was headed
north to Damascus to persecute believers, hating God, breathing
out slaughter and threatening against the disciples of the
Lord Jesus Christ, against true believers. You remember what
happened when he was riding along? A great light shined about him
and put him in the dust. And the light of the glorious
gospel of Christ was illuminated in his mind, his understanding,
and his heart. And he cried out, Lord, what
will you have me to do? You see, that light, God has
to command that light to shine or we'll never see. Now, our
Lord describes those who have been raised from the dead, who
have been given spiritual life, in this same text. He declares
that He is the light, He is the way, He is the truth, He's the
only way in this world, He's the only way out of this world.
Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? Who shall stand
in His holy place? Only in Christ. Only in the Lord
Jesus Christ. Now He describes those who have
been delivered, who have been given spiritual life. He that
followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but
shall have the light of life." Two things here. First of all,
they follow Christ. Those who have eyes to see Him,
whose eyes have been enlightened, whose understanding has been
illuminated, they see Him, they love Him, and you know what they
do? The sheep follow Him. Turn to John chapter 10. John
chapter 10. The sheep follow Him. You know
why they follow Him? They see Him. They've been given
love for Him. To you who believe, He is precious. John chapter 10. In verse 24, the Jews came round
about Him and said unto Him, How long dost thou make us to
doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly. And the Lord
said, I told you, and you believed not. The works that I do in my
Father's name, they bear witness of me. But you believe not, because
you're not of my sheep, as I said unto you." My sheep, they hear
my voice. They've been given ears to hear.
My sheep hear my voice. I know them, I love them, and
they follow me. And I give unto them eternal
life, and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them
out of my hand. My Father which gave to me is
greater than all, No man is able to pluck them out of my Father's
hand. I and my Father, we are one. One in essence, one in purpose, eternal purpose. The sheep of
the Lord Jesus Christ follow Him. To follow the Lord Jesus
Christ is to bow unto Him. is to surrender unto Him as our
only hope of salvation. To follow the Lord Jesus Christ
is to submit yourself unto Him, bowing unto His will, His rule,
seeking to know the revealed will of God through Christ our
Light. To follow Him. In Psalm 36, we find this written. For with thee is a fountain of
life. In thy light shall we see light."
Christ. The Lord Jesus Christ is the
light, not only the light of the world, but the Lord Jesus
Christ is the light of the Word. W-O-R-D. Is He not? What is this
book apart from Christ? I mean, there's a lot of good
Jewish history, I guess. But the light of this book and
the glory of this book is the Lord Jesus Christ. This book
is all about Him. He is the light of the Word. All scripture is only understood
in the light of the Lord Jesus Christ and Him crucified. This
whole book is about Him. He's the light of it. Our Lord said this, beginning
with Moses and all the prophets, He expounded unto them and all
the Scriptures a thing concerning Himself. You see, He's the light
of the Word. He's the light of salvation.
Following Him is just another word for believing Him, isn't
it? Those who believe Him, follow
Him. Those who follow Him, believe
Him. Those that follow Him and believe
Him, they're coming unto the Lord Jesus Christ. They're looking
unto Him. It's the act of faith, is it
not? Looking unto the Lord Jesus Christ.
It's the same as coming to Him for all of salvation. It's the
same as to drink of Him as the water of life, to eat of Him
as the bread of life, to look to Him as the only just God and
Savior. He that followeth Me." You got
that? Those who see Him in the light
of revelation of His Word, revelation of the Holy Spirit, see Him as
altogether lovely, they follow Him because they're in love with
Him. Secondly, look at this. They
shall not walk in darkness. They follow Him. And they no
longer walk in darkness, but they have rather the light of
life. They no longer walk in darkness. They no longer walk in darkness.
Now, by nature, that's how we're born, in darkness. Turn to John
chapter 12. John 12, look at verse 46. John 12, verse
46. I am come, a light into the world,
that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.
We don't abide in darkness. We've come to Christ who is the
light. And we believe on Him. All of
salvation. Trust Him for all of salvation.
We no longer walk in darkness. No longer walking in the darkness
of ignorance. You know why? We've been taught
of God. Turn back to John chapter 6, look at verse 45. We've been
taught of God. John 6 verse 45, it is written
in the prophets, they shall all be taught of God. Every man therefore
that hath heard and learned of the Father come to Christ. What is the lesson we've been
taught? It's real simple. Christ, the
Lord Jesus Christ is everything in salvation. We no longer walk
in the darkness of ignorance because we've been taught of
God We've been taught the truth that the Lord Jesus is all of
salvation. We no longer walk in the darkness
of religious pride. We've been humbled and stripped
by His grace. We say with the Apostle Paul,
I am what I am now by the grace of God. We no longer walk in
the darkness of self-glory. Turn over here to Romans chapter
10. Self-righteousness to self-glory. It's the same as religious pride.
We no longer are going about to establish a righteousness
of our own, are we? Christ is our righteousness.
What a blessed thing it is to rest in Christ our righteousness. In Romans 10, writing about these
same Jewish Pharisees, For I bear them record, verse 2, Romans
10, that they have a zeal of God. Oh, they're zealous, but
not according to knowledge. They're ignorant. They're ignorant
of God's character, God's righteousness, His essential being, going about
to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves
unto the righteousness of God. That's Christ. for Christ is
the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believe it those
who have been delivered from this darkness follow the Lord
Jesus Christ no longer going about to establish a righteousness
but resting in him back to the text he that follow with me shall
not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life the light
of life now I'm going to turn and have you read these with
me. Turn to Colossians chapter 1. Here's what's happened. Here's what's happened to the
believer. And here's what the believer says. Colossians chapter
1. Look at verse 12. Colossians 1 verse
12. light in Christ, who delivered
us from the power of darkness and translated us into the kingdom
of His dear Son, in whom we have redemption through His blood,
even the forgiveness of sins." Now, who did that? Who translated
us? Who delivered us from the kingdom
of darkness into the kingdom of His dear Son? Christ Himself. One other reference found 1 Peter.
1 Peter. 1 Peter, look at verse 9. He said, but you are a chosen
generation, you're a royal priesthood, you're a holy nation, you're
a peculiar and the word there is purchased people. that you
should show forth the praises of Him who called you out of
darkness into His marvelous light." Now what does that teach us about
salvation? Now you know what it's teaching about salvation?
It's teaching that the Lord Jesus Christ, in salvation, is the
only Savior, the only way in that He accomplished all of salvation
for us. And we see again this biblical
truth is taught in Genesis through Revelation. Salvation, salvation
is of the Lord. Now back to the text one more
time. John 8 verse 12. Look at this
carefully. Think upon it. Meditate upon
it. Ask the Lord to Lord, shine in
my heart. Shine in my heart. Turn on the
light switch of Your power. The Lord said, I am the light
of the world. He that followeth Me shall not
no longer walk in darkness, but shall have as the free gift of
His grace, shall have the light of life. Life. Life. What kind of life is he
talking about? Eternal life. John 17. Turn there and I'll
let you go. John 17. Eternal life. What kind of life
is he talking about? It's not physical life. We already
have that. He's talking about spiritual
life. He's talking about eternal life. John 17 2. As thou has given him power over
all flesh that he should give eternal life. There it is. That's
what I need. Eternal life. to as many as thou hast given
him." As many as. And this is life eternal. Here
it is. That they might know Thee, the
only true God. Who is the only true God? Jesus
Christ, whom thou hast sent. He's the light of life. Oh, my
friend. What a blessing. What a blessing.

Christ Our Light And Life

What does the Bible say about Christ as light?

How do we know Christ is the only way to salvation?

Why is following Christ important for Christians?

What does it mean that Christ is both light and life?

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Christ Our Light And Life

What does the Bible say about Christ as light?

How do we know Christ is the only way to salvation?

Why is following Christ important for Christians?

What does it mean that Christ is both light and life?

Sermon Transcript

About Tom Harding

Comments

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