From Darkness to Light

From Darkness to Light

 SCRIPTURE READING — COLOSSIANS 1:9-14

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

—  John 1:5

Here’s the gospel (the “good news”): Jesus delivers the people of God from the dominion of darkness and brings them into the kingdom of light. There is no better news!

Here’s the background: Sin had plunged God’s people into darkness. They had no temple, no king, and no homeland. The problem was their own repeated sin of turning away from God and pursuing the sinful excesses of neighboring kingdoms. So God sent other nations, that were bent on conquest, to uproot his people and take them into exile. In a long era of gloom, Israel’s hope grew dim. But when the time was right, God sent his Son to bring Israel out of darkness and into light. And not just Israel—because Jesus is “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). On the cross he broke the back of darkness, because forgiveness of sins leads back to the light. Beyond our “little” sins, Jesus has secured forgiveness for our love of darkness. This frees us from the clutches of darkness and brings us into the light of the kingdom of God. We still live in a dark world. The drumbeat of tragedies and atrocities never stops. But we have the privilege and the duty to reflect the light of God’s kingdom into the world. We do it by keeping the law of Christ: loving and serving both God and neighbor with joy.

Lord Jesus, whenever it’s dark, wherever it’s dark, and however it’s dark, I want to shine. Jesus, help me to shine! Amen.

Peace With God

Luke 2:14, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.'

LUKE 2:8-20

In another instance, Jesus said He did not come to send peace on the earth, but a sword. Then He prophesied that those who received Him would experience persecution, even from their own family (Mt. 10:34-36). How do these verses fit together?

The peace the angels were singing about was not a peace between men; they were rejoicing that there would be peace between God and man. When Jesus prophesied division and war in Matthew 10, he was speaking of relationships between men.

Through the Old Testament law, God began to release His wrath on man's sin (Rom. 4:15). It wasn't the wrath of Satan that Jesus suffered on the cross.

He suffered the wrath of His Father (Isa. 53:10-12; 2 Cor. 5:21). The Father placed His punishment for our sins on Jesus. This ended the war between God and man. This is the peace that the angels were proclaiming.

As a result of men receiving this peace from God there have also been many cases of reconciliation between men, but that is an effect; not the actual peace that was spoken of. These effects are secondary.

Today, through Jesus, we now have peace with God (Rom. 5:1). God is not mad at us. He isn't even upset. We have been accepted through Jesus (Eph. 1:6).

Believe the good news that through Jesus, the war between God and us is over.