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The Light of Christ - J. Kennedy · Faith On A Hill

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  All the God singers get all
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  When we think about our lives as Christians, the number one consideration is what did Christ teach?
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  As Christians, we bear the name of Christ, right?
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  So we live according to what Christ taught.
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  We live according to the precepts and the messages that we find in his word.
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  And as we open in 1 John chapter 1, 1 John chapter 1, starting in verse 5, John writes, This then is the message of
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  Which we have heard of him and declare unto you.
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  John sets forth that as he is writing to these brethren, as he's writing this epistle by inspiration, he is telling them what Jesus taught.
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  He is showing to these brethren and by extension to us what it is that was the message of Christ.
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  Well, what is the message message of Christ?
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  He says that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
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  Light is something that is precious, is it not?
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  We think about how this world would be so lost if we didn't have the sun in the sky.
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  The plants wouldn't grow.
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  We couldn't find our way around.
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  The moon wouldn't shine if we didn't have the sun in the sky.
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  It's essential to life on this planet.
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  We would all freeze to death without the sun.
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  We understand from a physical standpoint just how important life, or light rather, is to life.
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  Well, the same is true as we look at the idea of light in spiritual sense.
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  It is essential to our eternal, to our spiritual life, to be following the light of God.
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  Now notice that he says, God is light, and in him is no darkness.
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  The message that Christ preached.
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  The message that we ought to preach as well is the message that God is the epitome epitome of that which is right, of that which is morally sound, of that which is good, of that
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  which is righteous.
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  Of that which is life.
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  God has no darkness at all.
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  There is nothing that is against righteousness, that is against life, that is against what is morally good that exists in God.
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  Stop and think about that.
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  The God that we serve is a God with no fault, a God with no room for improvement.
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  A God who is perfect in his goodness.
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  And especially in his goodness toward us.
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  But notice that John doesn't stop here.
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  Yes, he notes what the message is, but he also notes what the method is.
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  Now, now track with me as we read in verse number six, starting.
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  If we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in darkness, we lie and do not the truth.
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  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another.
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  And the blood of Jesus Christ his son cleanseth us from all sin.
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  Have you ever tried to walk in a room that's completely dark?
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  Maybe you think about when you when you're getting out of bed and you need to go use the restroom and you you memorized your your bedroom, right?
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  You know it like the back of your hand.
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  But for some reason, in the pitch black dark, the the furniture gets a little rearranged, doesn't it?
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  We we think, oh, I know exactly the way to get to the bathroom door.
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  And then where did this where did this bed uh bed frame come from?
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  You snubbed your toe.
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  You injure yourself because you're walking in darkness.
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  Now it's a funny illustration and all, but when we think about it from a spiritual standpoint, it's very serious.
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  It's very serious to understand that when we're walking in darkness, we can say, well, I know the way to heaven.
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  Oh, I know the way to be right in the sight of God.
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  There are multitudes of people out there trying to say they know how to get to heaven.
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  But all the while they're walking in darkness.
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  They're claiming to know the way while not following the light.
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  They're claiming to know the way home while not turning on the light to see the path.
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  But John says, but if we walk in the light, if we were to flip on that light switch, if we were to look to God for direction, suddenly the path becomes clear, does it not?
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  The way that was obscured in darkness, the way that we didn't understand, now comes to light.
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  It's easily seen when we turn to the source of light.
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  When we turn to God and say, Lord, what it is, what is it that you want me to do?
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  What is it that you require of me?
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  When we turn on the light, it's easy to see the way.
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  And he says that if we walk in the light, we have fellowship with one another.
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  And the blood of Jesus Christ, his son, cleanses us from all sin.
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  As we walk in the light, as we leave the light on, as we're following the path that God has laid before us.
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  Not only do we have fellowship with one another, not only do we have fellowship with God our Father and with Jesus Christ our Lord, but we also have a continual cleansing of sin.
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  We don't have to be afraid of Satan.
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  We don't have to be afraid of sin.
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  Because when that comes upon our way, when those obstacles are laid in front of us and we stumble, we can get right back up and keep going.
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  Saying to the Lord, I've stumbled, but your light is still shining.
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  I've done wrong, but I know how to be right because you've taught me.
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  Forgiveness is a wonderful and amazing thing.
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  And this brings us to the third point of consideration tonight.
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  Jesus taught and John taught mercy.
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  We have the message that God is light and in him is no darkness.
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  We have the method that we have to turn on the light.
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  We have to walk in the light if we expect, if we want to be right with God.
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  But number three, we have the mercy, the mercy that keeps on.
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  In our lives as Christians.
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  Verse 8: if we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
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  Notice verse 9: if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
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  Not some unrighteousness, not most unrighteousness, no, to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
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  You see, friends, as we're walking in the light, as we're looking to God for guidance, as we're looking to his word for the path that we are to be following, what we find before us
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  is a path of mercy.
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  A path that says, when you stumble, and there will be times when you do, you can get up.
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  You don't have to stay down.
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  You don't have to succumb to Satan, but you can make it right with God and be right with him.
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  That blood of Christ as a continual washing, a continual cleansing, ever present, ever available, if we confess our sins.
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  Notice the condition there.
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  John is not saying that as you're walking in the light, if you succumb to sin's temptations and you fall into sin, that you're perfectly fine to remain in sin.
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  No, that's not at all what he's saying.
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  But rather, he's saying
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  Don't be afraid.
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  Because when that happens, when you fall, confess your sin to God and He'll forgive you.
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  Say to God, Lord, I should not have done that.
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  I know I should not have done that.
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  I've done wrong by you.
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  But I know you can make me right.
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  I know you can forgive me.
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  You see, brethren and friends, we we serve a God that is amazing, a God of mercy, a God of forgiveness, and a God who showed us the way.
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  He didn't leave us in darkness, but rather he provided for us the light of his word, the light of his son, which can lead us home.
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  Don't you want to go home?
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  If it's the case tonight that you want to go home, but you're not right with God, you have never become a Christian.
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  Never done what God has called you to do, to turn on the light switch, so to speak.
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  Then his plan is very simple.
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  Hear the word, Romans 10:17.
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  So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
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  Believe that Jesus Christ is exactly who he claimed to be.
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  John 8:24.
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  Confess his name.
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  Confess that he is the Christ.
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  Romans 10.
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  9 and 10, for the heart man believeth unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.
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  You must repent of your sins.
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  You can't stay in your sin.
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  You can't remain against God and be found acceptable in his sight.
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  Acts 17:30.
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  God calls all to repentance.
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  And we must be baptized into Christ, washing away our sins.
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  Acts 22, 16, and now why tarriest thou?
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  Arise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.
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  His plan is not complicated, it's very simple.
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  But as you look at your life as a Christian, maybe it's the case that you realize you have stumbled.
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  You've turned from God and you want to make that right.
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  You want to be found right in God's sight, following his path and his alone.
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  Whatever your need is, if we can help you to be right with God, to be walking in the light, then come forward now as we stand and as we sing.
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  oh
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  Sweetly the tons of
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  If thou will need my calling I will abide with
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  Darkness again Jesus are things along for me.
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  Sweetly the sun for me if thou will need my calling.
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  I will abide with my
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  The will I
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  Than shine Ish with me Swindley the tons of
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  Oh for me if thou will my call I love uh