The People That Walked In Darkness Have Seen A Great Light

Temple Baptist Church - 12-21-2008

Isaiah 9:1-2

Introduction:

A. The first stage of creation is found in the very first verse of the Bible, “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” In the beginning stage of creation, the earth was without form and void; covered with darkness.

1. Creation was a progress by God’s sovereign design. God could have made all that is in that first instant but, through His sovereign will, chose to make a very distinct, clear progression in creation. He does all things well and perfectly.

2. Creation was no different. It began a “First Mention Principle of Bible Interpretation” concerning progressive revelation.

B. The second creation act that God performed was to create light in darkness. Not light out of darkness, but rather light in darkness. God did not make the darkness light. In that act of creation, God made both distinction and division in light and darkness.

1. He distinguished light from darkness. Darkness is a concealer of fact and detail. Nothing is revealed in darkness as darkness obscures what it envelopes. Darkness covers and hides. Light takes away darkness and is a revealer of both fact and detail.

2. He divided light from darkness. When light appears, darkness must then dissipate. Light removes darkness; therefore, they cannot co-exist in the same realm. It is either darkness or it is light. As light increases, darkness diminishes. It is progressive in nature according to the amount of light involved. Absence of light creates total darkness while presence of light diminishes darkness.

C. I said all of that in order to say this, “The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light.” Not a small light, but a great light.

1. That light was also progressive in nature. From a babe born in an obscure manger to the very power of the presence of the Son of God before man as the Redeemer of the world living for sinners and dying for their sin.

2. Thus is the revelation of Jesus Christ to sinners. It is progressive in nature as men first learn of His name, become acquainted with His works, and are convinced of His love for them. I thank God that I—who once walked in darkness—have seen a Great Light and the Light of the World is Jesus.

D. I want to take a few moments this morning to show the revelation and progression of this enlightenment unto salvation.

1. There Is The Light Of Creation.

Psalms 19:1-6 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. 2 Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. 3 There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard. 4 Their line is gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them hath he set a tabernacle for the sun, 5 Which is as a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, and rejoiceth as a strong man to run a race. 6 His going forth is from the end of the heaven, and his circuit unto the ends of it: and there is nothing hid from the heat thereof

Romans 1:18-21 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; 19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

Psalms 14:1 The fool hath said in his heart, [There is] no God. They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, [there is] none that doeth good. (God has revealed Himself in all of this wonderous nature that we observe daily. Only a fool could see the vastness of the universe, the glories of this terrestrial earth, and deny the very presence and nature of our wonderful Lord! God is revealed in His nature to the natural man.)

2. There Is The Light Of Incarnation.

Galatians 4:4 But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,

Matthew 1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

1 John 1:1-2 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; 2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;)

(God became man! Never a man spoke like this man! Never a man did such miracles as this man! He stilled the storms, raised the dead, fed the multitudes, healed the sick, commanded devils, comforted hearts, died for sin and gloriously resurrected! Never a man like the God-man, Christ Jesus! Our time is marked by His birth and there is no land, people, or culture where His name has not been.)

3. There Is The Light Of Revelation

Romans 10:17 So then faith [cometh] by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Romans 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

1 Corinthians 1:22-24 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: 23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; 24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

Colossians 1:4-6 Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints, 5 For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel; 6 Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:

1 Thessalonians 2:13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received [it] not [as] the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

(The Word of God reveals to us the Son of God in all of His glory! It is truly history! It is “His Story!” May faith came through the revelation of the light of God’s Word! If you ever are saved, it will be through belief of the truth revealed in this precious Bible!)

4. There Is The Light Of Illumination.

John 1:4-9 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 The same came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all men through him might believe. 8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9 That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.

John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. (The Light of the world is Jesus! The Holy Spirit of God illuminated the darkness of my heart with the glorious light of the Gospel on day and, for the first time in my life, I saw both myself as I was and Jesus Christ as His is! The darkness of sin is gone and the glorious light of Jesus Christ shines in my heart and life.)

Conclusion: Why then do so many learn of Christ, see Him in His creation, and continue to live in sinful rejection of the Son of God who gave Himself for them?

John 3:19-21 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

Aren’t you glad that God dispelled your darkness one day and revealed Himself in light?