#IN DARKNESS FULL#

The good news that Jesus brings to this world is that His light-His life-giving Spirit-floods light and life into the spiritual darkness of the sinnerвЂ™s heart. Spiritual darkness refers to all that is in opposition to the light of GodвЂ™s love in Christ. They donвЂ™t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of GodвЂќ (2 Corinthians 4:4, NLT). They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They cannot see the glorious light of the gospel: вЂњSatan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who donвЂ™t believe. Unbelievers live in spiritual darkness because Satan, the god of this world, has blinded their minds.

#IN DARKNESS FULL#

The apostle Paul describes those in a sinful state before knowing Christ as possessing a darkened, closed mind and a hardened heart: вЂњTheir minds are full of darkness they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against himвЂќ (Ephesians 4:18, NLT). But a sick or sinful eye (or heart) shuts out light, leaving the soul in spiritual darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!вЂќ JesusвЂ™ listeners would have understood that a healthy eye is one that lets in light just as a healthy regenerated heart lets in spiritual light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. In Matthew 6:22вЂ“23, Jesus compares the moral condition of an unregenerate soul to darkness: вЂњThe eye is the lamp of the body. In Judaism, a personвЂ™s inner character and moral quality are understood to be reflected through the eyes.

Those who reject Jesus Christ face eternal separation from God in вЂњblackest darknessвЂќ (Jude 1:4вЂ“13). Those who are in Jesus Christ have been rescued from the kingdom of darkness: вЂњHe has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved SonвЂќ (Colossians 1:13, ESV). Live as children of lightвЂќ (Ephesians 5:8). Then they will receive forgiveness for their sins and be given a place among GodвЂ™s people, who are set apart by faith in meвЂќ (Acts 26:17вЂ“18, NLT).ДЄfter salvation, believers become beacons of the spiritual light of Christ: вЂњFor you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. When the Lord commissioned Paul, He said, вЂњI am sending you to the Gentiles to open their eyes, so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God. Living in rebellion to God and His will is equivalent to living in spiritual darkness. One of JobвЂ™s friends speaks of those who are lost in spiritual darkness: вЂњDarkness comes upon them in the daytime at noon they grope as in the nightвЂќ (Job 5:14). Moses compares this state of sin and disobedience to groping about like вЂњa blind person in the darkвЂќ (Deuteronomy 28:29). Sin darkens our understanding and destroys our spiritual sight, cloaking us in deep darkness: вЂњBut the way of the wicked is like deep darkness they do not know what makes them stumbleвЂќ (Proverbs 4:19). Until a person is reborn of GodвЂ™s Spirit, he or she lives in spiritual darkness. All people are born in a fallen state of sin and separation from God. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome itвЂќ (John 1:4вЂ“5).ДЇrom the moment Adam and Eve sinned, humans have lived in a fallen world. The darkness of separation from God is overcome through Christ: вЂњIn him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. Thus, spiritual darkness means not having fellowship with God through a relationship with Jesus Christ. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of lifeвЂќ (John 8:12). And Jesus declared that He is the light of the world: вЂњI am the light of the world. So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness we are not practicing the truthвЂќ (1 John 1:5вЂ“6, NLT). The apostle John taught that God is light: вЂњThis is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all. This passage reappears in the New Testament, in Matthew 4:16, to announce that those who have come to know the God of Israel through His Son Jesus Christ are the ones who have been delivered from spiritual darkness and now walk in the light of GodвЂ™s life. The Old Testament book of Isaiah, in prophesying of the Messiah, speaks of a deep spiritual darkness that enveloped the people: вЂњThe people walking in darkness have seen a great light on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawnedвЂќ (Isaiah 9:2). Spiritual darkness is the state of a person who is living apart from God.

In darkness