He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe has been condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness more than the light, because their works were evil. For everyone that does evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his works may be revealed, that they have been done in God.”
(John 3:18-21)
We live in an age when many, who don’t come to the Light, come to Church anyway and even build their own Churches. They’ve come to the Church, but they’ve not come to the Light, and the Light has not come into them.
Within these verses there’s a definition of what conversion is, and what the true Church is : both are defined by the Light, and what the Light does – He exposes all the darkness and replaces it with Himself, who is the Light.
The Light has come into the world… – there’s our definition of true Christianity and the true Church: The Light has come.
Where the darkness is not exposed and not removed, we can’t call such a person a Christian, nor their Sunday meeting a Church.
When the darkness can be ‘at home’ in a Church setting it shows there is no Light there. Where the Light is, the darkness cannot hide, for long, anyway. Sooner or later the true nature of people is revealed, and, if they love the darkness, they will be repelled away from the Light.
Isaiah 8:20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
It was the wisdom of God to build His Church with Light. Where His Light is people see Jesus. Darkness blinds.
November 2, 2008 at 3:10 am
My comment from a forum, discussing why David Wilkerson is not liked by many in America:
Is there any other message other than what is written in the New Testament?
If so, why would anyone exalt a preacher?
Also: If anyone is offended with the Scriptures that Wilkerson or anyone preaches, then their problem is with God.
Just as Scripture prophesies: “For the time will come when they will not be able to ENDURE sound teaching…” ; the Scripture itself, pure and unadulterated, will torment “christians’ in the last days, very painful for them to hear it.
Also: If any Scripture makes a person feel insecure or condemned, it’s probably bcos they ARE insecure and on shaky ground.
November 3, 2008 at 1:58 am
Another forum comment i made:
On the subject of ‘positive’ or ‘negative’ prophecy/prophesying : the concept of positive and negative is a relatively new one. The Bible doesn’t concern itself with such, it is only concerned with what is true.
I don’t find any scripture ‘negative’, i just find it all Truth. People only find certain scriptures ‘negative’ bcos they can’t receive it, not able to ‘endure’ it , bcos it CLASHES with their agenda. The Cross always does.
Therefore i find that prophecy/prophesying is always perceived as edifying and comforting, when the hearers are in right relationship to Jesus Christ, just as all Scripture edifies and comforts.
But to another, the same prophecy may be perceived as negative and condemning.
Re: Prophecy delivered ‘in love’ : so true, YET, beware the sweet talkers, who speak lies with a soft, gentle, lamb-like countenance. Especially beware the fake smile. I know that Americans are conditioned to accept a fake smile, but other countries find it creepy.