God’s Light – Acts 26:23

City Harbor Church – Hampden, Baltimore, MD

We start by reading the story of Saul (later renamed Paul) receiving Jesus as the “light of the world”, and describing the meaning of the experience, in Acts 9:1-18 and Acts 26:23 .

Light is an aspect of the spiritual identity of Jesus and the life he gives.

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” – John 8:12, 9:5

What is God doing? (…in this story of Saul/Paul and what we learn from his account of what Jesus said.) What is it that Jesus reveals to Saul/Paul about the Good News and the Kingdom of God? What is it that they understood this to mean? What is it that God is doing here and now in the Jesus Movement?

God gives:

1. “Open their eyes,” – Acts 26:18 God gives spiritual perceptiveness – an ability to see Jesus Christ as Savior.

2. “Turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God.” – Acts 26:18 God gives those receiving Jesus as Savior the ability to turn away from spiritual darkness to His light.

3. “They will receive forgiveness for their sins,” – Acts 26:18 God gives those receiving Jesus as Savior forgiveness for their sins with freedom from punishment and freedom from the compulsion to repeat those sins.

4. “They will be given a place among God’s people,” – Acts 26:18 God gives those receiving Jesus as Savior a place of loving relationships for all eternity.

What do we learn?

1. God gives those who receive Jesus as Savior: spiritual perceptiveness, the ability to turn toward him, forgiveness of sins, and a place of loving relationships.

2. God has been doing this, is now doing this, and is inviting us to participate in this.

What should we do?

1. Receive Jesus as Savior.

2. Grow in faith and understanding.

3. Take next steps in following Jesus.

4. Participate in sharing the light of Jesus.

Further Study:

Light is an aspect of the spiritual identity of Jesus and the life he gives.

“The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.” – John 1:4-5

“The one who is the true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.” – John 1:9

“Because of God’s tender mercy, the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, and to guide us to the path of peace.’” – Luke 1:78-79 NLT

“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” – John 8:12, 9:5

“For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.” – Colossians 1:13-14

“This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all. So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth. But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.” – 1 John 1:5-7 NLT

City Harbor Church…helping people take the next steps in following Jesus.

We are responding to Jesus Christ. This informs every aspect of what it means for us to be a local church. It brings definition to our collective sense of identity, value, and purpose.

Jesus made clear the focus of God’s “big picture” purpose: “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” – John 3:16

This is what Peter, and the witnesses of Jesus were focused on communicating, constantly, everywhere: “Everyone who believes in him will have their sins forgiven through his name.” – Acts 10:43

This is the message that the early believers and Paul focused on giving to others: “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9

Here is the truth that this early church, at large, was focused on: “Through this man Jesus there is forgiveness for your sins. Everyone who believes in him is declared right with God – something the law of Moses could never do.” – Acts 13:38-39

We choose to respond as they did: confessing and forsaking our sins, believing in and receiving Jesus Christ as Savior, making our faith public in water baptism, and receiving the Holy Spirit as our guide. – Acts 2:22-42

We now live by faith in Jesus. Any good things we do spring from a thankful love motivation, and not an attempt to earn God’s love. “God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.” – Ephesians 2:8

This leads us to a culture of grace, and not shame. “So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.” – Romans 8:1

Through this miracle of salvation, we have begun new spiritual lives together. “This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” – 2 Corinthians 5:17 Realizing our new spiritual life, as God’s gift to us through Jesus Christ, comes before we bring any value from our personal identity characteristics in culture, gender, ethnicity, or otherwise.

Now we experience spiritual freedom from any darkness. “For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.” – Colossians 1:13-14

We are now free to live in new ways (Ephesians 2:1-10), receiving the guidance of the Holy Spirit (John 16:13) and allowing the Holy Spirit to shape new ways of thinking and feeling (Ephesians 4:23).