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Marvelous Light: God’s Promise of Transformation from 1 Peter 2:9

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.– 1 Peter 2:9

I enjoy sunsets as the colors that are painted are extraordinary but I also really enjoy sunrises as light pierces the darkness. Instead of a fading light, a sunrise is bright and grows from the birth of the morning. 

Peter is writing about a new group who are made up of both Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians- the church. In his encouragement of directing them in their position in Christ, Holy- their purpose, as priests and their freedom- from darkness to his marvelous light.

1. Understanding Darkness

It is show in the Bible as Sin, separation from God, spiritual blindness, or hopelessness (John 3:19-21, Ephesians 5:8). The Bible tells us our life outside of Christ as lost or dead in our sins and trespasses. We are not only without direction, more so, we were headed in the wrong direction (Ephesians 2:1-3). 

Have you ever felt stuck in a dark season of life?

Have you ever felt like you could not break free from sin? 

We have this great news- Jesus has brought us out of darkness into his marvelous light.

2. The Call to Marvelous Light

God is the one who calls us out of darkness through His grace (John 8:12). We don’t initiate this, but God does. As we know his motivation is his agape love that he has for us (John 3:16). What Is Marvelous Light? It is God’s presence, truth, and the hope of salvation. 

Just like actual like and darkness stand in contrast with one another, there is the stark contrast of God’s marvelous light with the darkness of sin. Some of those would be Salvation and sin. Forgiveness and guilt. New Life and bondage to sin

3. The Transforming Power of God’s Light

Notice the transforming power leads to this New Identity. What does this mean for believers today? It means that there is the transformation action for today and for eternity. 

The transformation action for today means we are to live differently because of the Jesus. We are to be a light to this world (Matthew 5:14-16). This means we reflect Christ likeness as we are called to love our neighbors and even our enemies. 

Transformation action for eternity means that this change will come fully complete one day. We are new creations in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). This means we have received and are receiving all that we need for eternity. He who began a work in us will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:6).

4. Our Purpose in the Light

We are to reflect this truth, being brought into his marvelous light by reflecting him. Just like the moon reflects the light of the sun, we reflect God’s light through worship and testimony.

Worship is more than singing, but involves singing. D. A. Carson writes, Worship is the proper response of all moral, sentient beings to God, ascribing all honor and worth to their Creator-God precisely because he is worthy, delightfully so.” 

We are reminded that obedient living is an act of worship to God (Romans 12:1-2). This means our lives are to reflect who Jesus and why he came.

The idea of reflecting the truth that we have been brought from darkness into God’s marvelous light because of Jesus, this means we proclaim this through our testimony. We are to be witnesses and to make disciples of Jesus (Matthew 18:19; Acts 1:8).

What are some ways you can grow in sharing your faith?

The Christians life is to be of worship and testimony as it points to the marvelous transformation that God has done in us and through us because of Jesus Christ.

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The Light Has Come

1 John 1:5-10

Living in the Pacific Northwest during the fall and winter months can feel like an endless November. The sky is often gray, the rain constant, and the sun elusive. The days grow shorter, and even when the sun peeks out, it feels fleeting. Yet, those brief moments of sunshine bring warmth and refreshment—physically and emotionally. There’s something inherently life-giving about light after prolonged darkness, a reminder of something greater: the Light of the world, Jesus Christ. 

The Light Promised  

The prophet Isaiah foretold the coming of Christ, describing it as light breaking into deep darkness: 

Isaiah 9:2, “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.”

In the fullness of time, God fulfilled this promise. Galatians 4:4 tells us that God sent His Son at just the right moment, shining light into a spiritually dark world. Israel had experienced centuries of waiting, seeing only glimpses of God’s plan. Then, the birth of Christ shattered the spiritual November, signaling the dawn of salvation. 

Even in the nativity story, light plays a significant role. The star that guided the wise men to Jesus in Matthew 2 wasn’t just a celestial marker; it symbolized Christ as the Light of the world. Similarly, the shepherds encountered the radiant glory of the Lord when the angel announced Jesus’ birth (Luke 2:9). These manifestations pointed to Jesus, who is God with us—Immanuel. 

God is Light  

In 1 John 1:5, we read:  “This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.”

The imagery of light and darkness speaks to sin and salvation. Unlike fictional tales where light and darkness are equally matched (think Star Wars), God’s light overpowers darkness completely. Jesus, the Light of the world, has authority over sin and death, a truth established from the very beginning.  

After the fall of humanity in Genesis 3, God promised a Savior, declaring that the offspring of the woman would crush the serpent’s head (Genesis 3:15). Spurgeon describes this promise as swift mercy—a glimpse of hope before the full weight of sin’s curse was even pronounced. Jesus, the snake crusher, came to fulfill this promise, vanquishing sin and offering redemption. 

The Purpose of Jesus’ Coming  

Jesus didn’t come merely to make a statement or gather followers. He wasn’t a celebrity seeking a fan club. His mission was far greater: to defeat sin, redeem humanity, and bring us into fellowship with God. John 1:9-10 emphasizes this: 

“The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.” 

Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection call us out of darkness into His marvelous light. He cleanses us from sin and transforms our hearts, enabling us to live for Him. 

Walking in the Light  

1 John 1:6 challenges us to examine our lives:  

“If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.”

Being a Christian isn’t about outward appearances or checking religious boxes; it’s about a transformed life. When we walk in the light, we reflect Christ in our actions, speech, and attitudes. 

This truth struck me as a high school freshman. Although I grew up in a Christian environment, someone pointed out that my life didn’t look any different from those who didn’t follow Christ. That realization forced me to confront where I stood with Jesus. Was I truly walking in the light?  

Cleansed by His Blood  

Verse 7 provides the assurance of forgiveness for those who belong to Christ: 

“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.”

The cleansing power of Jesus’ blood covers our past, present, and future sins. This isn’t a license to live however we want but a motivation to pursue holiness, knowing that we are forgiven. 

Confession and Forgiveness  

1 John 1:9 reminds us of God’s faithfulness:  

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 

Confession isn’t about earning forgiveness—it’s about restoring fellowship with God. Through Christ’s work on the cross, we have the assurance that our sins are forgiven, and we can approach God with confidence. 

Conclusion  

Without Jesus, we would remain in spiritual darkness. But the Light of the world has come, overcoming sin and death and offering us new life. 

– Are you walking in the light?  

– Are you looking to God for forgiveness and transformation through Jesus? 

May we remember that Christ is the Light who brings hope, joy, and eternal fellowship with God. Let His light shine in your life and through your life, reflecting His glory to a world in need of Him. 

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The Main Event

An estimated 103.4 million people watched the 2018 Super Bowl take place which revealed the prominence it has in many homes throughout America. This is a staggering amount of people all watching the same thing around the same time, yet I hate to break it to you; this is still not the greatest thing, even since sliced bread. The greatest event that has taken place throughout history took place over 2,000 years ago when Jesus Christ, who suffered and died, though he did nothing deserving of death, conquered the enemies of death and sin by rising again to life. Why? He did it for us. “For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV). Continue reading “The Main Event”

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World Changer Wednesday- Corrie Ten Boom (1892-1983)

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A lesson on Forgiveness:
Corrie ten Boom is a world changer. She lived in one of the darkest times of humanity yet was able to be a light shining bright for Jesus Christ. Her life shouts what forgiveness is in Christ and how we can forgive others because we have been forgiven of much.
Corrie ten Boom was born in the beautiful country of Holland. Her father was a watchmaker and life was good for the ten Boom family.
Her parents raised her and her siblings in the ways of the Lord. At age five, Corrie came to faith. Family worship was consistent in the home. Many of the lessons she would learn in family worship would impact her and prepare her and her siblings for what awaited them. Her father taught them that there is love that one needs to have for God’s people, which would later motivate the ten Boom family as they worked with the underground network to save Jews from the Germans.
Continue reading “World Changer Wednesday- Corrie Ten Boom (1892-1983)”