The journal. (Caldwell, Ohio) 1934-1961, 1960-05-19
-Serm onefie.
Light, Liberty, and Life
John 8:12, 36, 81

John 8:12, 36, 81
In this eighth chapter of the
Gospel as recorded by John, we
see Jesus giving a testimony
concerning His person and work.
He declares Himself to be the
Son of God. His works were in
tended to prove that claim. He
presented Himself as the light
OF the world, the giver of liberty,
and the source of life.
In verse twelve Jesus said, "I
am the light of the world he that
folloWeth Me shall not walk in
darkness, but shall have the light
OF life" Light is a figure of
speech representing truth in
contrast to that which is false;
1t represents truth in contrast
to that which a type or figure.
Light stands for purity and
knowledge. Light stands in con-
trast to darkness (Which repre-
sents sin ignorance, and misery)
Light shows the way; it reveals
the dangerous places, dispels
darkness. Light beautifies. It is
necessary to healthy living
Jesus, too, shows the way of life
dispels the spiritual and moral
darkness. He, too, is necessary to
healthy, normal living. He beau
titles the life of the one who
takes Him as the light of his
life.
Light is pure element; it has
no communion with darkness. II
is an emblem of holiness. 1t is
cheering. How pleasant and re-
laxing it is in well-light room.
Those who delight in the prac-
tice of that which is sin and
morally degrading frequent the
dark places.
'This is the condemnation,
that light is come into the world,
and men loved darkness rather
than light, because their deeds
were evil" (John 3:19).
Jesus is the light of the world
Not for just one class Or nation
ality, but for Jew and Gentle
men and women, boys and girls
red, yellow, black or white.
Light, to be of value, must be
appropriated and used. We must
follow its direction. So we must
follow the teachings of Jesus il
we are to experience the bless.
ings which He has made pos.
sible.
Next we note that Jesus de.
clares that He can set men al
liberty. "If the Son therefore
shall make you free, ye shall
be free indeed" (verSe 36). This
has to do with the moral anc
spiritual condition of people. II
verse "a Jesus said, "Whosoevel
committeth sin is the servant o:
sin" Here the word servan
means slave. Individuals who are
not living for God are children
| of the devil (verse 44) and slave:
of sin. They follow his bidding
Call have sinned, and come shor
of the glory of God" (Roman
3:23). Jesus Christ has made i
| possible for you and me to b'
free from sin and Satan and tt
enjoy the liberties of the Gospel
In verse 81, Jesus said, ''If ;
man keep My saying, He shal
never see death" Spiritually, WI
are born dead in trespasses ant
sin" (Ephesians 2:D. Unless W.
receive a new life, we continue
in that state, and it will be ou
state for eternity. In First Cor
inthians 1922, the literal read
ing is this: For as in Adam
| (meaning our natural state) al
keep on dying, thus also in Chris
all Shall be made alive" II
Christ there is life, abundan
life, eternal life divine nature
(John 3:l6; 5:24; 1910; Corin
thians 1929. Death as used il
this verse 81 is referring to tim
of the great judgment Of thos
whose names are not found il
the book of life (Revelatiol
20:15). 1t will mean eternal sep
aration from God and the godly
The one who will keep My say
ing" is assured of life in Christ
The one who is willing to accep
what Christ has said concernin!
Himself, and will live according
ly, has the assurance of a new
life, eternal life in Christ. Tha
means letting Christ take owe
as Lord of our lives.
! Roy E. Wikander