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Devotions from Gospel Chapel Ministries HOME SERMONS SERMON NOTES
THE LIGHT IS COME
"He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil," JOH 3:18-19.
No person who cherishes sin in his heart can truly say he loves the truth. Can you truly say that you love the truth while you hide a lie in your heart, and cherish it? NO. We must search our souls, examining our own hearts, and that brings us before the Lord to ask Him to examine and try our heart. See what David said in PSA 26:2, "Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart." Our desire must be to know if there is an evil way within us, that we might repent of it and turn from it.
The spirit of the antichrist enters the heart, "with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved," 2TH 2:10. Do you see how important it is that we learn to love the truth and hate sin? Do you now understand the new birth? It is to be renewed in the spirit of your mind. True believing cannot be separated from the work of regeneration, the heart is cleansed so it cannot willfully continue in sin.
2TH 2:10 teaches that those who perish are those people who love not the truth that they might be saved. The great multitude whom Jesus says are on the broad road to destruction have received a strong delusion to believe they are saved! This is the many that Jesus referred to in MAT 7:22. They have received a strong delusion from God because they loved not the truth as it is in Jesus Christ. We read in 2TH 2:11-12, "And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness." When we can have pleasure in sin and enjoy it, then we may not claim that we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.
Seeing the solemn reality of God Himself sending strong delusion that we should believe a lie, how important it is to examine our own hearts whether we pass the test set forth! Do we love the truth? Or is it our condemnation? Is the truth our greatest delight or does it condemn us? Do we hide from the truth?
JOH 3:20-21 says, "For every one that doeth evil hateth the light [See where this comes back to our attitudes and actions], neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God." Our actions and our attitudes clearly reveal whether or not we have believed on the Lord Jesus Christ.
Go back and read those verses again and see the contrast between the unbelievers and the believers. Do you see the attitudes and actions? The light is not a condemnation to those who do the truth. Why? It is the heart's desire to know and do what is right. Those who have received the washing of regeneration go to the light to be sure their deeds are wrought in God. It is the proof of the washing of regeneration of the Holy Spirit. Going to the light is for the purpose of having the heart examined in the light of His Word, thereby knowing the washing of regeneration has taken place. Amen.
Blessed Jesus, at thy word
We are gathered all to hear thee;
Let our hearts and souls be stirred
Now to seek and love and fear thee,
By thy teachings, sweet and holy,
Drawn from earth to love thee solely.
All our knowledge, sense, and sight
Lie in deepest darkness shrouded
Till thy Spirit breaks our night
With beams of truth unclouded.
Thou alone to God canst win us;
Thou must work all good within us.
Glorious Lord, thyself impart,
Light of Light from God proceeding;
Open thou our ears and heart,
Help us by thy Spirit’s pleading;
Hear the cry thy people raises,
Hear and bless our prayers and praises.
Father, Son, and Holy Ghost,
Praise to thee and adoration!
Grant that we thy Word may trust
And obtain true consolation
While we here below must wander,
Till we sing thy praises yonder.
Author: Tobias Clausnitzer
Our sermons and devotions are a ministry of Gospel Chapel located in Conrad, Montana. We also have a daily devotion and sermon notes on-line. We pray this devotion has been a blessing to those who read it. Thank you.