A. John 1:1-17: The Word = Life = Light (came to His people) = Became Flesh

1. What is the significance of God saying He is Light? (vs. we walk in darkness)

2. The Nature of God = Light

Gen 1:13, God said, "Let there be Light. And Light appeared. And it was good

Ex 34:29-34, (after talking with God), "Moses' face shone brightly"

Mt 17:1-2, The Transfiguration (And Jesus' face shone like the sun)

1 John 1:5, "God is Light, and in Him, there is no darkness"

Rev 21:23, "God's glory is its light; its lamp is the Lamb."

3. The Nature of Sinful Mankind/Our World - Darkness

a. Isaiah 9:2, "The people walking in darkness have seen a great light"

b. Acts 26:18, "... may turn from darkness to light, from Satan to God"

c. Eph. 5:6-14, "You were once in darkness, but now live in the light"

B. The 1st Problem: Light (in the darkness) does not exist outside of God

1. Why is this problematic? Because We Think Light DOES exist outside of God

a. We believe the false gods of Items, Duties, Other People, Longings, etc

- we believe that "my gods" will eventually deliver what I believe

- but IDOLs never deliver what they promise (they can't)

VS. Jesus, John 8:1-12, "I AM the Light of the world" (Bread of Life, etc)

- Note Jesus claims that He Himself is Light (and there's no other)

C. The 2nd Problem: We/you have little self-awareness regarding living in darkness

1. Is 35:5, "The blind receive sight, and the ears of the deaf will be opened."

The Bible refers to Us/humanity as blind and deaf. To what exactly?

One Answer = To "see" the path that leads to Life and true Abundance

C.S. Lewis, "People try every solution except God, and they fail every time"

2 Cor 4:4, "the god of this age has blinded the minds of people....

- Blind leading the Blind - Where did you learn what you know?

a. What's the best way to find joy in your life? according to whom?

b. What's the best way to find peace in your life? according to whom?

c. What's the best way to find goodness? contentment? hope? love?

- All most of us know, is what other people have taught us.

- All most of us do, is either agreement in or reaction to others

- Enculturization - we are a product of our environment

Rom 7:24, "I am miserable. Who shall deliver me from this wretched state?"

D. The Solution: New Paradigm. New Birth. Blind Receive Sight. New Lens.

1. John 3:1-8, "You must be born again if you want to "see" God's kingdom"

2 Cor 4:6, "God said that Light should shine out of the darkness"

John 1:12, " But those who did welcome him, those who believed in his name, he authorized to become God’s children, born not from blood nor from human desire or passion, but born from God."

Application: Salvation = your eyes are opened to a new paradigm/way of "seeing" reality, that does not conform to the patterns (darkness) of the world (Rom 12:2)