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Israel’s true teacher makes the dynamics of salvation clear. We need God to give us a new start—a new birth. How do we know that he has given us this new start? We begin to love the things that are in the light and find a growing desire to step out of darkness (v21). Jesus explains that those who are in the darkness are there because they are afraid that their deeds will be exposed. That seems to be why Nicodemus came in the dark of night and remained in the dark--for fear.
John, the gospel writer (different than John the Baptist), wrote in his first epistle about fear. “Perfect love drives out fear” (1 John 4:18). It gives us great hope to know that the love that sent Jesus is the same love that drives out our fear.
These are more than the dynamics of a once and for all salvation. We are saved by grace through faith and we grow by grace through faith. Though a new birth comes with a new life, the fears that drive the old life can remain and can press us back into the darkness even though we belong in the light.
What are you afraid of? What would it look like for you to come into the light?
Study notes: Watch for the themes of darkness and light in the gospel of John (1:4-5). Look for how it shapes his writing. Also, it seems like Nicodemus just drifts out of the passage. What happened to him? Look for him again in John 19:39.
1 comment:
In comparing a couple of different translations, I found verse 21 in the Amplified version to be insightful. We are charged to live in the Light, to do what is right in the eyes of the Lord, to be like Jesus. At first glance this seems like an goal that's out of reach. However, read the following translation of the verse....
21 But he who practices truth [who does what is right] comes out into the Light; so that his works may be plainly shown to be what they are--wrought with God [divinely prompted, done with God's help, in dependence upon Him].
To me, it's much easier to grasp "walking in the Light" as a frame of mind where God's in the center of my thoughts. To trust that HE is going to help through my walk, even if I (being earthly) mess up.
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