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Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” John 8:12 (NLT)

When Jesus says He is the light of the world, it means that he has revealing power. But, what does the light of Jesus reveal? The light of Jesus is a revelation of God and of sin.

First, the light of Jesus reveals God.  John 1:18 says, “No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us.” Jesus reveals God’s essense, truth, goodness, justice and holiness in flesh.

Second, the light of Jesus reveals sin. John 3:20 says, “All who do evil hate the light and refuse to go near it for fear their sins will be exposed.” Jesus exposes lies, evil, injustice and corruption.

Paul says to the church in Ephesians 5:8, “For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light!”

Sometimes I explain living in the light by using the “gospel grid” illustration. Before we believe in Jesus we are habituated in the dark. When we humble ourselves at the cross the light of Christ shines on us by faith and we begin the process of being habituated in the light. This happens when we increase in our understanding of God’s holiness which also increases our understanding of our sinfulness. The true light of Christ serves this dual purpose or it is not the true light from Christ.

This seems to be the normal Christian life: The more we understand God, the more we understand our sin. And as we learn to live as people of the light our affection for Christ overflows and our appreciation for the Gospel only increases. As we acclimate our lives in the light we will be transformed more and more into His image. 

I agree with Tim Keller when he said, “The gospel is this: We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time we are more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope.”

Receive the light of Christ. Welcome the revealing changes He will bring in your life. Proverbs 13:9 says, “The life of the godly is full of light and joy.”