Light – Page 4 – Praying Pint

28.a. “Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you”

Ephesians 5:15 Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

1 Corinthians 14:20    Brothers, do not be children in your thinking. Be infants in evil, but in your thinking be mature.

Hebrews 12:25   See that you do not refuse him who is speaking. For if they did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape if we reject him who warns from heaven.

Philippians 1:27   Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,

Proverbs 14:8    The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way, but the folly of fools is deceiving.

John 12:35     So Jesus said to them, “The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going.

While walking in the dark we are always exposed to some danger we did not see. We learn this very early in life and will always choose to walk in lighted areas rather than darkened ones. We understand there is a risk associated with walking in the dark.

When we choose to walk in the dark (apart from Jesus Christ and the light of His Word) we foolishly tell ourselves there is no danger. We think we can see the dangers but we can’t and don’t. We blindly walk about without a care. We actually can be accustomed to the dark and shun the light. This shunning takes on many forms; neglect of God’s Word, little to no generosity, kindness, patience, hope…., little to no commitment to attending church yet alone becoming active in serving in some area, thinking, speaking, and doing fleshly/worldly things, having no outward testimony that you are even a follower of Jesus Christ, the busyness of life, worry, fear, confusion, unthankfulness, division, gossip, hopeless, faithless, anger, hate, lusts of the flesh, ………….. and the list continues to whatever it is in the dark that draws you and keeps you from desiring and seeking to walk in the light. Paul said to walk carefully, wisely, and make good use of your time. Any time we spend serving anything other than honoring and glorifying Jesus Christ is not a good use of our time. It is reckless and unwise. Desiring and seeking to honor and glorify Jesus Christ will always be a guiding light for your path in all you think, say, and do.

27.z. “Therefore do not become partners with them”

Ephesians 5:6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.

Matthew 24:4   And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray.

Mark 13:22   For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect.

Colossians 2:4   I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments.

Colossians 2:8    See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.

2 Thessalonians 2:10-12   and with all wicked deception for those who are perishing, because they refused to love the truth and so be saved.  Therefore God sends them a strong delusion, so that they may believe what is false,  in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

1 John 4:1   Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.

We live in a time that is not so different than any other time. In most of our lives, we have seemingly have experienced peace and unrest, joy and unhappiness, great hope and great despair, prosperity, and poverty, love and hate, understanding and confusion, calmness and fear, gain and loss, security and vulnerability, confidence and doubt, healing and sickness, accomplishment and failure, humbleness and pride, truth and lies ….. We have experienced and lived through times of unity and times of unrest. Such is life. God and His grace, mercy, and love are present through it all. Likewise, Satan and his lies, deceptions, and temptations are present in the world. Making sense of what we experience, see, and hear requires discernment. Discernment will dictate how we respond, react, and behave. With whatever we use to gain discernment we will set our feet down paths that will either humbly serve, follow, obey, trust, and honor and glorify Jesus Christ or yield to the deceptions, lies, and temptations of Satan.

Scripture is very clear that we are responsible for what we say, think, and do. More importantly is what we use or feed on to set in motion what we say, think, and do. We get the free choice. We choose rightly or wrongly in all situations of life. We choose what to believe. We choose what we allow to influence our lives and cause us to act, think, and speak. God is always present and will be the rock, refuge, fortress, helper, guider… Heavenly Father to those who choose to believe, rely on, trust in, and cling to Him. He will wrap them in His power, strength, and might. He will clothe them with truth, purity, joy, assurance, and love. He will guide, lead, and set their feet upon solid ground. Satan on the other hand will do just the opposite. He will defeat, tempt, lie, cheat, boast, cause worry, hate, fear, confusion, disunity, unhappiness, division, and set their feet on shaky ground, without foundation or stability.

We must be able to discern what is right and wrong, true and false, Godly and ungodly. This will only happen when we surrender all we are, all we have, all we do, and all of our plans to the will of God with the single purpose of honoring and glorifying Him alone. We will experience much in this life and it is a much more blessed life to experience in the ever-loving arms of God. Do not be deceived, God is not mocked. He will hold into account every single person for what they say, think, and do. Make sure you know what is influencing your heart, mind, and soul.

27.f. “But was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you”

Ephesians 3:7 Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given me by the working of his power. To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.

Romans 16:26   but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith—

Revelation 14:6  Then I saw another angel flying directly overhead, with an eternal gospel to proclaim to those who dwell on earth, to every nation and tribe and language and people.

Matthew 13:35    This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet: “I will open my mouth in parables; I will utter what has been hidden since the foundation of the world.”

2 Timothy 1:9   who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began,

1 Peter 1:20    He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you

Paul marveled at the grace given to him, by which he was called to preach the gospel that makes the mystery a reality. When we consider Paul’s personal history, we see that his calling really was all of grace. Paul tried to figure out the greatness of God’s grace and started tracking it out as one might track out the shore of a lake. He soon discovered that it wasn’t a lake at all, but an ocean, an immeasurable sea. God’s riches are unsearchable; we will never know them completely. “I am bold to tell you that my Master’s riches of grace are so unsearchable, that he delights to forgive and forget enormous sin; the bigger the sin the more glory to his grace. If you are at the very gates of hell, he is able to pluck you from the jaws of destruction.” (Spurgeon)

The mystery of Jesus Christ was revealed. Prophets of old and millions of people longed for what the prophets spoke, at least they thought they did. When He came into the world, according to the plans and purposes of God, He was rejected by most and held dearly by some. There is not much different today. He is rejected, the mystery is rejected, God is rejected, and His plan of redemption and salvation is cast aside like a worthless piece of waste. How terrifying will it be on the day of judgment for those who rejected Jesus Christ? How ashamed will they be when they come and bow before Him in all of His glory?

As Spurgeon said; “the vilest sinner on a headlong course to Hell will be saved if they would just turn to Jesus Christ and believe” God is able but are you willing? God has promised eternal life to all who would believe and humbly follow, obey, trust, and rely on the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. There is no soul so far lost that the grace, love, and mercy of Jesus can’t save. He is standing at the door to your heart, knocking, and seeking you to soften your hardened heart and let Him in.

27.a. “Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out”

Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

Acts 20:28    Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.

Matthew 20:28     even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Hebrews 9:14      how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

1 Peter 2:24    He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.

Daniel 9:9     To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, for we have rebelled against him

Acts 2:38   And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 3:19     Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out,

Acts 10:43   To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

1 John 1:7-9    But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.  If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

The redemption and forgiveness given to us come according to the measure of the riches of His grace. It is not a “small” redemption or forgiveness won by Jesus on the cross. It is immense. It is huge. It is all-encompassing. We don’t deserve it. We can’t earn it. We can never be good enough to be worthy of it. We can’t buy it. Such it is a free gift, to all who would believe. If you can’t earn it and you aren’t good enough to deserve it how does it work that we can receive it? We or a least a majority of us were brought up knowing there are consequences for our actions. We were taught that doing bad or wrong things got punishment. We would know right from wrong and choose to do wrong hoping we might not get caught. If we did get caught we knew there was a price to pay. Sometimes we might even do something not a thing was bad but it was.

When we start to become aware of God and His Holiness, and we realize our sinfulness, we see a huge gap. Scripture says “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”, “No one does good, no not anyone”. We see our sin in the reflection of God’s Holiness. Try as hard as we might there is nothing we can do to make ourselves right before God. We know the consequence of sin is death and separation from God and the consequence of this is eternal hell. What must we do? How can a person be saved from this? When the people in Jerusalem heard the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ it says they were cut to the heart and asked; “What must we do to be saved?” With mankind it is impossible but with God it is. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son that who so ever would believe in him should not perish but have everlasting life.” The debt no man can pay was paid in full by Jesus Christ for all who would believe, trust, rely on, and cling to, by faith, in Jesus Christ for their redemption.

How many will end up in Hell because they choose to not believe? How many will end up in Hell because they think they are good enough to be allowed eternal life in heaven? How many voids their minds of thinking about eternity at all? How many neglect this offer of salvation because of pride in themselves? How many we be tormented forever and ever in Hell for eternity because they do not believe the consequences of their sin deserve Hell?

There is but one way to Heaven. Jesus Christ. He paid the full price of your sin debt. Humbly surrender, repent and turn away from what you once were, and fully trust, believe, rely on, and cling to Jesus Christ by faith. At the moment you believe in Him you are born again and your sin before God is as if it were never there. He has forgiven you and remembers it no more. The new life begins and you are a new creation. The life you will now live has a singular purpose, to honor and glorify Jesus Christ in all you say, think, and do forevermore. Do not neglect or reject the gift of salvation.

25.l. “Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”

2 Corinthians 6:14 Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever?

Nehemiah 13:23-26   In those days also I saw the Jews who had married women of Ashdod, Ammon, and Moab.  And half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod, and they could not speak the language of Judah, but only the language of each people.  And I confronted them and cursed them and beat some of them and pulled out their hair. And I made them take an oath in the name of God, saying, “You shall not give your daughters to their sons, or take their daughters for your sons or for yourselves.  Did not Solomon king of Israel sin on account of such women? Among the many nations there was no king like him, and he was beloved by his God, and God made him king over all Israel. Nevertheless, foreign women made even him to sin.

Psalms 106:35     but they mixed with the nations and learned to do as they did.

Proverbs 22:24  Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man,

1 Corinthians 15:33    Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”

1 Corinthians 10:21    You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons.

James 4:4     You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

Proverbs 29:27   An unjust man is an abomination to the righteous, but one whose way is straight is an abomination to the wicked.

Ephesians 5: 6  Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.  Therefore do not become partners with them;  for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light  (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true),  and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.  Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.

Paul is speaking to the overly broad affections of the Corinthian Christians. They had joined themselves to unbelievers.

Unequally yoked – How can we do this? Certainly by marrying an unbeliever, which is the most common way this principle is applied. “A very wise and very holy man was given his judgment on this point: ‘A man who is truly pious, marrying with an unconverted woman, will either draw back to perdition, or have a cross during life.’ The same may be said of a pious woman marrying an unconverted man. Such persons cannot say this petition of the Lord’s prayer, Lead us not into temptation. They plunge into it of their own accord.” (Clarke)

However, Paul means much more here than only marrying an unbeliever. It really applies to any environment where we let the world influence our thinking. When we are being conformed to this world and are not being transformed by the renewing of your mind (Romans 12:2), we join together with unbelievers in an ungodly way.

This speaks especially to the issue of influence. Paul is not suggesting that Christians never associate with unbelievers (he makes this clear in 1 Corinthians 5:9-13). The principle is that we are to be in the world, but not of the world, like a ship should be in the water, but water shouldn’t be in the ship. If the world is influencing us, it is clear we are unequally yoked together with unbelievers. And this unequal yoke, or ungodly influence, may come through a book, a movie, a television show, a magazine, or even through worldly Christian friends. Most Christians are far too indiscriminate about the things they allow to influence their minds and lives. We all like to believe that we can be around ungodly things as much as we want and that we are strong enough to ward off the influence. But we must take seriously the words of Scripture: Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits” (1 Corinthians 15:33). It needs to come back to the simple question from Romans 12:2: Are we being conformed to this world, or are we being transformed by the renewing of your mind?

25.c. “My soul longs for your salvation; I hope in your word.”

2 Corinthians 4:16 So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.

Psalms 73:26    My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Isaiah 40:29    He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.

Psalms 119:81   My soul longs for your salvation; I hope in your word.

Psalms 27:13    I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living!

Job 19:26-27   And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God,  whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. My heart faints within me!

Isaiah 40:31    but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

Psalms 119:71    It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes.

Psalms 119:67    Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word.

Psalms 73:24    You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to glory.

Having hope and faith in God, and trusting in, relying on, and clinging to Jesus Christ, opens our heart, mind, and soul to eternity. It is not as though we understand it but we are certain of it. We know without a shadow of a doubt that we will be raised from death to life and forever be with Him in His glory. In this understanding, we can rejoice through our flesh is fading away. Can you imagine what it will be like to be in the presence of God and see Him face to face? Standing in the presence of the creator of all there is, the One who knows all of your past and future thoughts and intents, the One who sent His Son to die for you and to redeem you, the one who forgave you of all your sins and has separated them as far as the east is from the west, the One who has taken your blood-red sin-stained soul and washed it white as snow, the One who loved you and made know the mystery of salvation, the One who will raise you up and forevermore you will be with Him in eternity.

We ought to live in light of this and humbly and obediently doing that which honors and glorifies Him alone.

22.h. “Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults”

Corinthians 4:4 For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart.

Psalms 7:3 O LORD my God, if I have done this, if there is wrong in my hands,

Job 9:2-3 “Truly I know that it is so: But how can a man be in the right before God?

Psalms 19:12 Who can discern his errors? Declare me innocent from hidden faults.

Proverbs 21:2 Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the heart.

Psalms 130:3 If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?

Paul recognizes that he does not stand in a perfect state of justification or innocence just because his conscience was clear. Paul knew his righteousness came from Jesus, not from his own personal life – even though he had a godly walk. It is as if Paul were saying, “You Corinthians act like judges at athletic events, qualified to give some the trophy and to send others away as losers. But Jesus is the only judge, and you are judging before the events are over. When Jesus judges, it will be according to the motives of the heart, not only the outward action. This is another reason why human judgment is often wrong.

We often judge by the action or appearance of what a person does, not their intent. We often judge ourselves by our intent. Herein lies the problem of judging. Good action with bad intent is always wrong. A bad action with good intent can be right or wrong. Who truly knows the intent of the heart and mind of a person. We know even in the best clarity our true intents can be fogged over with wrong motives. When we use worldly (rights and wrongs) as a bar for judging our intents it will always lead us down paths that do not honor God. Too often our knowledge and understanding of God’s Word is lacking because of neglect and complacency. Our ability to discern right and wrong intents and motives become fueled by what the world has deemed right and wrong. Our guide will always be the Word of God. We need to be mindful of our human fleshly nature, lies from Satan, and culturally accepted norms. If our days are void of God’s Word, that void will be filled with things of the fleshly world. Paul knew very well it is good to have a clear conscience that is based on God’s Word and the in-filling Holy Spirit, but even that needs to be kept in check so as to not blind us from hidden intents and motives of the flesh. King David knew this too. “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!”

21.n. “The mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints.”

Romans 16:25 Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith— to the only wise God be glory forevermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.

Amos 3:7   “For the Lord GOD does nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets.

Matthew 13:17    For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.

1 Peter 1:20    He was foreknown before the foundation of the world but was made manifest in the last times for the sake of you

Luke 10:23-24   Then turning to the disciples he said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see!  For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.”

Ephesians 3:9    and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God, who created all things,

Colossians 1:26  the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints.

Once the mystery has been revealed, people will look at it in a host of different ways. Some will see it clearly and welcome the revelation with open arms. They see their sin, redemption through Christ, and firmly take hold of it by faith. Some take hold of it by faith because of what was written in the past about a coming messiah, the coming of Jesus Christ fulfilling these past prophecies, and assurance of eternity. The mystery was revealed and they believed. They believed in the grace, mercy, and love of God through Jesus Christ our redeemer.

There are those who have seen the mystery revealed and reject it. They mock, deny, and reject it as not a mystery but a fairy tale told by weak-minded people and believed by the simple-minded followers. They not only deny the revealed mystery but they deny God. Paul makes it very clear that God has revealed himself to everyone and that no man is without excuse. (Romans 1:18 “because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them, For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools”)

Think about how gentiles were grafted into the redemption plan of God. This is truly a mystery. Prior to the rejection of Jesus Christ by the Jews, gentiles were, as it were, separated and without hope. They knew nothing about the prophetic writings from old but surely some of them heard of the God of the Jews. I wonder if this is the reason they came up with their own gods. The fact that God, in His wisdom, grace, mercy, and love, chose to reveal the mystery of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to gentiles, and continues to open their hearts and minds up to their sin and the need of redemption, and be able to clearly see not only Jesus Christ but the need for Him. This is truly the revealed mystery of grace, mercy, and love of God.

21.f. “Cast off and cast away your cloak of filthy rags”

Romans 13:12 The night is far gone; the day is at hand. So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light. Let us walk properly as in the daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

Ezekiel 18:31-32   Cast away from you all the transgressions that you have committed, and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel?  For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord GOD; so turn, and live.”

John 3:19-21   And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.

1 John 1:5-7   This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.  If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.

Galatians 5:16   But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

1 Thessalonians 2:12   we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.

We must cast off before we can put on. “The rags of sin must come off if we put on the robe of Christ. There must be a taking away of the love of sin, there must be a renouncing of the practices and habits of sin, or else a man cannot be a Christian. It will be an idle attempt to try and wear religion as a sort of celestial overall over the top of old sins.” (Spurgeon)

The flesh will be as active as we allow it to be. We have a work to do in walking properly, as in the day – it isn’t as if Jesus does it for us as we sit back; instead, He does it through us as we willingly and actively partner with Him. (Guzik)

Spurgeon makes the point of the idle attempt to think it is possible to wear the cloak of religion over the top of unrepentant, unchanged, self-reliant, self-worthy, and self-serving heart, and expect it to, by some means, make you right before God’s eyes. There are those who spit on the garment of salvation. They want no part of it. They see this garment as a filthy rag. They deny it has any beauty or purpose.

There are people that may recognize the need for Christ but they continue to wear the cloak of self-reliance to cover their sin rather than an intentional choice to cast off the cloak of all hope in anything they can do and put on the garment of salvation. They are quick-change artists. They are able to slap an off-market garment that gives the appearance of being a Christian but under that garment still remains the filthy rags of un-repented sin and self-reliance. They never want to take off their filthy rags only cover them up.

The Word of God exposes the stench and ugliness of these filthy rags we cling to so tightly. In His Word, we are able to see them for what they are. We smell the stench and see the ugliness. We become aware and are able to cast them off. It is in this “casting off” that we are able to put on the pure clean garment of salvation. Casting off requires us to recognize the stench and ugliness of what cloaks our hearts, minds, and souls. Without this recognition, the need for the garment of salvation will never be put on. Jesus Christ paid the price (bought our new garment) and when we recognize the filthy rags clothing us and humbly take them off and lay them at His feet, He places this new garment of salvation on us. The stench and ugliness garments are removed forever.

The stench and ugliness of our filthy rags is sin. The garment of salvation is believing in, clinging to, trusting in, and relying on and in Jesus Christ. Recognition, confession, repentance, turning away, from the cloak of sin to the garment of salvation is an intentional choice. We can never buy the garment of salvation, it can only be given to us by Jesus Christ as we cast off our cloak of filthy rags.

19.x. “Lest his works should be exposed.”

Joh 3:18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.

It is a fact that the gospel of Jesus Christ will increase some men’s damnation at the last great day. Again, I startle at myself when I have said it; for it seems too horrible a thought for us to venture to utter—that the gospel of Christ will make hell hotter to some men than it otherwise would have been. Men would all have sunk to hell had it not been for the gospel. The grace of God reclaims “a multitude that no man can number;” it secures a countless army who “shall be saved in the Lord with an everlasting salvation;” but, at the same time, it does to those who reject it, make their damnation even more dreadful. And let me tell you why.

It will increase your condemnation, I tell you all unless you find Jesus Christ to be your Saviour; for to have had the light and not to walk by it, shall be the condemnation, the very essence of it, This shall be the virus of the guilt—that the “light came into the world, and the darkness comprehended it not;” for “men love darkness rather than light because their deeds are evil.”

He who hears the truth, but he perverts it; he takes what is intended by God for his good, and what does he do, he commits suicide therewith. That knife which was given him to open the secrets of the gospel he drives into his own heart. That which is the purest of all truth and the highest of all morality, he turns into the gratification and indulgence of his sin and makes it a scaffold to aid in building up his eternal house in hell.

It must increase your condemnation if you oppose the gospel of Jesus Christ. If God’s offer of grace, mercy, and love has been rejected, how great must be his sin? Who shall tell the great guilt incurred by such people? Oh! who shall picture out, or even faintly sketch, the doom of those who have rejected Jesus Christ and in their heart have cried out, “I am sufficient in myself, I am good enough on my own, I am self-worthy.” Who shall tell what place in hell shall be hot enough for the man who denies and rejects God? (Spurgeon)