Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 8:12.
Did you read what Jesus says? “Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness…”
When He said this, Jesus was confronted by unbelieving Jewish leaders who had brought an adulterous woman to Him so that He would pronounce judgment on her. A moment later, Jesus makes these remarks to some believing Jews that are witnesses to those attempting to entrap him, "If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." John 8:31-32.
Jesus points out to his disciples after hearing their questions concerning the threats he is receiving from his enemies, "Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him." John 11:9-10.
Many people I have known who have claimed that they had made a profession of faith, but somehow became sidetracked and returned to the way that they had previously lived before becoming a Christian. But now they want to ‘rededicate’ their lives and live for the Lord. But we find in John 11:10 that, “if anyone walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him." One ‘stumbles’ because the light, that is Jesus Christ, is not a part of he/her life.
If there could be such a thing as rededication, look again at the following…..
"When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none. Then it says, 'I will return to my house from which I came.' And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order. Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this evil generation." Matthew 12:43-45.
While we are here, let us take time to look suspiciously at this oft-used word ‘rededication’. I find it fascinating that this word is not to be found anywhere in the Word of God. Why look any further??? Why use it except to satisfy our desires to soften the blows of message of Jesus that states, "Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.” Mattheew 7:13-15.
The phrase "fish out of water" refers to a person in an unfamiliar setting. And I have been referring Christians and nonbelievers, without saying so, who are attempting to live outside of their environments.
1. Christians, when they sin, are immediately convicted of their sin by the Holy Spirit for Jesus said this about Him, “when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.” John 16:8-11.
2. Unbelievers are members of Christian churches, whatever ‘flavor’ they are, being ‘comforted by well meaning Christians who say, “when we sin, God forgives our sin.” But they do not understand the words of Paul when he writes, “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” 2 Corinthians 5:17.
For number 2 I have taken 2Corinthians 5:17 from its context, but let us put it in the context that Paul was writing to as he states, “Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart. For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” 2 Corinthians 5:11-20.
These verses are pregnant with information, but there are only a few that must be looked at within the context of our subject matter.
1. answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart. For those that were ‘born again’ and became involved in the life of the local church and leave for a season of time but return and ‘rededicate their lives’…this is for them when they say, “Look at what I did, and did, and now am doing.” HOGWASH!!
2. and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. The Church of Jesus Christ must look at the heart of those that want to ‘rededicate’ themselves and return to the Lord. One cannot leave and return, leave and return….look again at Hebrews 6…..
3. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. Note that Paul writes, “If anyone is in Christ”…. According to Jesus, nothing can snatch His own from His hand, and as Paul wrote to the church at Rome, “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:37-39.
Christians cannot separate themselves from God in Christ, no matter how hard they may try or how they may sin because of the Holy Spirit who lives within the heart of the believer. 1 John 4:4-6 reports the following, “you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.”
The crazy fish is flopping around on the floor of the Science Classroom and Jackie cries out, “Get real fish, you cannot swim on the floor……” Christians cannot live without Christ no more than a non believer is able to survive in the midst of Christians……
Fish cannot survive out of water…..
But they are able to do a great many push-ups, and really fast!!!
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