WHAT IS A CHRISTIAN? PART 3: AFTER DARK



 WHAT IS A CHRISTIAN, PART 3: AFTER DARK


According to the Bible, can the darkness be redeemed?


1. Darkness as a Symbol of Evil  

The Bible consistently uses "darkness" to represent:  

- Sin (John 3:19, Ephesians 5:11)  

- Satan's domain (Colossians 1:13, Acts 26:18)  

- Spiritual blindness (2 Corinthians 4:4)  


Key Verse:  

"God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all" (1 John 1:5). Darkness is antithetical to God's nature.


2. Can Darkness Itself Be Redeemed?  

No - because darkness isn't a created thing to redeem but a corruption of what God made good. Instead:  


A. Darkness is Defeated  

- Christ's mission: "To open their eyes, so they may turn from darkness to light" (Acts 26:18).  

- "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it" (John 1:5).  


B. People in Darkness Are Redeemed  

- Believers are "called out of darkness into His marvelous light" (1 Peter 2:9).  

- "You were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord" (Ephesians 5:8).  


C. The Universe's Future  

- In the new creation, "night will be no more" (Revelation 22:5). Darkness is eradicated, not redeemed.  


3. Why This Matters  

- Hope for Sinners: While people in darkness can be saved (John 12:46), darkness itself is vanquished.  

- Urgency: "Walk as children of light" (Ephesians 5:8) - we're called to live in Christ's victory.  


Final Contrast  

- Satan's darkness brings death (John 8:44).  

- Christ's light brings life (John 8:12).  




Is this literal darkness or figurative darkness?


The Bible uses "darkness" in both literal and figurative senses, but its redemptive focus is primarily on the figurative meaning - the spiritual and moral implications. Here's the breakdown:


1. Literal Darkness (Physical)  

- Created by God:  

  - "God separated the light from the darkness" (Genesis 1:4). Physical darkness is part of God's ordered creation (Psalm 104:20).  

  - It serves purposes like rest (Psalm 104:23) or divine signs (Exodus 10:21-23).  

- Not evil in itself: Unlike pagan religions, the Bible doesn't treat literal darkness as inherently sinful.  


2. Figurative Darkness (Spiritual/Moral)  

This is the Bible's primary concern when discussing redemption:  

- Sin and Evil:  

  - "People loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil" (John 3:19).  

  - Satan rules "the domain of darkness" (Colossians 1:13).  

- Spiritual Blindness:  

  - Unbelievers "are darkened in their understanding" (Ephesians 4:18).  

  - The devil "blinds the minds of unbelievers" (2 Corinthians 4:4).  

- Death and Separation from God:  

  - Hell is called "outer darkness" (Matthew 8:12), a place of eternal exile from God's presence.  


3. Can Either Be Redeemed?  

- Literal darkness: No need for redemption - it's part of God's good creation. In eternity, it's replaced with perpetual light (Revelation 22:5).  

- Figurative darkness:  

  - Not redeemed, but overcome: Christ "disarmed the powers of darkness" (Colossians 2:15).  

  - People in darkness are redeemed: "You were darkness, but now you are light" (Ephesians 5:8).  


Why It Matters:  

- Christians are called to "cast off the works of darkness" (Romans 13:12) - meaning moral corruption, not nighttime!  

- Christ's resurrection guarantees the ultimate defeat of spiritual darkness (John 1:5).


—ATILA—

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