The Contrast of Light and Darkness

By Dale J. Babinsky      In many biblical passages, the contrast between light and darkness is a powerful metaphor for the struggle of good vs evil. Light often symbolizes knowledge, goodness, and righteousness, while darkness represents ignorance, evil, and the unknown. This spiritual struggle is best seen in the writings of the Apostle John.     Light is often associated with positive qualities such as wisdom, truth, and purity. In Christianity, Jesus is referred to as the "Light of the World," showing us the path to salvation and righteousness (John 1:9; 3:19; 8:12; 9:5; 11:9; 12:46). John often contrasts the concept of light, which is beneficial, with darkness. Darkness is frequently linked to negative attributes such as fear, ignorance, and evil. In the Bible, darkness is often associated with sin and the absence of God's presence.     The journey from darkness to light is what we should all be working towards in our own spiritual growth. We should want to move from ignorance and sin to knowledge and spiritual maturity. This journey is often depicted as a struggle, requiring courage, faith, and perseverance. Our goal should always be to continue our spiritual growth and to become closer to Christ.

- Dale J. Babinsky preaches for the Great Smoky Mountains Church of Christ in Pigeon Forge, TN. He may be contacted through the congregation's website - https://gsmchurchofchrist.com/

The End

By Clifton Angel
    Sometimes when we think about the end of the year, our minds our led to thoughts about the end of our lives or the end of time. Forty verses in the New Testament contain the phrase "the end.” We will not consider all of them, but without much commentary, let us consider a few passages of exhortation concerning "the end.”
    “Ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved” (Matthew 10:22).    “For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness. What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death. But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:20–23).    “For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister. And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end” (Hebrews 6:10–11).    “Gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ as obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy” (1 Peter 1:13–16).    We do not know when the end of our lives, nor the end of time will be, but both are coming. Let us be exhorted to endure in the midst of persecution (cf. Matthew 10:22). Let us be exhorted to bear fruit unto holiness, as servants of God (cf. Romans 6:20–23). Let us be exhorted to labor in love in full assurance of hope (cf. Hebrews 6:10–11). Let us be exhorted to strengthen our minds, be sober, have hope, be obedient, and conduct ourselves in a holy manner (cf. 1 Peter 1:13–16).

- Clifton Angel preaches for the Coldwater Church of Christ in Coldwater, MS. He may be contacted through that congregation's website: http://www.coldwatercofc.com/

Marks of the New Man

By Brian Mitchell     Have you ever heard someone say after some particularly refreshing experience in their life, like a vacation, that they “feel like a new man.” I am sure that all of us have, but what I want us all to understand is the fact that through our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, we all ought to feel like a new man or woman. I want to begin today by examining some Scriptures which are very much relevant to the theme of our lesson tonight entitled “Marks of the New Man.” The following are some Scriptural references to the new man.     “Having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the Word of God which lives and abides forever” (1 Pet. 1:23). “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away, behold all things have become new” (2 Cor. 5:17). Through our obedience to the gospel of Jesus Christ we have been born again to new lives—we are new people in Christ.     What is the significance of being a new man (generic use of the word for the remainder of the article)? It means that we are to live a new life--Rom.6:3-4. If we have been buried with Christ in baptism, into His death, then we must rise to walk in newness of life. As we shall see in this lesson, we are to bury the old man of sin and put on the new man renewed in the image of our Lord and Savior Christ.     How is this possible? How is it possible to live one day for self and next day and rest of our lives for the Lord? That is the power of the gospel and the Bible is full of examples of how the gospel has changed lives—1 Cor.6:9-11. Those whom Paul wrote to in Corinth had been fornicators, thieves, and drunkards among other things. Now they were living new lives in Christ because of the fact that they had been washed, sanctified and justified in the name of Jesus Christ.     How do I know if I am a new man? It is clear from the NT that Christians have been born again to new lives in Christ. How do I know if I am living the life I am supposed to be living? It is to this that we will direct our attention as we consider what Paul teaches on the subject in Col.3:1-11. Here Paul describes some of the marks of the new man. What are they? Do you possess them?     Important Note!!! If you have been following along you know that I have thus far preached through Paul’s epistles as they appear in order. That is until today—in this lesson I have purposefully swapped the order of Philippians and Colossians. That is because tonight I want to consider the marks of the new man and next week from Philippians, I want to discuss how we can maintain this new life through our relationship with the Lord.     Renewed according to the image of Christ. This is the goal of the Christian life and the end of the new man. Is there anything different about your life? It is important to notice that everything we have discussed in this lesson assumes that one has been raised with Christ. Notice again Paul’s words in v.1 “if then you were raised with Christ.” In order to walk in newness of life one must first put on Christ in baptism. Have you put on Christ?

- Brian Mitchell serves as a minister with the Jackson Church of Christ in Jackson, MO. He may be contacted through the congregation's website at https://www.jacksonchurchofchrist.net

What will I Look Like

By Bill Brandstatter

    Over the years, one of the questions many people have is “What will I look like in eternity?” That question is an interesting one and one that the apostle Paul dealt with extensively in 1 Corinthians chapter 15.

    We will be identifiable. Paul spends a great deal of 14 verses detailing the difference between the spiritual and physical existence of man. He talks about the different heavenly bodies such as the sun, the moon, and the stars. (1 Cor. 15:41) Each one of these is identifiable in its own way. Likewise, our bodies have their own identity. We have a natural body. It differs from the spiritual (1 Cor. 15:44). Each is identifiable as a body. Each body differs from the other.

    We will be individuals. He mentions that God gives “to each seed its own body” (1 Cor. 15:38). Paul is of course talking about the physical; but it also is the case with the spiritual bodies. We will not be just gasses or unidentifiable beings. We will be individuals in a different body than the current one. As such, I believe we will know one another in heaven.

    We will be images of Christ. Paul uses the thought of the image of the physical man and the image of the heavenly man. (1 Cor. 15:49) We are made in the image of God and one day we shall bear the image of God. No doubt, this is referring to a totally spiritual and heavenly existence.

    The key to heaven is with us now. If we obey Christ, we will one day be with Him. Death will be swallowed up in victory. (1 Cor. 15:54)

- Bill Brandstatter preaches for the Marion Church of Christ in Marion, IL. He may be contacted through the congregation's website: http://marionchurchofchrist.com/

The Seasons of Life

By Andrew Beasley     As we have moved beyond Thanksgiving and into the Christmas season I think about a story I once heard. It went something like this. There was a man who had four sons and he wanted to teach them not to judge to quickly. So he sent them on a quest, in turn, to go and look at a pear tree that was a great distance away. The first went in the winter, the second in the spring, the third in the summer and the last in the fall. When they had all come back from their respective journey he called them together to recount to him what they had seen.     The first said that the tree was ugly, bent and twisted. A moment later the second son spoke up and disagreed, saying that the tree was green and full of promise. The third son then chimed in, likewise disagreeing and describing the tree as one that was full of sweet smelling blossoms and said it was the most beautiful tree he had ever seen. The last, unsurprisingly, also disagreed saying that the tree was ripe and drooping with fruit. When they quieted from their arguing the old man smiled and told them that they were all right, because they had each seen but one season of the trees life.     He then reminded them that they cannot judge a tree, or a person, only by one season. It is an application that we can make to our own lives. Don’t judge it by one difficult season. Don’t allow the pain of one season destroy the joy of the rest as there is a time and place for everything (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8).

- Andrew Beasley serves as a minister with the Northwest Church of Christ in Greensboro, NC. He may be contacted through the congregation's website: https://nwchurchofchrist.com/about/