For additional notes and resources check out Douglas’ website.

You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do men light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand. And it gives light to all who are in the house.

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven (Matthew 5:14-16).

God said, “Let there be light” (Gen 1:3). God is our light (Psalm 27:1). Jesus is the light of the world (John 8:12). God’s word is a light for our feet (Psalm 119:105). And we are called to be enlightened, and to reflect his light—not the lightheadedness of Eastern bliss, but the truth of God and his Word.

Lifestyle, not just evangelism

• Being the light of the world isn’t so much about evangelism as about lifestyle.
• In the later 2nd century, the Christian apologist Athenagoras declared to the Romans [in particular, the emperor, Marcus Aurelius]: “Among us you will find uneducated persons, craftsmen, and old women, who, if they are unable in words to prove the benefit of our teaching, yet by their deeds demonstrate the benefit arising from their conviction of its truth. They do not rehearse speeches, but instead exhibit good works. When struck, they do not strike back. When robbed, they do not go to law. They give to those who ask of them and love their neighbors as themselves.” A Plea for the Christians 11 (ANF 2.134).
• Light involves things we do, but also things we don’t
  • How we react—or do not react—when wronged.
  • What we don’t participate in—worldly activities.
  • We are oriented towards the Kingdom of God—and away from not the kingdoms of men.
• The Sermon on the Mount focuses almost entirely on how we live, not on theology.
• Throughout His ministry, Jesus taught that our salvation is dependent on how we live / obedience to His commandments.

Others will see

• Works are positive – beware the Protestant over-reaction against “works-righteousness.”
• The Bible nowhere says that our righteous deeds—acts of obedience to the will of God—are filthy rags! Check out Q&A 1291.

Good works are essential to salvation

• Contrary to what many church people imagine, Paul too taught the necessity of obedience for salvation: (Rom 2:6-10). In fact, Paul uses the expression, “good works,” even more often than does Jesus.
• Peter wrote, “Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation” (1 Peter 2:12).
• [The teaching of the Sermon on the Mount is especially reflected in the letter of James.]

Our challenge

• To provide sight for the spiritually blind in our world.
• And to do so without hypocrisy (Rom 2:17-24).