I.        INTRODUCTION

A.      In the previous lessons of this series we have compared our current era with the difficult times described by Paul in 2Timothy 3:1-9.

                                                             1.      The first lesson introduced the series by acknowledging the problems faced by the church and the need for Christians to approach the problems carefully.

                                                             2.      The second lesson considered some traits of today’s culture that make it more difficult for Christians to live and teach in the name of Jesus Christ.

                                                             3.      The third lesson suggested that the church must be diligent in these difficult times to conform to the pattern of the New Testament rather than following the trends of the world.

B.      Presently, let us consider the responsibility of each individual Christian to make himself or herself a beacon of light during these spiritually dark and difficult times.

                                                             1.      This is a continuation of the thoughts expressed in the previous lesson, for truly as individual Christians go, so goes the church also.  The local church cannot be all that God would have it to be unless its members are all that they should be.

                                                             2.      Therefore, it is necessary for all members of the church to rise above the culture in which we live and become outstanding children of God.

II.      A HIGHER STANDARD

A.      The world has its own standard by which it measures what is good, right, and acceptable.

                                                             1.      This standard varies from culture to culture, and it changes from era to era.

                                                             2.      Such a standard is really no standard at all, for it is constantly shifting.  The result is that the world drifts without a universal measure of absolute truth and error, right and wrong, or good and evil.

B.      However, God has given us His word as a higher standard by which we should live.

                                                             1.      Consider some of the characteristics of God’s word.

a.       God’s word is truth (John 17:17).

b.       God’s word does not change, but abides forever (1Pet. 1:24-25).

c.        God’s word profits and equips the man of God for all good works (2Tim. 3:16-17).

d.       God’s word is perfect, sure, right, pure, clean, and true (Psa. 19:7-11).

                                                             2.      By the very nature of our being, the standard of God is higher than the standards of man and the world (Isa. 55:6-11).

C.      Yet knowing the higher standard of God is not enough, for Christians must be doers of His word.

                                                             1.      James wrote, “But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves” (Jas. 1:22).

                                                             2.      Let us consider Matthew 5:43-48, where Jesus asked the piercing question, “What do you do more than others?”

a.       This passage comes from the Sermon on the Mount, in which Jesus presented a series of contrasts between the traditional interpretations of the Law of Moses and the higher standard of God’s word.

b.       Specifically in this passage, Jesus taught the higher standard of loving one’s enemies in contrast to the former standard of “love your neighbor and hate your enemy.”

c.        Notice how Jesus showed that children of God are to exceed the righteousness of the world by the good deeds they do.

i.         Loving those who love us is not worthy of a reward, for it is nothing more than the sinful tax gatherers did.  Likewise, greeting those who greet us is nothing more than the sinful Gentiles did.

ii.        Jesus showed that to be a child of God, one must fulfill God’s high expectations for His children.  Simply keeping pace with the world is not enough.  “What do you do more than others?”

III.   BE OUTSTANDING!

A.      Too many Christians want to blend in with the world.

                                                             1.      There is an insecure, carnal fear on the part of many Christians of being perceived as different from others in the world.  They do not want others to see them as “religious fanatics.”

                                                             2.      Because of their fear, such Christians allow the world to dictate to them their standards of behavior, even when it means compromising the word of God.

a.       Their fear of being rejected by men is stronger than their fear of being rejected by God.  They are like the rulers of the Jews who believed in Jesus but were afraid to confess Him, “for they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God” (John 12:43).

b.       The result is that these Christians do things they ought not to do, say things they ought not to say, go to places they ought not to go, wear things they ought not to wear, and commit other acts contrary to the holiness of Christ their Lord.

                                                             3.      Let us understand that there is a degree to which Christians should conform to culture, but that conformity is limited to that which is acceptable according to God’s word.

a.       The apostle Paul said of himself, “I have become all things to all men, that I may by all means save some” (1Cor. 9:19-23).  For the sake of reaching others with the gospel, Paul complied with the culture, but he was always “under the law of Christ” (v. 21).

b.       We do not need to be opposite from everything in the culture just for the sake of being different, but we must reject the culture when it runs contrary to God’s standards for holiness and righteousness.

B.      In these current difficult times, Christians must be outstanding from the world.

                                                             1.      There is much for us to learn and imitate from the early Christians who were radically different from the world in which they lived.

a.       Whether they lived in a Jewish culture or a Gentile culture, Christians in Bible times were clearly different in their behavior, beliefs, and teachings from others around them.

b.       Because of this radical difference, they were noticed by others, and their message of the gospel of Christ was also noticed (for example, 1Thess. 1:8-10).

c.        Often these Christians suffered persecution because they were so different, but this rejection did not prevent those who were faithful from continuing in the Way.

                                                             2.      Like the early Christians, Christians today are still expected to be outstanding from the world.

a.       In Philippians 2:14-16, Christians are told to be “above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation” and to “appear as lights in the world.”

b.       In Ephesians 5:7-12, Christians are admonished to “walk as children of light” and to expose the “unfruitful deeds of darkness.”

c.        In 2Corinthians 6:14-18, a series of contrasts shows how Christians are to be separated from the world.

C.      The result of Christians being outstanding in the world will always be the glorification of God.

                                                             1.      The purpose of Christians shining as lights in the world is not for their own glory, but for the glory of God (Matt. 5:13-16).

                                                             2.      Even in the case of those who slander Christians, ultimately they will glorify God because of the good deeds of Christians (1Pet. 2:12).

                                                             3.      If a Christian suffers as a result of being set apart for the name of Christ, he is instructed to “not feel ashamed, but in that name let him glorify God” (1Pet. 4:14-16).

                                                             4.      Therefore, the goal of a Christian is do more than others and be outstanding so that God will be glorified.

a.       By doing this, Christians will have opportunities to exemplify Christ to others and to tell others of the gospel of their salvation.

b.       Let us appreciate the importance of our examples to others as we live for Christ in this world.  The contrast should be as clear as the contrast between light and darkness.

IV.    CONCLUSION

A.      Dear Christian, please understand that the things you do and say reflect directly on yourself, the church, and the Lord.

                                                             1.      The exposure that others have to you may be the only opportunity they get to know the truth about God.  Do not waste their opportunity.

                                                             2.      Be outstanding, shine as a light in a dark world, and do more than others that God may be glorified and others may be saved.

B.      If each Christian will do his or her part, then the church will not only survive these difficult times, but it will thrive and grow just as it has done in the past.