Light of the World, Part I

Light of the World
One way we bring glory to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ as I taught at our last end of the year service is virtuous living. What does this mean?

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This lesson is to help us understand it in precepts and the practice of it and its effect on the glory of God.

We have previously indicated from a sound scriptural base that the work of God in the world is an operation of glory. God throughout history through His work has been demonstrating His glory to the nations.

The purpose of His work of creation is to point to His glory, the majesty of His person.

Psalm 19:1-3
The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handiwork. Day unto day uttereth speech, and night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no speech nor language, where their voice is not heard.

The heavens reveals the work of God. We have an example in Matthew 2:1-7.
The wise men took notice of what God was doing through the stars. They took months long journey (possibly year long return trip) to pay homage to this new king born in Jerusalem. You can only imagine the greatness revealed in the stars of this king that necessitated their cross cultural visit to pay homage. They must have seen that this king has an eternal reign.

If there is a being that can fashion this magnificent world we live in and its far and near environment, should that tell us that such being is greater than what He has created? Creation has to be a testament to the greatness and intelligence of the creator. And since He created all thing, seen and unseen, His greatness cannot be beneath his work, it has to excel beyond things.

Even God, in affirming His own greatness swore by himself having searched everywhere to find someone greater He could swear by for an oath confirmation to Abraham but He could not find any. You know it takes confidence to search out anyone greater than you.
Hebrews 6:13, 16
For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he sware by himself,
For men verily swear by the greater : and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife.

He could not swear by the heavens or the things in them neither could He swear by the earth and the things in it; for He is greater than the combinations of all seeing that He created them.
John 13:16
Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.

John 15:20
Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

The creation of human beings also points to God. He created man in His image and after His likeness, a clear pointer that we are not of ourselves. God's glory is well magnified when we carefully appreciate man as His work.

1 Corinthians 11:7
For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.

In fact, God gave dominion over the earth to man another clear indication that He has power to it to determine its use, by who and for what purpose. Not just that, He has power over other elements in creation.

Genesis 1:26-28
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image,in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

That was not all! He also left instructions on how the first humans should conduct their living on earth. He gave them a prototype living space, showed them how to use it and determined the boundary of their liberty so they can look up to Him for their sustenance. Every thing in the garden is usable except...showing man how to use the facility provided by God and at His instance.

Genesis 2:16-17
And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

Just like any asset we acquire, they come with user manual, giving instructions on how the product should be used. If we should be found to have carefully used the product, then we would have to use it according to the owner's manual instructions failing which we forfeit product warranty. Failure to use product as specified means any damage during warranty period would be borne by the owner-user.
Like strong heads (but of course, through deception), the first humans failed to use the space - their home garden with careful consideration of the glory of God. They saw beyond the glory of God, that there is something attainable beyond what God said.

Genesis 3:6
And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

The implication was that man fell into sin. Now, in degenerate state, he is fallen short of the glory of God. Oh God!
The first obvious thing after sin was that the first humans noticed for the first time they were naked. For the years they lived in the garden, they never knew they were naked. There was no chance they would have known they were naked. Nakedness cannot be observed under the influence of God's glory.

Genesis 3:7
And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.

SIDE NOTE:
Just as in the case of fornication and adultery, if you see a human being as the image and glory of God, you will not abuse them by taking sexual advantage of them including and especially the weak and vulnerable.

Under the influence of God's glory, the only visible thing is God's glory. Moses was under this influence and their was no need for food to sustain his body. Upon descent from the mount of God having gotten tablets of the law from God (Exodus 31:18), he carried on his activities like he never left not needing food, at least not in the immediate. He spent a total 40 days and nights with God receiving the laws. Exodus 24:12-18.

Exodus 31:18
And he gave unto Moses, when he had made an end of communing with him upon mount Sinai, two tables of testimony, tables of stone, written with the finger of God.

Interestingly, he did it a second time to get replacement for the tablets he destroyed in anger when the children of Israel created a molten calf to worship it.
Exodus 34:28-30
And he was there with the LORD forty days and forty nights; he did neither eat bread, nor drink water. And he wrote upon the tables the words of the covenant, the ten commandments. And it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him. And when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, behold, the skin of his face shone; and they were afraid to come nigh him.

Now in sin, rather than repent, they began their own independent operation to cover up their rebellion from God. First, they made aprons to cover their nakedness forgetting that leaves once plucked will eventually dry up creating a complexity of always replacing the aprons every time the leaves dries. This will leave you in a circus of helping yourself to deal with your own sins by covering it up instead of exposing it to God who can save you from them.

This covering led to judgement which if carefully considered was painful but necessary and temporary in order to bring in God's everlasting righteousness.

Ecclesiastes 7:29
Lo, this only have I found, that God hath made man upright; but they have sought out many inventions.

Then, they hid from the presence of God, hiding from the same and only person that can save them for sin and its guilt. You know what, the guilt of sin if not dealt with will always make you a prisoner of sin and the glory of God that should be revealed in that fellow is denied and deprived because of sin.

Isaiah 1:18-19
Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land:

In between, let us consider the deception through which sin came into the world. In the first instance, man was not created to be independent.

Jeremiah 10:23
O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.

2 Corinthians 3:5-6
Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.

2 Corinthians 4:6-7
For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.

The first man knew clearly his source - his origin, he had regularly interaction with God. If he would live successfully on earth he must stay within the bounds of God's order.

Genesis 2:16-17
And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

He did so for a time until another character came visiting the garden with an opposing view of how man should live but not under God's order - man should be like the gods. How could God have said you will die? He was only flipping.

Genesis 3:4-5
And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

Unfortunately, man did not realize the life he had was a higher one compared to the gods - he was given authority over the earth. He was given the control over the earth, to use it and it's resources.

Psalm 8:3-8
When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.

These gods were to serve men to achieve God's purpose.
Hebrews 1:13-14
But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool? Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?

So, back in Genesis 3, this serpent who is actually the devil - Satan deceived the woman and led man astray.

Genesis 3:13
And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat.

2 Corinthians 11:3
But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtlety, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

Man has been introduced to a new order - life apart from God. Away from God, man would descend into darkness, a sinful place where the mind cannot make godly choices anymore.
Romans 1:21-32

Ephesians 4:17-20
This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.

So, the deception is the work of darkness, the work of Satan.

2 Corinthians 4:3-4
But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

Darkness ruins everything bringing sin into the world. Sin degrades the human nature beneath the glory of God.

Isaiah 5:20-24
Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight! Woe unto them that are mighty to drink wine, and men of strength to mingle strong drink: Which justify the wicked for reward, and take away the righteousness of the righteous from him! Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the LORD of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel.

Darkness is to live outside the light and counsel of God's word. Isaiah 8:19-22

Darkness can be disguised in ordinary activities. There will be no obvious element of evil in the activity, having seemingly harmless form. Just like the arrest of Jesus, it was orchestrated like the arrest of a traitor, an enemy of the state.

Luke 22:52-53
Then Jesus said unto the chief priests, and captains of the temple, and the elders, which were come to him, Be ye come out, as against a thief, with swords and staves? When I was daily with you in the temple, ye stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness.

People find darkness naturally appealing because it conceals their evil works.
John 3:19-21
And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

And by it, sin came into the world. You must know that sin does not work alone, it as an evil twin called death. They work together. Sin cannot work alone, it works with death. Death cannot strike on its own, it derives its power from sin.

Romans 5:12
Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

Death is passed to all men. The work of darkness has reached its full potential, through deception has brought death upon people because they did not stay within God's boundary with death as consequence.

God who will never deprive Himself of His glory shining forth in all the earth took immediate position to remediate sin, remove it from humans so that His glory operation can go on unhindered. He announced His plan in earnest to fix the sin problem.

Genesis 3:15
And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

This plan culminated in Jesus Christ who died for our sin and on the third day was raised to life again by the glory of the Father to give us a new life, one with power over sin to work the glory demands of the life in Christ, who is the image of God.

Romans 6:3-4
Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Jesus, our Jesus is the pass out of darkness into light.
John 8:12
Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

John 12:46
I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.

Colossians 1:12-14
Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

Our past life, the one short of the glory of God because of sin is confined to a forgotten past. A past God has moved beyond in Christ, never to be reckoned anymore.

2 Corinthians 5:17-19, 21
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Darkness now in the world through the work of Satan, it began to work all manner of evil in and among men in greater measure. Outside the garden, we see the first manifestation of evil in Cain who killed his brother. He committed murder!

1 John 3:11-12
For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother’s righteous.

John 8:44
Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

This work of darkness was not a one-off event. Darkness having tasted evil would seek more room for manifestation until it achieves preeminence. So, a descendant of Cain would shed blood, killing a man. He would boast saying God would avenge 77 fold against whoever made a revenge attempt on him.

Genesis 4:23-24
And Lamech said unto his wives, Adah and Zillah, Hear my voice; ye wives of Lamech, hearken unto my speech: for I have slain a man to my wounding, and a young man to my hurt. If Cain shall be avenged sevenfold, truly Lamech seventy and sevenfold.

Just like his great ancestor, he would not repent. With more bloodshed, they ruined the earth, subjecting it to more and more influence of darkness.

Genesis 4:9-12
And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my brother’s keeper? And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of thy brother’s blood crieth unto me from the ground. And now art thou cursed from the earth, which hath opened her mouth to receive thy brother’s blood from thy hand; When thou tillest the ground, it shall not henceforth yield unto thee her strength; a fugitive and a vagabond shalt thou be in the earth.

In fact, Cain would depart from the presence of God to continue his life elsewhere building cities.

Genesis 4:16-17
And Cain went out from the presence of the LORD, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of Eden. And Cain knew his wife; and she conceived, and bare Enoch: and he builded a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Enoch.

Of course, you would not expect the cities they developed to have its social order steep in God consciousness. Lawlessness multiplied and became the order of the day. Many years down the line, godlessness had spread, wickedness had increase, evil was the reigning monarch not only on the streets but in their hearts and chiefly so.

Genesis 6:5
And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.

God had to begin again with the only ray of hope he found, Noah.

After the flood, people began to multiply on the face of the earth and then Satan was back yet again. How do we know that? The elements of the antediluvian world was back post flood. The giants were back and a social order that had no God in it. Rather, they had a tower at the centre of this city.

Genesis 6:4
There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare children to them, the same became mighty men which were of old, men of renown.

Genesis 11:4
And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.

So, God called Abraham out of this dark civilization to start a new city, the City of God on the earth. Although Abraham moved into a physical land, Canaan, in obedience to God but had his eyes on something better, the heavenly Jerusalem because he wanted a city that has foundation who's builder and maker was God.

Hebrews 11:8-10
By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

God vouched about Abraham he would teach his descendants to obey Him. Abraham did! He taught his descendants about his God and showed them His ways.

Genesis 18:17-19
And the LORD said, Shall I hide from Abraham that thing which I do; Seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the LORD, to do justice and judgment; that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.

So, Moses came along and brought divine order of God into this new city Abraham founded with an eye on the heavenly Jerusalem to separate them from every other nation on the face of the earth.

Deuteronomy 4:5-10
Behold , I have taught you statutes and judgments, even as the LORD my God commanded me, that ye should do so in the land whither ye go to possess it. Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people. For what nation is there so great, who hath God so nigh unto them, as the LORD our God is in all things that we call upon him for? And what nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day? Only take heed to thyself, and keep thy soul diligently, lest thou forget the things which thine eyes have seen, and lest they depart from thy heart all the days of thy life: but teach them thy sons , and thy sons sons; Specially the day that thou stoodest before the LORD thy God in Horeb, when the LORD said unto me, Gather me the people together, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children.

So, also in Christ, when a man is turned to the Lord, he becomes a part of the Father's city, a citizen of the heavenly Jerusalem.

Colossians 1:12-14
Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

1 Peter 2:9-10
But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

It is a new reality, different from the order of this world. Nothing like it ever existed.

2 Corinthians 5:17-19, 21
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

As a member of this divine order, it is in us to bring its reality to the earth shining this light in the midst of this dark world.

Matthew 5:14-16
Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

A new life we were given by the surety of this new covenant, Jesus Christ the high priest of our profession, who gave Himself the atoning sacrifice for our sins instead of the blood of animals like the high priests of the old covenant. Who himself as our high priest whose priesthood is based on the power of an endless life not vulnerable to this present decaying world has given us life and immortality. The glory of God is restored.

Hebrews 7:16
Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.

In the operation of God's glory, sin is consumed, fully remitted in Christ. People who have experienced this grace of God approach and are subsumed into the glory becoming an expression of God's glory as He originally intended - the image and glory of God.

2 Corinthians 4:3-4, 6
But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

Moses is an example. Exodus 20:18-21

The glory of God that Moses experienced here is nothing compare to what is in Christ. 2 Corinthians 3:7-11, 16-18.
In Christ, the veil is removed, we have unhindered clear line of sight into God's glory

Now that we are exposed to the knowledge of the glory of God as indeed we are the glory of God, we demonstrate the quality of our spirit in the content of our character. This is what the bible calls good works, putting on goodly virtues on as garment in every relationship, as husband, wife, child, worker, employer, citizen, church member etc, etc.

Ephesians 2:8-10
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Matthew 5:14-15, 16
Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Isaiah 60:1-3
Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, and kings to the brightness of thy rising.

How do we show forth this new reality? The bible teaches how.
Do good works.
Ephesians 2:8-10
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20
What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God , and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

John 15:8
Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.

Colossians 2:6-7
As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

It is not only to do good works, you also separate from darkness and evil. They cannot coexist in the light of Christ.
1 Peter 2:11-12
Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation.

1 Peter 4:12-16
Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20
What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God , and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.

How to do it?
Romans 13:11-14
And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light. Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying. But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

Ephesians 5:8~
For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:

Php 2:12-13, 14-16
Wherefore , my beloved , as ye have always obeyed , not as in my presence only , but now much more in my absence , work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.
Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God , without rebuke , in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.

1 Thes 5:5-8
Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.

1 Timothy 2:9-10
In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array; But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.

1 Timothy 5:10, 25
Instructions for the families and widows.

1 Timonthy 6:17-19
Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; That they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate; Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

Titus 3:4-14

Hebrews 10:24-25
And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

1 Peter 3:1-9, 16

2 Corinthians 9:10-13
Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;) Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God; Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men;

Listen carefully. It is Christ who saves to the uttermost. He gives eternal salvation to those who come to Him, saving the, to the uttermost.

Hebrews 5:5-9
So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest ; but he that said unto him , Thou art my Son , to day have I begotten thee . As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec . Who in the days of his flesh , when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death , and was heard in that he feared ; Though he were a Son , yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered ; And being made perfect , he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him ;

Hebrews 7:22-25
By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament. And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death: But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

Uttermost /pantelēs - all complete, entirely, utterly, perfectly, fully ended/

This clearly put a clear separation between us and those who don't believe and this we have explored in apostolic instructions in scriptures. Yet, one more scripture clearly captures this separation.
2 Corinthians 6:14-18
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers : for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness ? and what communion hath light with darkness ? And what concord hath Christ with Belial ? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel ? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols ? for ye are the temple of the living God ; as God hath said, I will dwell in them , and walk in them; and I will be their God , and they shall be my people . Wherefore come out from among them , and be ye separate , saith the Lord , and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you , And will be a Father unto you , and ye shall be my sons and daughters , saith the Lord Almighty .

2 Corinthians 7:1
Having therefore these promises , dearly beloved , let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit , perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

So, we see that separate is an active word - it is something that we must do because we are not of the same stock with the unbelieving world.
1 Corinthians 6:9-11
Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be ? not deceived: neither : fornicators, nor , idolaters, nor , adulterers, nor , effeminate, nor , abusers of themselves with mankind, , Nor thieves , nor covetous , nor drunkards , nor revilers , nor extortioners , shall inherit the kingdom of God . And such were some of you : but ye are washed , but ye are sanctified , but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus , and by the Spirit of our God.

Ephesians 5:3-7, 11-13
But fornication , and all uncleanness , or covetousness , let it not be once named among you , as becometh saints ; Neither filthiness , nor foolish talking , nor jesting , which are not convenient : but rather giving of thanks . For this ye know, that no whoremonger , nor unclean person , nor covetous man , who is an idolater , hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God . Let no man deceive you with vain words : for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience . Be not ye therefore partakers with them .
And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness , but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret . But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light : for whatsoever doth make manifest is light .

1 Timothy 5:22
Lay hands suddenly on no man , neither be partaker of other men’s sins : keep thyself pure.

Revelation 18:4-7
And I heard another voice from heaven , saying , Come out of her , my people , that ye be not partakers of her sins , and that ye receive not of her plagues . For her sins have reached unto heaven , and God hath remembered her iniquities . Reward her even as she rewarded you , and double unto her double according to her works : in the cup which she hath filled fill to her double . How much she hath glorified herself , and lived deliciously , so much torment and sorrow give her : for she saith in her heart , I sit a queen , and am no widow , and shall see no sorrow .

Proverbs 1:10
My son , if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.

Proverbs 13:20
He that walketh with wise men shall be wise : but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.

We see two clear things in this - to demonstrate the light that we are, to illuminate this world, God wants us to take this message to the world, preaching the light of His Son, Jesus Christ.
Acts 26:18
To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.

And the second is to maintain good works, which is the product of our new God nature.

Examples
John 5:33-35
Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth. But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved. He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light.

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