The City of Light

1. The City of Light 5.26.13

2. The Setting • “So truth fails, And he who departs from evil makes himself a prey. Then the Lord saw it, and it displeased Him that there was no justice.” (Isaiah 59:15) • Demoralization of man and his debased condition • Ex: Homosexuality; Relativism • Those who depart from evil and seek righteousness are preyed upon.

3. The Setting • “He saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor; Therefore His own arm brought salvation for Him; And His own righteousness, it sustained Him.” (Isaiah 59:16) • The Lord is a victorious warrior • “The Lord shall go forth like a mighty man; He shall stir up His zeal like a man of war. He shall cry out, yes, shout aloud; He shall prevail against His enemies.” (Isaiah 42:13) • The Lord Jesus is the victor

4. The Church is the City of Light • “Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; But the Lord will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you.” (Isaiah 60:1-2) • Jews return from captivity was likened to resurrection • The Lord demands that the NT church enjoy the life and light of her Redeemer • “And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.” (John 17:22-23) • “I am the light of the world.” (John 8:12) • “You are the light of the world.” (Matthew 5:14)

5. Characteristics of the Church • Source of Enlightenment • Attractive • Honored • God-bearers • Glorified • Enjoy the exalted power of God

6. Source of Enlightenment • The Church administers the Mystery of Enlightenment • “For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, And deep darkness the people; But the Lord will arise over you, And His glory will be seen upon you.” (Isaiah 60:2) • “As we get baptized, we are enlightened; and being enlightened, we get adopted; and as being adopted, we are consummated.” (St. Clement of Alexandria) • We should strive not to willingly turn back to darkness • “Let your light so shine before men…”

7. Source of Enlightenment • “For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, And deep darkness the people; But the Lord will arise over you, And His glory will be seen upon you.” (Isaiah 60:2) • “deep darkness” • “Then the Lord said to Moses, Stretch out your hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, darkness which may even be felt…But all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings.” (Exodus10:21,23) • When the world becomes so sad and filled with darkness and cruelty, the Church becomes a very pleasant place. • What is the duty of the Church? • “Arise, shine!” (Isaiah 60:1)

8. Attractive • “The Gentiles shall come to your light, And kings to the brightness of your rising.” (Isaiah 60:3) • The glory of the City is attractive • “A city on a hill cannot be hidden.” (Matt. 5:14) • Those who join the Body of Christ will intend to bring honor and glory to Him • Our greatest services and gifts we offer to the Church are not accepted as a sacrifice to God unless He is glorified in them. • “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” (1 Peter 2:9)

9. Honored • “Then you shall see and become radiant, And your heart shall swell with joy; Because the abundance of the sea shall be turned to you, The wealth of the Gentiles shall come to you. The multitude of camels shall cover your land, The dromedaries of Midian and Ephah; All those from Sheba shall come; They shall bring gold and incense, And they shall proclaim the praises of the Lord.” (Isaiah 60:5-6) • Gold and incense to be used not for trading and honoring • Our sacrifices are our life, bodies, and energies • “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.” (Romans 12:1)

10. Its members will bear the Lord • “Who are these who fly like a cloud, And like doves to their roosts?” (Isaiah 60:8) • “Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.” (Matthew 24:30) • “I have compared you, my love, To my filly among Pharaoh's chariots. Your cheeks are lovely with ornaments, Your neck with chains of gold.” (Song of Sons1:9-10) • We are to carry the Lord to the world

11. Glorified 1. God uses all to build His kingdom • “The sons of foreigners shall build up your walls, And their kings shall minister to you; For in My wrath I struck you, But in My favor I have had mercy on you. Therefore your gates shall be open continually; They shall not be shut day or night, That men may bring to you the wealth of the Gentiles, And their kings in procession.” (Isaiah 60:10-11) • Refers to King Cyrus who ordered the return of the captives and gave Nehemiah all he needed to rebuild Jerusalem • God can use foreigners or enemies to build His kingdom (Pharaoh, Cyrus, Herod, etc.)

12. Glorified 2. Salvation will be reserved for the Church • “For the nation and kingdom which will not serve you shall perish, And those nations shall be utterly ruined.” (Isaiah 60:12) • “There is no salvation outside the church.” --(St. Cyprian of Carthage) • Noah’s Ark

13. Glorified 3. Its adversities will act as witnesses to their holiness • “Also the sons of those who afflicted you shall come bowing to you, And all those who despised you shall fall prostrate at the soles of your feet; And they shall call you The City of the Lord, Zion of the Holy One of Israel.” (Isaiah 60:14) • “…stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, and not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that from God.” (Philippians 1:27-28)

14. Glorified 4. Joy will be everlasting • “Whereas you have been forsaken and hated, So that no one went through you, I will make you an eternal excellence, A joy of many generations. You shall drink the milk of the Gentiles, And milk the breast of kings; You shall know that I, the Lord, am your Savior and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.” (Isaiah 60:15-16) • The Lord will be her provider and support • Not only in heaven • “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” (Phil. 4:4)

15. Glorified 5. Glory will be better-than-imagined • “Instead of bronze I will bring gold, Instead of iron I will bring silver, Instead of wood, bronze, And instead of stones, iron.” (Isaiah 60:17) • The temple was made with better-than-necessary materials • “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” (1 Cor. 2:9)

16. Exalted Power of God will be Enjoyed • “A little one shall become a thousand, And a small one a strong nation. I, the Lord, will hasten it in its time.” (Is. 60:22) • David and Goliath • Esther • Joseph • Victory is ours, but its complete revelation will be in its time.

17. The City of Light • Source of Enlightenment • Attractive • Honored • God-bearers • Glorified • God will us all to build His kingdom • Salvation is reserved for the Church • Adversaries will witness to their holiness • Joy will be everlasting • Glory will be better-than-imagined • Enjoy the exalted power of God