How do we recognize the people of light and the people of darkness that the Bible speaks of?

Consider John 3:19: "This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.”

We sometimes interpret those who "loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil" as people who outwardly commit many sins, don't observe to do what is written in the law, have many bad addictions, etc. But Jesus wasn't referring to this group of sinners that the world looks down on here- their deeds are already exposed. Many among those sinners with exposed sinful deeds certainly did not hate Christ when He walked the earth as Man. Rather, it was religious, law-toting people who prided themselves in their ability to obey the law and taught same for the attainment of godliness that hated His message and sought to kill Him.

Plus, Luke 15:1-2 shows us that the "scum of the earth" tax collectors and "notorious sinners" that the religious Pharisees looked down on for their sins followed the Light of the world. No one had to force them to go to hear Jesus too. They desired to hear Him. And we never remain the same. We'll see why they (people who knew they were sinners) wanted to hear and the result of hearing as you read on.

So who really are those who loved the darkness rather than the Light? We see this demonstrated in the story of Christ saving the adulteress in John 8:3-12. Many of us are familiar with this story up to verses 10-11:

"10 When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her,“Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” 11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”"

But we probably do not see how the very next verse 12 where Christ said "I am the Light of the world..." and the Pharisees' response in verse 13 tie in with John 3:19 where Christ said "and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil." Let's see how.

See John 8:11-13, after the woman answered that no one condemned her:

"11...And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life. 13 The Pharisees therefore said to Him, “You bear witness of Yourself; Your witness is not true.”"

The Pharisees who brought the woman to Christ for the judgment of death as demanded by the law did not believe the witness of Jesus Christ the Light of the world.

The wages of sin is death. The adulteress was convicted of sin and the penalty is death. So were her law-toting accusers after the order of their father Satan the accuser. At Christ's words: “He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone at her first,” the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees who were fighting to keep and enforce the law towards attaining godliness (being like God) were also convicted of sin. All have sinned. They could not stone the woman.

But check out what the law-hugging accusers did after they, like the woman, were convicted of their sin you'll see who "loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil." John 8:9-

"When the accusers heard this, they slipped away one by one, beginning with the oldest, until only Jesus was left in the middle of the crowd with the woman."

Now recall Christ's words in John 8:11 after the accusers went away, refusing to follow Jesus-

“I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

The woman remained in the Christ the Light of the world, but her accusers who prided themselves in their ability to keep the law and saw themselves as godly through same left the Light of the world and slunk back into the darkness of their hypocrisy of acting like they were righteous when they all had secret sins!

Instead of remaining in and following the Light of the world who "...gave His life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us His very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds" (Titus 2:14,) the accusers slunk away ... back into the darkness of trying to attain righteousness via law-keeping and thus cutting themselves off from Christ the Light of the world. We see in Galatians 5:4 what literally happened with the accusing teachers of religious law and the Pharisees:

“For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God’s grace.”

To be cut off from Christ the Light of the world is to be in darkness and this happens when one is trying to be righteous (be like God) by keeping the law.

Like many leaders in the church today who teach that salvation is based on how well one obeys the law, pays tithe and does restitution and not what Christ has done, the Pharisees and teachers of religious law could not bear to come into the Light (Jesus Christ) because then, the truth would be evident: that when it came to attaining righteousness by obeying the law and doing good deeds, which was their anchor and the source of their high esteem in society, they were no better than adulteress that they tried to get Grace (Christ Himself) to condemn.

No one alive today can boast of being able to obey the law like the Scribes and Pharisees yet the law adjudged them guilty. They were in need of God's saving Grace as much as the helpless adulteress, and this is true for everyone alive today. We all need God's saving Grace to the same extent as the adulteress, no matter how good we think we are.

The adulteress did nothing but be helpless before Christ and she was saved from condemnation and the judgment that she deserved. No amount of tithe payment, washing church toilet, sowing seed, promising to be better or begging for forgiveness could have saved her from the law's righteous demand. “Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness of sins.”

Like many leaders in the church today, the Pharisees could not bear the thought of being saved by Grace alone like the adulteress was. People would realise that they too were sinners and no better than the woman they were trying to kill despite their acts of (self-)righteousness. People would know that they needed exactly the same kind of saving that the adulteress did. They would be exposed and lose their "moral" high-standing and respect in society! So they hid in their darkness of law-keeping. They hated the Light and loved darkness. John 8:13 tells us what they thought of Christ:

“12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life. 13 The Pharisees therefore said to Him, “You bear witness of Yourself; Your witness is not true.”"

They did not believe Christ's witness. And what is this witness of Christ that they disbelieved? It is the same witness that He shared with their counterpart Nicodemus in John 3, right before He talked about people loving the darkness and hating the light:

“14 And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15 that whoever believes in Him should [c]not perish but have eternal life. 16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

18 “He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”

Thought to clarify that these deeds that have been done in God are not of human strength. They are works produced by God in us, through us and for us. The Passion Translation brings this out:

“19 And here is the basis for their judgment: The Light of God has now come into the world, but the hearts of people love their darkness more than the Light, because they want the darkness to conceal their evil. 20 So the wicked[o] hate the Light and try to hide from it, for their lives are fully exposed in the Light. 21 But those who love the truth[p] will come out into the Light and welcome its exposure, for the Light will reveal that their fruitful works were produced by God.”[q]

This is the witness of Christ that the Pharisees disbelieved: we who believe Him are saved from sin and its deathly effects the same way the Israelites that were bitten by snakes in the wilderness were saved from the sting of the snake (sin nature) and its deathly effects (acts of sin that lead to death) and not by our puny efforts at obeying the law in order to “not perish but have everlasting life.” This is the witness of Jesus Christ the Light of the world which churchgoers who depend on their righteous works (obeying the law) to free them from sin and death still reject today. Rejecting His witness and depending even the slightest bit on human effort at obedience is as pointless as the Israelites that were bitten by snakes rushing off to do things by their own power in order to be free from the sting of death (sin nature) and its deathly effects (acts of sin that lead to death.)

Again consider John 3- “19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”

Believers, this verse does not refer to known thieves, armed robbers, kidnappers and "bad people" who shun church - their deeds are already exposed. The church is already bursting at the seams with such people, many of whom are looking for the Light of the world to save them from their sins but can't find Him in church because of the teaching of a false doctrine by Pharisee-type preachers who hate the Light and love the darkness.

This preaching of a false doctrine in many "churches" is why many who are struggling with sins and addictions don't like going to church. The gospel (Grace- undeserved, unearned, unmerited favour) has not changed. It is the message of Christ. It is not attractive to the self-righteous who depend on self-effort at obedience (law-keeping) in order to produce righteousness. It attracted and transformed sinners when it came through Jesus Christ over 2,000 years ago. It is still attracting and transforming sinners today wherever it is being preached. When Christ the Light of the world walked the earth as Man and taught the gospel, it was sinners who knew that they were sinners and needed salvation from their sins who followed Him! And no one had to force them to go to hear Jesus. They desired to hear! See Luke 15:1-

"Many dishonest tax collectors and other notorious sinners often gathered around to listen as Jesus taught the people." 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes kept muttering and indignantly complaining, saying, This man accepts and receives and welcomes [preeminently wicked] sinners and eats with them."

The Amplified Version says: "1 Now all the tax collectors and sinners [including non-observant Jews] were coming near Jesus to listen to Him."

Notice "non-observant Jews?" These were people who had failed woefully at attempts at paying tithes, bringing animal sacrifices for their sins or faithfully keeping the Ten Commandments! In response to the complaints of the Pharisees for His associating with these preeminently wicked sinners, Jesus told the Parables of The Lost Sheep, The Lost Coin and The Prodigal Son! All pictures of Grace- undeserved, unearned, unmerited favour.

The people who love darkness (aka the counterparts of the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees in the church today) and hate the Light actively preach that Jesus Christ "the same yesterday, today and forever" will neither receive nor welcome you because of your sins! But He came to save His people from their sins-

“She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21.

Believers, the people who "loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil" are religious pastors, leaders and religious people who present themselves as “godly” and above sin by their own power, like the Pharisees; those who drag people to Jesus and condemn people by telling them that the Lord will punish them for their inability to keep the Ten Commandments instead of pointing sinners to Christ as the One who will save/ransom/redeem them from their prisons of sin and death, just as He saved the adulteress. These religious pastors and leaders are as guilty as the ones they are condemning, just like the accusers of the adulteress. They are under law because they believe that it is what they do or do not do that gives them right-standing with God; but "...no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands..." (Romans 3:20)

The people who love darkness are church leaders that are afraid to teach that the woman caught in adultery did not fast for 70 days or do anything at all by her own power before Christ saved her from her punishment. All she needed to do was be utterly helpless to save herself and look utterly to Christ for salvation. If they teach this truth, you will no longer need to go to them to ask how many days you should fast in order to escape judgment, break curses that Christ has redeemed believer from or what to do to get from God who already gave His Son for you and is just looking for every excuse to bless you and freely too according to Romans 8:32!

The people who love darkness are church leaders that are afraid to teach that Jesus did not punish Peter for denying Him three times or give the charge of feeding His sheep to a disciple that did not deny Him; He restored Peter and gave him charge of His sheep. They want to keep you doing restitution and trying to make yourself right with God like Judas did - only depression and suicidal thoughts lies ahead here. But look what happened to Peter who also sinned a similar sin of betrayal but depended on God's saving grace! He went on to become a pillar of the church, healing the sick and performing miracles in the name of Jesus! This is the power of the gospel of Christ! It transforms. It saves, not by human might or power but by the Spirit of God.

The people who love darkness are the religious types in the church who reject the gift of righteousness that Christ died that we might have (Romans 5:19) and cling to theirs from works of the law because it gives them something to boast about. Like the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees, they turn their backs on the Light of the world. They pride themselves in their ability to keep the law and pay their tithes and condemn and threaten people who are weak with God's judgment, something that Jesus would never do to anyone who comes to Him. His strength is made perfect in weakness! Our weakness.

Like the Pharisees, they actively preach righteousness (by works of the law) but shun the finished work of Christ in making us righteous by His obedience (Romans 5:19.) Confessing that they are sinners (1 John 1:9) and that without Grace, they are nothing and have no power whatsoever to reign over sin and death would mean coming down from the pedestal of "holiness" that they have put themselves on. These ones who love darkness boast about how their human effort-driven hard work, discipline at keeping the law and doing good and not Grace – undeserved, unmerited favour- got them to the positions that they occupy in their church and in life and will take them to heaven! Believer, don't be deceived! Consider Ephesians 2:8-9:

"For it was only through this wonderful grace that we believed in Him. Nothing we did could ever earn this salvation, for it was the gracious gift from God that brought us to Christ! 9 So no one will ever be able to boast, for salvation is never a reward for good works or human striving."

They accuse the flock like Satan the Accuser (e.g. How can God bless you when you are still.....? He will punish you if you don't stop sinning and keep the Law to be godly.) Many believers are trying hard to obey the law in order to be godly (be like God) because of their false teaching. Same strategy Satan the Accuser used with Eve. But the result is more sin. See Romans 6:14-

"For sin shall not have dominion over you for you are not under law but under grace."

Try to obey the law to be godly (be like God) and sin has dominion. But they preach this backwards, some intentionally to keep you locked in a cycle of sin!

Believer, see Matt. 1:21- "She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

Christ came to save us His people from our sins and judgment, not punish us for them! Now God disciplines His children but never with any of the things that Christ gave Himself to save us from (sickness, barrenness in any area, unemployment, lack, etc physical death and the second death in hell.) His correction is never unto death. According to Hebrews 12:5-11, His correction is that we might "live," "for our profit," that we may "share in His holiness" and that we might live right. We have no holiness of our own. We share in His holiness. He will save you as He saved the sinner woman: FREELY and without placing any demands on you or giving you terms and conditions to fulfill by your arm of flesh (human strength.)

Would you really ask your own child that you love to fast for 70 days before you agree to heal her from her disease or open her womb to make her able to bear children if you had the power to do so? How much more our Father in heaven who gave His Son to die for us and is Almighty! Believer, "change your mind" about God. He loves us so and is all out to abundantly bless His children! Only believe.

These accusers behind some pulpits can never cast the first stone. They never point you to Jesus for salvation from sin and judgment as we see in what He did for the adulteress. They tell you to expect punishment from our Saviour when you go to Him, misrepresenting Him.

They point you to obeying the letter that kills. They accuse God's beloved according to the pattern of the devil the accuser: stealing the word of righteousness by fsith in order to kill and to destroy. They profess Christ yet reject His gift of righteousness and try to get right with God by keeping the Law of Moses aka neither cold nor hot.

Romans 5:17 says -"...But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and His gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one Man, Jesus Christ."

But these ones who "loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil" like the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees do not agree with this verse. They hide the truth and preach that it is by human effort that a person lives in triumph over sin and death; but the adulteress could do nothing to save herself. She would have died by the law were it not for the Light of the world.

Believers, the Light of the word does not shine to condemn sinners and expose sinners to judgment. He shines to save sinners from sins, condemnation and judgment, just as He did with adulteress. To the sinner who sees himself as having no righteousness of his own and believes, He is Saviour.

For the adulteress, the law, wielded by her accusers, brought her to the end of her tether. This is the purpose of the law according to Romans 3-

“19 Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was given, for its purpose is to keep people from having excuses, and to show that the entire world is guilty before God. 20 For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are.”

The adulteress was guilty. She knew it whereas the religious people who held on to their ability to obey the letter that kills and accused her and were just as guilty as she was were in denial, like many churchgoers who think that their law-keeping and good works can get them anywhere with God. There was nothing she could do to save herself from judgment, as we too can do nothing to save ourselves today. Only believe in Jesus.

Jesus Christ the Light of the world is "the same yesterday, today and forever." He is still saving sinners from sins, condemnation and judgment as He did with the accused woman: FREELY and without asking whether you paid tithe or kept the Ten Commandments. In Him, there is no condemnation (Romans 8:1.) It is His "Neither do I condemn you" that makes us "go and sin no more." Titus 2:14 tells us why He came to die:

“He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.”

Right believing always produces right living. Wrong believing (trying to be godly/righteous like God by obeying the law) leads to the proliferation of sins as such who follow false teachings no longer have access to Christ who saves from sin (Galatians 5:4.)

Only in Christ, Grace Himself, shall sin not have dominion over you says Romans 6:14. United with the One who was raised from the dead (He "was raised up because of our being declared righteous" according to Romans 4:25,) we get to produce "a harvest of good deeds for God." (Romans 7:4)

Believe Right and you will Live Right.