The people which sat in darkness
『The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up. 』(Matthew 4:16) For this land is the land of death and the shade. The light shining on them is not the light of this world, but the light of God. The beginning of the gospel is not to wash away dirt, but to realize that it is in darkness. Darkness is Satan. All evil thoughts and actions of man are manifested because they are in darkness. Why are all in the dark? There is greed in the human heart.
And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: (Romans 1: 28-31)
This evil mind does not go away by reflection, but only by dying on the cross. Jesus preceded the way of death. All who follow Jesus are dead to evil. In order to follow Jesus, we must give up our self. This is a narrow road and a difficult road. Salvation is not easy, but difficult. Believing in Jesus is not salvation, but following Jesus on the cross is salvation.
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