How does being "called out of darkness" influence our life choices today?

Anchoring Verse: 1 Peter 2:9

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”

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Our New Identity in the Light

• Chosen people—selected by God, not an accident

• Royal priesthood—access to the King and service in His presence

• Holy nation—set apart from the world’s value system

• God’s own possession—lives fully owned by Him

• Purpose—proclaim His virtues, displaying His character in every sphere

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What Darkness Once Looked Like

• Separation from God (Isaiah 59:2)

• Futile thinking and hardened hearts (Ephesians 4:17-18)

• Slavery to sin (John 8:34)

• Fear and spiritual blindness (2 Corinthians 4:4)

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Everyday Decisions Shaped by the Light

• Moral choices

– Reject works of darkness such as impurity, greed, deceit (Ephesians 5:11)

– Embrace truth, purity, generosity

• Relationships

– Walk in love, forgiving as Christ forgave (Ephesians 4:32)

– Refuse gossip, bitterness, revenge

• Entertainment & media

– Filter content by Philippians 4:8 standards: true, honorable, just, pure

• Use of time & resources

– Redeem the time because the days are evil (Ephesians 5:15-16)

– Invest in kingdom purposes, not fleeting pleasures

• Speech

– Let words give grace to those who hear (Ephesians 4:29)

– No coarse joking or slander

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Shining the Light for Others

• Reflect Jesus, the Light of the world (John 8:12)

• Live blamelessly so others “see your good deeds and glorify God” (Matthew 5:16)

• Proclaim the gospel verbally (Acts 26:18)

• Show compassion that mirrors God’s mercy (Micah 6:8)

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Keeping in Step with the Light

• Daily Scripture intake—“Your word is a lamp to my feet” (Psalm 119:105)

• Prayerful dependence—“apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5)

• Fellowship with believers—walking in the light together (1 John 1:7)

• Ongoing repentance—turning from any fresh shadows that creep in (1 John 1:9)

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Summary

Being called out of darkness means living each moment as God’s visible testimony on earth—embracing holiness, rejecting sin, and radiating Christ’s marvelous light in every decision, relationship, and priority.