Yes, I see your point. Certainly part of the reason people do not come
to salvation is because they do not abandon their denial of sin.
But, what does "coming to the light" (ERCETAI PROS TO FWS) in this
context denote? The first time TO FWS is mentioned is in v. 19, AUTH DE
ESTIN hH KRISIS hOTI TO FWS ELHLUQEN EIS TON KOSMON KAI HGAPHSAN hOI
ANQRWPOI MALLON TO SKOTOS H TO FWS. Is this not explaining verses 16-17
where it is said God gave His Son ... sent His Son into the world, so
that the world would be saved? If so, then it seems TO FWS refers to
Jesus and ERCETAI PROS TO FWS (v. 21) refers to coming to Christ for
salvation. Of course, this includes the process of the individual
abandoning his denial of sin, but that seems to be more assumed here.
The point of 19b-20 seems to be that the reason those who practice evil
and hate the Light is because their deeds are evil and coming to the
Light necessarily involves an exposure of their evil deeds.
>>and if doing "the truth" refers to the practice of righteousness
>
>I suspect that "doing the truth" here may mean quite literally
>practicing truthfulness.
>
>It may well be that one of the big reasons people do not come to God
>is that they are afraid to look at themselves, and that having the
courage to
>see ourselves clearly is an important part of coming to God.
Yes, thanks for the interaction.
Paul Dixon