Light
Summary
Created by God's first spoken command, light serves throughout Scripture as the preeminent symbol of God's presence, truth, holiness, and salvation.
☩Creation of Light
'Let there be light' was God's first creative command (Genesis 1:3), the initial step in the creation of life. Paul recalls this creative act: 'God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ' (2 Corinthians 4:6). Light's origin thus finds its explanation in the purpose and nature of God Himself.
☩God as Light
'God is light, and in him is no darkness at all' (1 John 1:5). This declaration establishes light as an attribute of God's holiness and moral perfection. God 'dwelleth in the light which no man can approach unto' (1 Timothy 6:16). The Shekinah glory that shone above the mercy seat typified the celestial glory. In the New Jerusalem, 'the city had no need of the sun... for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof' (Revelation 21:23).
☩Christ the Light
John declares of Christ: 'In him was life; and the life was the light of men' (John 1:4). Jesus proclaimed, 'I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life' (John 8:12). While God as light describes His essential nature, Christ as light denotes His function as revealer of God to man—the light by which men are both illumined and judged. Simeon called the infant Jesus 'a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel' (Luke 2:32).
☩Believers as Light
Jesus told His disciples, 'Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid' (Matthew 5:14). Christians are called to 'walk as children of light' (Ephesians 5:8) and to 'shine as lights in the world' (Philippians 2:15). This light is not self-generated but received from Christ: 'Ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord' (Ephesians 5:8). The light believers bear includes both consistent godly conduct and the illuminating truth of the gospel.
Related Verses256 mentions
References
- 1.John McClintock and James Strong, "Light," in Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature, vol. V (Harper & Brothers, 1867–1887).
- 2.James Orr (ed.), "Light," in International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, vol. III (Howard-Severance Company, 1915).
- 3.George Morrish, "Light," in Morrish's Concise Bible Dictionary (George Morrish, 1898).