John 3:16-21 (NASB)
16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. 18 He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 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 who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. 21 But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.” The Son was sent to the world to rescue it from the darkness. It is the cosmos itself which will ultimately be rescued, and humanity, as its inhabitors, and its taintors, as it lives in the truth of the True Light, finds its restoration and rescue in God. Belief, trust, and fidelity (pistis) mark those who follow God and His Light. It is only in the Light that true Life, Life in its fullness, can be found.
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1 John 1:4-7 (NASB)
4 These things we write, so that our joy may be made complete. 5 This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; 7 but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. The apostles were witnesses of the splendor of the light of Christ. Having seen His face, heard His voice, and lived in His presence, they experienced what we know in part and await for in full. God is the antithesis of darkness, evil, hatred, and greed. God is Light, Goodness, Love, and Generosity. Those who truly know God reflect, even though imperfectly, the person of God by reflecting the person of the Son. It is His Light which shines in us to drive back the darkness of the world. 2 Corinthians 4:3-6 (NASB)
3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. The Light of God, the Messiah, shines forth in the world to push back the darkness which blinds humanity. God shines through His Messiah in our hearts to transform us to the image and splendor of Jesus, humanity reconstituted. Isaiah 60:1-3 (NASB)
1 “Arise, shine; for your light has come, And the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. 2 For behold, darkness will cover the earth, and deep darkness the peoples; but the Lord will rise upon you, and His glory will appear upon you. 3 Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising." The Light shines to draw the world unto Himself. Like the sun rising upon the hillside and casting light upon all that it radiates over, the Light causes the shadows of darkness to flee and draws all nations unto Himself. 1 Peter 2:4-10 (NASB)
4 And coming to Him as to a living stone which has been rejected by men, but is choice and precious in the sight of God, 5 you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For this is contained in Scripture: “Behold, I lay in Zion a choice stone, a precious corner stone, And he who believes in Him will not be disappointed.” 7 This precious value, then, is for you who believe; but for those who disbelieve, “The stone which the builders rejected, This became the very corner stone,” 8 and, “A stone of stumbling and a rock of offense”; for they stumble because they are disobedient to the word, and to this they were also appointed. 9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. Those "in Christ" are reconstituted to resemble Him, being built up together as a spiritual house. They, as was true of Israel, are made as a priestly "nation," commissioned to minister to others. Those "in Christ" continue that commission to be a nation of priests, a holy people, set apart and transformed to be servants of the Living God. Out of darkness and into light to guide those still living in darkness. Ephesians 5:6-14 (NASB)
6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not be partakers with them; 8 for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light 9 (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), 10 trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord. 11 Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them; 12 for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. 13 But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for everything that becomes visible is light. 14 For this reason it says, “Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you.” Being in Christ leads not just to a better future state, but affects the dramatic transformation of the present one. His followers can no longer interact with their former domain in the same way, having been removed from it and placed under the dominion of Jesus as King. This means living rightly and loving others. The Light exposes the Darkness and causes it to flee. Children of the Light must allow His Radiance to do the same in their own lives, and thus become conformed to His Image. "Awake, sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." John 12:35-36 (NASB)
35 So Jesus said to them, “For a little while longer the Light is among you. Walk while you have the Light, so that darkness will not overtake you; he who walks in the darkness does not know where he goes. 36 While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of Light.” The True Light from heaven came to set the earth aright, to guide her with His Light, to deliver from her plight. The Light Himself had to pass through the darkness, through sadness, through Death. But as her guide, the Light showed the way forward, to victory, to freedom, to joy. In following, through Death she too must pass, though passing with hope, for the Life of this Light awaits her. Psalm 119:105-106 (NASB)
105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. 106 I have sworn and I will confirm it, that I will keep Your righteous ordinances. The message of God gives guidance to his people, directing their behavior and leading them into obedient faithfulness. This message in its fullness speaks of Jesus and his reign over creation. The Word of God, the Light of the world, our Deliverer and our Guide through the journey of life. Psalm 27:1-4 (NASB)
1 The Lord is my light and my salvation--whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life--of whom shall I be afraid? 2 When the wicked advance against me to devour me, it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall. 3 Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident. 4 One thing I ask from the Lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple. The psalmist declares he has no need to fear for the Lord is his deliverance, protection, and guidance. He is confidence in the protection of the Lord against his enemies, and seeks above all to live in the presence of God and to gaze on his beauty. Isaiah's Servant (Isa 53), however, was said to possess no beauty or majesty by which people would be attracted to him. According to Matthew, among others, Jesus fulfills the Servant's calling to bring healing to God's people (Matt 8:17), and Philip likewise understood this passage to teach about Jesus (Acts 8:32-35). God's presence no longer was confined to the temple, but was revealed to the whole world in Jesus, God-made-flesh. Psalm 43:3-5 (NASB)
3 Send me your light and your faithful care, let them lead me; let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell. 4 Then I will go to the altar of God, to God, my joy and my delight. I will praise you with the lyre, O God, my God. 5 Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God. The psalmist pleaded for God to deliver him from his enemies and to restore him to the very presence of God. It is the light of God which he asks to direct his steps and lead him to God's mountain. It is not the mountain, however, which the psalmist longs for, but God's presence which he might find there. God is his hope and his cause for praise even amidst his trials. The psalmist's plea echoes forth in the declaration of John that the Light has indeed come to guide humanity into the faithful and glorious presence of God. |
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