What is Light according to the Bible?

Introduction

Review

Darkness

Main Idea

Biblical Light represents the Order, Word, Salvation, Glory, and Messiah of God.

Light as the Order of God

Main Idea

God’s created light represents his order over all creation that he is restoring through his Son, Jesus Christ.

Main Points

Unordered Nothingness - In the pre-creation, there was unordered nothingness.

Gen. 1:1-2, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters”

The earth is described as being without form (formless, wild, unordered).

It is also described as void (empty or uninhabited).

Ordered Creation - With the creation of light, there was an ordered creation.

Gen. 1:3-5, “And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.”

The light is supposed to contrast with the darkness in the unordered nothingness.

So, God’s light represents the beginning of an ordered creation.

Unordered Creation - Due to the fall, all of creation fell into disordered chaos.

Gen. 3:1-7, “Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. “He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” 2 And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, 3 but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ” 4 But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. 5 For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.”

The fall of man came about in one moment and we see the evil of man continue to spiral into udder chaos as we continue the story.

Romans 5:12, “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned”

Not only was the order of God taken from humanity but the rest of creation. This is why we see tornados, hurricanes, floods, hail, and fires.

Romans 8:19-22, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now.”

Renewing Creation - Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, the order of God is being restored into the world one person at a time.

Christians have the order and peace of God in their hearts and lives.

This is how this present world is becoming more and more ordered.

We are now the ordered creatures of God and as we expand across the world with his gospel, we take the order of God with us.

Col. 2:5, “For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.”

Ordered New Creation - In the new heaven and new earth, the order of God will fill all of his creation.

Rev. 21:23-24, “23 And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. 24 By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it”

Main Idea

God’s created light represents his order over all creation that he is restoring through his Son, Jesus Christ.

Light as the Word of God

Main Idea

God’s Word is a light for the Christian life.

Main Points

A Lamp and a Light - Ps. 119:105, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

Commit to His Word - Ps. 119:106, “I have sworn an oath and confirmed it, to keep your righteous rules.”

Life in His Word - Ps. 119:107, “I am severely afflicted; give me life, O Lord, according to your word!”

Learn His Word - Ps. 119:108, “Accept my freewill offerings of praise, O Lord, and teach me your rules.”

Remember His Word - Ps. 119:109, “I hold my life in my hand continually, but I do not forget your law.”

Abide in His Word - Ps. 119:110, “The wicked have laid a snare for me, but I do not stray from your precepts.”

Treasure His Word - Ps. 119:111, “Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart.”

Desire His Word - Ps. 119:112, “I incline my heart to perform your statutes forever, to the end.”

Main Idea

God’s Word is a light for the Christian life.

Light as the Salvation of God

Main Idea

God’s light is salvation for all peoples.

Main Points

The Priestly Blessing - Ps. 67:1, “May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, Selah”

Numbers 6:24-26, “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.”

The Purpose of the Blessing - Ps. 67:2, “that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations.”

Purpose of God’s gracious light shining.

Your way = Your saving power

Earth = All nations

The Result of the Blessing - Ps. 67:3, “Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you!”

Repetition = Importance

Peoples = Earth/All Nations

Summary verse.

Main Idea

God’s light is salvation for all peoples.

Light as the Glory of God

Main Idea

Light represents the glory of God that fills his holy places.

Main Points

What is God’s Glory? - Isa. 6:3, “And one called to another and said: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!”

Sun/Rays

Light as the Glory of God in the OT - Ex. 3:1-6, “Now Moses was keeping the flock of his father-in-law, Jethro, the priest of Midian, and he led his flock to the west side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. 2 And the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed. 3 And Moses said, “I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.” 4 When the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” 5 Then he said, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.” 6 And he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” And Moses hid his face, for he was afraid to look at God.”

Ex. 40:34-36, “Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 35 And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled on it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. 36 Throughout all their journeys, whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the people of Israel would set out. 37 But if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not set out till the day that it was taken up. 38 For the cloud of the Lord was on the tabernacle by day, and fire was in it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel throughout all their journeys.”

Light at the Glory of God in the NT - Jn. 1:14, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

Acts 2:1-4, “When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance”

Main Idea

Light is the glory of God that fills his holy places.

Light as the Messiah of God

Main Idea

Light represents the Messiah of God sent to free those in darkness.

Main Points

The Promised Light: Isa. 9:2, “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.”

Isa. 42:5-7, “Thus says God, the Lord, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people on it and spirit to those who walk in it: 6  “I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations, 7  to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.”

Mal. 4:2, “But for you who fear my name, the sun of righteousness shall rise with healing in its wings. You shall go out leaping like calves from the stall”

The Present Light: John 1:4-9, “In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. 6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. 9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.”

Matthew 17:2, “And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light.”

Rev. 1:14-16, “The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, 15 his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters. 16 In his right hand he held seven stars, from his mouth came a sharp two-edged sword, and his face was like the sun shining in full strength.”

Main Idea

Light is the Messiah of God sent to free those in darkness.

Conclusion

Main Idea

Biblical Light represents the Order, Word, Salvation, Glory, and Messiah of God.