Scripture Reading: John 1:4-5, 9, 12-13; 8:12; 12:46; 1 John 1:5, 7; 2 Cor. 4:6
Ⅰ
In His person Christ is light to the believers—John 8:12.
Ⅱ
The light in Genesis 1:3 is a type of Christ as the real light—John 1:4-5, 9:
A
Christ is the true light of the universe; He is the rising sun from on high, the bright morning star, and the Sun of righteousness—Luke 1:78; Rev. 22:16b; Mal. 4:2.
B
The physical light in Genesis 1:3 is a type of Christ as the spiritual light for the new creation—2 Cor. 4:6; 5:17:
１
Light is necessary for generating life; according to the revelation in the Bible, light is for life—John 8:12; 1:9, 12:
ａ
Where light is, there is life; this is a great principle in the Scriptures.
ｂ
Life comes from the shining of light; when light enters, life follows.
２
In Genesis light is for the old creation, but in the Gospel of John light is for the new creation—1:4-5, 9, 12; 8:12; 12:36; 2 Cor. 4:6; 5:17.
Ⅲ
Christ is the light of life—John 8:12; 1:4:
A
Christ is the unique light; apart from Him there is no light—12:46.
B
We can see light only in the light of Christ; if we want light, we must receive Christ and touch Christ—Psa. 36:9b; cf. Isa. 50:10-11.
C
When we receive Christ as the Word, the expression of God, He becomes our life, and this life becomes the light that shines within us—John 1:4-5, 9.
D
The shining of the light within us is a strong confirmation that we have been born of God to be His children—vv. 12-13; 1 John 1:5, 7; 3:1-2.
Ⅳ
Christ is the great light for shining in darkness—Isa. 9:1-5; Matt. 4:16:
A
When Christ came to Galilee, the people sitting in darkness saw a great light, and to those sitting in the region and shadow of death, light sprang up—v. 16.
B
Christ's ministry did not begin with earthly power but with heavenly light; this light is Christ Himself shining in the shadow of death—John 12:46; 8:12.
C
Christ saves us by shining on us; His shining upon us as the great light is our salvation—Acts 9:3; 22:6; 26:13.
Ⅴ
The transfiguration, the shining, of the Lord Jesus on the mountaintop was His coming in His kingdom, the coming of the kingdom in power— Matt. 16:28—17:2:
A
The kingdom is the shining of the reality of the Lord Jesus—Mark 9:1-3.
B
The kingdom of God is the Lord Jesus shining over us—Luke 9:27-29.
C
Whenever Christ is shining over us and we are under this shining, we are in the kingdom—Col. 1:12-13.
Ⅵ
"Who among you fears Jehovah; / Who hears the voice of His servant; / Who walks in darkness / And has no light? / Let him trust in the name of Jehovah, / And rely on his God. / Indeed, all of you who kindle a fire, / Who surround yourselves with firebrands, / Walk into the light of your fire / And into the firebrands which you have lit. / You will have this from My hand: / You will lie down in torment"—Isa. 50:10-11:
A
Spiritual darkness cannot be removed by human fire; light comes from God alone, not from man—1 John 1:5; Psa. 36:9.
B
As believers, we cannot go on in the spiritual pathway by our own fire; rather, we should trust in the name of the Lord and rely on our God—Isa. 50:10:
１
Spiritual light does not come from our own feelings or our own thoughts.
２
We should not replace God's light with our own light; we should receive our light from God—v. 11.
Ⅶ
"For with You is the fountain of life; / In Your light we see light"—Psa. 36:9:
A
The first light in verse 9 is the enlightening light, and the second light denotes the true nature of things.
B
Through God's light we see light and the true condition of things:
１
We see the true nature of something when we live in God's light—1 John 1:5, 7.
２
Only those who live in God's light will see the true nature of things—v. 7:
ａ
If we live in God's light, the true nature of things will be as clear and bright as light itself, and we will discern the intrinsic nature of things.
ｂ
The only time a person genuinely knows himself is when he knows him-self under God's light—Acts 9:3-5; John 1:4-5, 9; 2 Cor. 4:6.
Ⅷ
The Father has qualified us for a share of the allotted portion of the saints in the light—Col. 1:12:
A
The only way to partake of Christ and to enjoy Him is in the light.
B
When we turn to the Lord and come into His presence, we are in the light and spontaneously begin to enjoy Him as our portion—Psa. 36:8-9.
Ⅸ
We are not only children of light—we are light itself—Eph. 5:8:
A
Light is the nature of God in His expression, and we are light because we are one with God in the Lord—v. 8; 1 John 1:5-7; Matt. 5:14.
B
When we are in the light, we are outside the realm of right and wrong—1 John 1:5, 7.
Ⅹ
God's way of transforming us is through the enlightening from the two lamps within us—the Spirit of God and our human spirit; the one who expe-riences the most transformation is the one who is absolutely open to the Lord—John 4:24; Luke 15:8; Prov. 20:27; 2 Cor. 3:18.