The Light

John 1:5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

 

Comprehend (Gr. katalambanō-καταλαμβάνω) may seem to be an interesting word to be used in John 1:5, but it is accurate. Satan, the “darkness,” knows the Bible from the first word to the last, and yet he fights on because he does not “comprehend” that his fight is in a lost cause. Even when to all physical appearances he seemed to win at Calvary, but even in death he could not overcome Christ Jesus. Many people are like Satan in that they know the words, but do not comprehend the Word!

 

John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light

 

Jesus Christ Himself is the Light. He brings the light of grace and mercy to our sin-sick lives and that grace and mercy shall never be taken from us.

 

Do you understand what happens to darkness when it confronts Light?

 

Have you ever walked into a dark room and turned on the light? Obviously the darkness disappears! Darkness cannot compete with Light!

 

That change from darkness to light happens immediately. There is no discussion about which is strongest. So it is when Christ’s Light comes into our lives. His mercy and grace immediately overwhelm the darkness of sin.

 

The fact is that all Christians walk in the light of Christ Jesus. Some teach that we must fight our way to sanctification in Christ through a years-long struggle, but that is not scriptural. The effect of salvation is immediate.

 

Romans 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

 

Many Preachers try to get their listeners into an emotional state of mind, when emotion plays no part in Salvation.

 

Romans 6:14 tells us that “sin shall not have dominion over” us, when we were baptized into Christ, we were baptized into pure light, and darkness is no longer part of us! In Him there is no shadow! Shadow does not dominate Light!

 

 

James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

 

He does not turn, or change directions so that a shadow may appear. The age of the Church bringing the Gentiles to Christ Jesus has always been in God’s plan for the ages. That plan is progressing at the proper time and in a predetermined way!

 

The “election of grace” has saved us from the effects of sin!

 

 

Romans 11:5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

 

The election of grace, which works based on the power of God has taken us out of the grips of death and delivered us to Life in Christ Jesus!

 

Col 2:13-17
13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;
14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
15 And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it.
16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

 

Those things mentioned in verses 16 and 17 are mere shadows. They have no intrinsic power. Christ alone has the power necessary to give us life.

 

1 Cor 15:28 And when all things shall be subdued unto him, then shall the Son also himself be subject unto him that put all things under him, that God may be all in all.

 

In 1 Corinthians 15:28 we find the predestined, predetermined moment when the power of God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) shall become apparent to all creation. At that point the Son shall bow to the Father so that the Father shall be all and in all. The word “all,” unless limited within the text of Scripture, is all inclusive!

 

Notice that in Ephesians 1:18 Paul tells us that the eyes of our understanding have been enlightened. That truth is only for Christians!

 

Eph 1:18-23
18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

 

Those who live in the shadows of the Law cannot see well. But those of us who have been illuminated by the power of the Holy Spirit through the grace of our Lord Christ Jesus see what is and what is not. Many Church attendees are not followers of Christ. They have not been chosen by grace to follow Him. In this age, true Christians are represented by the concept of the Remnant.

 

Romans 11:5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.

 

A remnant may be a large number, but it is not a majority. The Majority of those alive today at counted as being among the spiritually lost!

 

Question: What would happen if the Light of Christ filled “all in all”?

 

Remember that Light completely dissipates darkness…including all shadows. There are no shadows in God (Father, Son, or Holy Spirit)!

 

Heb. 10:1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come,

 

The law is just a shadow! The Light of Christ Jesus brings grace to the lost. It does not place the lost under the bondage of the Law.

 

The special foods, the Sabbath and all other religious Days and symbols are just shadows!

 

Col 2:16-17
16 Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days:
17 Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.

 

If somebody tells you that you must do this or that to be saved, that person is attempting to bring you into bondage! Christ Jesus chooses us and does all that is necessary to maintain the salvation that he so graciously gives us.

 

Romans 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

 

Let’s examine Romans 10:17.

 

First, note that the word “cometh” is in italics. That means that it does not appear in the Greek text.

 

Let’s look again at that verse without the added word.

 

Romans 10:17 So then faith by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

 

Now, let’s add in a word that is in the Greek text, but unused by most translators.

 

Romans 10:17 So then faith by hearing, and (the) hearing by the word of God.

 

 

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

 

Christ Jesus is the Word of God, so let’s reflect that in Romans 10:17.

 

Romans 10:17 So then faith by hearing, and (the) hearing by the Word of God.

 

 

Many reported teachers will tell you that faith comes from speaking Bible verses over and over and over. And while that may be a psychological help it does nothing to bring understanding of Scripture, or belief in Christ Jesus as lord.

 

Salvation, justification, and sanctification all come as gifts to the chosen through the faith OF Christ Jesus.

 

Gal 2:16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.

 

We are given faith through the Light of Christ Jesus. Those of us who are truly Christ’s live in His light!

 

1 Thess 5:5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

 

What happens when Light meets darkness?

 

Darkness is put to flight. So it is with our lives.

 

1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.

 

Walking in Christ’s Light is not a matter of our choice. Instead, it is by His choice that we are given Light! We are commanded to walk in His Light, and Christ leads us in our daily lives.

 

Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

 

Only the remnant chosen by Christ walk in His Light. The vast majority of humanity is dead in sins and trespasses. While putting one foot in front of the other may be significant to some walking in His Light the actual sign of life!

 

Death is a temporal issue, but the Light is eternal!

 

Rev 22:3-5
3 And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him.
4 They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads.
5 There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever. (NKJV)

 

 

Within the New Jerusalem there shall be no more curse, because death shall be completely destroyed. Those of us who live in that city shall have no need of the sun or any other physical light. Christ Jesus shall be the Light of that city. We shall reign “forever and ever (Gr. eis tuos aiōnas tōn aiōnōnas-eiV tuoV aiwnaV twn aiwnwnaV/into the ages of the ages).” And, that is a very long time!

 

Index