By Pastor Dave Farmer

This outline looks the same as the vocabulary study, but the focus now is on how light is USED in the Bible. This primarily focuses on the New Testament; however, there are some familiar Old Testament passages included.

I. The Natural Concept of Light

A. The word light refers to the physical light we find in the natural world which God created on the first day of Restoration [Genesis 1:4; 2 Corinthians 4:6a ]. As the earth rotates daylight hours come [Matthew 28:1; Luke 23:54].

B. The Blessing of this light is revealed when God called the light good. Light is necessary for man's existence on the earth [Ecclesiastes 11: 7].

C. The light produced by a fire or lamp [Mark 14:54; Luke 22:56; Acts 16:29; Revelation 18:23].

D. Natural light is sometimes supernaturally produced.

1. Natural light at times is produced supernaturally as when the light that Paul saw on the road to Damascus was brighter than the sun [Acts 9:3; 22:6, 9, 11; 26:13] or the supernatural light in Peter's cell [Acts 12:7].

2. The announcement of the fall of anthropocentric religion of the Tribulation is announced by a super angel whose power and glory illuminated the earth [Revelation 18:1].

3. In the future God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ will be the source of an eternal day [Revelation 21:23; 22:5].

II. The Figurative Use of Light

A. With reference to the Trinity:

1. The Father as to His nature is light [1 John 1:5; James 1:17; 1 Timothy 6:16].

2. The Son is given the Title "Light of the world" which indicates His work as Savior and Redeemer [John 1:4,5,8,9; 3:19 -21; 8:12a, 9:5,11:9 ; 12:35, 36a, 46; Luke 2:32; 1 John 2:8 ].

a. The prophesy of His coming spoke of Him as "light" explaining that "A Great Light" has appeared and "a light has dawned" meaning His ministry of sharing the message of salvation had begun Matthew 4:16].

b. Our Lord's teaching on the light [Matthew 6:22; Luke 8:16; 12:3; 16:8;11:33-35].

c. The metaphor of the Lord Jesus Christ in 2 Peter 1:19, the morning star.

3. The Holy Spirit is called "The Light of Life" emphasizing His work in regeneration . He is the source of our spiritual life [John 8:12c].

a. The Holy Spirit's pre-salvation ministry of making clear the Gospel of Light to those who walk in darkness [John 1:9; 2 Timothy 1:10].

b. Those who have trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ are described as "enlightened." [Hebrew 6:4; 10:32].

c. The Holy Spirit's teaching ministry of bringing to light the truth of the Word of God [Ephesians 1:18; 3:9].

B. With reference to the unbelievers

1. Religious unbelievers are blinded by false doctrines and rituals have a reversion for God described as a deep-seated hostility toward the Light [John 3:19-21].

C. With reference to believers

1. Phase One - Salvation

a. We are called out of the kingdom of darkness by the Gospel of Light [2 Corinthians 4:4-6; 1 Peter 2:9] to live in God's kingdom of light [ Acts 26:18; Colossians 1:13]. Light is a synonym for the Gospel, for salvation [ Acts 26:23; 2 Timothy 1:10; Psalm 27:1 ].

b. At the moment of Salvation, faith alone in Christ alone, we are placed into union with the Lord, and so our position is called "Light In The Lord" [Ephesians 5:8] and we are also "saints in the Light" [Colossians 1:12].

c. One of the blessings of being "In Christ" is a new role given to us, we are ambassadors for the Lord Jesus Christ [Matthew 10:27; Acts 13:47]. Jesus calls us "lights of the world" [Matthew 5:14] and Paul says we are "lights to the Gentiles" [Acts 13:4; Philippians 2:14] as John the Baptist was a light to the Jews [John 1:7; 5:25].

2. Phase Two - Our Christians Walk

a. Believers are required to "Walk in The Light" which is their moment by moment, daily fellowship with God [1 John 1:7; Ephesians 5:8; Matthew 5:16; 1 John 2:9,10].

b. As we live in the light we utilize what God has provided; that is, primarily the light of His Word whereby we gain spiritual strength, nourishment, and guidance [Psalm 119:105,130]. Light is a synonym for the Word of God [2 Samuel 22:29, Ephesians 5:13; Revelation 21:24].

c. We extol the virtue of Christ by living in the light. This is synonymous with living inside the circle of fellowship [1 Peter 2:9]

d. The mechanics of living inside the circle of fellowship is to acknowledge our sins, "Arise from the dead." Then an only then will "Christ shall shine on you." This expression in Ephesians 5:14 indicates a restoration to fellowship, favor, and blessing.

e. It is the nature of light to shine, to illuminate, to be a blessing, so the believer who walks in the light produces light [Ephesians 5:9 "the fruit of light"; Matthew 5:16]. For this reason, they are called "the sons of light or the sons producing light." [John 12:36c; 1 Thessalonians 5:5].

f. We are warned about the spiritual dangers of satanic influence [Luke 16:8; compare Ephesians 2:1; John 11:10; 2 Corinthians 6:14; 2 Corinthians 11:14; Romans 2:19] and therefore we are "to put on the armor [weapons] of light" [Romans 13:12 cp Ephesians 6:10-13]. Sadly, some believers are satanically deceived and walk in darkness duped into thinking they are walking in the light [1 John 2:9, 10; Luke 11:35].

3. Phase Three - Believer in Eternity

a. The future ministry of our Lord Jesus whose appraisal at the Judgment Seat of Christ will bring to light all that is obscure [1 Corinthians 4:5].

b. The light-bearers in the future will no longer be needed in the eternal city for there is a new source of light [Revelation 22:5]. The Presence of God and the billions of believers in Resurrection bodies [Matthew 17:2].

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For those of you who are familiar with lexical studies will recognize the format. Although these are my own studies and conclusions, I was benefited greatly from Vine's work. Vine, W. E., & Bruce, F. F. (1981). Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament words (Vol. 2, pp. 267–270). Old Tappan NJ: Revell.

¶This sign associated with a Greek word indicates that all its occurrences in the original are mentioned.