The Light and Way of God (Part 1)
What is the Light and Way of God?
We can established that Jesus is the Word of God(John 1:1,1:14). He is not just concepts and thoughts, but the actual words of God in the flesh. Orthodox Jewish scholars, such as Abraham Heschel or Jacob Neusner, would fully agree that the Word is God. In Hebrew thought, when the word of God came to Jeremiah or Moses, God Himself came to them. I believe it is clear that the New Testament teaches that the words of God, already firmly established in the Old Testament, took upon flesh and dwelt among us(John 1:14). This is also clearly taught in the Hebrew idioms of fulfilling and destroying used in Matthew 5:17. We will save identification of Hebrew idiom for a much later study. Let's go on to other common New Testament terms.
There are dozens and dozens of narratives used in the New Testament in which the term light (אר) is used. The following are just a few examples:
Matthew 5:14 Ye are the light of the world ...
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John 12:46 I am come a light into the world ...
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1 Thessalonians 5:5 Ye are all the children of light, and children of the day ...
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John 11:10 But if a man walk in the night, he stumbles, because there is no light in him.
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Acts 13:47... I have set thee to be a light of the gentiles.
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Acts 26:18... To turn them from darkness to light ...
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1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light as he is in the light ...
Our first thought should focus on the definition of light. Why does He use this term so often? Does it have previous significance? Was this a term already familiar to His listeners? Yes! But what does this word mean to us today? I'll tell you what it means. It is symbolic to us. It is that quality imputed to believers as a result of their confession of Christ. He was the light of the world and now WE are the light of the world. Right? It is true that every man and woman that commits their life to Christ Jesus is the light of the world. So, what do we do with that piece of information? Did Jesus have something in mind when He told us that? Did this term mean something significant to Him? Let's find out.
The English word light is taken from the Greek word phos (φώς). There are a number of English words that use this fundamental term. This word, as it is with most New Testament words, finds it's origin in the Old Testament. The word for light is the Hebrew word 'or, pronounced as ore. It's first appearance is in Genesis 1:3. There has always been controversy over the meaning of the light in this verse, but I believe that the testimony of the Old Testament will define what God means by this light. Remember, words used by the New Testament writers were not created in a vacuum. They have their meanings established in the Old Testament. The writers of the New Testament do not spend time defining words or phrases to the reader. The meaning of the terms are assumed. Assumed from where? The Scriptures. So let's see how the New Testament dictionary defines light.
Psalm 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.
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Psalm 119:130 The entrance of thy words give light; it gives understanding to the simple.
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Proverbs 6:23 For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:
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Isaiah 8:20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
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Isaiah 51:4 Hearken unto me, my people; and give ear unto me, O my nation: for a law shall proceed from me, and I will make my judgment to rest for a light of the people.
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Isaiah 5:20-21 Woe unto them who call evil, good, and good, evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter. Woe unto them who are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!
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Hosea 6:5 I have slain them by the words of my mouth; and thy judgments are as the light that goeth forth.
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Proverbs 4:18-22 But the path of the just is like the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. The way of the wicked is like darkness; they know not at what they stumble. My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
We can established that Jesus is the Word of God(John 1:1,1:14). He is not just concepts and thoughts, but the actual words of God in the flesh. Orthodox Jewish scholars, such as Abraham Heschel or Jacob Neusner, would fully agree that the Word is God. In Hebrew thought, when the word of God came to Jeremiah or Moses, God Himself came to them. I believe it is clear that the New Testament teaches that the words of God, already firmly established in the Old Testament, took upon flesh and dwelt among us(John 1:14). This is also clearly taught in the Hebrew idioms of fulfilling and destroying used in Matthew 5:17. We will save identification of Hebrew idiom for a much later study. Let's go on to other common New Testament terms.
There are dozens and dozens of narratives used in the New Testament in which the term light (אר) is used. The following are just a few examples:
Matthew 5:14 Ye are the light of the world ...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
John 12:46 I am come a light into the world ...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Thessalonians 5:5 Ye are all the children of light, and children of the day ...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
John 11:10 But if a man walk in the night, he stumbles, because there is no light in him.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Acts 13:47... I have set thee to be a light of the gentiles.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Acts 26:18... To turn them from darkness to light ...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light as he is in the light ...
Our first thought should focus on the definition of light. Why does He use this term so often? Does it have previous significance? Was this a term already familiar to His listeners? Yes! But what does this word mean to us today? I'll tell you what it means. It is symbolic to us. It is that quality imputed to believers as a result of their confession of Christ. He was the light of the world and now WE are the light of the world. Right? It is true that every man and woman that commits their life to Christ Jesus is the light of the world. So, what do we do with that piece of information? Did Jesus have something in mind when He told us that? Did this term mean something significant to Him? Let's find out.
The English word light is taken from the Greek word phos (φώς). There are a number of English words that use this fundamental term. This word, as it is with most New Testament words, finds it's origin in the Old Testament. The word for light is the Hebrew word 'or, pronounced as ore. It's first appearance is in Genesis 1:3. There has always been controversy over the meaning of the light in this verse, but I believe that the testimony of the Old Testament will define what God means by this light. Remember, words used by the New Testament writers were not created in a vacuum. They have their meanings established in the Old Testament. The writers of the New Testament do not spend time defining words or phrases to the reader. The meaning of the terms are assumed. Assumed from where? The Scriptures. So let's see how the New Testament dictionary defines light.
Psalm 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Psalm 119:130 The entrance of thy words give light; it gives understanding to the simple.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Proverbs 6:23 For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Isaiah 8:20 To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Isaiah 51:4 Hearken unto me, my people; and give ear unto me, O my nation: for a law shall proceed from me, and I will make my judgment to rest for a light of the people.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Isaiah 5:20-21 Woe unto them who call evil, good, and good, evil; who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter. Woe unto them who are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hosea 6:5 I have slain them by the words of my mouth; and thy judgments are as the light that goeth forth.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Proverbs 4:18-22 But the path of the just is like the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. The way of the wicked is like darkness; they know not at what they stumble. My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
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