Man Points to the Light While a Family Listensby CBPepper
1:9John 1:9
That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.
That was the true Light is Christ Himself, the eternal Word who was with God and was God, made flesh to dwell among men full of grace and truth. His light is given to every person who comes into the world, so no one need walk in darkness but all may learn from Him and follow the illuminated way to heaven. This reaches even sincere seekers in heathen lands with no knowledge of Jesus, and people of every nation and race, for whom He died equally. After sin obscured the knowledge of God, He came to reveal the Father's character and love, to expose error and sin and awaken conviction, and by His life, death as substitute, and resurrection to give life and unite humanity with God. Receiving Him by faith and yielding to His drawing gives power to become children of God, born of God unto completeness, who then walk in His light by keeping His commands and reflect Him to others as witnesses.
Christ the True Light
John 1:9 identifies Christ as the true spiritual Light shining for every person who comes into the world, the eternal Word who was with God and was God, the Son of God made flesh dwelling among men full of grace and truth to represent God in human form. He came from the heavenly courts as a revelation of the Father so the world would not remain in spiritual darkness after sin had obscured humanity's knowledge of God, declaring the truth by which people may be sanctified. Receiving Him and believing in His name gives power to become children of God, born not of blood nor of human descent or will but of God, receiving grace for grace from His fullness unto completeness. His light shines in the darkness, though the darkness does not apprehend or comprehend it.
He is the Creator by whom all things were made, in whom was life that is the light of men shining amid moral darkness. The same hand that made all things uses the common things of nature as a lesson book, and the glory of God reflected in His works pronounced good may be beheld with open face, so He taught spiritual truth in the open air by the familiar things His hearers knew. He is the way, the truth, and the life, the beloved Son whom God commanded to be heard, and truth did come down from heaven in Him. Refusal to see the light does not extinguish it, and His coming disproves the claim that all would fall down and worship if truth appeared on earth in glory.
He is distinct from John the Baptist, who was not that Light but was sent from God to bear witness of the Light so that all might believe through Him. John was a lesser, shining light, and all the light he received came from Christ, who is the Word made flesh dwelling among men and the only source of light and life to sinful men. All men belong to Christ by creation and by redemption. Becoming a child of God requires receiving Christ as personal Saviour and believing in His name, and He calls people to follow Him rather than turn toward human devising, for following Him keeps them from walking in darkness.
He was before all the world's great teachers and stands higher than them as the Sun of Righteousness, giving light to every person so that whatever is true in human teaching is only reflected light from Him, as the moon and stars shine by reflected light from the sun. Every gem of thought and every flash of intellect comes from Him. True higher education comes from Him, in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, and in Him life is the light of humanity.
He is the image of the Father, and neither God nor heaven nor Christ can be truly represented by human art. He is set before the world in John's words instead of a pictured form or described appearance, and this verbal account is how God presents Him. Believers need no external representations of His person, for the Holy Spirit takes His most attractive excellencies and keeps them before the mind's eye, and the imagination is to take in the only begotten of the Father, altogether lovely and chiefest among ten thousand. He spoke in human form with the authority of true greatness, bearing His commission from the Excellent Glory, and every word He utters is to be listened to and received as law and life.
He came down from heaven as the Teacher sent from God, chosen to reveal God's character to the world and lead people to God, to make God known to men and teach truths unto eternal life. He also came as Physician and Healer to restore the moral image of God lost through sin, His light making darkness evident by revealing the contrast, without which there is only darkness. He is the Lamb who takes away the world's sins, its Center and Lifegiver, the Faithful and True Witness standing out pre-eminently through the ages, the Word of God made flesh, the fullness for both Jew and Gentile. He is the Bright and Morning Star, the Sun of Righteousness, a light for the Gentiles and the glory of Israel. As Redeemer He understands all human needs and formed the mighty plans by which fallen people are lifted from the degradation of sin, representing the Father in every circumstance however trivial, upholding the world by the word of His power yet stooping to relieve even a crippled bird, and those who behold Him are to arise and shine because God's glory has risen upon them.
Coming Into the World
He came as Instructor in the appointed fullness of time when the world seemed wholly given into the control of the enemy, sent to give evidence of God's love by dying for the fallen race, gathering its penalty into His own pure sinless soul as substitute and surety and offering Himself as sacrifice to redeem those under the law that they might receive adoption as sons. To do this He veiled divinity beneath humanity, hid the brightness of His glory and humbled Himself to man's estate so He could approach men, converse with them and gather them around Him to hear grand and elevating truths unto eternal life. In taking human nature and passing through human experience He shone as a beam of righteousness from heaven amid earth's moral darkness. When He came as a human being a flood of light was shed upon the world for people sitting in the shadow of death and waiting for the Sun of Righteousness to break forth, and many would have received Him gladly and walked in the light if priests and rulers had been true to God and given a true interpretation of the Word instead of misleading the people by long misapplication of the Scriptures with falsehoods. His labor was not new, for as surety of the race He had worked with uninterrupted activity from the moment of transgression and apostasy, laboring for Israel from Adam through the patriarchal age to lead them to trust in Him who saves to the uttermost, making plain the way to heaven, speaking through all the prophets with future things sweeping before their vision, pointing to His death in every sacrifice, ascending in righteousness in every cloud of incense, and hiding His majesty in the holy of holies, as truly a Saviour before incarnation as after with activity equal to God's.
Though the world was made by Him, the world did not know Him when the Creator entered it. He had earlier led Israel out of Egypt and given light to Moses, yet even Israel, God's chosen people entrusted with the sacred oracles, did not acknowledge Him when He came among them. He came to His own and His own did not receive Him, but rejected and crucified Him, patiently enduring their abuse in clothed human flesh rather than using His glory to destroy His enemies. He came as the eternal Word who was with God and was God, by whom all things were made, in whom was life that is the light of men shining in darkness that did not comprehend it, made flesh and dwelling among men in glory as the only begotten of the Father full of grace and truth, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, from whose fullness people receive grace and by receiving whom and believing in His name are given power to become sons of God born not of blood nor of fleshly or human will but of God.
People failed to recognize Him because they were absorbed in money and worldly gain. Their hearts were ruled by selfishness, love of money and worldly honor, so His counsel was rejected and His mercies despised. Depravity and darkness kept men from recognizing the Son of God who came to the world He made to make the invisible Father known as speech makes thought known, with divinity clothed in humanity and shining through humanity in softening subduing light in His words, character, power, majesty, nature and attributes as embodiment of God's law imaging God in purity and benevolence, and in spite of overwhelming evidence they met Him with unbelief inspired only by Satan. He did not come in a way to suit their opinions and ideas, and the priests and rulers were too proud and self-righteous to admit their ideas needed remodeling and that they needed repentance and conversion, so they counted Him an impostor because His teachings were not in harmony with theirs. Their ceremonies did not give them a real conception of that Light, even though the services with their types and shadows pointed to Him and He came as predicted as their substance, yet they did not know or receive Him and demanded a sign from unreceptive hearts. His coming disproves the claim that all would fall down and worship if truth appeared on earth in glory, for He is the way, the truth and the life, the beloved Son commanded to be heard, shining in uncomprehended darkness.
That same treatment is happening today and will be repeated again and again before the Lord comes in the clouds of heaven, when Satan's deceptions will be upon earth-dwellers and the enemy claiming to be Christ will deceive all except those steadfast and true to God. At Battle Creek light repeatedly came to students and the church, but many treated it as strange, failed to recognize the Spirit of God, and chose darkness rather than light, showing receiving the light is not automatic but may be rejected with grieving of the Spirit and fruit of doubt. The people rejoiced in the light that had led them through the wilderness yet rejected the true Light when He came to save them, their departure from God's Word leaving them ready to attack revealed truth. The religious leaders who condemned Jesus had received this light that shines even where unrecognized, but acted directly against it heedless of consequences for themselves and others. The same spirit is seen today when those claiming to be God's children reject heaven-sent truth because it does not coincide with errors they have received.
In coming He identified Himself as the fulfillment of what had long been the subject of prophecy, displacing types and shadows only because type had met antitype in Himself, occupying the place the types had prefigured and standing out prominently as the only One who could redeem the world. As Light He reveals truth, presents God in His true character, rescues truth from error, superstition, human devices and misinterpretation, and resets God's law in original dignity and purity in the framework of the gospel. John stands at the end of the long period in which God's revealed truth was communicated through inspired servants and recorded in Scripture.
Light for Every Person
The verse means the true light is given to every person who comes into the world, so no one need remain in darkness and walk in eternal spiritual night without a divine Teacher. Through Him the world is not left in spiritual darkness, for His light shines on human understanding and on the face of nature, making it still possible to read the lesson of God's love in created works. His clear and simple presentation of truth makes the way to heaven available to all who are willing to find it, and that light is truth shining on every step of the narrow illuminated way prepared for the ransomed, so the whole path is open with the privilege of learning from Him and following Him. As God raised Him from the dead to bring life and immortality to light through the gospel and save His people from their sins, He raises fallen human beings from spiritual death, quickening them with His own life and filling their hearts with hope and joy.
This universal gift includes sincere seekers in heathen lands who have no written law and no knowledge of Jesus and have never heard His name. In them the Holy Spirit implants Christ's grace and quickens love, sympathy, kindness, and desire for truth contrary to nature, upbringing, and education, so that every impulse to uplift and bless others reveals divine power at work, even moving the savage to be kind to His servants and protect them at risk of his own life. When heeded, that inward shining guides feet toward God's kingdom.
It reaches Gentiles and people of every nation and race, for His light shines through moral darkness and superstition so divine truth can be seen against error and ignorance, and everyone was to receive it and pass it on. He came down from heaven as the Teacher sent by God, chosen to reveal God's character and make God known to lead men to God, as the Bright and Morning Star and Sun of Righteousness, the light for the Gentiles and the glory of Israel. His saving work is for every nationality and race, for He died for Black people just as much as for white people, and His grace and Spirit of truth are for the whole world and not for one nation alone, correcting the selfish claim that the blessings of eternal life belong exclusively to Israel. So those raised outside Israel's Scriptures and worship may recognize the truth and glory of the Son of God by this light, as the centurion did, while those instructed from childhood may disregard it, showing spiritual privilege does not guarantee reception.
Through Him every human being has life and every soul receives some ray of divine light, not only intellectual but spiritual power, a perception of right and a desire for goodness existing in every heart. Against these principles struggles an antagonistic power, the bent to evil from the eating of the tree of knowledge of good and evil manifest in every man's experience through the fall, which unaided no one can resist. To withstand this force and attain the ideal which the inmost soul accepts as alone worthy, help is found in but one power, Christ Himself, and cooperation with that power is man's greatest need and should be the highest aim in all educational effort.
What the Light Does
Sin had obscured humanity's knowledge of God through nature and broken connection with Him, leaving the world in spiritual darkness, and the Son came as the true Light to reveal the Father so darkness would not remain. He makes the invisible Father known as speech makes thought known, revealing in words, character, power, majesty, nature and attributes what God is, with divinity clothed in humanity and shining through in softening, subduing light. He was sent because Israel was unfaithful to its trust to communicate the light given them and transgressed the holy law, to make known His character and the laws of His kingdom and to bring fallen people ignorant of His perfect character back to loyalty. He is the eternal Word who was with God and was God, by whom all things were made and in whom is life that is the light of men, come to reveal the Father's character so people could worship Him in spirit and in truth. He is the embodiment of the law of God, imaging Him in purity and benevolence so humanity might bear the image of God.
Shining amid moral darkness, His light makes darkness evident by revealing the contrast, for without it there is only darkness. Pure and undimmed, it shines into the darkness of error and deception and sensuality and sin, exposing the world's sin and hidden sin in every soul. When the heart yields to the Holy Spirit, that light shines into the secret chambers of soul and mind and brings hidden sin to light. It quickens conscience to discern something of the depth and sacredness of God's holy law as the foundation of His government in heaven and earth, gives a sense of the righteousness of God, and brings conviction of sin and righteousness and coming judgment with terror at standing guilty and unclean before the Searcher of hearts through the Spirit's reproof. His sinless life in human nature revealed the Father's character and refuted Satan's charges against God.
The same light reveals the love of God, the beauty of holiness and the joy of purity, and awakens longing to be cleansed and restored to communion with heaven. It offers to cover human unworthiness with the spotless robe of His righteousness and His righteous character. It penetrates the spiritual darkness covering the earth and breaks Satan's hold on minds fixed on earthly things, revealing the hope of immortality and assuring people of God's willingness to accept, refine, preserve, and give them heavenly wisdom. As God raised Him from the dead to bring life and immortality to light through the gospel and save His people from their sins, He raises fallen human beings from spiritual death, quickening them with His own life and filling their hearts with hope and joy. He also came as Physician and Healer to restore the moral image of God lost through sin.
His light is sanctifying truth come into the world to declare the truth by which people may be sanctified, presented in clear simplicity so the way to heaven is available to all willing to find it. It is truth shining on every step of the narrow way to heaven prepared for the ransomed of the Lord, so the whole path is illuminated and all have the privilege of learning from Him. People are to walk in His light, following the truth He taught in both word and example, for departing from His commands and replacing God's authority with human example leads to backsliding and delusion which cannot sanctify or save. He has given most precious truths essential to know and practice, which knit hearts together in unity and love and lead to obedience to God's commandments rather than spending precious time on unimportant side issues.
Through His life, suffering and death He revealed that the world made through Him did not recognize Him and His own did not receive Him, becoming humanity's substitute and surety bearing its transgressions and sin's penalty so that through faith people may be free and share in redemption. Equal with the Father, He stood beside fallen humanity, humbled Himself, suffered and died to complete His work as propitiation for sin, giving value to humanity and making cleansing possible through faith in Him. Gathering the penalty resting on the sinful race into His own pure, sinless soul and offering Himself as sacrifice to redeem those under the law that they might receive adoption as sons, He revealed the love of God and the immutability of His law, not one jot or tittle of which could be changed to meet man in his fallen condition, so sinners were not left without hope and those receiving Him are freely pardoned and made members of the royal family. Through continual self-denial and self-sacrifice He labored to call attention to God and His holy requirements, to bring back God's character to man and retrace the divine image on the human soul so men imbued with God's Spirit and actuated by love might reveal the divine attributes, valuing every soul and providing complete salvation to all who would believe. His sacrifice at Calvary, bringing enough light to enlighten the whole earth though only a few choose to walk in it, connects finite humanity with the infinite God and unites earth with heaven.
Source of Truth and Knowledge
He stood before all the world's great teachers and above them as the Sun of Righteousness, and whatever is true in human teaching shines only by reflected light from Him as the moon and stars shine by light from the sun. Every gem of thought and every flash of intellect comes from Him, in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge and in whom life is the light of humanity, so that even bright truths found in infidel writings originate with God who is the source of all light. If His light were withdrawn the world would be left in eternal darkness and eternal spiritual night.
His guidance is needed to interpret scientific evidence and the testimony of science and nature rightly and to discern their deepest truths, so that study of His works learns to think God's thoughts after Him under divine direction. He met the world in order that it need not remain in darkness and eternal spiritual night without a divine Teacher, and His light shines upon human understanding and upon the face of nature. By that illumination it is still possible to read the lesson of God's love in created works and to have the knowledge of God's glory revealed, with spiritual lessons taught through nature and through common things and with truth presented by Scriptural evidence to be recognized by the mind and yielded to by the will.
True and valuable knowledge that gives light and truth comes from God and shines from Christ, not from infidel, unbelieving, or wicked sources and not from wicked men. All knowledge that is of worth comes from God the fountain of wisdom, whose word is light and truth, and divine knowledge proceeds from the Holy Spirit who knows what humanity needs. That gift is suited to human need to promote peace, happiness, and restfulness in this life and to secure eternal rest in the kingdom of God.
Every phase of truth is clear to Him, and what He teaches rests on eternal principles rather than uncertain human opinion. This light is connected with knowing the truth, shining into minds and illuminating darkened understanding with divine truth. As the world's Light and great Teacher He calls people to come to Him and learn, entrusting to His followers the work of seeking and saving the lost and exposing truth obscured by error and human traditions.
His light brightens mind and soul beyond doubt when people humble their hearts before God, put away pride, vanity, selfishness and egotism, sincerely seek and desire truth, and unwaveringly believe. Those who honestly seek truth at any cost will know it and will not remain under Satan's power, and no one need walk in darkness. But selfishness, pride, egotism, and attachment to personal opinions blind spiritual sight so that people fail to understand though the light of truth continues to shine, as humble worshipers recognized Him while rulers and priests with the prophecies before them had their eyes closed. Rejecting even one ray of light makes it easier to reject light again, and receiving it requires willingness to come to Him and hear.
Receiving Light and Sonship
To as many as receive Him and believe on His name is given power to become sons and daughters of God, born not of blood nor of the will of flesh nor of men but of God. The true Light who enlightens every person coming into the world came as the eternal Word who was with God and was God, by whom all things were made, in whom was life that is the light of men, made flesh dwelling among men in glory as the only begotten full of grace and truth, the Lamb who takes away sin. Though He was in the world He made yet the world knew Him not, and He came to His own who received Him not, those who receive Him as personal Saviour receive from His fullness grace for grace. John bore witness to Him that all might believe through Him, and receiving Christ is how the work of overcoming is carried out unto completeness as He finishes what He begins with cooperating believers.
This receiving comes by accepting the divine testimony by faith, which leads from darkness toward light not by reasoning alone. It is by yielding to God's drawing, willing to do God's will, humbly accepting truth as it is in Jesus and taking His yoke, being yoked with Christ and following step by step to know the Lord better. So there is growing capacity to receive and understand truth and power to obey it, a power in no human agent but from Him who gave His life to save from Satan's yoke.
Salvation is offered to all, for the Spirit is freely given to enable each person to take hold of life and grasp the means of salvation. People are lost only by willfully refusing the gift of life.
The light shines even where people fail to recognize or receive it, and refusal to see it does not extinguish it, for the darkness did not comprehend the life that was the light of men shining amid moral darkness. He was the light and hope of the world, yet He did not come to suit human opinions, and priests and rulers too proud and self-righteous to admit need of remodeled ideas, repentance and conversion counted Him an impostor because His teachings disagreed with theirs, and the same spirit rejects heaven-sent truth today when it conflicts with received errors. At Battle Creek light repeatedly came to students and church yet many treated it as strange, failed to recognize the Spirit of God, and chose darkness rather than light, grieving the Spirit and bearing doubt. Those addressed may turn away in opposition and unbelief and ridicule the words and appearance of the Holy Spirit, and those who reject remain in darkness blind and destitute of life, for light from God bringing knowledge of Him is inseparable from spiritual life. People may refuse that illumination and reject the life He offers even when He is among them healing bodily illness and the sin-sick soul.
Accepting the light means accepting Christ into close relationship with God, regulating conduct toward God and sanctifying mind and will according to the standard of God's law, resting not on personal merit or ability. Christ came to give light to every person so they may have correct faith, because conscience works according to faith. Without that light conscience does not condemn wrong done under false faith, whether persecuting Christ in His saints while thinking to do God's work or sacrificing a child to idols, but when Christ opens the eyes to see the spirit moving the action, conscience condemns the same act as wrong. His death did not abolish God's law but magnified and honored it, and those who receive the true light recognize its enduring authority, while the cross vindicates the law and condemns those who had light but rejected it for error. Those who see the light must walk in it by reverencing the law as pure and binding and obeying the commandments as the expression of God's character, which must be accepted to become members of the royal family, children of the Heavenly King, with the truth and righteousness of Christ shining in distinct lines for which God accepts no substitute, and to walk away from conviction to avoid the cross impairs and extinguishes the inward striving of the Spirit on mind and will.
This light is revealed in the love of Christ, in whose light the gospel is understood and the great commandment of love is contained. Christ's true disciples receive this love and therefore act honestly, refusing to deceive others or seek personal advantage through actions that bring others into severe trial. Without pure, unselfish, sanctified love, people are vulnerable to Satan's deceptions.
Walking and Sharing Light
To follow the true Light who enlightens every person is to follow Christ Himself rather than turning to human devising, for following Him keeps from walking in darkness. To walk in His light is to follow the truth He taught in word and example, keeping His commands, for departing from them and replacing God's authority with human example leads to backsliding and delusion that cannot sanctify or save. Accepting that light is accepting Christ, which brings into close relationship with God, regulates conduct toward Him, and sanctifies mind and will according to the standard of God's law, resting not on personal merit or ability but on receiving the light. As those who receive Him follow Him, He guides and leads them in righteousness, His character is reflected in them, His grace conforms them to the divine image, and received truth enlightens mind and heart into practice as they learn His will and duty through personal communion with God.
Those who learn the truth must look to Christ rather than depend on finite men for wisdom, strength, and help, receiving their illumination from Him as the great Light of heaven and the world. When Christ is received by faith He becomes sanctification and righteousness and reward to believers, and those who come to believe through others must still look to Him and not to human beings. There is no reason to turn from Christ to finite human wisdom, since human beings have only the power they receive from God, and all human wisdom and power come from God. Looking to Jesus and not to men to be told what to do brings the sunshine and joy of the truth and the brightness of His righteousness into individual experience through His moving, melting love, and then flashes that received light upon the pathway of others to shape and mold mission work, so that Christ speaks to hearts and souls under temptation are saved rather than harmed and lost.
He who taught the disciples is willing to teach His servants today, and His light equips them for service as they receive His Spirit and let His grace form their character after the divine model. For labor to amount to more than beating the air there must be close union with Christ, with Him as an abiding presence in the heart. In order for Him to enter, the heart must be cleansed from defilement.
Believers are His witnesses to that Light, called to arise and shine because the glory of the Lord is risen upon them, since Christ is the Center and Lifegiver and Lamb who takes away the world's sins, and the Spirit of truth is given to each person for benefit. That Light and its power is what withstands the terrible incoming darkness covering the world like a funeral pall, the confederacy of evil, infidelity, papacy, false religion, and low views of inspiration set against light and the Word of God. Those who believe must stop dark gloomy speech, exalt Jesus, magnify, honor, and prove the validity and divine character of the Word of God by consistent, holy, pure lives and by unity and love, humbling themselves before God in meekness to be exalted and richly filled with the Holy Spirit so mercy and the love of God appear gloriously triumphant. When God's light is appreciated His people no longer walk in darkness and reflect that light to others, serving Him by reflecting His light to the world in warning people and sharing the truth. Those who know Him must labor together with Him to turn the darkness of perishing, straying souls into day, letting heaven's light shine upon them by words and actions that represent His character and the power of His grace, doing nothing by neglect, coldness, or harshness that blocks or cuts off any ray of His light from reaching them, but receiving undimmed rays to burn and shine and spreading the light everywhere even in small portions.
Ministers are to serve as John served, for John was not that Light but was appointed to bear witness to it and point people to Christ the Lamb of God, teaching ministers to direct hearers' attention to Christ rather than taking His place or receiving His glory. Followers become true lights to enlighten every person by loving God supremely and loving neighbor as Christ loved them, practicing self-control and manifesting the loving, compassionate spirit of Christ. Everything must be viewed in the light of His example, His words listened to and His self-denial and self-sacrifice copied, and His merits looked to for His glory of character to be bestowed, for those who follow Him do not live to please themselves, since human standards are feeble reeds and the Lord's standard is perfection of character.
Christ carried this light to people from many places, making the gospel known publicly and presenting truth in its original simplicity and clarity so people could understand it, sowing the gospel and separating truth from error. At His coming human traditions and unbelief had buried the Scriptures' spiritual meaning, but as the heavenly Teacher come to dispel spiritual darkness and error He opened divine instruction and brought its truth into view, so that those seeking knowledge and the sure word of prophecy received it like a light shining in a dark place. Jesus Himself was the true light shining amid the world's moral darkness from childhood, revealing Himself as the truth and guide of men, and His grasp of truth and power to resist temptation were proportionate to His conformity to the word He had inspired holy men to write, through communion with God and complete surrender shown by fulfilling His word despite false education and the customs and traditions of His time. That same Light renews a mother in patient, prayerful effort to guide a child without harshly forcing submission, helping subdue her will while its influence works in the child toward gentleness and yielding. It likewise guides students to Christ above worldly higher education, illuminates students of prophecy to explain Scripture, proclaims the Word to make holy, leads the ignorant to salvation, and points the afflicted through physicians to the sin-pardoning Saviour.
That was the true Light is Christ Himself, the eternal Word who was with God and was God, made flesh to dwell among men full of grace and truth. His light is given to every person who comes into the world, so no one need walk in darkness but all may learn from Him and follow the illuminated way to heaven. This reaches even sincere seekers in heathen lands with no knowledge of Jesus, and people of every nation and race, for whom He died equally. After sin obscured the knowledge of God, He came to reveal the Father's character and love, to expose error and sin and awaken conviction, and by His life, death as substitute, and resurrection to give life and unite humanity with God. Receiving Him by faith and yielding to His drawing gives power to become children of God, born of God unto completeness, who then walk in His light by keeping His commands and reflect Him to others as witnesses.
Christ the True Light
John 1:9 identifies Christ as the true spiritual Light shining for every person who comes into the world, the eternal Word who was with God and was God, the Son of God made flesh dwelling among men full of grace and truth to represent God in human form. He came from the heavenly courts as a revelation of the Father so the world would not remain in spiritual darkness after sin had obscured humanity's knowledge of God, declaring the truth by which people may be sanctified. Receiving Him and believing in His name gives power to become children of God, born not of blood nor of human descent or will but of God, receiving grace for grace from His fullness unto completeness. His light shines in the darkness, though the darkness does not apprehend or comprehend it.
He is the Creator by whom all things were made, in whom was life that is the light of men shining amid moral darkness. The same hand that made all things uses the common things of nature as a lesson book, and the glory of God reflected in His works pronounced good may be beheld with open face, so He taught spiritual truth in the open air by the familiar things His hearers knew. He is the way, the truth, and the life, the beloved Son whom God commanded to be heard, and truth did come down from heaven in Him. Refusal to see the light does not extinguish it, and His coming disproves the claim that all would fall down and worship if truth appeared on earth in glory.
He is distinct from John the Baptist, who was not that Light but was sent from God to bear witness of the Light so that all might believe through Him. John was a lesser, shining light, and all the light he received came from Christ, who is the Word made flesh dwelling among men and the only source of light and life to sinful men. All men belong to Christ by creation and by redemption. Becoming a child of God requires receiving Christ as personal Saviour and believing in His name, and He calls people to follow Him rather than turn toward human devising, for following Him keeps them from walking in darkness.
He was before all the world's great teachers and stands higher than them as the Sun of Righteousness, giving light to every person so that whatever is true in human teaching is only reflected light from Him, as the moon and stars shine by reflected light from the sun. Every gem of thought and every flash of intellect comes from Him. True higher education comes from Him, in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, and in Him life is the light of humanity.
He is the image of the Father, and neither God nor heaven nor Christ can be truly represented by human art. He is set before the world in John's words instead of a pictured form or described appearance, and this verbal account is how God presents Him. Believers need no external representations of His person, for the Holy Spirit takes His most attractive excellencies and keeps them before the mind's eye, and the imagination is to take in the only begotten of the Father, altogether lovely and chiefest among ten thousand. He spoke in human form with the authority of true greatness, bearing His commission from the Excellent Glory, and every word He utters is to be listened to and received as law and life.
He came down from heaven as the Teacher sent from God, chosen to reveal God's character to the world and lead people to God, to make God known to men and teach truths unto eternal life. He also came as Physician and Healer to restore the moral image of God lost through sin, His light making darkness evident by revealing the contrast, without which there is only darkness. He is the Lamb who takes away the world's sins, its Center and Lifegiver, the Faithful and True Witness standing out pre-eminently through the ages, the Word of God made flesh, the fullness for both Jew and Gentile. He is the Bright and Morning Star, the Sun of Righteousness, a light for the Gentiles and the glory of Israel. As Redeemer He understands all human needs and formed the mighty plans by which fallen people are lifted from the degradation of sin, representing the Father in every circumstance however trivial, upholding the world by the word of His power yet stooping to relieve even a crippled bird, and those who behold Him are to arise and shine because God's glory has risen upon them.
Coming Into the World
He came as Instructor in the appointed fullness of time when the world seemed wholly given into the control of the enemy, sent to give evidence of God's love by dying for the fallen race, gathering its penalty into His own pure sinless soul as substitute and surety and offering Himself as sacrifice to redeem those under the law that they might receive adoption as sons. To do this He veiled divinity beneath humanity, hid the brightness of His glory and humbled Himself to man's estate so He could approach men, converse with them and gather them around Him to hear grand and elevating truths unto eternal life. In taking human nature and passing through human experience He shone as a beam of righteousness from heaven amid earth's moral darkness. When He came as a human being a flood of light was shed upon the world for people sitting in the shadow of death and waiting for the Sun of Righteousness to break forth, and many would have received Him gladly and walked in the light if priests and rulers had been true to God and given a true interpretation of the Word instead of misleading the people by long misapplication of the Scriptures with falsehoods. His labor was not new, for as surety of the race He had worked with uninterrupted activity from the moment of transgression and apostasy, laboring for Israel from Adam through the patriarchal age to lead them to trust in Him who saves to the uttermost, making plain the way to heaven, speaking through all the prophets with future things sweeping before their vision, pointing to His death in every sacrifice, ascending in righteousness in every cloud of incense, and hiding His majesty in the holy of holies, as truly a Saviour before incarnation as after with activity equal to God's.
Though the world was made by Him, the world did not know Him when the Creator entered it. He had earlier led Israel out of Egypt and given light to Moses, yet even Israel, God's chosen people entrusted with the sacred oracles, did not acknowledge Him when He came among them. He came to His own and His own did not receive Him, but rejected and crucified Him, patiently enduring their abuse in clothed human flesh rather than using His glory to destroy His enemies. He came as the eternal Word who was with God and was God, by whom all things were made, in whom was life that is the light of men shining in darkness that did not comprehend it, made flesh and dwelling among men in glory as the only begotten of the Father full of grace and truth, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, from whose fullness people receive grace and by receiving whom and believing in His name are given power to become sons of God born not of blood nor of fleshly or human will but of God.
People failed to recognize Him because they were absorbed in money and worldly gain. Their hearts were ruled by selfishness, love of money and worldly honor, so His counsel was rejected and His mercies despised. Depravity and darkness kept men from recognizing the Son of God who came to the world He made to make the invisible Father known as speech makes thought known, with divinity clothed in humanity and shining through humanity in softening subduing light in His words, character, power, majesty, nature and attributes as embodiment of God's law imaging God in purity and benevolence, and in spite of overwhelming evidence they met Him with unbelief inspired only by Satan. He did not come in a way to suit their opinions and ideas, and the priests and rulers were too proud and self-righteous to admit their ideas needed remodeling and that they needed repentance and conversion, so they counted Him an impostor because His teachings were not in harmony with theirs. Their ceremonies did not give them a real conception of that Light, even though the services with their types and shadows pointed to Him and He came as predicted as their substance, yet they did not know or receive Him and demanded a sign from unreceptive hearts. His coming disproves the claim that all would fall down and worship if truth appeared on earth in glory, for He is the way, the truth and the life, the beloved Son commanded to be heard, shining in uncomprehended darkness.
That same treatment is happening today and will be repeated again and again before the Lord comes in the clouds of heaven, when Satan's deceptions will be upon earth-dwellers and the enemy claiming to be Christ will deceive all except those steadfast and true to God. At Battle Creek light repeatedly came to students and the church, but many treated it as strange, failed to recognize the Spirit of God, and chose darkness rather than light, showing receiving the light is not automatic but may be rejected with grieving of the Spirit and fruit of doubt. The people rejoiced in the light that had led them through the wilderness yet rejected the true Light when He came to save them, their departure from God's Word leaving them ready to attack revealed truth. The religious leaders who condemned Jesus had received this light that shines even where unrecognized, but acted directly against it heedless of consequences for themselves and others. The same spirit is seen today when those claiming to be God's children reject heaven-sent truth because it does not coincide with errors they have received.
In coming He identified Himself as the fulfillment of what had long been the subject of prophecy, displacing types and shadows only because type had met antitype in Himself, occupying the place the types had prefigured and standing out prominently as the only One who could redeem the world. As Light He reveals truth, presents God in His true character, rescues truth from error, superstition, human devices and misinterpretation, and resets God's law in original dignity and purity in the framework of the gospel. John stands at the end of the long period in which God's revealed truth was communicated through inspired servants and recorded in Scripture.
Light for Every Person
The verse means the true light is given to every person who comes into the world, so no one need remain in darkness and walk in eternal spiritual night without a divine Teacher. Through Him the world is not left in spiritual darkness, for His light shines on human understanding and on the face of nature, making it still possible to read the lesson of God's love in created works. His clear and simple presentation of truth makes the way to heaven available to all who are willing to find it, and that light is truth shining on every step of the narrow illuminated way prepared for the ransomed, so the whole path is open with the privilege of learning from Him and following Him. As God raised Him from the dead to bring life and immortality to light through the gospel and save His people from their sins, He raises fallen human beings from spiritual death, quickening them with His own life and filling their hearts with hope and joy.
This universal gift includes sincere seekers in heathen lands who have no written law and no knowledge of Jesus and have never heard His name. In them the Holy Spirit implants Christ's grace and quickens love, sympathy, kindness, and desire for truth contrary to nature, upbringing, and education, so that every impulse to uplift and bless others reveals divine power at work, even moving the savage to be kind to His servants and protect them at risk of his own life. When heeded, that inward shining guides feet toward God's kingdom.
It reaches Gentiles and people of every nation and race, for His light shines through moral darkness and superstition so divine truth can be seen against error and ignorance, and everyone was to receive it and pass it on. He came down from heaven as the Teacher sent by God, chosen to reveal God's character and make God known to lead men to God, as the Bright and Morning Star and Sun of Righteousness, the light for the Gentiles and the glory of Israel. His saving work is for every nationality and race, for He died for Black people just as much as for white people, and His grace and Spirit of truth are for the whole world and not for one nation alone, correcting the selfish claim that the blessings of eternal life belong exclusively to Israel. So those raised outside Israel's Scriptures and worship may recognize the truth and glory of the Son of God by this light, as the centurion did, while those instructed from childhood may disregard it, showing spiritual privilege does not guarantee reception.
Through Him every human being has life and every soul receives some ray of divine light, not only intellectual but spiritual power, a perception of right and a desire for goodness existing in every heart. Against these principles struggles an antagonistic power, the bent to evil from the eating of the tree of knowledge of good and evil manifest in every man's experience through the fall, which unaided no one can resist. To withstand this force and attain the ideal which the inmost soul accepts as alone worthy, help is found in but one power, Christ Himself, and cooperation with that power is man's greatest need and should be the highest aim in all educational effort.
What the Light Does
Sin had obscured humanity's knowledge of God through nature and broken connection with Him, leaving the world in spiritual darkness, and the Son came as the true Light to reveal the Father so darkness would not remain. He makes the invisible Father known as speech makes thought known, revealing in words, character, power, majesty, nature and attributes what God is, with divinity clothed in humanity and shining through in softening, subduing light. He was sent because Israel was unfaithful to its trust to communicate the light given them and transgressed the holy law, to make known His character and the laws of His kingdom and to bring fallen people ignorant of His perfect character back to loyalty. He is the eternal Word who was with God and was God, by whom all things were made and in whom is life that is the light of men, come to reveal the Father's character so people could worship Him in spirit and in truth. He is the embodiment of the law of God, imaging Him in purity and benevolence so humanity might bear the image of God.
Shining amid moral darkness, His light makes darkness evident by revealing the contrast, for without it there is only darkness. Pure and undimmed, it shines into the darkness of error and deception and sensuality and sin, exposing the world's sin and hidden sin in every soul. When the heart yields to the Holy Spirit, that light shines into the secret chambers of soul and mind and brings hidden sin to light. It quickens conscience to discern something of the depth and sacredness of God's holy law as the foundation of His government in heaven and earth, gives a sense of the righteousness of God, and brings conviction of sin and righteousness and coming judgment with terror at standing guilty and unclean before the Searcher of hearts through the Spirit's reproof. His sinless life in human nature revealed the Father's character and refuted Satan's charges against God.
The same light reveals the love of God, the beauty of holiness and the joy of purity, and awakens longing to be cleansed and restored to communion with heaven. It offers to cover human unworthiness with the spotless robe of His righteousness and His righteous character. It penetrates the spiritual darkness covering the earth and breaks Satan's hold on minds fixed on earthly things, revealing the hope of immortality and assuring people of God's willingness to accept, refine, preserve, and give them heavenly wisdom. As God raised Him from the dead to bring life and immortality to light through the gospel and save His people from their sins, He raises fallen human beings from spiritual death, quickening them with His own life and filling their hearts with hope and joy. He also came as Physician and Healer to restore the moral image of God lost through sin.
His light is sanctifying truth come into the world to declare the truth by which people may be sanctified, presented in clear simplicity so the way to heaven is available to all willing to find it. It is truth shining on every step of the narrow way to heaven prepared for the ransomed of the Lord, so the whole path is illuminated and all have the privilege of learning from Him. People are to walk in His light, following the truth He taught in both word and example, for departing from His commands and replacing God's authority with human example leads to backsliding and delusion which cannot sanctify or save. He has given most precious truths essential to know and practice, which knit hearts together in unity and love and lead to obedience to God's commandments rather than spending precious time on unimportant side issues.
Through His life, suffering and death He revealed that the world made through Him did not recognize Him and His own did not receive Him, becoming humanity's substitute and surety bearing its transgressions and sin's penalty so that through faith people may be free and share in redemption. Equal with the Father, He stood beside fallen humanity, humbled Himself, suffered and died to complete His work as propitiation for sin, giving value to humanity and making cleansing possible through faith in Him. Gathering the penalty resting on the sinful race into His own pure, sinless soul and offering Himself as sacrifice to redeem those under the law that they might receive adoption as sons, He revealed the love of God and the immutability of His law, not one jot or tittle of which could be changed to meet man in his fallen condition, so sinners were not left without hope and those receiving Him are freely pardoned and made members of the royal family. Through continual self-denial and self-sacrifice He labored to call attention to God and His holy requirements, to bring back God's character to man and retrace the divine image on the human soul so men imbued with God's Spirit and actuated by love might reveal the divine attributes, valuing every soul and providing complete salvation to all who would believe. His sacrifice at Calvary, bringing enough light to enlighten the whole earth though only a few choose to walk in it, connects finite humanity with the infinite God and unites earth with heaven.
Source of Truth and Knowledge
He stood before all the world's great teachers and above them as the Sun of Righteousness, and whatever is true in human teaching shines only by reflected light from Him as the moon and stars shine by light from the sun. Every gem of thought and every flash of intellect comes from Him, in whom are all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge and in whom life is the light of humanity, so that even bright truths found in infidel writings originate with God who is the source of all light. If His light were withdrawn the world would be left in eternal darkness and eternal spiritual night.
His guidance is needed to interpret scientific evidence and the testimony of science and nature rightly and to discern their deepest truths, so that study of His works learns to think God's thoughts after Him under divine direction. He met the world in order that it need not remain in darkness and eternal spiritual night without a divine Teacher, and His light shines upon human understanding and upon the face of nature. By that illumination it is still possible to read the lesson of God's love in created works and to have the knowledge of God's glory revealed, with spiritual lessons taught through nature and through common things and with truth presented by Scriptural evidence to be recognized by the mind and yielded to by the will.
True and valuable knowledge that gives light and truth comes from God and shines from Christ, not from infidel, unbelieving, or wicked sources and not from wicked men. All knowledge that is of worth comes from God the fountain of wisdom, whose word is light and truth, and divine knowledge proceeds from the Holy Spirit who knows what humanity needs. That gift is suited to human need to promote peace, happiness, and restfulness in this life and to secure eternal rest in the kingdom of God.
Every phase of truth is clear to Him, and what He teaches rests on eternal principles rather than uncertain human opinion. This light is connected with knowing the truth, shining into minds and illuminating darkened understanding with divine truth. As the world's Light and great Teacher He calls people to come to Him and learn, entrusting to His followers the work of seeking and saving the lost and exposing truth obscured by error and human traditions.
His light brightens mind and soul beyond doubt when people humble their hearts before God, put away pride, vanity, selfishness and egotism, sincerely seek and desire truth, and unwaveringly believe. Those who honestly seek truth at any cost will know it and will not remain under Satan's power, and no one need walk in darkness. But selfishness, pride, egotism, and attachment to personal opinions blind spiritual sight so that people fail to understand though the light of truth continues to shine, as humble worshipers recognized Him while rulers and priests with the prophecies before them had their eyes closed. Rejecting even one ray of light makes it easier to reject light again, and receiving it requires willingness to come to Him and hear.
Receiving Light and Sonship
To as many as receive Him and believe on His name is given power to become sons and daughters of God, born not of blood nor of the will of flesh nor of men but of God. The true Light who enlightens every person coming into the world came as the eternal Word who was with God and was God, by whom all things were made, in whom was life that is the light of men, made flesh dwelling among men in glory as the only begotten full of grace and truth, the Lamb who takes away sin. Though He was in the world He made yet the world knew Him not, and He came to His own who received Him not, those who receive Him as personal Saviour receive from His fullness grace for grace. John bore witness to Him that all might believe through Him, and receiving Christ is how the work of overcoming is carried out unto completeness as He finishes what He begins with cooperating believers.
This receiving comes by accepting the divine testimony by faith, which leads from darkness toward light not by reasoning alone. It is by yielding to God's drawing, willing to do God's will, humbly accepting truth as it is in Jesus and taking His yoke, being yoked with Christ and following step by step to know the Lord better. So there is growing capacity to receive and understand truth and power to obey it, a power in no human agent but from Him who gave His life to save from Satan's yoke.
Salvation is offered to all, for the Spirit is freely given to enable each person to take hold of life and grasp the means of salvation. People are lost only by willfully refusing the gift of life.
The light shines even where people fail to recognize or receive it, and refusal to see it does not extinguish it, for the darkness did not comprehend the life that was the light of men shining amid moral darkness. He was the light and hope of the world, yet He did not come to suit human opinions, and priests and rulers too proud and self-righteous to admit need of remodeled ideas, repentance and conversion counted Him an impostor because His teachings disagreed with theirs, and the same spirit rejects heaven-sent truth today when it conflicts with received errors. At Battle Creek light repeatedly came to students and church yet many treated it as strange, failed to recognize the Spirit of God, and chose darkness rather than light, grieving the Spirit and bearing doubt. Those addressed may turn away in opposition and unbelief and ridicule the words and appearance of the Holy Spirit, and those who reject remain in darkness blind and destitute of life, for light from God bringing knowledge of Him is inseparable from spiritual life. People may refuse that illumination and reject the life He offers even when He is among them healing bodily illness and the sin-sick soul.
Accepting the light means accepting Christ into close relationship with God, regulating conduct toward God and sanctifying mind and will according to the standard of God's law, resting not on personal merit or ability. Christ came to give light to every person so they may have correct faith, because conscience works according to faith. Without that light conscience does not condemn wrong done under false faith, whether persecuting Christ in His saints while thinking to do God's work or sacrificing a child to idols, but when Christ opens the eyes to see the spirit moving the action, conscience condemns the same act as wrong. His death did not abolish God's law but magnified and honored it, and those who receive the true light recognize its enduring authority, while the cross vindicates the law and condemns those who had light but rejected it for error. Those who see the light must walk in it by reverencing the law as pure and binding and obeying the commandments as the expression of God's character, which must be accepted to become members of the royal family, children of the Heavenly King, with the truth and righteousness of Christ shining in distinct lines for which God accepts no substitute, and to walk away from conviction to avoid the cross impairs and extinguishes the inward striving of the Spirit on mind and will.
This light is revealed in the love of Christ, in whose light the gospel is understood and the great commandment of love is contained. Christ's true disciples receive this love and therefore act honestly, refusing to deceive others or seek personal advantage through actions that bring others into severe trial. Without pure, unselfish, sanctified love, people are vulnerable to Satan's deceptions.
Walking and Sharing Light
To follow the true Light who enlightens every person is to follow Christ Himself rather than turning to human devising, for following Him keeps from walking in darkness. To walk in His light is to follow the truth He taught in word and example, keeping His commands, for departing from them and replacing God's authority with human example leads to backsliding and delusion that cannot sanctify or save. Accepting that light is accepting Christ, which brings into close relationship with God, regulates conduct toward Him, and sanctifies mind and will according to the standard of God's law, resting not on personal merit or ability but on receiving the light. As those who receive Him follow Him, He guides and leads them in righteousness, His character is reflected in them, His grace conforms them to the divine image, and received truth enlightens mind and heart into practice as they learn His will and duty through personal communion with God.
Those who learn the truth must look to Christ rather than depend on finite men for wisdom, strength, and help, receiving their illumination from Him as the great Light of heaven and the world. When Christ is received by faith He becomes sanctification and righteousness and reward to believers, and those who come to believe through others must still look to Him and not to human beings. There is no reason to turn from Christ to finite human wisdom, since human beings have only the power they receive from God, and all human wisdom and power come from God. Looking to Jesus and not to men to be told what to do brings the sunshine and joy of the truth and the brightness of His righteousness into individual experience through His moving, melting love, and then flashes that received light upon the pathway of others to shape and mold mission work, so that Christ speaks to hearts and souls under temptation are saved rather than harmed and lost.
He who taught the disciples is willing to teach His servants today, and His light equips them for service as they receive His Spirit and let His grace form their character after the divine model. For labor to amount to more than beating the air there must be close union with Christ, with Him as an abiding presence in the heart. In order for Him to enter, the heart must be cleansed from defilement.
Believers are His witnesses to that Light, called to arise and shine because the glory of the Lord is risen upon them, since Christ is the Center and Lifegiver and Lamb who takes away the world's sins, and the Spirit of truth is given to each person for benefit. That Light and its power is what withstands the terrible incoming darkness covering the world like a funeral pall, the confederacy of evil, infidelity, papacy, false religion, and low views of inspiration set against light and the Word of God. Those who believe must stop dark gloomy speech, exalt Jesus, magnify, honor, and prove the validity and divine character of the Word of God by consistent, holy, pure lives and by unity and love, humbling themselves before God in meekness to be exalted and richly filled with the Holy Spirit so mercy and the love of God appear gloriously triumphant. When God's light is appreciated His people no longer walk in darkness and reflect that light to others, serving Him by reflecting His light to the world in warning people and sharing the truth. Those who know Him must labor together with Him to turn the darkness of perishing, straying souls into day, letting heaven's light shine upon them by words and actions that represent His character and the power of His grace, doing nothing by neglect, coldness, or harshness that blocks or cuts off any ray of His light from reaching them, but receiving undimmed rays to burn and shine and spreading the light everywhere even in small portions.
Ministers are to serve as John served, for John was not that Light but was appointed to bear witness to it and point people to Christ the Lamb of God, teaching ministers to direct hearers' attention to Christ rather than taking His place or receiving His glory. Followers become true lights to enlighten every person by loving God supremely and loving neighbor as Christ loved them, practicing self-control and manifesting the loving, compassionate spirit of Christ. Everything must be viewed in the light of His example, His words listened to and His self-denial and self-sacrifice copied, and His merits looked to for His glory of character to be bestowed, for those who follow Him do not live to please themselves, since human standards are feeble reeds and the Lord's standard is perfection of character.
Christ carried this light to people from many places, making the gospel known publicly and presenting truth in its original simplicity and clarity so people could understand it, sowing the gospel and separating truth from error. At His coming human traditions and unbelief had buried the Scriptures' spiritual meaning, but as the heavenly Teacher come to dispel spiritual darkness and error He opened divine instruction and brought its truth into view, so that those seeking knowledge and the sure word of prophecy received it like a light shining in a dark place. Jesus Himself was the true light shining amid the world's moral darkness from childhood, revealing Himself as the truth and guide of men, and His grasp of truth and power to resist temptation were proportionate to His conformity to the word He had inspired holy men to write, through communion with God and complete surrender shown by fulfilling His word despite false education and the customs and traditions of His time. That same Light renews a mother in patient, prayerful effort to guide a child without harshly forcing submission, helping subdue her will while its influence works in the child toward gentleness and yielding. It likewise guides students to Christ above worldly higher education, illuminates students of prophecy to explain Scripture, proclaims the Word to make holy, leads the ignorant to salvation, and points the afflicted through physicians to the sin-pardoning Saviour.