Part 4. The Church and the God Is Light Metaphor
This biblical metaphor is part of historic Christian Church beliefs. The Nicene Creed (325 A.D. the First Council of Nicaea) reads in part:
“We believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Maker of all things visible and invisible.
And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, begotten of the Father, Light of Light, very God of very God, begotten, not made, being of one substance with the Father.”
The Nicene Creed clearly expresses the fundamental substance or essence or nature of the being of God and his Son, “very (true) God” and Light. The Father is Light, and the Son is Light from Light (Gr. phos ek photos). The composers of this creed in the early 4th century did not invent these descriptions; they drew them from the inspired text of God’s word. Where else could they find them more clearly stated than in the message John heard from God?
“1 John 1:5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all.”
The composers of the Nicene Creed were undoubtedly also aware of the opening words of the letter to the Hebrews, which identifies the nature, or substance, or being, or person (Gr. hupostasis) of Jesus Christ. God’s word declares that the Son’s nature (substance, being, nature) is identical (of the same character) with the Father’s.
Hebrews 1:3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation (Gr. character) of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.
We might also notice here that the Son is described, in terms of light, as the “radiance” of God’s glory. Both Father and Son are one substance—light—but the Son is the radiance of the Father’s glory in the form of visible light that men can see and thereby know God.
John 14:9 . . . anyone who has seen me (Jesus) has seen the Father . . .
Certainly John’s letter is the clearest statement of the nature of God being like light. But there are other biblical references that may have influenced the early composers of the Nicene Creed, which has become a fundamental statement of belief of the universal Christian Church.
In the description of the redeemed saints in the New Jerusalem in Revelation 21-22 we read that:
Revelation 22:5 There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.
In the Holy City that comes down from heaven, the Lord God provides all light for sight to his redeemed saints–no other light is needed.
The relationship of God to his saints is as a fountain of life and light.
Psalm 36:9 For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.
There is no place where God’s light does not shine. Therefore we are always seen and watched over by the LORD
Psalm 139:7, 11-12 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? (11) If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” (12) even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.
It is common knowledge today that we can use invisible forms of light, both high energy and low energy, to visualize people and things not visible to our earthly eyes (for instance medical X-rays and infrared sensors for “night vision”). In Psalm 139 David appreciates that there is no escape from the eyes of God who is light.
In other Bible scenes the LORD God (Yahweh Elohim) reveals himself in dazzling light.
Ezekiel 1:4-28 (edited for emphasis on the light metaphor) “I looked, and I saw . . . an immense cloud with flashing lightning and surrounded by brilliant light. The center of the fire looked like glowing metal, . . . gleamed like burnished bronze . . . (13) The appearance of the living creatures was like burning coals of fire or like torches. Fire moved back and forth among the creatures; it was bright, and lightning flashed out of it. (14) The creatures sped back and forth like flashes of lightning. . . . sparkled like topaz, . . . a vault, sparkling like crystal, and awesome. . . . (26) Above the vault over their heads was what looked like a throne of lapis lazuli, and high above on the throne was a figure like that of a man. (27) I saw that from what appeared to be his waist up he looked like glowing metal, as if full of fire, and that from there down he looked like fire; and brilliant light surrounded him. (28) Like the appearance of a rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day, so was the radiance around him. This was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD . . .”
Like Ezekiel, the vision of God’s glory to other biblical writers is in terms of awesome intimidating light that terrifies observers. For instance:
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- At the transfiguration of Jesus, Jesus and the Old Testament saints Moses and Elijah, and God the Father appear in brilliant intimidating and terrifying light (Matthew 17:1-8; Mark 9:2-13; Luke 9:28-36). For a brief moment the veil between heaven and earth is drawn aside and the astonishing light of the presence of God and his glorified saints is more than mortal men can bear!
- The Apostle John, who was so close to Jesus incarnate, fell as a dead man when he encountered the dazzling brilliance of the eternal glorified Christ in Revelation 1:12-18.
- In the exodus out of Egypt God’s people, Israel, were guided by a pillar of fire at night which became a pillar of cloud by day (Exodus 13:21-22).
- The power of God’s light was experienced by Elijah and the pagan priests of Baal.
1 Kings 18:38 Then the fire of the LORD fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench.
The God Is Light metaphor gives us insight not only into the mystery of the Trinity but also of the overwhelming and fearsome power of the LORD God (Yahweh Elohim). Before God’s light men can only fall as dead. But God is more than light. He is the resurrection (John 11:25) and fountain of life (Psalm 36:9). God is love (1 John 4:8) and forgiveness (Luke 23:24, Mark 11:25, 1 John 2:1). God never changes, so we are not destroyed by his powerful light (Malachi 3:6). Alleluia!
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