The most central and fundamental truth in Christ’s message is that God is Light. This is the great truth revealed in 1 John 1:5-6. 1 John 1:5 says, “And this is the message which we have heard from him and announce unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.”
The revelation which came through Christ is “the message which we have heard from him” Jesus did not convey just random thoughts or unconnected bits of information. On the contrary, he communicated a complete coherent message.
We must always remember that the Apostles “heard [the message] from him.” That means they heard it from Christ who is the Messiah, the Word of God, and the Spirit of God (cf 2 Corinthians 3:17). The Apostles heard it directly from Christ. Thus, “This salvation, which was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard him.” (Hebrews 2:3 NIV)
The most essential part of the message is about the nature of God himself. The message of Jesus tells us that, “God is light.” We should not understand this statement to mean that God is light in the sense that the science of physics defines light. Light in the sense by which physicists define it, is not eternal but was created. We know physical light was created because Scripture tells us that, “God said, Let there be light: and there was light.”(Genesis 1:3 ASV) It is clear from that statement that there was a stage in the creation of the universe in which physical light did not exist. Light was created by God. In sharp contrast, there never was a point at which God did not exist. He is eternal. God was never created. He always existed. Therefore, God is not light in the physical sense.
However, in spite of this, God may at times partially manifest himself in ways in which he utilizes visible light. For example, in describing the vision given to him of the glorified Christ, John said, “His face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance.” (Revelation 1:16b NIV)
Those theophanies like John described, great as they were, still fell far short of conveying the complete reality of God’s fullness. We know that because scripture clearly tells us, “No man hath seen God at any time.” (John 1:18)
If God should ever fully manifest himself in the form of physical light, in the sense that physicists define light, even then we could not see him. Our visual powers are far too limited to perceive the entire spectrum of physical light. Even on the occasions when God has partially revealed himself in the form of visible light, it blinded those who beheld that revelation. The apostle Paul had such an experience. The Book of Acts tells us, “as he journeyed, it came to pass that he drew nigh unto Damascus: and suddenly there shone round about him a light out of heaven: and he fell upon the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: but rise, and enter into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. And the men that journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing the voice, but beholding no man. And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw nothing; and they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and did neither eat nor drink.” (Acts 9:3-9 AV)
Since God is light in a far more profound way than light is in the physical sense of light, he cannot be perceived, even remotely, by the optic nerve. Similarly, his image cannot be captured on photographic film. However, the reason God sometimes has manifested himself by utilizing physical light may be because there are some properties of physical light which make it appropriate to use that kind of light as a simile for God.
Since it is clear that the word ‘light’ is not used in this passage in the sense of light which may be perceived by our optic nerve, we must explore its figurative uses. Light is used in a number of figurative senses in the Bible:
- Sometimes light is used to represent knowledge: “For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; And reproofs of instruction are the way of life:” (Proverbs 6:23 ASV)
- Light is also used to represent understanding: “The opening of thy words giveth light; It giveth understanding unto the simple.” (Psalms 119:130 ASV)
- Light is also used to represent Righteousness: “But the path of the righteous is as the dawning light, That shineth more and more unto the perfect day.” (Proverbs 4:18 ASV)
- Finally, light is used to represent truth: In view of 1 John 1:6 it seems ‘light’ in this passage refers to truth. That verse says: “If we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in the darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:” (ASV) Thus when anyone lies he is in darkness. The opposite of a lie is the truth. Thus, when Christ’s revelation tells us that God is light, it means God is the truth.
If we want to have fellowship with God, we must renounce lies and embrace the truth. We know this because John’s epistle tells us, “If we say that we have fellowship with him and walk in the darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:” (1 John 1:6 ASV)
Here the figure of walking in darkness or walking in the light is made clear. Walking in darkness is to lie and not to live by the truth. Therefore, walking in the light must be telling and doing the truth. It is embracing the truth that permits us to have fellowship with God. According to 1 John 1:8 we must have the truth in us. Thus, in this passage, it seems clear that while God is ‘light’ in a number of the other figurative senses of light, it is truth which John intends to set before us here as one of the essential characteristics of God’s being.
Each of us must be determined to accept and live by the highest of all truth. The truth that God is light. That means he is Truth itself. We must renounce everything that is false.