Key Verse: John 8:12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

Darkness versus Light

In a physical sense, we understand that light is a form of radiation with a dual nature of wave and particle given by a luminous body while darkness is the absence of light. Light is critically important for without light no human life on earth may survive. Given its importance and intimate familiarity to us, light and darkness, are therefore fittingly used metaphorically in the Bible to teach us the truth that we may understand. According to the Bible, darkness is the antithesis of light. Darkness has the connotation of wickedness (Proverbs 4:19), living under the bondage of Satan (Acts 26:18), stumbling leading to disasters in life (Jeremiah 13:16), final judgement and death (2 Peter 2:17; Jude 1:13; Revelation 21:8). In contrast, light has the connotation of righteousness (Proverbs 4:18; 1 John 1:5-6), living a redeemed life in the fellowship of God (1 John 1:7) with guidance (Isaiah 42:16; Psalm 119:105), blessings (Numbers 6:24-25), knowing God, joy, salvation, and eternal life given by God through Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 4:6; 1 Peter 1:8-9; Revelation 22:5).

How darkness came into the world? Its effects on life?

When God created the first man and woman in His image, the relationship of God and mankind was very close like father and children (Genesis 1:27). As the father, God not only created a good environment for Adam and Eve to live, but guided them to marriage and form a family (Genesis 2:22), and a mission of life (Genesis 1:28). God also gave them instruction in living which is to trust and obey God which could be demonstrated by believing and obeying His command of not eating from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2:16-17). When Adam and Eve were put in the garden of Eden, they knew no sin. But, when Adam disbelieved and disobeyed God's instruction not to eat the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, sin entered the world (Romans 5:12). In fact, the first tragic murder was a brother killing another brother as recorded in the Bible happened in the very first family of mankind when Adam's elder son Cain killed Abel out of jealousy (Genesis 4:8).

As human population multiplied, so was the extent of sin and the earth was full of corruption and violence (Genesis 6:11) such that God needed to exercise justice and put an end of all people (Genesis 6:13). Only Noah, his wife, his three sons and three wives were saved from God's judgement for they believed God such that they built and enter an ark according to God's instructions (Genesis 7:7). By the way, we need to understand that Noah was not saved from the judgement by his own righteousness although he was a relatively good person in his generation (Genesis 6:9). Noah was saved because of his faith in God as shown by his endeavour to build an ark according to God's instructions (Hebrews 11:7). By the same token, Abraham was also justified before God not by his own righteous works but by faith (Romans 4:2-3). After all, all humans are sinners and our righteous acts are like filthy rags according to God's holiness (Isaiah 64:6).

How does God show His mercy and love to rescue mankind from darkness?

After judgement by the flood, the descendants of Noah multiplied. Sin still exists in human race for all of us by nature tend to gratify the cravings of our sinful desires and thoughts (Ephesians 2:3). In other words, people still live in darkness. Out of His love and mercy, God plans to save the whole world with Israel to be the light to the Gentiles (Ephesians 2:4; Isaiah 49:3; Isaiah 49:6).

Of course, we need to understand that it is not the human efforts of Israel as a nation to accomplish God's plan of salvation. It is purely the effort of God to accomplish His own plan of salvation of Israel and all nations on earth (Isaiah 9:7). It is fulfilled by the Lord Jesus Christ who came to the world as an infant, born as a descendant of Abraham and king David (Isaiah 9:6). But, Jesus Christ is God by nature that became flesh living among us (Isaiah 9:6;Micah 5:2;John 1:14). Since Jesus the Messiah came as a man who by nature is God and is invisible, it fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah that the Lord will lay bare His holy arm in the sight of all the nations and see the salvation of our God who brought salvation to Israel first (Isaiah 52:9-10), then other nations (Isaiah 52:15). Jesus, the suffering Servant, redeemed us by offering His body as a sacrifice (Isaiah 52:14; Isaiah 53:5).

The meaning that salvation of the world is from Israel simply because Jesus in His human attribute, is a Jew such that it is proper to mention the national name of Israel in the context of nations. By the same token, it is proper to say that South Korea won the International Chopin Competition 2015 but in fact it was Seong-Jin Cho, who is a South Korean, won the Competition. Therefore, it is perfectly understandable that Jesus once told the Samaritan woman that salvation was from the Jews but in fact He alone is the Savior (John 4:22; John 3:16; John 14:6). In fact, Israel herself as a nation needs to be restored by the Servant of God who is the Christ (Isaiah 49:6). After all, all people on earth including the people of Israel are sinners and therefore subject to judgement and let alone to be the redeemer of others (Isaiah 53:6). Only Jesus Christ, the Servant, is qualified to be the redeemer who suffered for the sins of others (Isaiah 53:5). Having said that, God has chosen Israel to server as the light to the Gentiles in a subsidiary but important role. As the chosen people of God, the experience of Israel reveals the glory, power, sovereignty, justice, faithfulness, love and mercy of God (Psalm 147:19; Ezekiel 20:5). Through the faithful prophets and priests of Israel, the revelation of God was written down in the Old Testament. Through the faithful apostles of the early church, God communicates the gospel of salvation to the world. All the apostles were Jewish and the New Testament writers were all Jewish except the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Acts which were written by a gentile. The revelation of God shows us that there is judgement and penalty of sin. By God's mercy, sinners can be redeemed. In the Old Testament time, sacrifices of sins were performed using animals without defect which teaches that only perfect sacrifices are acceptable (Exodus 12:5; Leviticus 22:24). The Old Testament sacrifices were only object lessons teaching the consequence of sin and redemption and these sacrifices according to the Old Testament laws were not real in redemption (Hebrews 10:3-4). True sacrifice was fulfilled by the Servant of God, the Messiah who has no sin and became the sacrifice of all sinners (Hebrews 10:8-10).

Because of the work of salvation of Jesus Christ, we may all leave darkness and come to the light of Him (Ephesians 5:8). When we walk in the light, we have fellowship with God (1 John 1:7). When we walk in the light, dark and shameful deeds are exposed for our deeds are constantly illuminated by the holiness of God (Ephesians 5:9-13). It is possible for us to walk with God only because of the sacrifice of Jesus whose suffering paid for our sins (1 John 1:7). The invitation of God to walk in His light is not for Israel only but to the whole world (Isaiah 2:5; Isaiah 60:1-3). For God is love and He loves the whole world (John 3:16). He wants to save us from the powers of the dark and the spiritual forces of evil in the world (Ephesians 6:12). Let us come to His light! Let us also serve as the light to people who have not known Jesus such that they might also come to the light (Matthew 5:14).

Conclusion

By nature, we all live in darkness and destine to die because we all live in this world and being the descendants of Adam (1 Corinthians 15:22). Only Jesus brings light to this world which is filled with darkness. The light that Jesus brings overcomes darkness of the world and bestows life to mankind and we may all leave darkness by responding to Jesus' gracious invitation to come to His light to have life by faith (Psalm 36:9;John 1:4; John 12:46; John 8:12). Unlike our present life which surely tends to deteriorate with a gloomy future, the life that Jesus gives is eternal and has a bright future for God is faithful and has prepared glorious inheritance for those who are in Him (John 3:16; Ephesians 1:18). Repentant people accept Jesus' invitation to leave darkness and enter the kingdom of light for they are transformed by God such that they are no longer happy with evil but with the truth (John 3:21; 1 Corinthians 13:6). In contrast, non-repentant people prefer to stay in darkness and ignore Jesus' gracious invitation (John 3:19-20). When we follow Jesus walking in the light, His blood purifies us from all sin (1 John 1:5-7). In other word, we are saved from darkness by Jesus who is the light of the world (Colossians 1:13). Without Jesus, the world will remain in darkness for there is no other source of true light. May we all enter the light by accepting Jesus' invitation to follow Him.

Bible References

Proverbs 4:19

19 But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.

Acts 26:18

18 to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.'

Jeremiah 13:16

16 Give glory to the Lord your God before he brings the darkness, before your feet stumble on the darkening hills. You hope for light, but he will turn it to utter darkness and change it to deep gloom.

2 Peter 2:17

17 These people are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them.

Jude 1:13

13 They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever.

Revelation 21:8

8 But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars-they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death."

Proverbs 4:18

18 The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.

1 John 1:5-6

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. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.

1 John 1:7

7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

Isaiah 42:16

16 I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.

Psalm 119:105

105 Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.

Numbers 6:24-25

24 The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you;

2 Corinthians 4:6

6 For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God's glory displayed in the face of Christ.

1 Peter 1:8-9

8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Revelation 22:5

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.

Genesis 1:27

27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

Genesis 2:22

22 Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.

Genesis 1:28

28 God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground."

Genesis 2:16-17

16 And the Lord God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die."

Romans 5:12

12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned-

Genesis 4:8

8 Now Cain said to his brother Abel, "Let's go out to the field." While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.

Genesis 6:11

11 Now the earth was corrupt in God's sight and was full of violence.

Genesis 6:13

13 So God said to Noah, "I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth.

Genesis 7:7

7 And Noah and his sons and his wife and his sons' wives entered the ark to escape the waters of the flood.

Genesis 6:9

9 This is the account of Noah and his family. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God.

Hebrews 11:7

7 By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith.

Romans 4:2-3

2 If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about-but not before God. 3 What does Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness."

Isaiah 64:6

6 All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.

Ephesians 2:3

3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.

Ephesians 2:4

4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,

Isaiah 49:3

3 He said to me, "You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will display my splendor."

Isaiah 49:6

6 he says: "It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth."

Isaiah 9:7

7 Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

Isaiah 9:6

6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6

6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Micah 5:2

2 "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times."

John 1:14

14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Isaiah 52:9-10

9 Burst into songs of joy together, you ruins of Jerusalem, for the Lord has comforted his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem. 10 The Lord will lay bare his holy arm in the sight of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God.

Isaiah 52:15

15 so he will sprinkle many nations, and kings will shut their mouths because of him. For what they were not told, they will see, and what they have not heard, they will understand.

Isaiah 52:14

14 Just as there were many who were appalled at him- his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being and his form marred beyond human likeness-

Isaiah 53:5

5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.

John 4:22

22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews.

John 3:16

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

John 14:6

6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Isaiah 49:6

6 he says: "It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth."

Isaiah 53:6

6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

Isaiah 53:5

5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.

Psalm 147:19

19 He has revealed his word to Jacob, his laws and decrees to Israel.

Ezekiel 20:5

5 and say to them: 'This is what the Sovereign Lord says: On the day I chose Israel, I swore with uplifted hand to the descendants of Jacob and revealed myself to them in Egypt. With uplifted hand I said to them, "I am the Lord your God."

Exodus 12:5

5 The animals you choose must be year-old males without defect, and you may take them from the sheep or the goats.

Leviticus 22:24

24 You must not offer to the Lord an animal whose testicles are bruised, crushed, torn or cut. You must not do this in your own land,

Hebrews 10:3-4

3 But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins. 4 It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

Hebrews 10:8-10

8 First he said, "Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them"-though they were offered in accordance with the law. 9 Then he said, "Here I am, I have come to do your will." He sets aside the first to establish the second. 10 And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Ephesians 5:8

8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light

1 John 1:7

7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

Ephesians 5:9-13

9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible-and everything that is illuminated becomes a light.

1 John 1:7

7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

Isaiah 2:5

5 Come, descendants of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the Lord.

Isaiah 60:1-3

60 "Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. 2 See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you. 3 Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

John 3:16

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Ephesians 6:12

12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Matthew 5:14

14 "You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.

Isaiah 9:2

2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.

Isaiah 9:6-7

6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

John 8:12

12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

1 John 1:5-7

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. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

Isaiah 60:19-20

19 The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. 20 Your sun will never set again, and your moon will wane no more; the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your days of sorrow will end.

Psalm 49:19

19 they will join those who have gone before them, who will never again see the light of life.

Psalm 49:13

13 This is the fate of those who trust in themselves, and of their followers, who approve their sayings.

Psalm 49:15

15 But God will redeem me from the realm of the dead; he will surely take me to himself.

1 Corinthians 15:22

22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.

 

Proverbs 4:19

19 But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.

Acts 26:18

18 to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.'

Jeremiah 13:16

16 Give glory to the Lord your God before he brings the darkness, before your feet stumble on the darkening hills. You hope for light, but he will turn it to utter darkness and change it to deep gloom.

2 Peter 2:17

17 These people are springs without water and mists driven by a storm. Blackest darkness is reserved for them.

Revelation 21:8

8 But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars-they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death."

Proverbs 4:18

18 The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.

1 John 1:5-6

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. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.

1 John 1:7

7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

Isaiah 42:16

16 I will lead the blind by ways they have not known, along unfamiliar paths I will guide them; I will turn the darkness into light before them and make the rough places smooth. These are the things I will do; I will not forsake them.

Psalm 119:105

? Nun 105 Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.

2 Corinthians 4:6

6 For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God's glory displayed in the face of Christ.

1 Peter 1:8-9

8 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 9 for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Revelation 22:5

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.

Genesis 1:27

27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

Genesis 2:22

22 Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.

Genesis 1:28

28 God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground."

Genesis 2:16-17

16 And the Lord God commanded the man, "You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die."

Romans 5:12

12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people, because all sinned-

Genesis 4:8

8 Now Cain said to his brother Abel, "Let's go out to the field." While they were in the field, Cain attacked his brother Abel and killed him.

Genesis 6:11

11 Now the earth was corrupt in God's sight and was full of violence.

Genesis 6:13

13 So God said to Noah, "I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth.

Genesis 7:7

7 And Noah and his sons and his wife and his sons' wives entered the ark to escape the waters of the flood.

Genesis 6:9

9 This is the account of Noah and his family. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God.

Hebrews 11:7

7 By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith.

Romans 4:2-3

2 If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about-but not before God. 3 What does Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness."

Isaiah 64:6

6 All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.

Ephesians 2:3

3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath.

Ephesians 2:4

4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,

Isaiah 49:3

3 He said to me, "You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will display my splendor."

Isaiah 49:6

6 he says: "It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth."

Isaiah 9:7

7 Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

Isaiah 9:6

6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6

6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Micah 5:2

2 "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times."

John 1:14

14 The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Isaiah 52:9-10

9 Burst into songs of joy together, you ruins of Jerusalem, for the Lord has comforted his people, he has redeemed Jerusalem. 10 The Lord will lay bare his holy arm in the sight of all the nations, and all the ends of the earth will see the salvation of our God.

Isaiah 52:15

15 so he will sprinkle many nations, and kings will shut their mouths because of him. For what they were not told, they will see, and what they have not heard, they will understand.

Isaiah 52:14

14 Just as there were many who were appalled at him- his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being and his form marred beyond human likeness-

Isaiah 53:5

5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.

John 4:22

22 You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews.

John 3:16

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

John 14:6

6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Isaiah 49:6

6 he says: "It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth."

Isaiah 53:6

6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

 

Isaiah 53:5

5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.

Psalm 147:19

19 He has revealed his word to Jacob, his laws and decrees to Israel.

Ezekiel 20:5

5 and say to them: 'This is what the Sovereign Lord says: On the day I chose Israel, I swore with uplifted hand to the descendants of Jacob and revealed myself to them in Egypt. With uplifted hand I said to them, "I am the Lord your God."

Exodus 12:5

5 The animals you choose must be year-old males without defect, and you may take them from the sheep or the goats.

Leviticus 22:24

24 You must not offer to the Lord an animal whose testicles are bruised, crushed, torn or cut. You must not do this in your own land,

Hebrews 10:3-4

3 But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins. 4 It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

Hebrews 10:8-10

8 First he said, "Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them"-though they were offered in accordance with the law. 9 Then he said, "Here I am, I have come to do your will." He sets aside the first to establish the second. 10 And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Ephesians 5:8

8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light

1 John 1:7

7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

Ephesians 5:9-13

9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible-and everything that is illuminated becomes a light.

1 John 1:7

7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

Isaiah 2:5

5 Come, descendants of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the Lord.

Isaiah 60:1-3

60 "Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you. 2 See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you. 3 Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.

John 3:16

16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Ephesians 6:12

12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

Matthew 5:14

14 "You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden.

1 Corinthians 15:22

22 For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.

John 8:12

12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."

Ephesians 1:18

18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people,

1 John 1:5-7

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. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

Psalm 36:9

9 For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.

Revelation 21:8

8 But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars-they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death."

John 1:4

4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.

John 12:46

46 I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.

Colossians 1:13

13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves,

John 3:21

21 But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.

1 Corinthians 13:6

6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

John 3:19-20

19 This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. 20 Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed.