by Jason

Genesis 1:3

3 Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.

The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Ge 1:3.

“Let there be light” are the first words said by God in the book of Genesis. Moses, the inspired writer of Genesis then writes: “And there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness.” (Genesis 1:4)

In the last part of verse 2 in Genesis chapter one, the Bible says, “And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.” The Spirit of God is the Holy Spirit. In verse one,

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Ge 1:1.

God in Genesis 1:1 is God the Father.

Let us turn our attention to the New Testament, the book of John chapter one, verse one:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God.

3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shined in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Jn 1:1–5.

The Word described in John chapter one is Jesus, the Son of God and Our Savior. He is present with God and “He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made (John 1:2-3).” He is eternal. He had no beginning, and He will have no end.

Matthew Henry writes of Jesus, The Word:

The original of life and light that is in him: In him was life, v. 4. This further proves that he is God, and every way qualified for his undertaking; for, (1.) He has life in himself; not only the true God, but the living God. God is life; he swears by himself when he saith, As I live. (2.) All living creatures have their life in him; not only all the matter of the creation was made by him, but all the life too that is in the creation is derived from him and supported by him. It was the Word of God that produced the moving creatures that had life, Gen. 1:20; Acts 17:25. He is that Word by which man lives more than by bread, Mt. 4:4. (3.) Reasonable creatures have their light from him; that life which is the light of men comes from him. Life in man is something greater and nobler than it is in other creatures; it is rational, and not merely animal. When man became a living soul, his life was light, his capacities such as distinguished him from, and dignified him above, the beasts that perish. The spirit of a man is the candle of the Lord, and it was the eternal Word that lighted this candle. The light of reason, as well as the life of sense, is derived from him, and depends upon him. This proves him fit to undertake our salvation; for life and light, spiritual and eternal life and light, are the two great things that fallen man, who lies so much under the power of death and darkness, has need of. From whom may we better expect the light of divine revelation than from him who gave us the light of human reason? And if, when God gave us natural life, that life was in his Son, how readily should we receive the gospel-record, that he hath given us eternal life, and that life too is in his Son!

 Henry, M. (1994). Matthew Henry’s commentary on the whole Bible: complete and unabridged in one volume (p. 1916). Peabody: Hendrickson.

God the Father, Jesus the Son and the Holy Spirit are known as the Godhead, God as one, with three personalities. All three were present in the creation. Jesus, born of Mary came to earth and lived among us in human form. Jesus was both God and man. Man was in darkness, the darkness symbolizing evil and sin. Light symbolizes good and life.

John 8:12

12 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.”

The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Jn 8:12. 

Jesus paid the ultimate sacrifice, death by crucifixion. We deserved to die on the cross, but Jesus did so on our behalf, even though he lived a perfect life, one without sin. He took man from darkness into light because he loves us. He came back from death three days later and lives with God our Father, and will live with Him and with us for eternity if we hear the gospel message, believe the message, repent of our sins, confess the name of Jesus as the Son of God and be immersed in the waters of baptism for the forgiveness of our sins. Then, remain faithful until death. The invitation is for all, may we answer the door while Jesus is knocking. What a thought: the opportunity to live with God for eternity!

Isaiah 6:8

8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying:

“Whom shall I send,
And who will go for Us?”

Then I said, “Here am I ! Send me.”

The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Is 6:8.

⁸καὶ ἤκουσα τῆς φωνῆς κυρίου λέγοντος Τίνα ἀποστείλω, καὶ τίς πορεύσεται πρὸς τὸν λαὸν τοῦτον; καὶ εἶπα Ἰδού εἰμι ἐγώ· ἀπόστειλόν με.

 Rahlfs, A., & Hanhart, R. (Eds.). (2006). Septuaginta: SESB Edition (Is 6:8). Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft.

Note the word “us.” It shows the three personalities of the Godhead. Also, notice the Septuagint translation, the Old Testament translated into Greek: ἀπόστειλόν με. Isaiah says “Here I am! Send me” with emphasis on the “I” and “me.” The Greek word ἀπόστειλόν is similar to the word “apostle,” which means one sent. Isaiah was bold, he was willing to go even though he did not know where he would be sent ahead of time. Jesus went where the Father sent Him. May we go where the LORD, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit sends us.

Jesus gave the apostles what is known as the Great Commission:

Matthew 28:19-20

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Mt 28:19–20.

The apostle Peter gave the first gospel sermon to the hearers gathered in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost:

Acts 2:36-41

36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”
37 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?”
38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.”

40 And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this perverse generation.” 41 Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.

The New King James Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1982), Ac 2:36–41.

Whitelaw and Meyer write on verse 37:

Ver. 37. What shall we do?

As in Luke 3:10, 12, 14. The cry showed how deeply Peter’s words had penetrated.¹

¹ Thomas Whitelaw, Acts, The Preacher’s Complete Homiletic Commentary (New York; London; Toronto: Funk & Wagnalls Company, 1892), 45.

But after they heard it (what was said by Peter) they were pierced in the heart.²

² Meyer, H. A. W. (1877). Critical and Exegetical Handbook to the Acts of the Apostles (W. P. Dickson, Ed.; P. J. Gloag, Trans.; Vol. 1, p. 92). T&T Clark.

They add these quotations on verse 38:

Ver. 38. Be baptised

For, or in order to, εἰς, the remission of sins (compare Matt. 26:28, and Luke 3:3), defines the negative aspect of the blessing which ensues upon a right reception of baptism. The gift of the Holy Ghost (compare 10:45, 11:17) represents the positive side of the same blessing.³

³ Thomas Whitelaw, Acts, The Preacher’s Complete Homiletic Commentary (New York; London; Toronto: Funk & Wagnalls Company, 1892), 45.

What a definite and complete answer and promise of salvation! ⁴

⁴ Meyer, H. A. W. (1877). Critical and Exegetical Handbook to the Acts of the Apostles (W. P. Dickson, Ed.; P. J. Gloag, Trans.; Vol. 1, p. 93). T&T Clark.

Matthew Poole says of verses 41, unto them (King James Version): “Unto them; to the church.” ⁵

⁵ Matthew Poole, Annotations upon the Holy Bible, vol. 3 (New York: Robert Carter and Brothers, 1853), 391.

Three thousand souls were added by the Lord to His church when they gladly received His word and were baptized (immersed in water).

“Send the Light” is found in Sacred Songs of the Church and it is hymn number 731. “Let us gather jewels for a crown above: Send the Light! Send the Light!”

Are you ready to hear and respond to the Gospel today? To move away from darkness into His wonderful light? Hymn #420: “All things are ready, come to the feast! Come for the table now is spread.” Hymn #422: “Accept God’s word and come obeying, O soul don’t wait too long!”

I invite you to explore the category “Assemblies.” I pray these posts will help encourage you and strengthen your faith.

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