◄ What Does John 1:4 Mean? ►

The living God is LIFE. The triune God has life within Himself. Jesus is one with the Father and He is the Source of life, the Fountain of life, the Sustainer of life, the Perfector of life. God spoke animal and plant life into being, but the Spirit of God also breathed 'the breath of lives' into the nostrils of Adam, and man became a living soul.

The triune God has life within Himself and Jesus, the incarnate Word of God, is one with the Father and so this attribute of self-contained, eternally existent life also describes the Lord Jesus Christ perfectly: "In Him was life and the life was the Light of men." He is the co-equal, co-eternally living One Who is the source and principle of life - physical life, moral life, eternal life, and the new-life in Christ, for He is the living Word and the Word of LIFE.

The living God is not only the foundation and superstructure of all life, but Jesus is also pure light - eternal light and the source of all light. He is light and in Him is no darkness at all, for He said, "I am the light of the world - he that follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." What an incredible promise!

Because of His life, the people that walked in darkness have seen a great light for He is the light that lights every man that comes into the world, and the life that He bestows on all who believe on Him, disperses the cruel darkness that has entrapped the children of men and blinded their eyes to the wonderful gospel of God's grace.

In the beginning, God breathed the spirit of life into the empty shell of the man He had formed from the dust of the earth and man became a living soul. But because of sin, it was death and not life that reigned in Adam's mortal body. But at the appointed time, God in His grace sent His only begotten Son - the pre-incarnate Word in Whom is life-eternal - and that life of Christ was the light of truth that enlightens everyone coming into the world.

As members of Adam's fallen race, we were children of darkness under eternal condemnation. We were born physically alive, but dead in trespasses and sins and estranged from the God Who created us. As fallen creatures, we were without hope in the world, but the eternal Son of God came to earth as the fundamental life-principle: "In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men."

A vital aspect of John's Gospel is found in John chapter 20, which links directly to the early verses in John chapter 1: "These are written in this book, that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, and that believing in Him you may have life in His name." Jesus did not simply come to bring life and light or show it to us. He is life, and He is light, and without Him there is no life and there is no light.

The Lord Jesus is not only the Source and Sustainer of our physical life - the old, fallen, biological life we inherited from Adam, but He is also the Author and Finisher of our new, spiritual, eternal life, which we received by grace through faith in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Jesus said, "I am the light of the world. He that follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."

May we come to a deeper understanding that the self-contained, eternally existent LIFE of Christ which is poured into the hearts of all who are redeemed by His blood, declared righteous through faith, indwelt by His Spirit, and made into a new creation so that we can walk in His eternal light, wisdom, holiness, and love.

How I praise You, Heavenly Father, for the life of the Lord Jesus. Thank You for rescuing me from the kingdom of darkness and bringing me into Your glorious kingdom of light. And thank You for giving me my new life in Christ. May I live each day in a way that is pleasing to You, placing my self-life on the Cross, and living in spirit and truth to Your praise and glory. In Jesus' name I pray, AMEN.