No Darkness
The glory & majesty of the light of Christ
===
Now this is the gospel message we have heard from him and announce to you: God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all.
1 John 1:5 (NET)
===
A little bit of poetic language to start this epistle.
Strictly speaking, the gospel message is obviously more than this. We have other verses that confirm that fact. So, what’s going on here?
A major theme of 1 John is the light of the Gospel shining through our lives as believers.
Back in seminary I had to put together an outline for a sermon series around a book of the Bible.
I chose 1 John and I called it “The Illuminated Life.”
I’m not sure I’d go quite that high level with my naming today; I prefer simple & clear over clever. Back then, I was still stuck in the more academic writing.
Regardless, this verse coming up early in the book plays into that theme of Illumination.
Christians are to be a light to the world, shining the light of God to dark & lost people.
I think John is leaning into that metaphor here.
Probably because it’s such a beautiful picture of what God’s transforming work does for us.
Whenever I get caught up in my own problems — which happens a lot, too much of the time — I tend to forget about the glory & majesty of God.
Recently my church went over the Transfiguration of Jesus. A moment in time with the veil of humanity dropped from Jesus as His glory shone on the mountaintop.
Quite majestic.
It nearly stunned the three disciples. Probably permanently stuck in John’s mind and led him to writing verses like this one.
He knew, firsthand, the glory of the light of Christ.
— Ricky Ketchum
Copyright © 2025 by Ricky Ketchum. All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication prohibited.
Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible® copyright ©1996, 2019 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://netbible.com All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from the ESV®Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright© 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (NKJV) are from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.