Throughout the Bible, the words “light” and “darkness” are used metaphorically to convey deep spiritual truths. The way these words are used give us some interesting insights into salvation.

Key Points:

  1. Life and death (Matthew 4:16; Luke 1:79; John 1:4).
  2. The light of witness (Matt. 5:14, 16; John 5:35).
  3. Jesus, the light of the world (Luke 2:32; John 1:7-8; 8:12; 9:5).
  4. Good and evil behavior (Matt. 6:23; John 1:5; John 3:19-21).
  5. Openness and secrecy (1 Corinthians 4:5).
  6. Truth and falsehood (John 1:9; 2 Corinthians 11:14).
  7. God’s kingdom and the devil’s kingdom (1 Thessalonians 5:4-5).
  8. The darkness of eternal punishment (Matt. 8:12; Jude 13).
  9. The light of the glory of God (1 Timothy 6:16; Revelation 21:23-24; 22:5).

See Also: New Testament, Theology

Talk About It
  1. What is your initial reaction to this topic? What jumped out at you?
  2. Why do you think the Bible uses the concepts of “light” and “dark” to teach spiritual truths?
  3. What do darkness and light commonly symbolize in literature and film? Give examples.
  4. Which meaning of light and dark in the New Testament do you find the most powerful? Why?
  5. Write a personal action step based on this conversation.