He has shone the light of the knowledge of God’s glory into our hearts.

 

He has shone the light of the knowledge of God’s glory into our hearts.

 

2 Corinthians 4:6–7: "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 in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure (*thesauros*) in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power (*dynamis*) is from God and not from us." Light is the image of God and is eternal life (resurrection). Those who lack this resurrection life cannot know the glory of God; only those who possess resurrection life can comprehend God’s will. God’s will is that people recognize Jesus Christ as the Son of God who came into the world to save all humanity. *Thesauros* refers to a treasure, which signifies Jesus Christ, while the "jar of clay" represents the physical body. Although the jar of clay is insignificant, the great power of God emanates from the treasure contained within it. *Dynamis* signifies divine power. Because God shines the light of eternal life upon the mortal physical body, the spirit comes alive and is seated in the heavenly realms. What immense grace this is!

When a believer enters into Christ—who is the treasure—they do not lose heart. They face no despair, are not forsaken, and do not perish. When one constantly bears the death of Jesus Christ on the cross, the resurrection life of Jesus Christ is also granted. A believer’s union with Jesus Christ means believing that one dies and rises again with Him, and seeing that power manifested. Ministers must reveal this truth to those who do not believe, for this is the Gospel. 2 Corinthians 4:12 states, "So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you." This is because, even though we face hardships while preaching the Gospel, those who accept it can obtain heavenly life. Faith in Christ signifies the belief that one dies on the cross according to the will of God the Father and is resurrected by Him. Therefore, those who possess this faith will become one with God through the life of resurrection.

 

Matthew 5:14–16 reads, "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."

The "light of the world" here refers to the light mentioned in Genesis 1:3: "And God said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light." God shines this light because the world exists in darkness. The true light is, in fact, Jesus Christ. John 1:5 says, "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." God sent Jesus Christ into this dark world to be that light. Yet, many people in the world do not know who Jesus is. John 1:9–13 states: "The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God."

Those born of God are precisely those who have been born again of water and the Spirit, and who possess resurrection life. Ephesians 5:8 says, "For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light." We, too, were once in darkness, but through Jesus Christ—as our "old self" died with Him—we have become light in Christ.

2 Corinthians 4:16 states, "Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day." The "outer self" refers to the old self that follows the flesh, while the "inner self" refers to the new self that follows the law of the Spirit. The wasting away of the outer self signifies death.

Isaiah 42:6–7 says, "I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness." This is a promise that God would send the Messiah to save those dwelling in darkness. Those confined in darkness are those who have turned away from God. In John 12:35–36, Jesus said, "The light is with you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, so that darkness may not overtake you; he who walks in the darkness does not know where he goes. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light." After saying this, Jesus went away and hid Himself from them.

Those who have entered into Christ become able to shine the light of resurrection life. Before that, however, they were in darkness and could not shine that light. Jesus said, "You are the light of the world." He did not tell those in Christ to *become* light; He declared that they *are* light. We cannot make ourselves into light.

Yet, in many churches today, people pray, "Let us become light," or "Please make us light." We speak of "becoming light" even though we cannot do so on our own. We pray to become light when, in fact, being in Christ means we have already become light. Such prayers are, in a sense, the prayers of the unregenerate; those who are born again and are in Christ have already become light.

Matthew 5:16 says, "In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." Here, "good works" refers to the act of bringing those who have departed from God back to Him. While actions taken to transform the world are necessary, the ultimate act that glorifies God is bringing back those who have strayed from Him. Acts 26:17–18 states: "I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them 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." God receives glory when those who are in darkness are led to Him.