The Gospel in Genesis: Protoevangelium in Genesis 1:3

 

The earth was formless and empty and darkness was over the surface of the deep (Genesis 1:2).  It is a perfect picture of how sinners are:  having formless and empty lives with darkness covering spiritual eyes.  And God’s act was to say, “Let there be light” (Genesis 1:3).  I believe that simple pronouncement gives us a first glimpse of the gospel of Christ.

 

Because of sin, there had been spiritual darkness in the world.  But God is light (1 John 1:5), and God (light) came into the world:  Jesus, the light of the world (John 8:12).

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 the glory of God in the face of Christ. [2 Corinthians 4:6]

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son (the light of the world), that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life (cf. John 3:16).  Whoever follows Jesus will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life (John 8:12).

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. [Isaiah 9:2]

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.  He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners… [Isaiah 61:1-2]

For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. [Colossians 1:13-14]

In him was life, and that life was the light of men.  The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. [John 1:4-5]

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. [1 Peter 2:9]

The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. [Hebrews 1:3a]

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. [James 1:17]

There will be no more night.  They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light.  And they will reign for ever and ever. [Revelation 22:5]

Behold, I am coming soon!  My reward is with me, and I will give everyone according to what he has done.  I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End….I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches.  I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star. [Revelation 22:12-13, 16]

  

“Let there be light.”

Come back, Lord Jesus, our light of the world and our bright Morning Star!  Maranatha...