FATHER OF LIGHTS

In James 1:17 the bible reveals a title of God, “The Father Of Lights”. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. During normal readings of the scriptures, most Christians glance at this biblical verse without giving it a second thought, and there are those that the title would catch their eye and intrigue then into curiosity, but after researching on their own they resign themselves to accept that they will never know. A good hermeneutics (the art of biblical interpretation) will yield the answer to this question. What does the Father of Lights mean? In John 1:4 the bible informs us that Jesus (the Word) was the life and the life was the LIGHT of men. In John 8:12 Jesus also says: I am the LIGHT of the world.

​Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but have the LIGHT of life.Jesus is the Son of God. The only begotten of the Father (John 1:14), The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father (John 1:18), John-the- Baptist testified that Jesus is the Son of God (John 1:34). God dwells in inaccessible light (1 Timothy 6:16) no one has access to God (inaccessible) only the Son has seen him and has declared Him (John 1:18). Jesus is in the bosom of the Father, Jesus is light because he is of the same substance as the Father, He is the brightness of the Glory of the Father and the express image of His person (Hebrews 1:3), the glory of the Father and the Glory of Jesus is one and the same, the Word became flesh (John 1:14), Jesus is the God-man, the deity of Jesus Christ is unquestionable 100% God and yet 100% man. Clearly this very fact explains the title, The Father Of Lights! But there remains the fact that the word lights is plural and begs the question. Who else are the sons of God and lights of the world?

​​The Bible says: John 1:12-13But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor ofthe will of man, but of God. John 3:5-7Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.’Because of Jesus Christ “The Light of the World” many can come to the Lord, accept him and become children of God. Not everyone can be called a son or daughter of God. Everyone living in the world was born of the flesh, of blood, of the will of the flesh, of the will of man. But there is another birth, which is necessary in order to become children of God. It is a new birth, it is the birth of the Spirit, it is a birth that comes out of the will of God. Only those that are born again can see and enter the Kingdom of God. The King of this kingdom is Jesus Christ and the subjects, citizens of the Kingdom of God are those that are born again, born of the will of God, born of the Spirit. The citizens of the Kingdom that are born again, they live in Christ and they will die in Christ, they will be resurrected by Christ to live eternally with the Lord, the King of the Kingdom of God who offers eternal life. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.These that are born again, who are new creations in Christ, they/we are the children of God, those that will eventually hear the gospel, accept Jesus Christ as the only begotten Son of God and accepts his offer of eternal life, their eyes will be opened, they will enter the Kingdom of God and will become children of God.

Out Of This World

The King is not of this World, the Kingdom is not of this world and the citizens of the Kingdom, the children of God are not of this world. We are not of this world system. John 18:36 “My kingdom is not of this world,” said Jesus. “If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would fight, so that I wouldn’t be handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here. John 17:14-16 (Jesus speaking) I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.

The Light Of The World

Just as the King Jesus, the citizens of the Kingdom of God, those that entered the Kingdom through a new birth of the Spirit by the will of God, who have been sanctified and are no longer part of this world system, they are also called “The LIGHT of the World” Matthew 5:14-16 (Jesus speaking) “You are the light of the world. A town build on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.Those that are born again, of the Spirit, by the will of God, who are citizens of the Kingdom of God and do not belong to this world system are now called “The Light of the World” and they are to be visible and shine their light of their new creation, their good deeds, the fruit of the Spirit, the gifts of God, so that when people see it, those that are in darkness, they could glorify their Father in heaven.It is because of Jesus the Son of God and because of his children, those born again, of the Spirit and of the will of God, who are the light of the world, that God the Father is called, The Father of Lights.

Let There Be Light

In both occasions in which God creates, the first creation in Genesis when He created the Heavens and the earth and the second creation in Christ, when He creates the newly born in Christ, the Kingdom of God, we see the Spirit of the Lord hovering over the darkness of this world. In the beginning the Spirit is hovering over the face of the waters (Genesis 1:2) and in the New Testament we see the Spirit hovering over the person of Jesus Christ (John 1:32). In the first creation the first thing that God does to begin to change an empty and voided world in chaos is to say: “Let There Be Light” and there was light. In the creation in Christ, God brings himself in Jesus, the brightness of the glory of the Father, the express image of His person (Hebrews 1:3) (God is light and so is Jesus), to call out from the world those that he predestined in Christ to be the light of the world. So for the reader who is a Christian and is born again into the Kingdom of God, the moment God decided to create His Kingdom to save a world in darkness empty and voided of His presence, He once again said: “Let There Be Light” but what He really said was: “Let There Be You” yes you! You are the light of the world!

Fighting The Darkness In You

The first place in which the light of God must shine is in yourself. In the context of James 1:17 where the title the Father of Lights is introduced, James warns each and every one of us that the Father of Lights can never tempt you, because to do so would mean that there is a dark side to God and James emphasizes that God is the Father of Lights in whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. There is not the smallest shadow in God who dwells in inaccessible light. Furthermore, James explains that your temptations come as a result of your sinful nature, your members of your flesh. The Apostle Paul expands on this issue in Romans chapter 7, revealing that there is a law of sin that continuously works against the law of the Spirit. However, the law of the Spirit that has given you the new birth in Christ providing you with a new nature has also given you the power to kill and destroy the law of sin in you, a power possible. only in Christ! But you must remain in His truth, His light, His word and you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free from the slavery of sin (John 8:31).

You Must Decrease In The Flesh and Increase In The Spirit

Just as John the Baptist said, I must decrease and Jesus must increase. Every Kingdom citizen in Christ that has Jesus living in him/her and is one with Christ (1 Corinthians 6:17), they must decrease so Jesus can increase in them. I must do this, you must do this, we must do this in order to be The Light Of World.

The Clothing of the Kingdom Citizen
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Colossians 3:5-14 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its creator. Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
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Final Thought
You must grow in the image of your creator, like Jesus, like the Father of Lights, you must be light, you must dress yourselves with your new garment and be the light of the world. In the words of Jesus, the commandment its clearly implied. GO SHINE!!!

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