The Only Source

ONLY Jesus of Nazareth is the Light of the World, the expression of God, and the source of truth, life, and salvation.

From time immemorial, presidents, kings, dictators, political ideologies, religions, and false prophets have claimed to be humanity’s best hope for peace and prosperity, self-appointed sources of light, and alleged bulwarks of order against the darkness that constantly threatens to overwhelm society. Today, this plague of pretenders is worse than ever, especially in the churches and political arena of the United States of America.

Contrary to such claims, “life” is found in the “Word” or ‘Logos’ of God, and this life is the “Light of men.” It “shines in the darkness,” and the darkness is powerless to extinguish it. This ‘Logos’ became the Living Word of God in the Life, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth, and the glory and life of God have radiated through him alone ever since. There is no other source of truth and life - (John 1:1).

[Photo by Jonatan Pie on Unsplash]

The competing claims of politicians and religious leaders are counterfeits and lies. Their arrogant pretensions are exposed when the true “Light of God” shines brightly through His Son. The God who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” now gives us the “light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” There is “no other name under heaven whereby men may be saved,” period – (Acts 4:12, 2 Corinthians 4:6).

Contrary to the “wisdom” of the fallen world order, life, truth, and salvation are found only in the lowly man of Nazareth who died on the Imperial Cross to redeem humanity and the Creation itself from the tyranny of Sin, Satan, and Death. Any suggestion that Satan’s servants could deliver anyone from his overlordship is ridiculous.

God validated Christ’s words and deeds by raising him from the dead and making Jesus both “Lord and Messiah.” He has reigned ever since on the Divine Throne. As the Book of Revelation declares, Jesus is the “Faithful Witness” through his death, and the “Firstborn of the Dead” because God resurrected him. Therefore, he is also the “Sovereign over the Kings of the Earth,” and no location, person or rival power is beyond his reach, not even the dead – (“I have the keys of Death and Hades” - Acts 2:36, Revelation 1:4-6, 1:18).

The proclamation of the “Word of his Cross” is “God’s power and wisdom.” True power does not come from the barrel of a gun or Ceasar’s Throne, but only through “Christ crucified.”

Christ’s Death redeemed us from Sin’s curse, and his Resurrection secured our victory over death. Like him, we will be raised from the dead and cry triumphantly with him: “Death is swallowed up in victory! O, Death, where is your sting?!” No political or religious leader can make such bold claims, and Christ’s resurrection proves that his promises are powerless like those of his would-be replacements - (1 Corinthians 1:17-24, 15:3-4, 15:54-55).

We are summoned to “testify” to this great light. This must be so since God sent His Son and God is “light, and in Him there is no darkness at all <…> The darkness is passing away, and the true light is shining” through His Living Word, Jesus Christ, driving back the lies of Satan as we proclaim Christ’s Good News to the world – (Matthew 24:14, 1 John 1:5, 2:8).

We become his “lights in the world” when we let our “light shine before men so they may glorify our Father in heaven.”  The fullness of His light is manifested in His Son, and that light is reflected in us as we bear witness to Jesus, the Messiah who came to “save his people from their sins,” and the Son who now reigns over God’s Kingdom and the Cosmos.

ONLY JESUS REIGNS

Jesus possesses all power and authority because by his death he purchased men and women from every segment of human society for His Father. Heaven and Earth now declare him “worthy of all power, riches, wisdom, might, honour, glory, and blessing,” and they will tolerate no competing claim – (Matthew 1:21, 28:18, John 1:1-14, Revelation 5:9-14).

Thus, Jesus is the “Light of the World,” and there is no other source of life but him. We as the “Body of Christ” become the shining “City on a Hill” when we let his light shine through us by denying ourselves, carrying his cross, and following “the Slain Lamb wherever he leads.” Our mission is to preach Christ's Good News to all men without exception, thereby driving back the darkness and exposing the lies of pretenders for what they are. In the end, “all liars will have their part in the Lake of Fire” – (Matthew 16:24, 1 Corinthians 1:18, Revelation 14:4, 21:8).

Jesus Christ is the “Light of the World” because he is the full expression of God. There is no true knowledge or revelation of God apart from him, and only through God’s Son can anyone access the Father. “He who has seen the Son has seen the Father.” This is why men who believe in him and his words no longer “abide in the darkness.” They have been rescued from the power of darkness and “transferred to the kingdom of His beloved Son” – (John 1:18, 12:44-50, 14:6, Colossians 1:13).

This Crucified Messiah is the “Word of Life” manifested to all men as his Church proclaims the Gospel. Because this “Word of Life” has entered the world through Jesus, the “darkness is passing away, and the true light already is shining.”

The darkness cannot smother the Light. It retreats wherever his message is heard. Even now, the forms of this present age are “passing away,” including the political ideologies and religious institutions of this world. In the end, only Christ’s Kingdom will remain, and Jesus will be the absolute and only ruler on the Throne – (1 John 1:1-3, 2:8, 1 Corinthians 7:31, 15:24-28).

In a very dark world, Jesus is the bright light that radiates God’s life, truth, salvation, and hope to all men and women, and there is no other source of life. He alone is the “Light of the World.” The other claimants to life, liberty, and light are liars who disguise themselves as “angels of light” – (2 Corinthians 11:14).

The Nazarene declared to his disciples, “I am the way and the truth and the life.” No one comes to God “except through me,” and, “He who has seen me has seen the Father.” There is no other way to know God. Jesus is the full and final expression of the Father, the Creator of all things. Life and salvation can be found nowhere else except in Jesus of Nazareth.

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SEE ALSO:

• The Age of Salvation - (The Good News announced by Jesus offers salvation and life to men and women of every nation and people)

• In His Name Alone! - (Jesus of Nazareth fulfills the promise to bless all nations in Abraham. Christ is the Patriarch’s Heir and our only source of Salvation)

• His Victory and Present Reign - (Did Jesus triumph through his Death and Resurrection, or is he still waiting for some future event to begin his reign?)

• Christ Crucified - (The power of God is revealed in the proclamation of a Messiah who was crucified by the world on the Roman Cross)