Our Only Hope!

Only Jesus is the Light of the World, the expression of God, and the source of truth, life, and salvation, and he alone reigns supreme.

From time immemorial, presidents, kings, dictators, and religious deceivers have claimed to be humanity’s best hope for peace and prosperity, self-proclaimed bulwarks of order who hold back the darkness that 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 same ‘Logos’ became the Living Word of God in the Life, Death, and Resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth, and the glory and life of God radiate through him alone - (John 1:1).

[Torch Photo by Jonatan Pie (Iceland) on Unsplash]

The competing claims of politicians and religious charlatans 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” – (Acts 4:12, 2 Corinthians 4:6).

Contrary to the “wisdom” of the fallen world, life, truth, and salvation are found only in the lowly man of Nazareth who died to redeem humanity from the tyranny of Sin, Satan, and Death. Any suggestions that Satan’s servants or ideologies could deliver men from his overlordship are ridiculous.

God validated Christ’s words and deeds by raising him from the dead and making him “Lord and Messiah.” He has reigned ever since on the Divine Throne as God’s only appointed Lord, King, and “Anointed One.” Only he will bring peace, salvation, and justice to the nations – (Isaiah 42:1, “I have put My Spirit upon him. He will bring forth justice to the nations”).

As the Book of Revelation declares, Jesus is the “Faithful Witness” through his death, and the “Firstborn of the Dead” because his resurrection. 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 realm of 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” – Christ Crucified - is “God’s power and wisdom.” True power does not come from the barrel of a gun or Caesar’s Throne, but only through the Nazarene who was crucified on the Roman Cross and raised from the dead by “his God and Father.”

Christ’s faithful “obedience unto death” has redeemed us from Sin’s curse, and his Resurrection has 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?!” - (1 Corinthians 1:17-24, 15:3-4, 15:54-55).

No political or religious leader can make such bold claims, and Christ’s resurrection proves that his promises are neither fraudulent nor powerless, unlike those of his would-be replacements.

We are called 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, driving back the lies of Satan as we proclaim the Gospel to the nations – (Matthew 24:14, 1 John 1:5, 2:8).

We become Christ’s “lights in the world” when we let our “light shine before men so they may glorify our Father in heaven.”  God’s full light is manifested in His Son, and that light is reflected in us as we bear witness to our one true Messiah.

ONLY JESUS IS KING

Jesus possesses all power and authority. By his death he purchased men and women from every segment of human society for His Father; therefore, Heaven and Earth declare him “worthy to receive all power, riches, wisdom, might, honour, glory, and blessing” – (Matthew 1:21, 28:18, John 1:1-14, Revelation 5:9-14).

Jesus is the “Light of the World,” and there is no other source of life or lasting light. 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 about his victory and reign 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,” including, if not especially, false prophets and false apostles – (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” – (John 1:18, 12:44-50, 14:6, Colossians 1:13).

The darkness cannot smother the Light. It retreats wherever his message is preached and heard. Even now, the forms and institutions of this present age are in the process of “passing away.” This includes the political ideologies and structures of this world. Only Christ’s Kingdom will remain in the end – (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, and there is no other source of life. The other claimants to life, liberty, and light are liars who masquerade as “messengers of light” – (2 Corinthians 11:14).

The Nazarene declared, “I am the way and the truth and the life.” No one comes to God “except through me.” There is no other way to know God. Jesus is the full and final expression of the Father, the Creator of all things. Looking to anyone else for light and salvation is foolishness.

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SEE ALSO:

• No Other Name! - (Jesus Christ fulfills God’s promise to bless all nations through His Covenant with Abraham. There is salvation in No Other Name)

• The Hope of the Nations - (The Good News of Jesus Christ and his victory over death offers hope, life, and salvation and life to men and women of every nation)

• Only Jesus Saves! - (Salvation and Redemption are found in no other name than ‘Jesus’. He alone achieved victory over Sin, Satan, and Death)

• Notre Seul Espoir! - (Seul Jésus est la Lumière du Monde, l'expression de Dieu et la source de la vérité, de la vie et du salut, et lui seul règne en maître)