Bible Verses About Light

What does the Bible say about light?

In the beginning God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. He saw that the light was good. Light is always something good and positive in Scripture. It is a symbol of God, His children, truth, faith, righteousness, etc. Darkness is the opposite of every single one of these things.

I don’t want anyone to think that to be a Christian you have to walk in the light. No! To be a Christian you have to repent and trust in Christ alone for salvation. True faith in Christ alone will change your life and you will walk in the light and grow in grace.

You are going to follow the light of the Scriptures not because following it saves you, but because you are the light. If you are saved by the blood of Christ it’s who you are now. You were made new. Are you walking in the light? In these light Bible verses, I have included the ESV, KJV, NIV, NASB, NKJV, NIV, and NLT translations.

Christian quotes about light

“To secure one’s freedom the Christian must experience God’s light which is God’s truth.”  Watchman Nee

“If you want to give a light to others, you have to glow yourself.”

“Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.”

“Be the light that helps others see.”

“Though the light shines on things unclean, yet it is not thereby defiled.” Augustine

“Christ is the true light of the world; it is through him alone that true wisdom is imparted to the mind.” Jonathan Edwards

“To trust God in the light is nothing, but trust him in the dark—that is faith.” Charles Spurgeon

“With Christ, darkness cannot succeed. Darkness will not gain victory over the light of Christ.” Dieter F. Uchtdorf

“Sin turns ugly and is subject to defeat only when seen in the light of Christ’s beauty.” Sam Storms

 “In faith there is enough light for those who want to believe and enough shadows to blind those who don’t.” Blaise Pascal

“We are told to let our light shine, and if it does, we won’t need to tell anybody it does. Lighthouses don’t fire cannons to call attention to their shining- they just shine.” Dwight L. Moody

“The way, like the cross, is spiritual: that is an inward submission of the soul to the will of God, as it is manifested by the light of Christ in the consciences of men, though it be contrary to their own inclinations.” William Penn

“We cannot believe that the church of God is already possessed of all that light which God intends to give it; nor that all Satan’s lurking places have already been found out.” Jonathan Edwards

“Glory in Christ and you can bask in His light forever.” Woodrow Kroll

“It is the Gospel that can translate you from darkness into light.”

Drawing closer to the light of Jesus

Have you ever wondered why many great men of God such as Peter, Paul, etc. had a great revelation of their sinfulness?

It is because when you start seeking the face of God you get closer to the light. When you start getting closer to the light you start to see more sin than ever before. Some Christians are not that close to the light.

They stay at a distance so the light doesn’t shine on their great sinfulness. When I first became a Christian I didn’t truly understand how sinful I was. As I started to grow and sought to know God and be alone with Him, the light shined brighter and brighter and it showed me different areas in my life where I fell short in.

If Jesus Christ did not die for my sins, then I have no hope. The light makes the cross of Jesus Christ even more glorious. Jesus is my only claim. This is why as believers as we walk in the light we continually confess our sins. You must get closer to the light.

1. 1 John 1:7-9 “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

2. Romans 7:24-25 “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?  Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.”

3. Luke 5:8 “When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, ‘Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!“

The light of God Bible verses

God is faithful even when we are not.

God will not allow a believer to give up in the hard times. Sometimes even a believer will try to run away from God, but they will not be able to escape the great light. God’s light breaks through the darkness and brings them back to Him. We have hope in the Lord.

God speaks light in your darkness

The devil will not claim us. God will never let us go. What is stronger than the light of the Almighty God? You might go through darkness and pain, but the light of the Lord will always come through in times of despair. Call on the name of Jesus. Seek the light.

4. Psalm 18:28 “For it is you who light my lamp; the LORD my God lightens my darkness.”

5. Micah 7:8 “Do not gloat over me, my enemy! Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in darkness, the LORD will be my light.”

6. Psalm 139:7-12 “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend to heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the dawn, If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea, Even there Your hand will lead me, And Your right hand will lay hold of me. If I say, “Surely the darkness will overwhelm me, And the light around me will be night,” Even the darkness is not dark to You, And the night is as bright as the day. Darkness and light are alike to You.”

7 John 1:5 “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

8. Micah 7:8 (NASB) “Do not rejoice over me, enemy of mine. Though I fall I will rise; Though I live in darkness, the Lord is a light for me.”

9. 2 Timothy 2:13 “if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself.”

10. Psalm 44:3 “For by their own sword they did not possess the land, And their own arm did not save them, But Your right hand and Your arm and the light of Your presence, For You favored them.”

11. Psalm 94:1 “O Lord, God of vengeance, God of vengeance, shine forth!”

12. Psalm 18:2 (NIV) “You, Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light.”

13. Isaiah 2:5 “Come, house of Jacob, and let us walk in the light of the Lord.”

14. Luke 2:32 “He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel!”

15. Genesis 1:4 “And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness.”

16. Isaiah 45:7 “I form the light and create the darkness; I bring prosperity and create calamity. I, the LORD, do all these things.”

17. 1 Samuel 2:2 “There is none holy like the Lord; there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God.”

18. 1 Chronicles 16:29 “Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering and come before him! Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness.”

Darkness reveals unbelief and the light reveals faith.  

Without the light there is no purpose to this life. Without the light there is no hope. Without the light we are alone and many unbelievers know this and it causes them to struggle with depression. Without the light people are dead and blind. You need the light of God that reveals everything.

When you’re in the darkness you don’t know where you’re going. You don’t understand anything and life doesn’t make sense. You can’t see! Everything is dark. You’re just living, but you don’t even know what allows you to live or why you live. You need the light! You are here for Him. Believe in the light, Jesus Christ and He will show you the truth of everything. When you follow Christ you will have His light.

19. John 12:35 -36 “Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going. Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.” When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.”

20. John 8:12 “When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

21. John 12:44-46 Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me. I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.”

22. John 9:5 “While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”

23. Acts 26:18 “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.”

24. John 12:35 “Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going.”

The transforming light of Christ

When you repent and put your trust in Christ alone for salvation you will be a light. Not only do you see everything more clearly, but the light will come to live inside of you. The light of the gospel will transform you.

25. 2 Corinthians 4:6 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 displayed in the face of Christ.”

26. Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

27. Acts 13:47 “For this is what the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.”

28. John 12:36 “While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them.”

Living in the light Bible verses

What does your life say? Have you been changed by the Lord or are you still living in darkness? 

Has the light so touched you that you seek to walk in it? Are you light? Examine yourself. Are you bearing fruit? If you are still living in a lifestyle of sin God’s light has not changed you. You are still in the darkness. Now repent and put your trust in Christ.

29. Ephesians 5:8-9 “For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light. (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth)”

30. 1 John 1:7 “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.”

31. John 1:8 “He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.”

32. Isaiah 60:1 “Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you.”

33. Job 24:16 “In the dark, thieves break into houses, but by day they shut themselves in; they want nothing to do with the light.”

34. John 3:21 “But whoever practices the truth comes into the Light, so that it may be seen clearly that what he has done has been accomplished in God.”

Bible verses about light of the world

We are the light of the Lord in a world full of darkness. You will be a light to others. Your light shines so bright that is why people look at Christians so carefully. This does not mean to act like something you are not or try to appear righteous to others. Glorify God not yourself. It means to be who you are. You are a light. Even a little light makes a huge difference.

Light a small candle in a house with no electricity at night. You will see that though the candle is small it still allows you to see in the darkness. You might be the only light someone ever sees. Some people are going to be able to see Christ through your light. People appreciate the little things because most of the time people don’t go the extra mile.

One time I helped a maintenance man clean a mess up at the supermarket. He was surprised and so thankful. He said no one ever helped him. No one showed that humility before. Without me telling him he said you are religious aren’t you. I said I am a Christian. My light shined. I started to talk about Christ, but he was Hindu so he ran from the gospel message, but he was so appreciative and he noticed a light.

Let your light shine in everything because you are the light. Being a light is the work of God conforming you into the image of Christ. You can’t try to be the light. It’s either you are light or you are not light. You can’t try to be Christian. It’s either you are Christian or you are not Christian.

35. Matthew 5:14-16 “You are the light of the world. A town built 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.”

36. 1 Peter 2:9 “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”

37. Philippians 2:14-16 “Do everything without complaining and arguing, 15 that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless.”

38. Matthew 5:3-10 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

39. 1 Thessalonians 5:5 “For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness.”

40. Acts 13:47 (NKJV) “For so the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have set you as a light to the Gentiles, That you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.”

41. John 1:9 “The true Light who gives light to every man was coming into the world.”

42. Romans 13:12 “The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.”

What fellowship has light with darkness?

We can’t run with people who are in the darkness. We are no longer in the darkness. 

43. 2 Corinthians 6:14-15 “Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?”

44. Ephesians 5:7 “Therefore do not be partners with them.”

45. James 4:4 (ESV) “You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.”

The world hates the light

People don’t like the light. Why do you think that Jesus was hated? Shine your light on their sins and they are going to say hey stop judging and they are going to avoid you. You are the light why do you think that you will be hated by the world? The world hates the light. In the darkness and without the Lord their deeds are hidden. That is why they suppress the truth about God.

46. John 3:19-21 “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.”

47. Job 24:16 “In the dark, thieves break into houses, but by day they shut themselves in; they want nothing to do with the light.”

48. Ephesians 5:13-14  “But everything exposed by the light becomes visible–and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

49. Matthew 10:22 (KJV) “And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.”

50. Mark 13:13 “You will be hated by everyone because of My name, but the one who perseveres to the end will be saved.”

51. Psalm 27:1 “The Lord is my light and my salvation whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life of whom shall I be afraid?”

What is your life source?

One time I was reading in bed, and as I prepared to go to sleep, I heard that familiar buzzing sound that meant a fly had found a home in my lamp. I turned off the light, and the fly left me alone.

Why do bugs do this? They always buzz around and bounce off of lightbulbs until eventually the heat or the collision impact kills them.

There couldn’t be anything stupider; the fly essentially kills itself by making the same mistake over and over again. Yes, they annoy us in the process, but really I just feel bad for the creatures. Why do they do such stupid things?

This morning, I looked it up. Flies (and other flying creepy things) navigate naturally by the light of the moon and stars. Because the sky is so far away, they can keep their light source at a certain angle to their bodies at all times. This worked out great until humans invented artificial light. Smaller light sources confuse the bug’s navigational signaling, and in an effort to maintain the proper flight angle the poor creatures end up flying in circles around the fake light source. Now I feel even worse; these bugs make stupid choices because humans messed them up!

If we take an honest look at ourselves, don’t we do the exact same thing as flies?

Our natural navigation systems like to keep us at a constant angle towards God. We are His creation, and our hearts yearn to return to Him. We want to fly in line with the moon! Instead, we let ourselves get distracted by smaller light sources. We want to follow God, and yet here we are circling around things that will ultimately lead us to failure. Even worse, we often serve as those light sources for others, snagging them off of their intended path.

A “lamp” in my life is perfection. Rather than angling towards grace and forgiveness, I angle towards impossible standards. Some people fly around wealth, some around beauty, and some around human love. We are such dumb little flies! Why can’t we see that the true navigation system for our lives wants to lead us and love us? All we have to do is stop following the lightbulbs and look towards the moon.

At the same time, I wonder how often I have unintentionally served as a false light for someone else. Have my actions and behaviors inadvertently pulled someone away from where they were supposed to be?

The issue of false light bulbs (that is, things we follow other than the Creator) is twofold; we have to consider both how we are affected and how we affect others.

When thinking about what you follow in life, consider Matthew 6:24, “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” You must remain devoted to the only true light source: Christ.

When thinking about how you can best help others, I encourage you to consider Philippians 3:17, “Join together in following my example, brothers and sisters, and just as you have us as a model, keep your eyes on those who live as we do.” We have to watch out for one another and help each other realize when our eyes are not on God. We also have to help our brothers and sisters realize when they may be leading someone else astray. Life is a journey, and we have to help each other on our walk of with Christ.

Reflection

What does light symbolize in the Bible?

How does being the light of Christ make you feel?

Are you being a light to others?

What in your life serves as a false light source?

How might you be leading someone else away from the true light?

How can you work to change these things?