The Gospel Illumination

By Nick Bibile

The word illuminate means to enlighten and to make visible by turning on a light. It will expel the darkness

John the Baptist was not the light but he was illuminated by the light, pointing the light to Christ as Jesus is the light.

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

Psalm 18:28 …..my God lights up my darkness. For You light my lamp; The LORD my God illumines my darkness...

Spiritual illumination is not the light and knowledge which brings the soul to salvation and to a life of holiness, but it is the first step towards salvation.

Spiritual illumination cannot change or transform our soul into the image of Christ, only the light can do it. In Hebrews 6:4-5 we see people can taste, illuminate and enlightened of God, yet not truly saved. Judas heard all the sermons of Christ, saw all the miracles, he tasted the Holy Spirit yet he was not truly born again.

Today there are many who call themselves Christians not truly born again, yet they can have an illuminated Christian experience of life as they taste the word of God, see God’s power, grace and mercy, yet not truly born again to live a holy sanctified life.

However as said before illumination is the first step for salvation.

2 Corinthians 4:6  For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

It is a great privilege to be illuminated with the doctrine of the gospel, but this privilege can be lost by increase of sinfulness and no attempt to grow (Disciplined) in the knowledge of the gospel.

2 Peter 2:21 or it would have been better for them never to have known the way of righteousness than after knowing it to turn back from the holy commandment delivered to them.

Don’t let the pleasures of sin drown you, maybe there are some who have been illuminated for a long time yet, living in the flesh, not having a holy life.

Ephesians 5:14  “Awake, sleeper, And arise from the dead, And Christ will shine on you.”